Tag Archives: half marathon

2017…. Back in the Saddle

February 19, 2017
Jen Bendewish
0 comments
13.1, 26.2, complete nutrition, half marathon, marathon, run, running, TeamRWB

Seems like just yesterday I was racing IRONMAN, Texas, even though that was almost two years ago. Life threw me a few curve balls through 2015 and 2016, but I am excited to be back in a healthy, active lifestyle and racing again.

I kicked off 2017 with the Big Beach Marathon in Alabama on January 29, 2017. The Big Beach Marathon was the first marathon I ever actually considering quitting. Mile 22 was the infamous mile in which I reached into my FlipBelt, grabbed my phone and texted for a pick up. I got no response from the other end so I kept trudging along. By mile 23 I was upset that I still didn’t get a response and bargained with myself that if I made it to mile 24 that I would go ahead and finish. I ended up finishing. The Big Beach Marathon was indeed my slowest finish time ever, but every once in awhile a humbling experience like that reminds us to be grateful that we can even get out there and complete 26.2 miles.

I followed up the Big Beach Marathon with the Tallahassee Half Marathon a week later. The hilly and beautiful winding course was a welcome change of scenery. I ran the Tallahassee Half Marathon with a friend/coach and catching up on life for 13.1 miles always makes those miles go by a little faster.

30?, 438 Jennifer Bendewish, 823 Maria Matheu

A few other exciting notes for 2017…. I am honored to be representing Complete Nutrition as a Complete Nutrition Tallahassee Athlete for 2017 and a social media influencer for Rose City Triathlon Club. Looking forward to sharing training, travels, adventures, and races this year!

#TallahasseeMarathon 2015 Recap

Third time taking on the Tallahassee Marathon (second time taking on the full) and I have yet to show up feeling 100%. I tapered the best I could considering having run New Orleans just two weeks before.

EXPO

The Tallahassee Marathon is a smaller race that brings out about 850 half marathoners and less than 350 marathoners. Hal Higdon was the guest speaker at the EXPO and I believe runners from all around Tallahassee came to the Expo to hear him speak. With two little girls in tow and standing room only to hear Hal Higdon speak, I decided to listen for just a few minutes. There were a few more vendors at the Expo this year and it was great to see and talk to some running buddies I hadn’t seen since last year’s marathon.

Continue reading →

#RnRNOLA 2015 New Orleans Marathon Recap

I am so grateful for mother-in-law for accompanying me on this trip, for taking great care of me and my girls and making wonderful memories. It would not have been possible without her.

I am so, so, so very glad I decided to a Rock ‘n’ Roll event and it only took me two years of talking about it before I actually did one.

I picked the Rock ‘n’ New Orleans Marathon (#RnRNOLA) for a few reasons. It was close to home (5 hrs driving distance), it was in January, the city is amazing, flat, and full of history, and most importantly it was the week before my birthday. Yes, it is one of my birthday presents to myself.

The trip ended up being a girls trip: my mother-in-law, two munchkins, and me! The Thursday before the trip I had all the symptoms of catching the cold that was making it’s way through my house; no wonder my taper week felt terrible. Continue reading →

HALF FANATIC Application

My love of running began in the late 1990’s, but it wasn’t until 2011 that I ran my first 5k. Admittedly, it had been a few years since I had run regularly and getting through more than one mile was more than challenging. On top of that, I was also nursing my youngest, who was eight months old at the time.

My finish time would not have passed an Army physical fitness test, but I was overjoyed just to finish. I walked away from this event with a renewed passion for running. Four months later, I found myself in a regular running routine and often surfing the internet looking for local races.

Since May 2011, I have run several 5ks, 10ks, four half marathons, and one full marathon. I have run races with my kids in a double jogging stroller, I have raced dressed up, and I have raced on hot days and races where it was pouring rain. Currently, my favorite distance is half marathon.

More than a year ago, I had a few friends tell me about Half Fanatics and told me to apply. I finally got around to getting my membership application in this week and am anxiously awaiting my Half Fanatics member number. I have qualified for the first level- Neptune (one moon). Am I already looking at races so that I can move up to the next level in the Half Fanatic hierarchy? Of course I am!

Are you half-marathon crazy? Click here to learn more!