Pro runner Jordan Hogan on staying active in her third trimester
Jordan Hogan might be known for her blistering pace and marathon grit, but these days, the professional runner is taking things a little slower — and soaking in the experience of her first pregnancy.
Now in her third trimester and due in early August, Jordan is using an H2X Challenger 15 D swim spa to stay active, recover, and find comfort in the final weeks before baby. The swim spa, installed in her Pennsylvania backyard, offers a space where she can continue to move and feel like herself.
We caught up with Jordan to talk about her pregnancy, how she’s using her swim spa, and what she’s looking forward to — postpartum and beyond.
A Q&A with Jordan Hogan: Training, pregnancy, and staying active in the water
Athletics might be in Jordan Hogan’s DNA. When her parents, Joe and Teresa, first met at a Gold’s Gym in Los Angeles in 1987, Joe was a bodybuilder and Teresa was a competitive swimmer. Her mom taught her how to swim and, later, Jordan would join her on her daily runs.
It didn’t take long for Jordan to start setting her own pace. She joined the junior high track team as a fourth grader and quickly gained attention for beating the boys. As she moved through high school and then on to the University of Oregon, Jordan built a reputation as one of the top distance runners in the country. She holds the record for the fastest marathon debut by an American woman and has stood on the podium at major marathons, including Boston.
Now, as she enters the final weeks of her first pregnancy, movement still plays a central role in her life — just in a different way.
Back in the water
When Jordan partnered with Master Spas in 2020, she had a swim spa installed in her California home. It quickly became one of her favorite training tools. The pool spa aided in her recovery after long runs, supplemented her mileage, and simulated marathon workouts without the impact.
But after moving across the country, Jordan had to leave her original swim spa behind. And for a while, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to bring that tool back into her routine.
“I kind of thought that era was over,” she says. “We weren’t able to ship it across the country, and for a bit we were in a townhouse without the space. But when we moved into our new house, and I got pregnant, I started thinking about reaching out again.”
At around 20 weeks, she reconnected with the Master Spas team.
“I just realized my running was going to be limited, and I knew how helpful the swim spa had been before,” she says. “Plus, when I started sharing more about training during pregnancy, I saw how much people — especially women — connected with it.”
Staying active in the third trimester
Jordan is now in her third trimester and still running about 30 miles a week. But she’s shifted a large part of her training into the water. Water exercise is something she’s found to be especially important as her body changes.
“I’ve been getting really bad rib pain, and just using the jets has been super beneficial,” she says. “I’ll get in there three times a day just to use the swim jets. They give a stronger massage, and that’s what I’m used to from deep tissue work as a pro athlete.”
She also uses the swim spa for cardio, including swimming and aqua jogging. “We filled the spa a little higher so I can use my belt and run against the current,” she says. “It’s a way to stay moving without the impact.”
That ability to stay active has made a difference in her overall well-being.
“When I’m running right now, I feel like a whale,” Jordan says, laughing. “But when I get in the swim spa, I don’t feel like I’m pregnant at all. It’s just so nice to have that sort of therapy.”
H2X Fitness Swim Spas, which are designed for year-round exercise and relaxation, offer the best of a pool with the therapy of a hot tub. The Challenger 15 D, the model Jordan has at home, features six airless swim jets that create a steady current for swimming in place, aqua jogging, or other water exercise. There are also contoured hot tub seats with adjustable massage jets for targeted hydrotherapy and stress relief.
Real talk: Training during pregnancy
For Jordan, navigating training during pregnancy has been a learning experience — and one she’s still figuring out.
“It’s really hard to find information,” she says. “I’ve actually reached out to more triathletes than runners, because they’ve been more open about their experiences.”
Most of the guidance she found was general: Keep doing what you were doing before. But as a professional runner who’s logged 130-mile training weeks, that didn’t quite translate.
“Obviously I’m not doing that now,” she says. “But there weren’t a lot of specific resources. And when there’s no information, it’s easy to wonder, ‘Should I just stop?’”
Instead, she’s focused on finding balance. “You might need to reduce intensity or volume, or watch your heart rate. But you don’t have to stop. The swim spa really gave me a way to keep moving in a safe, low-impact way.”
Movement has been a big part of Jordan’s pregnancy — not just for training, but for overall wellness.
“I’ve read a lot now about how movement is good for the placenta and blood flow,” Jordan says. “My OB told me if I go to term, I’ll probably have a nine-pound baby. It’s been a healthy pregnancy, and I’ve been able to stay active.”
Postpartum recovery and long-term goals
Jordan is planning to ease back into training after baby arrives, and she anticipates that the swim spa will play a big role in her postpartum fitness journey.
“I don’t want to rush back,” she says. “Once I get cleared by my doctor, I’ll be able to get in the water before I even start running. It’ll help build cardio and get my body moving again.”
She hopes to start racing again in the spring, maybe a half or full marathon, and is looking ahead to the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. “I’d love to be there in the marathon,” she says.
Longer term, she’s also thinking about a transition to triathlon. “I’ve gotten into cycling recently, and of course I’ve always loved swimming. So it’s something I’m open to.”
The Challenger 15 D supports all of those goals. More than that, though, it’s also about fitting fitness into her life as a new mom.
“Our closest pool is 20 minutes away,” she says. “That’s as long as a swim could take me. So just having it right in our backyard is incredible.”
Simple setup
The delivery and installation process, Jordan says, was smooth. “Every time I’ve had a swim spa delivered, it’s been easy,” she says. “The local dealer was great. We didn’t need a crane this time, so that made it even simpler.”
“And using it is so easy. The new touchscreen is amazing, and right now it’s so hot here that we’re not even using the heater. It’s super efficient.”
Jordan says she’s excited to use the swim spa for her family, too. “My husband is learning to swim, and we’re looking into infant swim lessons,” she says. “It’s already a part of our daily lives.”
Learn more about how an H2X Fitness Swim Spa can support your goals in any stage of life. Contact a swim spa dealer near you or explore our full range of swim spas.