Hamil 34 Minggu Ikuti Lomba Lari Profesional di AS
34 Weeks Pregnant, Competes in the 800m at the US Track and Field Championships
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
ALYSIA Montano berlari 800 meter di US Track dan Field Championships pada Kamis (27/6), meskipun sedang hamil 7 bulan (34 minggu).
Juara nasional lima kali tersebut menempuh waktu 2 menit, 32,13 detik di babak kualifikasi, hanya tujuh minggu sebelum dia dijadwalkan untuk melahirkan anak pertamanya, seperti dilansir MailOnline.
Pelari berusia 28-tahun, mantan mahasiswi University of California menyelesaikan lari di tengah pandangan keheranan campur kagum dari penonton di tribun Stadion Hornet. Dia memimpin lomba hingga jarak 120 meter, Montano pun mendapat sambutan meriah dan penonton berdiri ketika menyelesaikan putaran pertama dan teriak penonton lebih keras ketika akhirnya tiba di garis finish.
"Aku biasa berlari selama kehamilan saya dan saya merasa nyaman, sangat menyenangkan menjalani proses kehamilan ini," kata Montano. "Saya hanya tidak ingin disusul pelari lain dan menjadi orang pertama tiba di garis finish untuk nomor lari 800 meter."
Montano, yang memenangkan 800 gelar nasional selama empat tahun terakhir, tidak kesulitan mengikuti lomba meski sedang hamil. Dia berlari santai dan konstan sejak start hingga ke garis finish.
Itu sesuai keinginan Montano setelah berkonsultasi dengan dokternya. Dokter tidak hanya memberikan izin untuk ikut lomba, mereka malahan mendorongnya.
"Itu menghilangkan rasa takut tentang seorang wanita hamil ikut lomba lari," kata Montano.
"Apa yang saya tahu sebagian besar adalah bahwa berolahraga selama kehamilan sebenarnya jauh lebih baik bagi ibu dan bayi. ... Saya melakukan semua hal yang saya biasanya ... saya kebetulan hamil. Saya menjalaninya secara normal."
ALYSIA Montano ran the 800 metres at the US Track and Field Championships on Thursday, despite being 34 weeks pregnant.
The five-time national champion finished in 2 minutes, 32.13 seconds in the qualifying rounds, only seven weeks before she's scheduled to give birth to her first child.
That the 28-year-old former University of California star finished last in her heat didn't matter one bit to the crowd gathered at Hornet Stadium. Trailing the lead pack by more than 120 meters for most of the race, Montano received a rousing ovation as she finished her first lap and the cheering grew louder when she finally crossed the finish line.
'I've been running throughout my pregnancy and I felt really, really good during the whole process,' Montano said. 'I just didn't want to get lapped and be the first person to get lapped in the 800.'
Montano, who won the 800 national titles the past four years, was never in trouble of being lapped. She took a nice relaxed pace from the start and maintained it throughout.
That was according to the plan Montano laid out after consulting with her physician. Not only did doctors give Montano the OK to run, they encouraged her.
'That took away any fear of what the outside world might think about a woman running during her pregnancy,' Montano said.
'What I found out mostly was that exercising during pregnancy is actually much better for the mom and the baby. ... I did all the things I normally do ... I just happened to be pregnant. This is my normal this year.'
