Alexandria Andrews Runs 2:59 Marathon at Eight Months
Runner Alexandria Andrews ran a sub-three-hour marathon in Sydney at eight months pregnant, following a personal best at Boston while 13 weeks pregnant.
Alexandria Andrews ran a marathon in 2:59:43 on August 30 while eight months pregnant. The 29-year-old financial reporter from Oklahoma City achieved the feat at the Sydney Marathon, her fourth World Marathon Major.
Andrews, who goes by Ali, described the effort as comfortable. "This was by no means like a fast, hard effort," she told Runner's World. The race was already planned, so she decided to run it. She maintained an average pace of 6:51 per mile, completing the first half in 1:29:23 and the second in 1:30:20, which included two quick bathroom stops.
Reaction on the Course
Spectators and fellow runners had a delayed reaction as she passed. "People would be like, 'Oh my God, she's pregnant!'" Andrews said. She found the experience funny and noted the overwhelming support from others on the course. Her medical team had cleared her to run, citing a healthy pregnancy. Andrews kept her heart rate mostly in the 150s, only briefly reaching the 160s in the final miles.
A Running Background
Andrews has a background in sports, having participated in running, soccer, and cheer during high school in Park Hill, Oklahoma. She maintained her fitness through college at Oklahoma State University. Her marathon journey began in 2023 when she ran a 3:11 after her father decided to run a half-marathon. She later joined a local running group where she met her husband and coach, Jacob Anderson, a 2:26 marathoner.
Anderson praised her resilience. She's been a trooper during this pregnancy and very resilient and robust, he said. He noted her minimal morning sickness and that she set a personal best of 2:41:58 at the Boston Marathon earlier in the year while 13 weeks pregnant.
Future Goals and Advice
The baby is due at the end of October. Andrews and Anderson plan to run the California International Marathon in December next year. Her goal is to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials, which requires a time of 2:37. Anderson believes cutting five minutes from her personal best is possible. I think we're just tapping into her potential, he said.
Andrews encourages other pregnant runners in low-risk pregnancies to continue their routines. Don't stop your norm, she advised. She argues that giving up a normal activity adds unnecessary change when the body is already undergoing a significant transformation. For her, running has remained comfortable throughout the pregnancy.
