Olympic track star Alysia Montano is eight months pregnant, but that didn’t stop her from competing in the 800-meter race at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday. Montano for the most part actually never really stopped training during her pregnancy, just scaled back a little bit at times. Montano became comfortable with the idea of running in the race when she was told by a doctor that the exercise would be beneficial to her as well as her baby. “That took away any fear of what the outside world might think about a woman running in pregnancy or exercise in general,” Montano said. “What I found out mostly was that exercising and maintaining during pregnancy is actually much better for the mom and the baby.” Hit the jump.

@IamJoeSports

I’ve been running through my entire pregnancy, and I felt really, really good during the whole process. I definitely was like, OK, I think I can run a pretty decent time. I didn’t have a time on it [that I wanted to run]. I just knew I didn’t want to get lapped, be the first person to ever get lapped in an 800-meter. More than anything, I wanted to be here, and I’m feeling that fire and that desire to be on the track and to race. What a better avenue than to do it at USA Nationals.

She didn’t fare to well coming in last place, almost a full 30 seconds behind the next slowest runner. She knew she had no chance to win she wanted to just be there for the experience and for her team.

The 28-year-old Montano finished fifth in the 800-meter race at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She also won bronze at the 2010 World Indoor Championships, so there is no question that she is an elite athlete when in top form. No doubt she will return to that form after her pregnancy.