26.2 Reasons Why I Love The Donna!

As a 7 year repeat runner (Streaker) of the 26.2 with Donna marathon, here is why I Love The Donna. I hope you will join me one day on this amazing race!

1-This is not just a race DAY. It is a race WEEKEND! There are 2 full days of races, one for every member of the family! A 5k, Family Fun Run, 5 person team Relay, half marathon, marathon, and for those that that is just not enough, the 110 mile challenge!  

2- And why not extend that weekend to a week long vacation? Jacksonville is a great race-cation destination with city life and beach relaxation!

3-This is one of the largest 2 day Expos out there and its open to the entire community! This isn’t your average ‘packet pick up!’ Not only do you get a cool swag bag, shirt, and bib, but the huge array of venders give out freebies and host drawings for you to win some cool gear! There are not only running vendors to pick up your running supplies and new race gear, but there are a variety of health and lifestyle vendors as well! And don’t forget about the celebrity speakers you get a chance to get motivated by and meet!

4-And one of those celebrities?  The race founder, Donna Deegan (a 3 time breast cancer survivor). She runs every year with her husband and Dr Edith Perez from the Mayo Clinic, stopping to engage with the community, taking pictures along the way!

5-And the other celebrities? How about Olympians Joan Beniot Samuelson and Jeff Galloway, and this year, the Biggest Loser’s Tera Costa! Every year there are runners representing all 50 states and every country!

6- Don’t want to worry about being in a strange city and not knowing how traffic can be? No worries! The host hotels are in the best locations (one downtown, one at the beach, and one at start!) all with free shuttles to/from the race!

7-The course is Beginner AND Walker Friendly! This is the only race I have come across that actually uses Galloway (run/walk) pacers! And they partner with Jeff Galloway to help train you to complete your first half or full marathon throughout the year! The course is open for 7 hours giving every type of runner and walker a chance to FINISH IT!!

8-Theres no cold muscles here! Yes! We are in Florida! But even when theres a chill in the air, there are Electric heaters and a Warming Tent provided at the Starting Village! ….as well as hot coffee, muffins, and your usual running foods/drinks!

9-Most organized starting corrals ever! Not only are the bibs color coded by corrals, but you are grouped together by your colors before you are called in to enter the official starting area! And then they have volunteers scoping you out to make sure you are in the right corral! Theres no confusion here on getting in with the wrong corral! And no getting ahead with the fasties if you didn’t register yourself that way!

10-Need some last minute motivational words? Don’t worry? Those same guest speakers from the Expo  are at the Starting Line giving us their last minute piece of advice and getting you pumped up!

11-Cant get much more scenic than this USATF certified course! You actually get to run ON the sand! The hard packed sands of Jacksonville beach is the perfect location for an early morning run with the sunrise colors still lingering  in the sky! These are known as the Memory Miles as the boards you signed at the Expo displaying the words ‘Strength, Love, Courage, etc’ are placed on the sand for you to remember why you are running this race! To FINISH breast cancer!

12-And for all you speedies out there, don’t fret! Its only a couple miles worth on the sand! The rest of the closed to traffic course is Florida Flat! Well, except for that little bridge  over the beautiful intercoastal waterways at the end J But at that point, you already see the Finish….at the Mayo Clinic!!...the reason why you even came to run this race!

13-And the reason why you are running?   because this is the ONLY  marathon in the nation where 100% of the race proceeds goes towards breast cancer research (70% Mayo Clinic) and community outreach (30% Donna Foundation)! What more motivation can you get?

14- This is not only a race, but an opportunity to make a difference! At any time you can become a fundraiser to reach the ultimate goal to FINISH breast cancer! It is very interactive with your own fundraising webpage and there are challenges and incentives to reach certain goals!  Not only that, but previous Jaguar owners, the Weavers, have MATCHED funds raised by teams reaching $10,000!

