Bird in Hand: An amazing experience

I wish times were simpler before COVID.  I ran the Bird in Hand half marathon in September 2018.  And of course, I met Caroline in Lancaster, PA for the experience.  I heard a lot about this race from other runners: "the medal is a real horse shoe" "it is something you have to experience" "the Amish can run" "some run in their filed boots."  All of those statements are true but cannot help you feel the experience that is the Bird in Hand half marathon.

The race takes place in Lancaster county, PA as a series over a weekend, starting with packet pickup and other race expo festivities on Friday afternoon and a 5K on Friday evening.  This 5K was a PR for me: 28:53.  Don't forget, this was pre-exercise induced asthma diagnosis.  My goal was to beat a young little boy who ran quite well.  

Caroline and I headed toward the race the next morning. The weather wasn't so great as it was a little muggy, wet, and we were not sure how long the rain would last. Thankfully, the rain stopped prior to the race start.  Port-a-potties were ample at the start and each had a motivational phrase inside.  I thought it was a great start to a race and what a smart idea.  Trapped in the 3x3 plastic portable toilet with a motivational phrase.  

The race course takes you through rolling hill farmland in Bird in Hand, Pa. There were plenty of corn fields throughout the race course as well as many of the community members providing support at the water stops.  Many of the community members participate in the run, too.  And wow!  They can run!  Some are in running shoes, field gear.  Women are wearing dresses and men are in their field gear.  This race is something to experience.

The entry fee for the race helps to support the Bird in Hand volunteer fire company.  5K participant race swag includes a t-shirt; half marathon race swag includes a t-shirt and medal; firehouse challenge participants receive a bonus item: race hat.

Staying in the area is affordable and more so when the cost of the hotel stay is split.  Parking on race day is ample - just make sure to go early to make it to the starting line in a timely manner and enjoy the race day. 

Post Race Selfie. Check out that medal!

5K Time (a new PR): 28:53

13.1 Time: 2:22:15

Travel Expenses:

Gas:  two tanks full with the six hour drive.

Lodging: Shared, Roughly $100 per person.

Dining: $200-ish over two days of travel.

Fire Company Challenge Race Fee: $110

Miscellaneous Expenses: I bought a pair of Louboutin heels.  Just happened to be near King of Prussia. Oops. Amount not disclosed here.

Estimated cost sans fancy red bottom shoes: $500.  Much less than previous travel since I drove to the destination. 

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

Shoes: Topo Flylite 2

Compression: None

Pros: Rolling hills, easy to follow course, supportive community, great race medal, chill crowd, firehouse challenge

Cons: Humidity

Race injuries: None :)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 running shoes.  I would travel to participate with friends.

Gettin' Lucky in Kentucky: Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon

I ran the Run the Bluegrass half marathon in March 2018 and somehow convinced the family to drive from New England to race country in Kentucky.  The race is self-proclaimed as America's prettiest half marathon.  The race course spans from the track and Kneeland through roads that take you to several horse farms and back to the track.  

I happen to be writing this in 2021 - on the same weekend as the race.  

The drive was a bit of a stretch for the kiddos - but there was a plan. Caroline was going to be in Kentucky with her family - so the kids could see each other.  I call that a parent win - kiddos enjoyed the visit.

The race expo was hoppin!  Some of the race memorabilia for purchase sold out during the expo.  I was hoping to add to the trucker hat collection.  Packet pickup was organized as well.  Pick up your bib, grab your race shirt, stickers, or any other swag.  Things were so well organized I would consider doing this race again!  And of course, it felt like a back-yard party at the expo.

Race day started off a bit on the cooler side, so I dressed up in way more layers than were needed.  Fortunately, the main building was large enough to hold a crowd of runners, support indoor lines in and out of the bathroom, and pre-race yoga.  A great start to a half marathon.

The Pre-Race Selfie

Race day was a bit chilly so I layered up - should have brought some throw-away items!  The course warmed up fast!  I stopped along the route to remove some layers- this caused me to lose a few minutes on the course.  So did a pit stop or two during the race.

The race course is a bit hilly - more on the back half than the front half.  Mile 9 was THE WORST.  The signs on the hill were entertaining and great motivators.  My favorite was "Ain't no time for Walken" with a picture of the infamous Christopher Walken.  

