Glitter and Dust

The Spirit of an Athlete.

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
  • Running and Triathlon
    • Race Results
    • Race Recaps
    • My Triathlon Journey
    • Training
    • Mind and Body
    • Sports Psychology
  • Travel
    • International Travel
    • Within The 50 States
  • Pregnancy and Motherhood
    • Weekly Updates
    • Running and Staying Healthy
    • Postpartum Fitness and Recovery
    • Life As A Mom
  • My Favorites
    • Blog Roll
    • Fitness Gear
    • Posts

My First…And Last Half Marathon of 2015

April 28, 2015 by Kristen 32 Comments

I had zero expectations when I signed up for the inaugural Bend Half Marathon a few months ago. I knew I would be 5 months pregnant and had no idea what my body would look like or how it would respond to running 13.1 miles with a preggo belly. What I did know was that I did not want to miss Bend’s first marathon and half marathon race, as part of the Gorgeous Race Series.

Bend Marathon and Half

While I have competed in races and events across the country, each of which had its own special appeal to me, running in my hometown is something that I love to do. Waking up in your own bed, going through your familiar routine, seeing friends at the start line, and celebrating with them afterwards in my opinion all combines to create a more comforting atmosphere no matter where you live, but I think it’s particularly so in Bend.

And while this was not my fastest half marathon (about 15 minutes slower than my PR) I was able to meet all of my goals and even surprised myself a little along the way. Let me break it down.

* The race started at 7:30am in downtown Bend. Parking was easy and there was plenty of space to warm up and hang out with family and friends.

Bend-Marathon-Start-Area

* The temperature at the start was perfect (~35 degrees) and there was not a cloud in the sky. A typical Bend day.

* After kissing my husband goodbye we were off, cruising along the first three miles of flat pavement through neighborhoods and alongside the Deschutes River. Who doesn’t want to stampede in the early hours through a bunch of residential areas, shaking the ground, and sparking the curiosity of those still in bed?

* Miles 4-8 were along a wide dirt path paralleling the river once again. One could easily argue that this was the most beautiful section of the course. At least, that’s what I kept hearing from runners around me.

Bend-Marathon-and-Half-Marathon

* These miles were also the most technical, with a few steep climbs – enough to get the lungs and legs equally burning. Are we warmed up yet?

* There were aid stations every 2-3 miles, with some of the most amped up and encouraging volunteers I have ever seen. I made it a point to drink lots of water and thank those who were so graciously taking time out of their day.

* I saw my husband at mile 7 and threw him my long sleeve top. It was a very spectator friendly course and Justin was able to ride his bike around to catch me at numerous locations. I saw him at least 6 times and at one point he even rode his bike alongside me from a distance, cheering me on.

* Miles 8 and 9 were two of my favorite, as the course led runners back into downtown Bend, through a half-mile long tunnel of wild, yelling spectators. For me, it was like filling up the tank with gas and feeling completely recharged for the next round of mileage. Spectators truly are a runner’s best friend.

Bend-Marathon-and-Half-Marathon

* I got a high five from Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas at mile 9. When the elites take time out of their day to come out and cheer runners on, that is pretty awesome.

* The last 4 miles were the most familiar, as I have run the Old Mill District to Drake Park route countless times while training. This is where I was able to pick up the pace and pass other runners. I have been in both positions before so I know that when you are the runner who is thriving and whisking by other runners who are surviving off fumes, it’s a good feeling.

Bend-Marathon-and-Half-Marathon

* The finish area downtown was lined with people. The support from the crowd was beautiful and I saw a lot of familiar faces. Thank you Bend!!! Baby boy and I crossed the finish line with a chip time of 1:53:36.

* When I crossed the finish line one of my friends, Rainie, and her daughter were volunteering and passing out medals. I was elated to see her and excited to receive THE coolest medal I have earned by crossing the finish line. This one is dedicated to the growing life inside me.

Bend-Marathon-Finish-Line

* The course was not easy and had roughly 730ft of elevation gain. Thankfully, I had run it enough to know what to expect and how to pace myself.  My heart rate stayed fairly consistent throughout.

Bend-Half-Marathon-Course-Profile

* The race swag was pretty impressive. We received a fancy long sleeved shirt, Picky Bar, gift card to Jamba Juice, gum, discounts to other local races, a beer token (free beer = poor pregnant Kristen), and a wall mountable beer bottle opener finisher medal.