15-Can we say Best Crowd Support Ever?!...It is so absolutely Amazing that it just leaves you speechless the amount of effort the neighborhoods put into showing their support for this race and cause!….Balloons archways that cross the entire street, huge flags, signs the size of billboards, bubble machines (yes, really!), chalk designs all over the road with motivating words. It really warms the heart seeing the money and time they spent making this race so community involved!

 16- And don’t forget the local musicians! Not only are bands provided along the course from Bands Against Breast Cancer, but neighbors come out in their driveways and rock out on their electric guitars and accordions (yep, that’s right!) or you will find a boom box brought out with a long extension cord to pump up your energy!     

17-Endless amount of Supplies! You will never Run out of Fuel on this course!!  Not only will you never see so much GU passed out on a course before in your life, but you also have people in the community at the end of their driveways, setting up their own tables of supplies!!.... water, Gatorade, oranges, bananas, sandwiches, doughnuts, chips, beer, mimosas, medicine, popsicles, you name it , it is always right around the corner!

18-And don’t forget the ice cold Pink Sponges!! Best idea ever! Yes, it can get humid in Florida, but they’ve got you covered!  Literally, take that cold pink sponge, squeeze it over your head, and keep on running!

19-There is a tremendous volunteer opportunity throughout the entire week to put on this event! Your family doesn’t have to run with you, but they can still be apart of the weekend and make a difference too!

20- Best Running Pink Ribbon logo Ever! The previous 7 years it seemed to casually walk or job, but now it is appropriately leaning forward taking breast cancer head on to FINISH it!

21-PINK! Who doesn’t get excited by pink? Its everywhere! …pink ribbon confetti at the starting line, pink running ribbons chalked on the ground the entire course, pink manhole covers! Men dressing in pink, some even in skirts and wigs! Women dressing in pink, and dedicating their pink ribbons to who they are running for!  It’s a great reminder as why we are running!

22-Survivors! Not only do they run alongside you, but they also stand at the end of their driveways quietly with a sign that says ‘Thank you!’ Just Speechless.

23-The Brick Wall.  They have the largest brick wall at Mile 20 that is probably 10 feet high, you can see it a mile away! But it is also is the area with one of the largest cheering stations to help you Break Through and FINISH It!!

24-How appropriate is it to have the After Party celebration at the Mayo Clinic, where 70% of the proceeds go?! There are free drinks, food, massage, a live broadcasting of the race on the jumbo tron (as well as Daytona 500 this year!) What more could you ask for?

25-STAINED GLASS Medal! How unique is that? The fun beach theme with dolphins and the pink running ribbon embodies the beach life!  

26-And its all about the Streakers! For those of us that have raced every year, we are never forgotten! Shirts and different race lanyards have been provided in previous years. This year they outdid themselves by giving us awesome silver running ribbon charms!

26.2-LOVE! The Donna is all about Love! You will never feel so much love during any other race! You are so surrounded by it, it is almost overwhelming at times. And when you cross that Finish Line and you hear your name called, you know that you too, have helped to make a difference to FINISH breast cancer!!


Donations are still being accepted until March 31. Show your support today! www.donate.breastcancermarathon.com/2014marathon/pinkfeet

5th Annual New Orleans Rock n Roll-Feb 3, 2014

This was the 5^th Annual New Orleans Rock and Roll Race Series with a full and half option, as well as a Relay for the Half.  There were over 15,000 runners in all.

February is my month to celebrate a full year of running a half a month with the 26.2 with Donna. However, I decided to jump on the bandwagon of 13 races in 2013 (although my ‘year’ runs from Mar-Feb) and did 12 half marathons + the full for 13 races this year. This was easily decided when the group of girls I met at the Sarasota race in March told me they were going!

My friend Toni and I decided to make it a road trip. It is an easy 8 hour STRAIGHT drive from Jacksonville down I-10. And it ended up being a pretty cool one too. As the night sky fell upon us quickly, we drove straight into a really cool sunset. Later there was a cool sliver of a moon in the sky and I got a chance to see a shooting star in the very dark sky!

