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.
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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
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.
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? 🙂
Kayla Lloyd says
April 28, 2015 at 8:42 amYou 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!!
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Tiina says
April 28, 2015 at 8:45 amThat 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!
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Liv @ Healthy Liv says
April 28, 2015 at 9:35 amWow, 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.
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Hanna @ TheMillennialNextDoor says
April 28, 2015 at 9:48 amI 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!
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Maddie @ Dixie Runs says
April 28, 2015 at 9:58 amWow 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!
Rebecca@RunningFoodBaby says
April 28, 2015 at 10:01 amAmazing 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 🙁
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molly says
April 28, 2015 at 11:07 amWay 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.
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Lee@tri*inspired*life says
April 28, 2015 at 11:39 amGreat 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!
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Caroline @ The Little Things says
April 28, 2015 at 11:55 amIt 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 Time
Nicole says
April 28, 2015 at 11:57 amCongrats! 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 🙂
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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
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Kristen L says
April 28, 2015 at 12:54 pmWay 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 Two
Brittany says
April 28, 2015 at 1:54 pmWow – 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!
Sam @ Grapefruit & Granola says
April 28, 2015 at 4:35 pmSo 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!!!
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Kecia says
April 28, 2015 at 5:02 pmCongratulations 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 😉
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Kristina says
April 28, 2015 at 6:12 pmI 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)! 🙂
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Lauren @ Lauren Runs says
April 28, 2015 at 7:40 pmCongrats 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!” 🙂
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Tina@GottaRunNow says
April 29, 2015 at 6:27 amCongrats! 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!
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Hayley@healthyregardshayley says
April 29, 2015 at 6:33 amAwesome that you still went out and did this! I’ll meet you in Bend next year (:
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Megan @ Meg Go Run says
April 29, 2015 at 6:36 amCongratulations on meeting all of your goals. 🙂
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Jamie says
April 29, 2015 at 7:29 amI 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 🙂
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Kim says
April 29, 2015 at 10:33 amLove 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.
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Abby says
April 29, 2015 at 3:58 pmCongratulations 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 🙂
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tiff @ love, sweat, & beers says
April 30, 2015 at 11:20 amWay to go! I’m happy to hear you felt so great during the race. That’s faster than my non-preggo time! haha
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erin says
May 4, 2015 at 5:28 amSo 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.
kristin says
May 4, 2015 at 8:11 amYou 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!
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Leslie @ Triathlete Treats says
May 5, 2015 at 9:22 pmNice 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!
Jen@jpabstfitness says
May 6, 2015 at 6:33 pmGreat job!!!
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Sarah @ Sweet Miles says
May 28, 2015 at 8:43 amYou are a beast!!!! My bladder could not have taken that! I am seriously so impressed! Go girl go!!!
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