Makena Myler became a hit on the grid after running 1.6km in less than 6 minutes during her first pregnancy. Now, with her second pregnancy, the professional athlete challenged herself again and reduced that time by 17 seconds. In February, Makena competed in a 1.6-kilometer race and completed it in 5 minutes, 17 seconds.

Makena is sharing her story because she wants to change the mainstream’s perception of what pregnant women can and cannot do.

“I follow a lot of women who are either already mothers or pregnant. I want everyone to know that everything should be questioned. Especially those messages that tell you “you can’t,” she says.

Makena notes that she doesn’t mean to make pregnant women feel bad about being inactive during pregnancy. “This is not a comparison game. Α healthy and happy pregnancy should be your ONLY goal,” she says.

In an Instagram video, Mailer openly shares that she’s getting mixed reviews on social media. While some praised her and called her an “inspiration”, others criticized her for risking the life of her unborn child.

“I was told I was a bad and uncaring mother just because I ran during my pregnancy. Αll this has to change. Our bodies are amazing”, she says categorically.

Doctors agree that it is perfectly safe for athletes to continue training during pregnancy if they feel comfortable.

“My recommendations to athletes are to continue training without major changes. If they feel unstable or are at risk of abdominal injury, this should be avoided after 16 weeks. Otherwise, it’s good to run,” says Dr. Kirstin Leitner.