We originally were going to drive in on Sat, but decided to come in Friday night to meet up with her cousin she hadn’t seen in a long time, who lives right outside of New Orleans. We arrived around midnight, so it wasn’t long before we quickly headed to bed. We had a restful morning, chatting over coffee and painting nails and later headed out to Lunch, where we quickly learned Café du Mond is a CHAIN! GASP!

We didn’t get to the Marriott French Quarter until late afternoon. It was ridiculous traffic trying to get parked at the hotel. I had to throw Toni out in the middle of traffic to unload the car, as we had cheaper parking down the street. (the hotel wanted $38/nt, but I got a lot for $18 for the entire stay! Good benefit of being a runner? Not minding a mile walk to the hotel!) It was a gorgeous warm day out, a contrast from the week before as the entire South was covered in ice and snow!

EXPO

LARGEST Convention Center EVER!...it was a quick walk from the Marriott, but the Expo was on the complete opposite side of the building. I swear I walked a mile just to get there

THREE Melissa Johnsons running?! I didn’t print my race number, so when I looked up my name on the board, I found there were 3 of us!!...and no way to decipher who was who.  My cell service wasn’t working, so I had to borrow someones phone to look up my email with my number.

Lines were Ridiculously long! I ended up skipping the gear bag line, as I already brought with  me an identical bag from a previous RnR.

It was too crowded to shop! The Vendors were packed in there. It seemed there were options, but too many people too close together to even care. I didn’t buy a thing as I was too stressed out. I did pick up a pace bracelet given away by the Westin.  I grabbed one for the full marathon as well, that would use for The Donna in a couple weeks.  

Brooks put on a 'Run Happy Island'…a very cute and fun interactive area, but again there were ridiculously long lines. I did get a very cool shirt, but was not able to complete the gait analysis to receive the very cool cooler bag! Of course, I emailed Brooks when I got one, and they put one in the mail! ;)

The race shirt is okay. I like that it is short sleeved and is not plastered with sponsors on the back.  

Night before Race Day

It was a beautiful day out and I was ready to explore some New Orleans! We headed out toward Bourbon Street and met up with the other girls for Happy Hour at 21^st Amendment.

Toni and I had dinner at Remoulade’s.  We tried the Louisiana and New Orleans sampler platters of turtle soup, crawfish patties, gumbo, jambalaya. Half way through, I started to wonder how bad of an idea this was before race day!

On our way back to the hotel we popped into a few of the touristy shops on Bourbon Street when suddenly we thought it would be a good idea if I ran in a purple and green tutu and face mask! Well, I decided against the overpriced tutu but I did buy the purple mask! 

Race Morning

We got to bed at a decent hour. The Marriott was less than a mile walk to start, so I got to sleep in a bit before having to meet the girls at 630a. I walked out the door to a heavy fog with mild air. I later found out it was near 100% humidity! All I could think was, at least it was not raining! Ive had a lot of close calls with races in rain, but Ive still managed to race 35 half marathons without real rain!

I decided not to pack a gear bag, which I later regretted at the finish line because it ended up being really cold and wet.  

Start Line

There was a corralling system with separate start times, but it was not monitored, so our entire group started off together, which was fun.  The set up of the Starting Village was a little awkward as I never really saw the park where the porta potties, gear truck, food, etc was. Yep, that’s right, my hotel was so close to the start, and we met so close to race time, I didn’t even use the porta potty! So no comment on lines nor amenities before the race! 

My Garmin, as well as others, had a really hard time getting a signal in the thick fog in the middle of all the tall buildings. Luckily it kicked in right before our corral started!  

The Course

This is a flat race (although I heard there were a few hills for the full marathon) although you quickly learn it is not the hills that will slow you down on this course, but it is the horrible old roads! Pot holes galore! The streets were really beat up. Add in the overcrowding of the people and the slick streets from the fog, there was no way it was going to be a PR race!

