Allie Gibbons didn’t plan to run 300 miles whereas pregnant—she had already dedicated to the race earlier than she came upon she was anticipating. “I used to be registered to run Atacama previous to discovering out about my being pregnant,” Gibbs instructed Canadian Operating. “Whereas this little woman is the best present on the earth, working 300 miles whereas pregnant was not on my bingo card this yr.”
In early December, Gibbons not solely accomplished, however received, The Pace Undertaking Atacama, a roughly 300-mile extremely throughout Chile’s Atacama Desert, at 22 weeks pregnant. The race contains lengthy stretches at altitude, main temperature swings and minimal construction—circumstances that make it one of many extra demanding occasions in ultrarunning.
Residing on the street, working full-time
Gibbons and her accomplice (and crew), Sam Athertonat present reside nomadically, touring throughout the U.S. and Canada in a rig they constructed themselves. Her background is in sports activities efficiency teaching, however over the previous yr, she’s been working full-time. They plan to maneuver to Colorado in early 2026 forward of their daughter’s arrival, with some continued time on the street afterward.
“I’ve all the time been a runner to an extent,” she mentioned. “My athletic background began with soccer, and whereas I by no means had distinctive footwork, my pace all the time stood out.” Operating stayed leisure for years earlier than she moved into marathons, then aggressive racing.
A quick transfer into path and extremely
Gibbons found path working in December 2023 and progressed shortly. Inside months, she ran her first 50-miler, adopted by a 100-mile race. “The longer the gap, the extra I study myself, and I can’t get sufficient,” she mentioned.
She had raced The Pace Undertaking Atacama the yr earlier than as a part of a relay, which helped inform her choice to return. “I had by no means skilled a spot so desolate however so energetic,” she mentioned. “There’s an excessive amount of to find in that desert; I knew I wanted to spend extra time there. To be taught and to endure.”
Coaching with a altering physique
Preparation for Atacama seemed totally different this time round. Whereas Gibbons saved high-mileage coaching in place, her energy coaching elevated and sleep grew to become a precedence. “I believe the important thing to success with coaching for one thing so large throughout being pregnant was simply listening to my physique,” Gibbons mentioned. “Gas, relaxation, depth…the physique will let you know precisely what it wants if you understand how to hear.”
Earlier within the being pregnant, she ran Bigfoot 100, a 200-mile race in Washington’s Cascade Mountains, specializing in managing physique temperature and resting as wanted. Ending that race feeling robust gave her confidence heading into Atacama.
Clear strains round well being and security
Earlier than racing, Gibbons consulted medical professionals and obtained clearance to start out, with the recommendation to watch blood strain intently. Her crew additionally introduced a fetal Doppler, in order that Sam might test the child’s coronary heart fee through the race.
“I knew going into this that there was a robust risk I’d not end,” she mentioned. The race climbs from simply over 3,000 ft (914 metres) to above 14,000 ft (4,267 metres) within the first 100 kilometres. “If I wanted to tug out, I’d have. To me, it was a threat value taking.”
Excessive circumstances, fixed help
Atacama delivered wide-ranging circumstances, from intense daytime warmth to freezing nights with robust winds. Gibbons skilled extra swelling in her legs and ft than ordinary, sufficient to require footwear a full dimension bigger.
Assist made a distinction. Giant sections of the course run alongside desert roads, permitting crew automobiles to entry runners ceaselessly. “Attending to endure on this place that appears otherworldly, whereas having the fixed help of Sam and my pals, made this my most memorable problem but,” she mentioned.
On judgment and what comes subsequent
Gibbons anticipated criticism, and obtained some, however says the response has been largely supportive. “The one folks judging are those that aren’t within the enviornment,” she mentioned. “Ladies deserve extra examples of what’s attainable.” For now, she isn’t planning main races earlier than her daughter arrives. She expects to return to teaching as soon as they’re settled in Colorado. “I don’t know what the subsequent huge journey might be,” she mentioned. “I’ll let it name me ahead when it’s prepared.”
