Georgia on my mind

 Rock 'n' Roll Savannah

Now for Marathon number 3: Rock-n-Roll Savannah and southern state #2 done with one big hiccup: losing my walled in an airport.  Spoiler: someone turned it in, no cash or credit cards missing or used.

Apparently losing your wallet happens a lot while flying.  Yes, you can successfully travel if you lose your wallet and I am proof (just ask Caroline. I'm sure I was super annoying on this trip!).  I stayed in the local airport (Hilton Head International) until Caroline arrived.  Thank goodness I had plenty of knitting with me for this trip.  Crisis of boredom solved!

I was able to finish one of these mittens while waiting.

Savannah is my favorite southern city.  I love it more than the hometown area of the Holy City, AKA Charleston, SC, and was looking forward to the trip because, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA!  Fun fact: Forrest Gump's many bench scenes were filmed in the city. Getting a selfie in the square where the movie was filmed is important, too. Ugh social media and gen-yer with pseudo-millennial tendencies!  Savannah is a charming city.  Parking may be a beast with larger events and tourist season and the city is navigable by foot.  

The pre-race dinner and beer  #1 was at Paula Deen's restaurant.  Caroline and I commented that we were most likely not up to the standard dress code for the restaurant. Who cares - we came just for the salty and fried food.  Race mistake: don't overload on greasy food the night before.

As mentioned, this race is part of the Rock 'n' Roll series of races (owned by a large conglomerate that also owns the Ironman triathalon series).  These races are large but be mindful that not many people are crazy enough to run a marathon. So, the first half was great - lots of live bands to listen to while running. Not so much on the back half.

I took lots of selfies - none in the location where Forrest Gump was filmed.  Imagine my disappointment when I realized I ran past Chippewa Square sans photo.  Needless to say, running through the historic district was my favorite parts of this race.  

Race day started off a bit chilly then warmed up into the 70s.  Don't forget to bring throw-away clothes if you travel for marathons.  Rookie mistake: I shed one of my favorite hoodies en route.  Many of the race organizations donate discarded clothing to local shelters - so it is easiest to do this close to mile marker signs.

The race after party is HUGE.  But then again, the Rock 'n' Roll series has a large draw.  Post finish line your medal is donned plus you are handed too much to hold as far as beverages and sacks go.  

This was a PR race for me, finishing at 4:58:21.  I may have trained for this one!

Savannah is a charming city and has limited flight options into and out of the area. Keep this in mind when making travel arrangements.  Late check-outs are always a bonus!

Curious about the gear, pros and cons? Here is a readers digest synopsis of my experience with this race:

Shoes: Altra Paradigm 4.0

Compression: Whatever I purchased off a large internet retailer

Pros: Organized race, music for most of the half marathon, flat course, and running past where Forrest Gump was filmed, southern charm, opportunity for a PR

Cons: Limited entertainment for the full marathon

Race injuries: Toe blisters

Rating: 4 out of 5 running shoes.  I would recommend for anyone wanting to complete a marathon, or a 50-stater who wants to run a race in Georgia.