Bend-Marathon-Swag

* My only disappointment was with the food at the finish. They offered bananas and bagels, but nothing else. The bananas were fine but the bagels were sitting out and somewhat dry. It would have been nice to be able to throw some peanut butter on them, or something. I will let it slide this time because it is an inaugural event but hopefully they will add a little more variety next year. And after all, most people in Bend run for the post-race beer anyway. If I had been able to imbibe in that, it might have been a slightly different story.

My three goals for the race were to negative split (most importantly), finish under two hours, and have fun/listen to my body. I am happy to report that I achieved all of these goals and was able to finish feeling fresh and strong. I definitely could have kept going if I wasn’t pregnant.

Bend-Marathon-and-Half-Marathon-Finish

By the way, negative splits are awesome. I don’t know why I have struggled to run one in my pre-pregnant body, but I can guarantee you that I will be making this a habit more often when I start racing again. There is something mentally invigorating about going faster in those last few miles, picking off people left and right.

What was it like running a half marathon 5 months pregnant?

I don’t know what it is about the race environment, but my body felt great. I became more energized as the race when on and enjoyed myself a majority of the time. Yes, there were moments of fatigue and round ligament pain, but they were short lived and would come and go. Oddly enough, the downhill sections were hardest on my body because of the force and impact.

The baby seems to cooperate when I run races because I didn’t have to stop to use the restroom ONCE. This was incredibly surprising to me. That being said, I went about 10 times before the race, so “things” were empty.

Bend-Marathon-and-Half-Marathon

Running a half marathon 5 months pregnant is not easy. The extra weight definitely takes a toll on the body, and the way my body has changed in subtle ways has altered my running mechanics ever so slightly. I can feel and see a difference in my running form.

It was also a little bittersweet as this was my first and likely only half marathon (or longer) distance race in 2015. I am very grateful that I put in the time and effort to complete this event, but it still feels really weird knowing that it will be a year before I start racing these distances again. Perhaps I will throw a 5K or 10K into the mix in the next few months for enjoyment.

Once the race was over I was completely done and needed to get off my feet. It would have been nice to hang around to cheer others on, but my body was noticeably going downhill fast. I was couch bound and horizontal the rest of the day, with a lot of ligament pain around my lower abdomen and groin. I guess that is the sacrifice I make for running that kind of distance. Because of the impact that it had on my body, it is unlikely that I will continue running miles in the double digits – unless they are very slow and I feel up to it.

Final Thoughts on the Inaugural Event

The race organizers really did a great job of laying out a great course and getting the residents of Bend to come out and show support for runners. There is a good chance that I will add this as an annual event to my race calendar to show support for our local running community. Hopefully we will see it grow each year and bring people from all over.

Have you ever run a negative split?  How would you compare it to a positive split? 

Most memorable finishing medal or race bling you have ever received…

Anyone want to come to Bend next year and run this with me?  🙂

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Filed Under: Everything Else, Pregnancy, Race Recaps, Running and Cycling, Running and Triathlon Tagged With: Bend, Central Oregon, Goals, Half Marathon, Pregnancy, Running

« Week 19; Wild Dreams, Little Flutters, and A Cowboy Movie
Spectating at IM St. George 70.3 and Exploring Zion National Park »

Comments

  1. Kayla Lloyd says

    April 28, 2015 at 8:42 am

    You are so awesome!! The course really was beautiful, especially the first half (or in other words the half marathon portion). I loved running down on the deschutes trail!! The second half of the marathon was a little less amazing but mostly because I spent most of it running by myself which is never as much fun!! I agree with you on the food aspect, could have been a little bit better post race recovery food but it is the first race they’ve done and I thought they did a FANTASTIC job. Being down there reminded me how much I miss Bend, it is just such a beautiful and amazing place I wish I could live there!!! Way to go running a negative split those are hard to do!!
    Kayla Lloyd recently posted…Bend Marathon Race Week: TaperingMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Tiina says

    April 28, 2015 at 8:45 am

    That medal is awesome!

    I am only recently getting good at running negative split races. I end up with better times and enjoying the race significantly more. It;s so hard to do consistently though!
    Tiina recently posted…Tell Me Something Good TuesdayMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Liv @ Healthy Liv says

    April 28, 2015 at 9:35 am

    Wow, the race course does look beautiful! All of the road races I’ve done have been strictly on the roads and even on the highway, so this would be an awesome change.

    And I love doing races close to home– besides the fact that the course is more familiar, you don’t have to sit around for hours after the race getting back home! My favorite half marathon that I’ve done a couple of times on Thanksgiving is just about 15 minutes from my house, which is so nice.
    Liv @ Healthy Liv recently posted…Finals Week + the Tonight DoughMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Hanna @ TheMillennialNextDoor says

    April 28, 2015 at 9:48 am

    I do love that medal! This sounds like it was a gorgeous event. If it weren’t the weekend before my 2016 Spring Marathon I’d totally come run it with you next year!

