This professional runner — who is eight months pregnant — just raced in the U.S. Track and Field Championships

In case you needed a kick in the butt to get outside this weekend, look no further than the story of Alysia Montano.

The professional runner has taken gold in the 800 meters at each of the past four U.S. Track and Field Championships. So it makes sense that Montano, 28, wouldn't want to let her streak end without a pretty good reason. Eight months pregnant? Yeah, I'd say that qualifies, but instead of bowing out of the event, Montano decided to race on Thursday anyway.

Montano certainly knew she wasn't going to win the race. Her own personal best of 1:57:34 is nearly 35 seconds faster than her Thursday time (2 minutes, 32.13 seconds). But with a "go ahead" from her doctors, the runner did reach her tweaked-for-a-pregnancy goal of not getting lapped.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

"I did all the things I normally do (to get ready)," Montano said afterward. "I just happened to be pregnant."