woman safe to run while pregnantQuestion: I always ran four or five days a week before I got pregnant. Is it safe to run when I’m pregnant?? I’m worried it might hurt my baby.

Answer: You can keep on running while you’re pregnant if you ran regularly before. In fact, you can continue running for as long as it feels comfortable. It’s a good idea to be a little easier on yourself now that you’re pregnant.

Avoid pushing yourself too hard: remember the rule that you should be able to talk to someone while running. Drink lots of water before your run, as well as during and afterwards. Take some water along with you on your run. Remember to both warm up and cool down.

You might find it best to cut down on the distance, time, and intensity of your runs as your due date approaches. Always listen to your body: stop the run if you feel too tired.

We have a few guidelines for each trimester of your pregnancy:

  • 1st trimester: in early pregnancy, your body has a harder time regulating its own temp. So, you’ll need to make sure you don’t overheat. Avoid running when the weather’s hot or humid, and don’t overdo it.
  • 2nd trimester: your baby bump is getting larger, so your body’s center of gravity is shifting. Since your sense of balance is off, you might be more prone to slips and falls. So, find flat areas to run on.
  • 3rd trimester: in your last trimester, going on a run may be too tiring (or plain uncomfortable!) Give yourself a break and try going for a walk or swimming instead. Try not to feel too bummed out: it’s totally normal to feel out of shape as your pregnancy advances.

We hope that this info helps! As always, you want to make sure to clear your workouts with your doctor, too.