ABOUT
The pup and I decided to road trip up to Ocean Isle NC (my 3rd NC half marathon) after the Coastal Race Productions teams announced their 2018 series medals. Not really being one to rave about race medals, these, however, really hit home with me and I would have done every single one of them if it was feasible. This group does 4 NC Coastal Towns. Last year I ran Sunset Beach, right on the SC/NC border and absolutely fell in love with the small town beach community feel. Ocean Isle is the next beach town North. This race series claims to have the Big(gest) Ass Medals and they did not fail this year making them more colorful and 3D! All year, I had been waiting for my Pelican medal. 90 half marathons and this was my first pelican! :) (note, the medal styles//themes have changed every year)
Pelicans are my favorite bird. They are so large and bulky, yet so graceful as they glide across the sky. When I see a group of pelicans flying together, it brings me a moment of peace and a smile comes across my face. They remind me to take a moment to slow down and appreciate where I am.
Since this was a repeat state, my goal was to keep it as cheap as possible, which meant camping. I love camping this time of year, so it was fine by me, but the weather had another story. All week, the prediction of a passing storm the night before the race lingered. We left early and had a beautiful drive, windows down, cool air blowing, no rain. We went straight to the beach and put our toes in the sand. We were not there for even 5 minutes when then the skies opened up. And then it just never stopped.
PACKET PICK UP
Pick up was at a golf club where a handful of witches passed out the bibs and shirts! The restaurant downstairs offered runners discounts which was nice. Upstairs was a handful of vendors; just enough to suit your runners needs. I even scored a tank top that I probably will be wearing for The DONNA in February.
As I shopped around, there were a couple of vendors looking out the window at the rain and I vented that I was supposed to camp in a tent. Not even 2 seconds later, I was being offered a place to stay down in Myrtle Beach about 30 minutes away! I was speechless. This lady hadn't even asked my name yet, or even knew my Pink Feet story, yet here she was knowing I was in need and she had a way to help, so she instantly offered without any second guessing. Amazing. It really restores your faith in humanity. We all have good inside us. It is only us that can decide to act on it or not.
ACCOMODATIONS
I took her card and promised I would call if I needed help. I told her I had faith the rain would stop and it would be fine. We drove around a bit and explored a nearby campground to see how muddy/flooded the grounds were getting. I decided it wasn't going to be a good idea to camp, mostly because it was cold as well. There are only a couple of hotels in OIB, so I called them up but unfortunately they only had a 2bedroom villa available and way out of my budget. I ended up taking a budget hotel about 15 minutes from Start.
Looking back, even though it was twice the distance, I wish I would have accepted the generosity from that complete stranger. I have always had a hard time accepting help from others. As a child I was taught not to take; not to be an inconvenience; that there are always others that need it more than you. Still as an adult I have a hard time finding that line of knowing when I actually do need the help. I am learning that some people just like to help and I should let them because it not only helps, but it makes them happy.
It rained all evening so we spent the time resting and watching movies. There was a break in the rain right at sunset, so we rushed back out to the beach to play ball and got some awesome North Caroline beach shots.
This circle course starts and finishes on the island, but quickly tackles the Intracoastal bridge within the first mile where the next 5 miles are spent in a cute neighborhood mainland, and then its back over the bridge where it goes up and down the Ocean Isle Beach streets.
START LINE/PARKING
Parking was an empty lot right next to the Start Line at Pelican Perch, 1 block from the ocean. A DJ blared 80s music to get us pumped up, but with the cool windy weather, I waited it out in my car. There were plenty of porta patties without any issues with lines. They even offered race day packet pick up if needed. With it still being dark when the race started, we unfortunately did not get any sun rise views.
This before sunrise start had just about perfect race day weather staying overcast and in the 50s with a nice breeze. Unfortunately, despite being a beach course, there really was only a couple of glimpses of the ocean the entire course. The bridge over the intracoastal really makes this course. It is steep and long enough to make it a good challenge and you have some amazing views at the top. I would have liked it to be timed better to see the sunrise from the bridge. Running up a pretty steep bridge within the first mile can be dangerous if not warmed up, but I was feeling great. The neighborhood that we ran around was super cute leaving me wishing I could live there. The beach houses on the island were your traditional Carolina Coast houses on stilts, all with clever names, giving you entertainment as you ran along.
I felt great the entire course running nonstop for the first 5 miles, then ran/walked by feel. Surprisingly my times were pretty consistent except M9 and 11. Around M7 we ran right passed the Finish Line and the 5k runners were already celebrating. One of the most mentally challenging things a race can do is to have the course run right by the Finish Line and not even be close to being finished!
Around M9 the course was a little empty and there were no spectators cheering us on, so I lost a bit of motivation and competition within. But then I saw an injured guy in a regular wheelchair that was being pushed by what may have been his wife. It made me wonder all the 'whys'.... 'why was he so dedicated to this race that he needed to be pushed in a wheelchair? Why was the lady so committed in making it happen for him?' It didn't matter. He had a problem, she had a solution, and together they made it happen. Sometimes we have to learn to lean on others to make our goals in life. You could tell he was a determined man. Wearing what seemed to be work gloves and giving the woman hand signals to stop pushing when he wanted to push himself as far as he could. Together they were making great strides and quickly left me.
AID STATIONS
Only water and Gatorade were given at the stations but they were properly stocked. Popsicles were given around M11. I carried 2 GUs.
SPECTATORS
I don't know if it was because of the cold, windy, overcast weather, but unfortunately there really were not many spectators despite the course being ran mostly in neighborhoods.
PHOTOS
Complimentary race photos were posted on Facebook, mostly being shot around M12.
FINISH LINE
The Finish Line/After Party was in the same location as the Start; the Pelican Perch parking lot. It was a cold and windy morning so I grabbed my hot BBQ and banana and packed it up in the car for later. I then went back for my 2 free beers and met up with that friendly vendor to tell her 'Thank You 'once again. We swapped some stories and I continued along my way.
AFTER
I had just enough time to head back to the hotel for a shower before check out time. Unfortunately it was not going to be a nice beach day to relax, so back on the road me and the pup went.
The shirt is a great fabric, not splashed with obnoxious sponsor logos, and it matches the medal
MEDAL
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the medal!! As I said before, the medal is the main reason why I made the road trip for this race!
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Overall the small town race went off without a glitch and I would recommend for a relaxing beach weekend getaway. I may have not had the time or money this go around to explore and splurge, but I once again still appreciate the learnings of life. Sometimes we are in our most difficult times and need to put aside our independence and accept the help and guidance of others. Sometimes those others being complete strangers. We must learn to trust and lean on others, even strangers, to get us through our journey. Maybe we shouldn't over think situations and instead have faith and an open heart to have that help guide us down perhaps an even better path than we would go alone, possibly even reaching greater strides together than alone.
13.1-2:21
Half Marathon 90
Pink Feet is on Year 8 of running a half marathon a month, while also completing the 50 states, with the final race each year being The DONNA Marathon in February! Funds raised benefit The Mayo Clinic and Donna Foundation. My mission is to help spread the word of breast cancer prevention, early detection, and living a healthy lifestyle including running and walking. My overall goal is to raise $100,000 for breast cancer charities in which over $69,000 is currently raised. Donations are currently being accepted HERE
Or you can mail a check to:
Donna Foundation
11762 Marco Beach Dr Ste 6
Jacksonville FL 32224
Memo-PinkFeet