British long-distance runner Calli Hauger-Thackery has completed the Boston Marathon while five months pregnant, delivering a remarkable performance in Boston, United States, on race day covered by BBC Sport.
The 33-year-old athlete crossed the finish line in 2 hours and 43 minutes, despite facing early physical difficulties and pregnancy-related challenges throughout the 26.2-mile race.
Her run stood out not just for completion, but for the conditions under which she finished, drawing attention across the global athletics community.
Hauger-Thackery started the marathon with strong intent, but trouble began just five miles into the race when she developed a severe trapped nerve in her glute.
The issue quickly escalated, forcing her to seek medical attention during the race.
“I had to dash into the medical tent because I had this crazy trapped nerve. I genuinely couldn’t even pick up my right leg properly. I was dragging it,” she said.
She also required another medical stop around mile 11, where race staff assisted her before she continued.
Meanwhile, pregnancy-related needs added another layer of difficulty during the early phase of the marathon.
“I had two wee stops, as you do when you’re pregnant, you need them more than ever, but this was all before mile 13,” she explained.
Despite these setbacks, she pushed on as conditions gradually stabilised.
A Strong Recovery in the Second Half
Although the first half of the marathon proved extremely difficult, Hauger-Thackery experienced a dramatic recovery after the halfway mark.
She described the shift in performance as a return to rhythm and control.
“The second half felt flawless, like I was in tune with my body. I felt a million dollars,” she said.
“There were many times before halfway I didn’t think I was going to finish.”
However, she managed to regain pace and composure, completing the race strongly despite earlier doubts.
For context, Hauger-Thackery had performed significantly faster in the previous year’s Boston Marathon, where she finished sixth with a time of 2:22:38.
This year’s race was slower due to pregnancy and medical interruptions, but the finish carried deeper personal meaning.
Determination Amid Physical Limits
The marathon highlighted the extreme demands of elite endurance sport, especially under pregnancy conditions.
Hauger-Thackery’s ability to continue after repeated setbacks drew attention from athletics followers and sports commentators alike.
Her finish was later reported by major outlets including BBC Sport, which covered her performance and post-race reflections.
She described the experience as one of resilience and adaptation, completing one of the world’s most demanding marathon courses under extraordinary personal circumstances.
Before this year’s race, Hauger-Thackery had established herself as a competitive long-distance runner for Britain, regularly competing at elite marathon levels.
Her previous Boston performance in 2024 placed her among the top finishers, but this year’s run stood out for a different reason entirely.
The Boston Marathon, one of the World Marathon Majors, attracts elite athletes globally and is known for its challenging course and unpredictable conditions.