    That is such an awesome finish time for someone who is pregnant and running some inclines! You are a rockstar!

    I usually run negative splits in my races and long runs, but just barely, and usually by accident. In races I usually end up staying pretty even in my pace, getting into race pace early on and just holding on. It might not be the most efficient strategy but starting slow makes me anxious and I hate having to do mental math to figure out how fast I need to run to get caught up, etc. I’m trying to get better about it though, especially in the marathon!
    Hanna @ TheMillennialNextDoor recently posted…Lessons from the Boston Marathon and my favorite gymnastMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Maddie @ Dixie Runs says

    April 28, 2015 at 9:58 am

    Wow you killed it!! Now you can always tell your son he ran a half marathon with you 🙂 The medal is pretty awesome too. Jealous of your gorgeous scenery, looks like an amazing race!

    Reply
  6. Rebecca@RunningFoodBaby says

    April 28, 2015 at 10:01 am

    Amazing job!!! Yes – pregnancy will definitely have an effect on your running form – both during and after pregnancy. Just takes some getting used to 🙂 Honestly, I feel that when I negative split, I recover much faster than if I positive split. I noticed a big difference between Ottawa Race Weekend in May (+ splits) and Army Run in the Fall (- splits). I felt awful during the last part of ORW, but felt super strong after Army Run.

    I will come and run in Bend if I can bring my tent and camp in your beautiful backyard! The food choices sounds JUST like Ottawa races. Stale bagels, bananas and rock hard granola bars 🙁
    Rebecca@RunningFoodBaby recently posted…Manotick Miler Race RecapMy Profile

    Reply
  7. molly says

    April 28, 2015 at 11:07 am

    Way to go k and bai! 😉 I will run it with you next year… My bro may actually be moving to Oregon soon so I’ll make him run it too!

    I love how you do your hair for races btw.
    molly recently posted…LiveFit Phase 2 ReviewMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Lee@tri*inspired*life says

    April 28, 2015 at 11:39 am

    Great report and race! This will be a really cool story to share with your son! Congrats on meeting all your goals. That is really special.

    Sounds like a fun race with neat swag…I love long sleeved t-shirts!
    Lee@tri*inspired*life recently posted…Training Update: Week of April 13My Profile

    Reply
  9. Caroline @ The Little Things says

    April 28, 2015 at 11:55 am

    It sounds like you had a great half, and the race sounds like a lot of fun! Love the swag they offered too. I love when a race has good swag 🙂
    Caroline @ The Little Things recently posted…Running Into Taper TimeMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Nicole says

    April 28, 2015 at 11:57 am

    Congrats! You are still really speedy even with a baby on board!

    I’ve negative split in a half – last year when I PRed at RnRSD an amazing negative split race and felt seriously like I was flying on air during the second half. I know it’s possible to negative split a full marathon but I seriously always doubt that I can do it. It’s a battle!

    I want to make a negative split at my upcoming (and last of 2015) half too! Great idea and always fun to fly by (or waddle maybe in my case?!) people at the end 🙂
    Nicole recently posted…Boy or Girl!? Gender Prediction Wives TalesMy Profile

    Reply
  11. ganeeban says

    April 28, 2015 at 12:07 pm

    “Spectators truly are a runner’s best friend.” This couldn’t be any more true. Loud cheers and awesome signs are the little things that give you a boost of energy. I love seeing smiling faces, it really reminds me to smile while I run! I love negative splits…except then I wonder, could I have pushed harder in the beginning part of the race? But, they are an awesome feeling, nonetheless! Congrats on running 5 months preggo, that’s so awesome! I hope I can do that when and if I ever have a child! Isn’t being part of an inaugural race so awesome, not everyone can say that! Congrats on a great race and hope you’re recovering nicely! PS-I’d love a high five from an elite any day! xoxo, ganeeban
    ganeeban recently posted…Thinking Out Loud – My First Game of the SeasonMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Kristen L says

    April 28, 2015 at 12:54 pm

    Way to go Kristen!! So glad to hear you had a fun race and met all your goals. The negative split is SO great. It really makes the whole race so mig more enjoyable to be able to have enough energy to finish strong while others are slowing down. Congrats on a fabulous race at 5 months pregnant. Id definitely come run this with you next year!! We thought about comig to Bend for it this year, but it was during our vacation.
    Kristen L recently posted…Race Recap: Corvallis Half Marathon. Running for TwoMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Brittany says

    April 28, 2015 at 1:54 pm

    Wow – you are amazing, what a great race! I would be happy with that time non-pregnant 🙂

    I did a 10K at just under 5 months, and I had the same issue with so much fatigue later that day, and the soreness in my groin area. I think I might have done my last run this weekend as it’s getting too uncomfortable/sore in my pelvis area 🙁 but I might try aqua jogging or something for a bit.