The half and full marathon run the same A to B course ending at City Park. The full continues past the park and the comes back. A shuttle brings us all back to the Start (or a mile away as it ended up being!)

The course starts off with an out and back on St Charles Street of the Garden District.  In the middle of the street was the cable line, on grass and dirt. There were so many people on the roads, that runners were trying to run on the tracks so they could get some space. I tried this myself, but it was completely uneven and gave up.

This is supposed to be a very pretty part of town with cool architecture, but unfortunately none of that was able to be appreciated in the weather and crowd. I did notice lots of trees with beads strung all over them!

We then ran back passed my hotel and headed toward the Riverfront (but never saw the river) where we turned a corner and hit a very cold blast of air and even heavier fog. We  passed the French Marketplace  with Café Du Mond (missed it) and the St Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square with bells ringing (couldn’t see it through the fog) and then up to City Park (where my shoe lace decided to come undone in the last mile!)

The entire course was crowded and never thinned out. I never felt comfortable running, as I was always trying to not run into the runner in front of or next to me. Doing the run/walk method also didn’t help. Hand signals definitely had to be used to warn the people behind me!

I was on pace for a very close PR until about M11 it hit me hard, probably the humidity and stress, and I walked a lot.

Hydration Stations

Every single hydration station was out of Gatorade and I did not get any until the last few miles. By that time I had already accepted beer shots along the way just to get some carbohydrates in me!

Each station also was very crowded, people bumping into people and cutting people off trying to reach for cups. There just never seemed to be enough volunteers with properly stocked stations.

The Music

The few bands I saw were very eclectic and local. Unfortunately I was really able to enjoy them. Some of them weren’t even playing as I passed. The band at the Finish Area was so far away from everything else, no one was really over there listening. With all of us being soaken wet from the fog, and the cool wind making it a little miserable, I didn’t even get to enjoy the After Party band.

Finish Line

We were only given 1 beer this year. This is a downgrade from what used to be 2 at previous RnR events.

There was normal runners food at the finish line, in addition to chocolate milk and chips.

City Park is HUGE and the race took advantage of this. The problem? You cant really enjoy it all. If you are waiting for runners to come in the Finish, you should be able to listen to the After Party Band, however, they were so far off into the distance you couldn’t enjoy it with all the other festivities.

The line for the shuttles back to start was about a mile long. It took over an hour to wait and then it was a 20minute ride back to start. It makes for a very long day when you have to shuttle back.

Crowd Support

The crowd support was okay. The ones that stick out where the ones passing out beer and jello shots with doughnuts and the sign that read “look alive, cemetery ahead”

Medal

The medal is a little disappointing. The lanyard is a string of beads. Yes, appropriate for New Orleans, yet, it seems they could have stepped it up a notch….maybe beads AND a ribbon with the race name/date/etc. The medal itself is also exactly the same for the Relay, Half, and Full. The instruments on it could have been a little more detailed. But being on beads, it did give an excuse to wear it all weekend!

After the Race

After a long morning, Toni and I headed over to Arnauds Jazz Brunch at 2p. The prefixe 4 course menu was a TON of food and we walked away happy! We then spent the rest of the day exploring and utilizing my travel agent VIP pass to check out different restaurants and bars! We even ran into Wayne Brady and the So You Think You Can Dance judges!  We stayed an additional day to explore the city, but I happened to wake up the day after the race with an extreme sore throat! I was officially sick. It was a very cold day, but we still explored the grave yards, the celebrity houses, and enjoyed some more local cuisine! I sucked it up throughout the evening, and still enjoyed the eclectic music nightlife, ordering hot toddies at the bars! The next day we drove home through 4 states of nothing but fog. It was a crazy weather weekend!  