No race is complete unless you have a post-race medal-wearing selfie!

It was nice to have the family at the finish line and to see them cheering runners on.  I saw the fam right before I crossed the finish line 💗.  The kids asked what took me so long.  Ha!  My pace is a bit on the slower side.  After all, I don't really train...

This race was a PR for me: 2:20:55 for a finish time without much training.  I have no clue how long my longest run was prior to race day.  I'm pretty sure I ran the Little Rock Marathon before this race.

Cannot leave Kentucky without some bourbon crafted by the race sponsor

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

Shoes: Topo Flylite 2

Compression: I don't remember...

Pros: Felt like a party, race signs, perfect running weather, near Bourbon country, Half Marathon PR

Cons: Hilly back half 

Race injuries: Nada! I felt great 😁

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 running shoes.  I would consider doing this again but fly rather than drive.

So, I went back to South Carolina

 Myrtle Beach Marathon, 2020

Running along the strip in Myrtle Beach

I traveled to Myrtle Beach as we were amping up for a lock-down thanks to SARS-CoV-2.  This would be the last in-person marathon I run for a while.

Travel day was noting too unusual.  Fly in, grab luggage. The hotel had not shuttle so I hitched a ride via Uber to the hotel.  Note: Caroline and I stayed in the hotel recommended by the race organizers.  Great, makes lodging easy to book.  The down-side is that we were not extended a late check-out after running 26.2 and the hotel was rude about storing out bags while we ran.  The race was held during the start of spring break/tourist  season to the beach town.  It was not overly-crowded, either.  It would be nice to grant the late check-out to race participants since we  are helping to support the economy in the area.

The pre-race dinner and post-race lunch were at Dirty Don's Oyster Bar and ate tuna tacos for both meals.  Plus had a pint with each one.  

I managed to score a Bloody Mary from one of the few race spectators.

The course was flat as advertised and the crowd was not bad - not too much traffic.  But the spectator race support was not there.  You get used to this as a runner and it helps with motivation.  There were a couple of golden nuggets with this marathon: the post-race party was chill, finishers medal and tank (yes! two race shirts).  I still sport the finisher tank on summer run days.

His sign says "No Melt Downs"  Best one of this race!

Come prepared with a cooler weather set of clothes and a warm day set.  I was cold & windy for most of the run due to the overcast day and high humidity.  The sun decided to peek and wind died down toward the end of the time I was on the course.  Go figure.  

Sporting the Finisher Medal

The post race party was chill.  Pizza was served and runners were able to get up to two refreshing beers to help wind down after  26.2 miles of man-powered road time.

Chip time: 5:13:41

Only 0.2 miles to go - and I'm taking a selfie?!?

Travel Cost

Airfare & Parking: $600

Uber Rides: $40

Food: $150

Swag for the kiddos and DH: $100

Estimated cost: $1000

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

Shoes: Altra Torin 4

Shades: A throw-away pair picked up at a race expo

Race Day Shirt: Raw threads Bamboo mix Hoodie from the Nightmare Before Christmas collection

Compression: CEP Compression sleeves

Pros: Flat course

Cons: Limited flight options from Myrtle Beach to Connecticut, hotel refused a late checkout during the early states of tourist season

Race injuries: Some sore muscles, the usual blisters

Rating: 2 out of 5 running shoes. If you are looking for a flat course to BQ, then sure. The lack of late check-out for marathon runners contributed to this being a less-than-desirable race. If you want to get South Carolina as part of your journey to run a marathon in all 50 states, then go to Charleston.  The city has more charm  and better dining options.

Got my kicks running the Route 66 Marathon

Running crowd in 2019: Route 66 Marathon

I ran my ninth Marathon in my ninth state in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I picked the race because it was recommended by Runners World magazine. Supposedly, it is a 26.2 mile block party. Spoiler: Yeah, it is!  And yes, this is one of the reasons I wanted to travel to Oklahoma to run this race.

Tulsa is a neat town.  I met Caroline at the airport on flight day and chatted while she was waiting on her dad.  He was running this marathon in his 66th year!  Wow!!  That is pretty amazing because 26.2 miles in one run can wreck your body.

Wait, what is this antiquated device?

