Running News Daily

Ali Anderson produced one of the most remarkable performances of the Sydney Marathon on Sunday, becoming one of the rare women to break three hours for the marathon while 32 weeks into pregnancy.

The 29-year-old American from Oklahoma crossed the finish line in 2:59:43, completing the 26.2-mile journey from North Sydney to the Sydney Opera House with just 17 seconds to spare under the three-hour barrier. Her performance came as part of a record field of around 40,000 runners and marked her seventh marathon, as well as her fourth World Marathon Major.

Anderson had entered the Sydney Marathon before discovering she was pregnant. Rather than withdraw, she decided to continue preparing for the race after consulting her doctor, who told her there was no medical reason to stop her normal training, provided she was no longer pursuing a personal-best effort.

The Sydney performance was particularly striking when compared with her previous marathon earlier in the year. At the Boston Marathon in April, Anderson was just 13 weeks pregnant when she clocked a spectacular 2:41:58, establishing her personal best. Nineteen weeks later in Sydney, the physical demands of late pregnancy were naturally reflected in her pace, but she still managed to produce a sub-three-hour performance.

Her Boston average pace was approximately 6:11 per mile, compared with around 6:52 per mile in Sydney — a difference of roughly 41 seconds per mile. Yet despite the slower pace and the additional demands of carrying a pregnancy into the third trimester, Anderson maintained enough control to finish inside three hours.

Speaking after the race, Anderson acknowledged that the hills felt considerably tougher because of her increased weight, but said she felt good throughout the marathon and was careful not to push herself beyond her limits.

“I'm obviously heavier, so the hills were a little bit more intense. But I felt really good, and I wasn't pushing too hard,” she said.

There was also another challenge that required careful planning: bathroom stops. With pregnancy adding an extra logistical consideration to an already demanding marathon, Anderson had to manage her race differently from a conventional marathon preparation and execution.

Her decision to race came after seeking medical advice. Anderson said her doctor reassured her that she could continue running, while making it clear that the objective should not be chasing another personal best.

Her performance also comes against a growing body of evidence suggesting that exercise during pregnancy can be safe for many women when appropriately managed. Research has generally found reassuring outcomes for continued physical activity during pregnancy, although evidence specifically examining competitive marathon racing in late pregnancy remains much more limited. Individual medical circumstances can vary significantly, making professional medical guidance essential.

Anderson also had the option of postponing her Sydney Marathon entry. The event's rules allowed pregnant runners to defer their places to 2027, 2028 or 2029 with a doctor's letter. She chose not to take that route.

The Sydney Marathon was therefore more than another race on Anderson's résumé. It became a test of how she could adapt her ambitions to an extraordinary stage of her life — maintaining her passion for distance running while putting performance goals into perspective.

Her original plans extended beyond Sydney. She had another marathon scheduled for December and had hoped to pursue the 2:37:00 qualifying standard for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Her Boston personal best of 2:41:58 currently leaves her 4 minutes and 58 seconds outside that mark.

For now, however, Anderson's achievement in Sydney stands on its own.

A 2:59:43 marathon is impressive under any circumstances. Doing it at 32 weeks pregnant makes Anderson's Sydney Marathon one of the most extraordinary distance-running stories of the year.