Overall Thoughts

I did happen to get a race discount for this RnR. However, I feel like RnR races are falling short on what they promise and provide with their regular over priced entry fees. I am starting to realize with this journey, that smaller races can sometimes be better than these overcrowded races. It also seems like RnR is trying to nickel and dime you with ‘add on’ options….such as VIP starting areas, or shuttle charges (I still am very confused on why there were shuttle charges, when there were free shuttles but I know people paid), or their race tracker. New Orleans is definitely a cool destination with some sights to see, but their streets just don’t seem up to par for some stable road conditions for running. I just don’t know that I would recommend RnR New Orleans. Maybe it would be better if it wasn’t so crowded and we had better weather conditions. But overall, we still had a blast! Sick n All! It was a unique experience that was incomparable to any other race so far!

 State #15

HM #35
2:21
 

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2nd Annual Zooma Amelia Island-Jan 18, 2014

 

 

This was my 2^nd time participating in a Zooma event (1^st being in Cape Cod last year) and I must admit I am pretty impressed. Yes, the fee is on the high side when it comes to race registration, but sometimes it may just be worth it.

 

Zooma Florida was held in the Fernandina/Amelia Island part of Northern Florida. It was an A to B course starting city center of Historic Fernandina which is a cute little shopping/dining area on the intracoastal, through Fort Clinch State Park, and finishing oceanfront of the luxurious Ritz Carlton of Amelia Island.

Shuttle service was provided for the guest of the hotel to the race start, and for every that drove in, there was a shuttle back to their cars. The course spends the first half in the beautiful Fort Clinch State Park and the 2^nd half along A1A with glimpses of the ocean between beach houses!

  

Zooma Florida has a very small amount of runners…only about 500 this year…which also means there are not many spectators/cheer leaders (I think I saw 5) but this makes it almost better because it keeps the course peaceful and at moments you feel it is only you, nature, and the open road.

  

This winter Northern Florida has been impacted with the below normal freezing temps and this weekend was not any different. We woke up to about 30 degrees and 10 mph winds. I think it may have reached about 38 once the sun came out. We were lucky inside the park because the winds were blocked by the trees and dunes. On A1A, sunglasses helped keep the eyes from tearing from the cold winds.  

  

The five star Ritz Carlton provided a runners discount, however, living just an hour away, I decided to be cost efficient and drive in race morning. Doing so, however, limited me on the extra perks that Zooma provides…such as the Expo and 80s themed ‘mocktail’ party the day before.

  

I woke about 5a and left the house about 6. I had my oatmeal, banana, and coffee on the drive in. However, still being an hour early for the 8am start, I needed more, so stopped at the gas station for a Cliff bar. This is probably the most I have ever eaten before a race, but my stomach was talking!  

 

The free parking was about a mile away from start, which I was not aware of until I actually started walking looking for it.  I had sat in my car as long as possible to avoid the freezing temps. Ear warmers and gloves were necessities for this race! As well as a warm fleece jacket to keep on before the start! By the time I arrived to the start area, I had very minimal time to hit the porta potty, drop off my bag at the gear truck (well, SUV. Yes, SUV was a first!) before the gun went off!  I didn’t even realize there were Pacers until the half way mark (when there was a turn around and we got to run by the faster runners)

  

My goal was to take it easy as I was planning another 10mile when I got back home (for a total of 23 miles in training for 26.2 with Donna). I was doing the run/walk of 3/1. I felt super good in the beginning.  Almost too good. It IS a race after all, my mind kept telling me. So I after 6miles, I changed up the pace and did 3/:45 and then 3/:30. I felt awesome the entire time. I even felt I could do more, but didn’t want to exert myself, not knowing how I would feel for the next 10 later that day. I crossed the Finish Line 4 minutes slower than my PR. I totally could have had it, if I didn’t hold myself back the first 6miles. But that’s okay. Because you know what? I still felt Awesome on the next 10 miles I did at home! I broke through 23 miles without ever hitting a wall!

  

The entire race course was open to traffic. There was either cones up to allow single file running (in the neighborhood towards the park), or signs up encouraging runners to stay to the right, single file (Fort Clinch State Park), or we were running in the bike lane (on A1A). All of which, a good portion of runners did not listen or pay attention to. Because the small amount of runners, this worked fine regardless. However, if the amount of runners ever got larger, I would hope the directors would take this into consideration, as no one wants to run single file when trying to PR!