    Keep up the great work!

    Reply
  14. Sam @ Grapefruit & Granola says

    April 28, 2015 at 4:35 pm

    So glad you had a good race! I remember the post where you announced you were pregnant and you sounded a bit disappointed that you wouldn’t be able to “compete”. I hope you feel strong and empowered I think you are both!!!
    Sam @ Grapefruit & Granola recently posted…Tips for Building your Blog in the First YearMy Profile

    Reply
  15. Kecia says

    April 28, 2015 at 5:02 pm

    Congratulations on achieving all of your goals and still running a fairly fast 1/2 marathon while pregnant 🙂 That is the COOLEST finisher’s medal I’ve ever seen!! I would totally be mounting that to my wall!! I always get disappointed when races have a very poor food selection after the race…hopefully next year is better on that front 😉
    Kecia recently posted…14 Weeks ’til Ironman BoulderMy Profile

    Reply
  16. Kristina says

    April 28, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    I am really impressed! You did amazing and look incredibly strong in all the photos.

    One of my friends ran a half marathon 7 months pregnant a couple of years ago and she had to stop and use the potty a million times. She’s normally a 8-9 min/mile pace runner and it took her over 3:15 to finish the half that day due to all the potty breaks (and you know, being 7 months pregnant)! 🙂
    Kristina recently posted…Scorching HotMy Profile

    Reply
  17. Lauren @ Lauren Runs says

    April 28, 2015 at 7:40 pm

    Congrats on doing the half marathon! I’m sure it’s a weird feeling where you’re not in your normal competitive mode, and it sounds like you were able to separate those feelings to evaluate the race well. Good luck with your “training!” 🙂
    Lauren @ Lauren Runs recently posted…Warm Weather Workout GearMy Profile

    Reply
  18. Tina@GottaRunNow says

    April 29, 2015 at 6:27 am

    Congrats! Way to finish up your pre-baby racing season with a great race time/experience! It was the downhills in the Big Sur Marathon that taught me that downhills are not always your friend – time for a little R&R!
    Tina@GottaRunNow recently posted…Brazos Bend 50 Race Report: 5 Lessons Learned from My First 50 Mile RaceMy Profile

    Reply
  19. Hayley@healthyregardshayley says

    April 29, 2015 at 6:33 am

    Awesome that you still went out and did this! I’ll meet you in Bend next year (:
    Hayley@healthyregardshayley recently posted…Training (and racing) Summary 4.20 – 4.26My Profile

    Reply
  20. Megan @ Meg Go Run says

    April 29, 2015 at 6:36 am

    Congratulations on meeting all of your goals. 🙂
    Megan @ Meg Go Run recently posted…Bookmark this post. You need to bookmark this post.My Profile

    Reply
  21. Jamie says

    April 29, 2015 at 7:29 am

    I love your enthusiasm and drive as a competitive athlete! I’m so inspired by your comittment to stay fit through pregnancy! And I think you may have convinced me I need to run this race next year 🙂
    Jamie recently posted…Boston Part 2My Profile

    Reply
  22. Kim says

    April 29, 2015 at 10:33 am

    Love this!!! You are such an amazing athlete! (glad you still listened to your body – especially after the race)
    I used to make it my goal to negative split every race/every run – these days I run a little differently but still try to negative split on the rare occasions I race.
    Kim recently posted…The Courage to be DifferentMy Profile

    Reply
  23. Abby says

    April 29, 2015 at 3:58 pm

    Congratulations on a great race for you and baby!! I’m so happy to hear your body felt great and that round ligament pain wasn’t bad!
    You look so fantastic in your little running for two tank!
    I’d LOVE to come run this with you next year! Our hubbys can bike with the kids in bike trailers 🙂
    Abby recently posted…CurrentlyMy Profile

    Reply
  24. tiff @ love, sweat, & beers says

    April 30, 2015 at 11:20 am

    Way to go! I’m happy to hear you felt so great during the race. That’s faster than my non-preggo time! haha
    tiff @ love, sweat, & beers recently posted…It’s A…My Profile

    Reply
  25. erin says

    May 4, 2015 at 5:28 am

    So awesome, Kristen! You are such an inspiration, and it’s so cool to see you continuing to stay active (and negative split!) while pregnant! No doubt you’ll bounce right back post pregnancy and crush IM Canada 🙂 You can bet when my day comes and I’m pregnant, I’ll be looking to you as my example 🙂 Super cute tank and rad medal! xo.