Plan ahead if you are not a local and are travelling for this race.  The half and full marathons are popular and hotels in the area are booked a year in advance.  Downtown Tulsa is pedestrian-friendly, so pick a hotel close to the start/finish areas and to dining, and that provides shuttle transportation.  There is no need to rent a car with the transportation and Lime scooters in town.  Consider downloading the application before you travel so you can use a scooter on the fly.

The race draws a large crowd and some streakers in the sense of repeat runners.  This is the first marathon where I saw both Marathon Maniacs and the 50 States Marathon have their own booths and separate tent.  I was one shy of running my 10th marathon and had yet to pay for the Marathon Maniacs membership.  Expect a lot at the convention: packet pick-up, getting your race shirt, and any other swag you can.  There was also an opportunity for puppy cuddles at the expo.  

Proof I was at the expo.  Are you ready to run!?!

The pre-race dinner was fun - I met up with Caroline, her dad, and Caroline's friend, Loan.  We had our carb load (beer required!) as well as sharing stories about life and prepare for the next day.  

Race day was COLD.  Like 30 degrees cold.  I was not prepared to layer up so much.  Thank goodness for the heated tents that came with the VIP package the DH purchased for me (a birthday present).  Members of the 50 states Marathon Club and Marathon Maniacs also had access to these - as long as they donned a wrist band given out at the expo.  You never know what kind of weather you are going to get- the 2018 marathon had ice, so I'll take the cold start as a bonus.

This race is magical.  There were unicorns!

The finish line was warm and I was not prepared because I did not pack sunscreen!  It was close to 70 degrees at the finish.  Yeah, big temperature difference from the start.  Lesson: pack two sets of clothes or some throw away layers.

Why is it so hot?

Not only did I complete a marathon, but it was an Ultra Marathon!  26.5 miles of self-powered movement.  Obviously, the goal was to finish, not accomplish any PRs for a couple of reasons: Jell-o shots, block parties, beer, shots, and the Center of the Universe detour.  But hey, I finished!

Miss Unfortunate at The Center of the Universe

Time on the course: 5:13:27.  The post race Bloody Mary (at the indoor after party) was soooo delicious!

Post race indoor party thanks to VIP access.  Not pictured: Post-race Bloody Mary

Travel Cost:

Flight: $600 plus airport parking

Travel food: $200 since I stayed an extra night

In-town transportation: None; Walked everywhere!

Race Expo Purchases: Snagged freebies for the kiddos

Hotel: $300-ish, possibly more for two nights

Race Entry Fee: Around $100

VIP Package: A gift :)

Total cost: $1200 for two days of travel.  $1300 or more if you include the VIP package.

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

Shoes: Altra Torin 4

Shades: Goodr OGs in Pool Party Pregame

Race Day Shirt: Raw Threads Long Run from the Toy Story 4 collection

Compression: CEP Compression sleeves

Pros: Jello shots, manageable hills, pedestrian-friendly city

Cons: Limited flight options from Tulsa to Connecticut.  I stayed an extra day to get a flight that arrived at a reasonable time.

Race injuries: None... but I see the predictor of future injuries in one of my pictures.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 running shoes.  I would go back to repeat the state as a half marathon.

GO! St Louis

Here we go again! Marathon travel to Missouri!

Race: April 7th, 2019

I believe this was my third trip in four months.  I paid for travel, the race, and promised to contribute to lodging, yet continued to experience the infamous leg pain when running.  *sigh*.

I signed up for this race to join Caroline on her Journey and had hopes of running under the infamous St. Louis Arch.  The race organization updated racers on how flooding impacted the race and needless to say, the race was re-routed because of mother nature.  Re-routing is better than cancelling given that I am writing this after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Travel day was uneventful considering I just flew to the middle of the country from the east coast.  Took an uber to the hotel situated near Busch Stadium.  The location wasn't bad - just a walk from some touristy stuff to do!  The race expo was a bit smaller than I expected but did not deter from the over-all experience.  My one complaint about the expo: shirt swapping was allowed at the packet pickup area.  Nooooooo!!!  I ended up getting a large and was a bit frustrated because I how have a shirt that looks stupid on me.  It would not be so bad if I lived near the race but I traveled to completed this.  Digressing back to the good of the race expo... There were plenty of shuttles from the hotel to the expo for packet pick-up prior to race day.  Bonus: the hotel allowed for runners to have a late check-out and a happy hour.  I know Caroline and I had a pitcher of something...