 

 

 There are a ton of Perks when running with Zooma, which has several locations across the country. These of course are focusing on the Florida race.

• -free group training run a few weeks ahead of race day, with a reusable goodie bag full of samples of GU, body glide, and Muscle Milk
• -discount at host hotel with shuttle and spa treatment discounts
• -80s themed mocktail party the night before with speakers
• -reusable goodie bag with super soft race shirt, running hat, a pair of Feetsures socks
• - yoga at finish line
• -massage at finish line
• -endless wine/champagne from Barefoot
• -nonalcoholic drinks available as well, Honest Tea, Hint, Muscle Milk 
• -Expo/shopping at finish line as well as the day before race
• -real meal at finish line included chicken salad sandwich (or veggie hummus) with pasta and cookie
• -band at finish line
• -cute medal with detachable charm

The only downfall I saw for this race was the Finish. I loved that it finishes at the beach…you cant ask for a more scenic view. However, the sand is incredibly soft at Amelia Island. I think they did the best they could with this. They made sure to advertise it repeatedly that it was a sand finish. They also picked an area between the sand dunes and hotel (not the water side but you could still see the water), where the soft sand was a little more compact in areas…and there was also a very narrow wood plank boardwalk you could utilize for some of it. However, there still was no way to ‘sprint’ across the finish line like most races.

I met up with Marcia with 26.2 with Donna at the Finish Line party. It was freezing cold in the wind, but the sun was warm. After a quick change of clothes and meal, I headed over to Moon River, where I still had a gift certificate I won from the 2012 Fernandina Reindeer Run for a free pizza pie! I took that home for my reward after my next 10 miles.

 

I had planned to run the Winter Run 10miler on Jax Beach after Zooma, however, I just couldn’t come up with the $30. I live across the street anyways, so just took it as a little motivation to see all the runners. I ran the street a half hour before they started on the beach. At my turn around, I ran on the beach towards the racers. It was pretty cool to see all the runners staying active despite the freezing cold!

 

All in all, Zooma Florida is a great quick weekend getaway to celebrate health and womanhood. (yes, men are still allowed to race). I would highly recommend this race. It was a great day and I walked away feeling the strongest I have all season!

 

 HM #34

13.1-2:22

 

 

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10th Annual Palm Beaches Half Marathon-Dec 8, 2013

This was the 10th Annual Palm Beaches Marathon Run Fest which included a 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, and relay. There were about 2500 half marathoners, 866 marathoners with additional 964 relayers.

I had planned the race as a back to back with the Savannah River Bridge Double Pump (15k) as I am training for the 26.2 with Donna and have done some reading on training plans that doing back to backs help your body and mind prepare to run on tired legs. I had to make the 6 hour drive from Savannah in barely enough time to catch the end of the Expo at the Harriet Himmel Theater at City Place at 6p. The Expo was of a small size and had minimal fueling supplies. What was the worst part is you had to pay for parking to get to it! (Valet or Parking Garage)

Being on a tight budget, I opted to stay about 10 minutes outside of town at a Residence Inn which had a full kitchen where I could not only save money but time with eating in. After dinner, the soreness was kicking in after the bridge run combined with long drive, so I took an Epsom bath and covered my legs in icy hot and made it an early night.


It was an early morning, but it was good to have a hot breakfast as well as homemade coffee. The race did a great job of pre race communications via email and Facebook and let us know of all the parking options, which included several parking garages....a couple free, and some you had to pay, even if they were right next to each other. No sense.  I made sure I was there early enough to get the best FREE spot!


The race had a super early start time of 630a. Well, supposedly. We had about a 20 minute delay. I later learned its because the cops would not let us start until the entire course was barricaded, yet the directors had planned to do the last few miles as we ran the first few miles. Think again.