    Reply
  26. kristin says

    May 4, 2015 at 8:11 am

    You are so freaking adorable, it’s not even funny!! 🙂 You are such an inspiration to me, as I hope to run when preggo one day. I love seeing from you that it IS possible to still race when preggo, even if it’s a little slower than you would normally run, it’s still running. Way to go on the negative split! I was able to do this at Boston and like you said, I will try my best to do this from now on… easier said than done, right? I had a positive split at Boston last year and it was horrible!! Once you know what a negative split feels like ,it can be life changing. p.s. I’m jealous you got to slap hands with Jesse and Lauren! Keep up the AWESOME work!! So happy for you!
    kristin recently posted…the joy of running in the rain… a Boston Marathon 2015 recapMy Profile

    Reply
  27. Leslie @ Triathlete Treats says

    May 5, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    Nice job!! Sounds like a fun race!! So fun that you saw Lauren & Jesse!! I have met Jesse at a few races!
    I have done a few negative splits. I always do better when I start slower and finish faster!! 🙂 Plenty of positive splits too!
    One of my favorite race medals is the Big Sur ceramic Medallion!

    Reply
  28. Jen@jpabstfitness says

    May 6, 2015 at 6:33 pm

    Great job!!!
    Jen@jpabstfitness recently posted…Coconut Banana Berry Protein SmoothieMy Profile

    Reply
  29. Sarah @ Sweet Miles says

    May 28, 2015 at 8:43 am

    You are a beast!!!! My bladder could not have taken that! I am seriously so impressed! Go girl go!!!
    Sarah @ Sweet Miles recently posted…Pregnancy: Week 19My Profile

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Weeks 20 and 21; A New House, Shopping Extravaganza, and Time For a Vacation - Glitter and Dust says:
    May 9, 2015 at 9:49 am

    […] Exercise: As many of you know, I finished my first preggo half marathon over a week ago. You can read about it here. […]

    Reply
  2. Baby On Board: Exercise in the Second Trimester - Glitter and Dust says:
    June 22, 2015 at 4:50 pm

    […] long as running feels manageable, I refuse to part ways with the sport I love. Up until my half marathon at week 20, I didn’t experience a lot of issues with running. It wasn’t until the bump started to emerge […]

    Reply
  3. How Kristen (is getting) Her Groove Back - Glitter and Dust says:
    April 28, 2017 at 12:57 pm

    […] event in 2015. This was the second time I have done this race, as I participated when I was 5 months pregnant with Axel a couple years back, and it was just as I remembered – sunny, windy, and hilly. The course was […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Glitter and Dust About Me Photo

Hi, I’m Kristen. Thank you for stopping by. Follow me along my journey of becoming a faster runner, endurance triathlete, and world traveler. I’ll also mix in a few random musings, open up about life, and share my adventures around my hometown of Bend, Oregon.

Image Map

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • Ironman St. George 70.3 Sufferfest
  • Ironman World Championship
  • Kona Recap – Better Late Than Never
  • Kona Bound! My Ironman Canada Age Group Win (What?!?!?)
  • Ironman 70.3 Coeur d’Alene
Stitch Fix

Grab a Button

Glitter and Dust Button

Archives

  • May 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013

Get Your Fix:

Africa Axel Bend Camano Island Camping Central Oregon Christmas CIM Cycling Food Food Carts Football Girls Weekend Goals Half Marathon Hiking Ironman Boise Ironman Canada Ironman CdA Ironman Lake Stevens Kayaking Kenya Life Marathon motherhood postpartum Pregnancy Pregnancy Updates Psychology Race Running Safari Seahawks Seattle Seattle Marathon Skiing Snow Sunriver Swimming Training Traveling the World Triathlon Vacation Walla Walla Wine

Top Posts & Pages

  • Our Travel and Adventure Themed Nursery
  • Blog Roll
  • About Me
  • One Of The Best Birthdays... Ever!
  • Paradise Found in Mexico's Isla Holbox
Copyright © 2016 · Glitter and Dust · All Rights Reserved · Blog Designed by Riss Blog Design.