The pre-race meal consisted of sushi and beer.  Beer is mandatory :)  Sushi to avoid high trans fats.  

Next is race day...  And one must take transportation to the starting line in one of the larger parks in St. Louis.  The inside was crowded but warm - a must for the chilly race day start.

Who choses to travel and get up early on a weekend?  Marathon runners. 

We're in the starting corral!

I knew I would run this race a lot slower than previous ones due to injury, so I tried to volley a bit with the 5:30 (yep) pacer.  The pacing team in the back was great and made it known he had a bit of fireball with him to help with warmth and sanity.

Posing for race photographers as one should do.

One of the pros to this race was the free photos.  So yeah, I posed for at least one during this race.  And posing is a requirement for those of us partying in the back of a race.

Marathons are like mullets: business in the front, party in the back.

The race ended in another one of the city's parks. Plenty of carbs, water, and beer to consume after completing 26.2 miles on foot.  I ended up walking back to the hotel after the race.  Not ideal but much needed to help with post-race recovery.  

Post race selfie.  Who cares about time. I just completed 26.2 miles using my own power.

Finish time: 5:28; Gun time: 5:34.  Trailed that pacer by a few minutes!  I could use that fireball, now!

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

Shoes: Altra paradigm 4 (I adopted this line as the over 15 mile running shoe- plenty of padding).

Compression: Purchased from a large on-line retailer

Pros: Organized, shuttle trips to the start line and race expo.  The course is fairly flat with some windy areas, and there were FREE race day photos.

Cons: Pretty sure the injuries did not improve. Shin splints, no fractures.  Mother nature caused the course to be re-routed.  No running under the arch due to the weather.

Race injuries: The usual blisters and missing toe nail.  Nothing once cannot handle.

Rating: Four out of five running shoes.  I would not do this race again but would recommend it because of the organization and flat course.

Is it worth the price? The Asheville Marathon

Finally finished! Need to catch a plane now.

My answer: No.  And here is  why: The race fee and lack of need for police support.

I will admit, I was initially excited to run on the Biltmore estate given that this is a place of American Royalty.  If you live close to Newport, RI, then you can see the expanse of summer manse from families like the Biltmore's, Vanderbilts, and Drexlers.  The race slogan is "run in America's largest back yard."  It is a back yard filled with vineyards, ponds, and gardens.  None of the vineyards are in bloom, nor are the gardens.  I hardly think running through hibernating foliage is worth the race fee: $150.00.

The race expo was held in a hotel outside of the estate.  It was small and well-run. I purchased a pair of lucky socks since the race was held on St. Patrick's day.  The race expo has the usual packet pick-up and an additional station to obtain your shuttle tickets.  Read the fine print with this race: there is a fee you have to pay for being shuttled to and from the estate.  This is in addition to your race fee, folks.

Asheville is a cute southern tourist town with some posh buildings, ambiance of wealth, and funky restaurants.  Caroline and I met up at the airport, went to the expo, then parleyed what to do for dinner.  We agreed on tacos.  Because, tacos.  We had dinner at the White Duck Taco Shop where bonus: the pre-race beverage was a Cheerwine slushie.  I considered this a win being a southerner displaced in the northeast.  There are some southern-isms I miss that cannot be found above the Mason-Dixon line.  But digressing, the food was great as well as the beverages.

Fast forward to race day, and here is where things go awry (at least in my humble opinion).  Caroline and I wake at our usual 2 hours before the race, get ready to embark to the shuttles about an hour and a half before we need to be at the start.  The bus ride was not so bad- it was a usual state of quiet except for the diesel motor changing pitch as we ride through the estate.  Keep in mind this race starts as spring is starting so it is off to a cold start.  The down side: there are not many places to access a toilet or warmth at this point. Hello shivering for an hour.  Side note: I wore layers to shed and was too cold.  We eventually found a covered are with propane heaters to hover around until it was time to walk to the starting line.  There were several announcements (nothing unusual) about the race, then came the request to make donations to support the post run beer.  OH HELL NO, they did not!  I just paid how much to run, no police support needed, a portion of the race fee is a donation, and you want me to donate more?  No.

