I ran a full marathon while pregnant
I’ve always believed in pushing boundaries. As a fitness advocate, I’ve come to realize that the only limits worth accepting are the ones that we set for ourselves, and that we are also the ones who can change and break them.
Now in my 30th week of being pregnant, 14 years after my firstborn, I can truly say that I am still hungry to become more active and intentional. Being a single mother, a businesswoman, and a content creator, I can say that having an active lifestyle fulfills me, and I still crave for more.
But with motherhood and maturity comes the privilege of having the freedom to choose what I will do. I move with intention and I create a safe space and environment not only for myself, but also for the little life growing inside me.
As I grow more mature, I realize that our society is harsh, especially on women. I believe in showing women everywhere that pregnancy, motherhood, and womanhood don’t have to look like what we’ve always been told. We get to rewrite the rules. We get to break the glass ceiling. We define ourselves, and we don’t conform to stereotypes.
Health scare
My journey to an active and healthy lifestyle didn’t start in a gym or on a track.
It was actually a health scare that happened a few years back, when I had a severe vertigo attack that lasted 13 days. It turned out to be caused by a poorly executed keto diet, with my salt levels becoming so high they nearly damaged my right ear. From that moment on, I knew I needed to take better care of myself. So I began moving. I started boxing, and the rest, they say, is history.
As I was becoming more active, the pandemic hit us, and everything was put on hold. With public spaces, including gyms, being closed, I turned to something I found at home: a jump rope. That simple tool changed everything. I started posting my progress, and without realizing it, I was building an audience, and soon, a community. That passion led to me becoming a fitness content creator.
I became the first female Rush athlete in the Philippines, representing a global jump rope brand. I launched my own activewear line—born from that same passion for movement. I also founded Jump Pampanga, a community that shares the same goal: to move, sweat, and grow together.
Eventually, I began strength training and learned the true value of building a strong body. In 2024, running became my new frontier. It opened even more doors: brand collaborations with both local and global brands, sponsorships, and my biggest milestone so far—a first full marathon in Taipei, thanks to Adidas.
Biggest surprise
Then, as fate would have it, 2025 opened with the biggest surprise of them all. I found out I was pregnant. After 14 years. At 36.
And as much as I would love to say that I was ecstatic with the news, I also have to admit that I got scared and a little worried. I was confused. Will pregnancy hold me back? Do I have to put everything in the backseat? Do I have to put everything on pause?
So many questions, but I was lucky enough to be surrounded by professionals and friends who gave me the advice and the answers that I needed.
I spoke with fellow athlete moms, looked for an OB-GYN who approved of my active lifestyle, and educated myself about the pros and cons of being active during pregnancy. It’s all about balance, I told myself.
But the challenges weren’t just physical; they were also societal.
People told me:
“Di ka mabubuntis kakatakbo mo.”
“Mag-anak ka na, ang tanda mo na.”
“Nakakababa ng matres yan, sobra mong pagwo-workout.”
As a woman, it felt like society wanted me to shrink, to sit still, to stop living boldly just because I was pregnant. I was expected to conform to the old ways. But I chose differently.
From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I never stopped moving. Now at 28 weeks, I’ve had zero morning sickness, no back pain, and my body feels stronger than ever. That’s because I created a solid fitness foundation even before the pregnancy. My body knows the rhythm. My body knows how to heal. My body knows how to listen to itself.
Inspiring women
I’m sharing this story not for applause nor validation, but in the hopes of inspiring more women to embrace movement—whether they’re planning to get pregnant, already are, or just want to feel alive again. Don’t be scared. Educate yourself. Do the necessary research. Listen to the professionals and cancel the unnecessary outside noise.
Fitness isn’t just about looking a certain way. The physical attributes are secondary. It’s about honoring your body. Trusting it. Building a core and a life that feels good and strong from the inside out. Your body is capable of doing so much more, and fitness is the journey of unlocking each and every new path.
We’re all built differently. We’re capable of more than we think. It’s time we broke the mold, and it’s time we stopped thinking that we have to limit ourselves and stop doing what makes us feel alive just because we’re moms, or over 30, or expecting a baby.
Always remember that you do not have to conform to what society tells you to do.
Health and safety will always be my top priority—but so is honoring what I know I’m capable of. If your results are clear, if your body feels good, if you’re guided by professionals and are informed, then yes, you can move through pregnancy.
Always remember that motherhood and being pregnant are just another facet of your life. In short, womanhood is more than that. You are beyond that.
To every woman out there who’s been told to slow down, to sit still, or stay stagnant—this is your reminder: You are allowed to evolve. You are allowed to move. You are allowed to do it your way.
Let them say what they want—just keep showing them what’s possible.
