Forres mum Kirstie Rogan of Highland Hill Runners ran London Marathon while five months pregnant
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A local mum ran more than 26 miles during a national event - while more than five months pregnant.
Current mother-of-two, Kirstie Rogan, was planning her training regime for April’s London Marathon in January when she discovered she was pregnant but the avid runner was determined to go ahead with the challenge.
She said: “I run for Highland Hill Runners. My training group is based in Elgin and I’m coached by Carol and George Sim. I found out I was expecting as I was to start marathon-specific training. I initially aimed to run the race in under three hours but that had to change to around three hours 30-45 minutes. I carried on training but I slowed the runs down and made the speed sessions less intense to recover better.”
The London Marathon’s largely flat course is set around the River Thames, starting in Blackheath and finishing at The Mall.
Kirstie has been running for 20 years since starting aged nine with Forres Harriers, and is still competing, mainly in cross country and hill races.
However, London was her first ever marathon, having only run two half marathons before in Inverness. Last year she ran the championship qualifying time for the London Marathon so was automatically offered a place for the 2023 event.
She said: “I completed a monthly training plan averaging 40 miles-a-week over six days in preparation. A typical week consisted of one team training session focused on speed, one tempo style session around six to eight miles long, and one long run on a Sunday. The longest I did was 22 miles, four weeks before the marathon. I would fit in easy recovery runs throughout the week and one or two gym sessions too.”
Kirstie thinks the London Marathon was one of the best running experiences she has ever had.
She said: “Having a championship start meant I was just behind the elite men, which was surreal! The first 18 miles went really well, and I know my family - especially my dad - was panicking I was going far too fast but it’s hard not to start off too fast with the crowds and adrenaline.
“I suffered cramps in my legs from mile 18 but I knew that being pregnant meant there was no pressure to complete it in a particular time, so I tried to soak up the atmosphere.”
Kirstie was warned she was to stop running if she felt any pregnancy pains.
She said: “At no point did I feel I wasn’t capable of finishing it. During the final seven miles I walked bits but the crowd noise made this pass quickly.”
Looking for motivation for the last stretch, Kirstie called her husband Robbie at mile 20 then saw her parents and sisters at mile 22.
“Crossing the finish line was the best feeling ever,” she said. “I was so happy that my husband, my girls Isla (7) and Evie (3) and the rest of my family were waiting for me. I was absolutely over the moon to finish the marathon in three hours 42 minutes.”
Kirstie’s dad and top runner, Paul Rogan, was proud of her.
He said: “For someone who has competed for Scotland as a junior then as a senior in mountain running, it was a surprise when Kirstie announced she was doing a road marathon.
“However, we knew she would commit to the training and do it to the best of her ability.”
Finally, Dougie Macdonald from Highland Hill Runners also praised one of the club’s “hardest working and most determined athletes”.
He said: “Kirstie is an inspiration to all of us, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for her.”