Pre-race selfie.  Sooo cold!

The first few miles of the race were not so bad.  There are a lot of  out and back loops.  No big deal - mapping out a USATF course with exactly 26.2 miles is challenging.  But the off road areas of the course are concerning.  I found the roads on the back portion - near the vineyards - to be too worn from work vehicles.  They were so uneven that I treated them as if I was running a technical trail.  One of the portions of the trail had bulky gravel - I tripped several times because I lost footing. 

I also missed my original flight because I thought I could run faster than I planned.  There were limited options leaving Asheville. 

Breakdown of the expenses:

Race Fee: $150

Shuttle Fee: $20

Airfare: $500 + $150 fee to change flights

Hotel (split): $125

Rental (split): $40

Dining: $100

Running gear purchased: $50

Airport Parking: ??? Cannot remember if I flew out of Hartford or Boston

Total estimated cost: $1100 - $1200 plus donations for the post race beer 😉

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

Shoes: Topo Flylite 2

Compression: Sleeve purchased off a large internet retailer.  Last use for this one! My legs are now too big. 😂

Pros: Race swag: great long-sleeved t-shirt and buff/gaiter.

Cons: cost, uneven dirt roads, asking for donations for the post-race beer, cost, lack of warmth pre-race, limited flight options to Asheville.

Race injuries: Recurring shin splints and toe blisters.

Rating: 2 out of 5 running shoes because of the cost, limited flight options, continual requests for donations, need to purchase additional shuttle tickets to enter and exit the estate, and lack of warm areas pre-race.

I'm going to (not Greenbow) Alabama!

Mercedes-Benz Marathon

Race Date: Feb 10, 2019

I have a HUGE obsession with Forrest Gump - only watched the movie, should read the book.  I also mentioned this in my review of the R'n'R Savannah marathon.  But digressing.  The course for the 2019 marathon was moved due to construction on the I-29 bridge.  Argh!!!  No worries though.  It was not the end of the world.  

Birmingham is a neat southern city with a chill vibe, great food, and of course southern hospitality.

Caroline and I stopped by the Birmingham Museum of Art - Free entry, donation suggested.  The museum had an impressive display of blown glass by Dale Chihuly.  There were other displays- but my excitement focused on the contemporary artist rather than classical items. It is worth stopping here since it is close to the race expo and recommended lodging.

Fast forward to marathon morning - it was brisk!  I highly recommend some throw-away long sleeve items.  Race morning was chilly as you would expect for a southern winter/pesedo-spring.  I enjoyed the course and am sad to say that I will need to repeat this race for the marathon.  The course is a double-loop, so keep this in mind if you are not a fan of laps.

I started the race injured and opted to go for the half at the turn for the full.  My leg was bothering me to the point I feared that I would be leaving Alabama in a cast. There was no penalty for doing this  (yeah!!!).  Several volunteers told me I was on the wrong path, too.  Much better experience than during the Mississippi Blues marathon...

The post-race party was HUGE - you had a choice of pulled pork or chicken sandwiches.  Opt for the pork - after all, you are in the south.  Don't expect much for the post-race beer.  I think it was a bud light or something made by inBev.

Endurance races are known for the draw of elite athletes. The ones I met during the trip were friendly and happy to hear about your finish times.  Just remember: your race is your race.  Be proud of the time you finished the course because there aren't too many people crazy enough to spend part of their day running a half or full marathon.

Travel Expenses: 

Airfare: Roughly $500.  I'm used to paying about this for a weekend trip.

Lodging: Split, close to $100 or $120.

Food: About $100 including alcohol.  This can be more depending on snacks and length of the trip.

Transportation: Estimate about $50 per person

Registration: $100

Estimated total: $900 just for travel, lodging, and the race.

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

Shoes: Topo FlyLite 2.

Compression: Purchased from a large on-line retailer.

Pros: Free art museum (and Chihuly blown glass!!!), Selfie with Forrest Gump!, Great race volunteers, sporting a Benz logo, race day shuttles to and from the post race party, no penalty for dropping to the half during the race, well-organized, friendly elite athletes.

Cons: Cost of travel, cold start to the day.

Race injuries: Shin splints.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 running shoes.  I'll end up doing this race again since I was injured the first time.

Going to Jackson, Mississippi

 Mississippi Blues Marathon

Race date: January 27th, 2019

This was not my favorite race for a large number of reasons.  The biggest being running 26.2 miles with an injury.  Mine happened to be medial tibial stress syndrome, AKA: Shin Splints.  They hurt a lot, so much to the point I thought I would not finish this race.  Getting the bias in check while writing this post took some effort.

Jackson has southern charm that you would expect when traveling below the Mason-Dixon line.  This is also a smaller southern city (I should note my expectations of a southern city are Charleston, Atlanta, & Savannah) so don't expect a sprawling megalopolous with a ton to do.  Do expect some good food and libations.  Caroline and I met up at the usual airport hub with pre-arranged flight times.  Went to the race expo - where there was a shipment delay with the shirts (oh no!!!).  This wasn't a big deal.  The smaller expo happened to be less than a half mile from the hotel. 

Then moving forward to the pre-race meal.  We dined at The Manship and had libations here.  I was like a school girl when I saw Stone Brewery's Xocoveza available.  We ate, imbibed, and took and Uber back to the hotel.  

Marathon planning tip: watch the weather.  The evenings around this race are a bit chilly, hence taking an Uber one mile back to lodging.

Moving forward to race day: It was chilly.  Make sure to have throw-away layers.  Lululemon happened to be a race sponsor and have drop-off boxes on the course.  The promise was to bring these items back to the finish line to grab at the end of the race (unless you wanted everything donated).  

This race is small - not a bad thing if you're not a fan of large crowds - and is also a preference of mine.  My starting line complaint was having the marathoners through 5Kers start at the same time.  There could be more organization as I almost tripped and stumbled into a few walkers at the start of the race.  Keep in mind, I am not a particularly fast runner and steam rolling people at a starting pace of 10:00/mile just does not feel right.

There is plenty of entertainment for the non-elite athlete marathon runner in the form of collegiate bands, bringing out the inner band-geek in me.  

One of my sticking points was the lack of motivated volunteers & signage to direct a turn for the half and full marathon runners.  This was the only time I missed a turn off and accidentally added another mile to the distance run for the day.  Apparently I am not the first person to miss this, nor will I be the last (with the 2019 course).  

The police officers assigned to the course were awesome as well and great motivators to the runners. You would easily be greeted with a smile for saying hello or thank you to any of them on the course.  Then there are the race signs since crowd support was meh.  

One other thing to consider with this race are flight options.  Flying to & from a place like Hartford limits options into and out of the area.  Departing and landing from Boston expands flights home but adds to drive time and cost of parking.  Crossing the finish line was already a task due to injury at 5:36:30. Caroline was waiting in the car - ready to go to catch her flight. Post race shenanigans were a bit limited here.   

Travel expenses:

Hotel room was split, so roughly $100 each person

Race entry: $115 

Flight: Expect to pay $500 for a smaller airport plus parking

Rental car was split, so roughly $20 - $50 per person

Uber: varies.  

Dining while traveling: Expect at least $100 - $200 per person

Estimated cost for the weekend: $1000 for travel, lodging, food, and race entry fee.  Keep in mind, the cost of lodging and a rental were split.

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: A sleeve purchased from a large on-line retailer

Pros: Small race, great entertainment, southern charm, race shirt

Cons: Starting line was not organized, not having flashier signs for the half and full split

Race injuries: Ran with shin splints and cried a bit on the course

Rating: 3 out of 5 running shoes due to limited flights into and out of the area, poor labeling for the half and full split, and starting line.  I'm a one and done here.  Police support and collegiate bands were awesome!

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.

Hatfields vs McCoys

There is a little marathon in a coal-mining, farm-country area of West Virginia (and Kentucky) that hosts a marathon with a theme of a famous feud: the Hatfield McCoy Marathon, run by the Tug Valley Run Club.  Things I did not realize going into this race: it is small, the expo fits into a gym, and don't expect luxuries, such as cell phone coverage, in this area.  

I wanted this to be my first marathon and am grateful it was not for many reasons, including solo traveling.

The drive from Southeastern Connecticut to the Tug Valley area was over 10 hours.  Traveling solo for a few is not so bad. But driving that long is just insane at my stage of life (I'm not one for sitting for too long).  Then there is a lack of Starbucks coffeehouses en route to said rural area.  Yes, I am one of those!  But then you get to the race town, and it is a small town in West Virginia with Kentucky next door.  There aren't many Yelp! listings on where to eat, either. So plan ahead with this one.  

I was a rookie with race planning on this one and recommend if you want to run it, sign up early, book your lodging early, and look at the area plus surrounding towns for lodging and dining.  This is is not to turn you away from the race - which I enjoyed very much- but to prepare you for not having conveniences we love and difficulty deviating from if we cannot use them.

Fortunately, I was able to book lodging at a local hotel run by Wingo's restaurant.  Not my first choice and not somewhere I would stay again because I love having luxuries when traveling.  I was able to shower and sleep in this place, so basic needs were met.  The cost was great: $70 or $80 for three nights.  I was a little prepared knowing ahead of time there was no mini fridge and thank goodness for a big box store being in town and traveling with a cooler.  I brought my pre-race beer with me and was able to purchase some instant coffee to start running the next morning.

For the run: the directions the Tug Valley Run Club. I ran with a total race crowd of less than 800 people.  You are bussed to Food City: the location of the starting line.  Then you run for a few miles. And OMG that hill at mile 7 followed by little bumps.  I mentioned there was not much for wifi or in this case, cell coverage and was all flustered the subscription music app would not play. Oh well. Now there is music stored on my cell phone for races like this.

The race coordinators have a competition for all the water stops in the race.  This is fantastic because of the entertainment you get for 26.2 miles.  Not all water stops are equal. My favorite was the wiggly bridge because those ladies had sunscreen.  This brings me to another point: this race can get HOT. Do not expect a PR, and take the cooling towels when offered.  Back to the race stops: you get to see miniature horses, a golf course, and a few tourist attractions, some railroad tunnels, and bridges. So, not bad.

I mentioned earlier this race is hot.  The day started off with a humid 70-ish degree temperature and rose from there to something in the 90s, clear skies on this particular race day, and more humidity.  The reviews from this race said not to expect a PR. Don't expect a PR if you're a #teamnotraining kind of runner.  There is a reason there is no time limit with this race.  Wait, a race with no time limit? Yes, this is one of the reasons I chose to run this one! No runner left behind! 

Saturday looks promising

There are also a lot of hand-made signs along the route to serve as motivation.  Were you a past runner? Great! Someone made a sign for you?  The only runner from Connecticut (I was not - I met a fellow nutmegger while taking a run break) - chances are, there is a sign for you.  Lost a toenail, that toenail has a sign.  Most of the runners completing this race wanted to do this for whatever reason. Mine was to do a challenging race, for others I met and talked to on the course, it was to accomplish a goal of completing a marathon in all 50 states.  One of the runners I met was on his second time around completing a marathon in all the states (WOW!!!).

I also met some great runners from the Chicago area who serve as inspiration because no matter how old or your stage in life, running brings people together in a different way.  I cannot explain it other than a truly judgement-free zone.  Hey, you finished a marathon in 6 hours. Awesome. You are a bad-ass because you too, are crazy enough to do this same feat as an elite athlete.  Okay, digressing back to the road race-y stuff. 

The finish line is in the middle of downtown Williamson, WV.  There is access to cold showers post-race, a few local dives, and pulled pork sandwiches.  Don't forget to pick up your race-themed mason jar.  Mine is sported on a shelf in my office at work - along with the stuffed race pig.  I feel like I was the most excited to cross this finish line than I have been with all my other races so far.  

Consider yourself a bad-ass if you completed this race - the half, or double-half.  The elements, you know, heat & humidity.  

Would I do it again? Maybe. But not solo.

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

Shoes: Topo Flylite 2

Compression: Sleeves purchased off a large internet retailer

Pros: Rocking a medal post-race that shows a town that you are in fact, a bad-ass (or crazy) for a human-paced road venture of 26.2 miles in a mountain valley, race support, water stops, number of bathrooms en route, choice of two states to pick from if you are on the journey to running a marathon in each state, no time limit, met some great runners from across the country.

Cons: Lack of cell reception, humidity, sweating off sun screen

Race injuries: Blisters. I was able to keep all my toenails this time.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 running shoes because of limited wifi and local conveniences.