We woke with temps already at 75 degrees and they were predicted to climb well into the 80s. The Start Line already had the Yellow Caution Flags flying. I later learned the marathoners were put under Red Warning Flags.


Arriving early meant no lines for the porta potties!...at least the first time around. The 2nd time was very short as it seemed there were plenty and in different locations.


This race is technically not 'at' the beach. It is officially in West Palm Beach, which is on the other side of the intracoastal waterway, but it is still a very scenic race.

The course is an up and back and then down and back....meaning we ran right by the finish line....which is never acceptable when you are a slow runner and you are seeing people celebrating their finish already and all you can think is 'how much more do I have to go?!'


My goal was to 'wog' 3/1 (jog 3 min/walk 1 min) as this was the plan for the full marathon in February. The first half was easy peasy and I felt strong. It was definitely hot, but the majority of it was in the shade and we had a nice breeze going on. The last few miles though were in pure sun and the temps definitely took its toll on my body and there was a lot more walking. I grabbed 3 cups at each station (which were properly stocked! Kudos for plenty of supplies during such a hot race!) a water, a Gatorade, and another water to dump on my head. I was drenched by the time I hit the Finish Line! I later learned about 50 people were treated for heat related illnesses. Out of the 10 years, this was only the 2nd hottest race for this series. The medal makes it kind of ironic, as it is a huge sun! But what can you expect for a Finish Line hosting a Christmas tree sculpted out of sand!?

The finish line was stocked with lots of packaged snacks provided by Publix. I walked away literally barely able to carry it all! We ended in a park, so there was plenty of area of stretch out and rest for a bit. However, the 2 free beers were outside the park, and inside a bar (World of Bar). It was a bit of a wait in line, but not the worst, probably because I was able to chat with some people.


All in all, I would recommend this race. Its a great scenic (and flat) course and is a great location to have a beach vacation. Its also perfect location for tons of restaurants, bars, and shopping, so plan to spend some time for this race weekend to celebrate!


I unfortunately had to hurry back home after the race. The weather had a couple stray showers coming thru (which probably helped the marathoners cool off) so it was probably for the best. I took the scenic route home up A1A and stopped at a few beaches along the way to rest the tootsies!

HM #33
2:32


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Savannah River Bridge Run-Dec 7, 2013

So I have to warn, I am a bit partial to this run, as it was my very first race 7 years ago. The race morning consists of a 5k, 10, and 15k aka Double Pump, going over the bridge either once, twice, or GASP three times! This is definitely known as the Toughest Bridge Run of the South with a 5.5% grade over the .7mile climb!

 

Every year since 2008 (my 2nd) I have run the 5k in Costume. The race has a costume contest with 3 winners receiving a cash prize! The past couple of years they have also included a team costume contest as well. I have been a pink ribbon, pink Converse sneaker, Ms Pacman, a flamingo, and 'Call Me Maybe' telephone!  Any cash winnings I ever received I always donated to the 26.2 with Donna organization. However, Ive always secretly envied the runners who tackled the Double Pump.

After 7 years of focusing on fundraising I decided I was going to go into 2013 and try to put some more focus on myself and improving my running. Still contemplating designs for the contest in the Fall, the race announced this would be the first year they would give a medal for the Double Pump....decision made! I forwent the contest and was going to give it my all on the bridge...3 times!

 I drove up the day before the race and stayed at the Andaz which has a perfect location to the Riverwalk as well as the Expo at the Civic Center.  Hint for those new to town....the street metered parking is free on the weekends, so there is no need to pay for valet or over priced self parking at the hotels! The hotel welcomed me with a glass of wine, as well as fully stocked Free mini bar of snacks and nonalcoholic drinks. Yes, that's right, Free! How'd they know I was the Broke Traveling Runner Girl!?

The Expo is a nice touch, as usually 5k/10k races don't have much of an expo. Most of the vendors are advertising other local races, but there also running clothes and supplies to buy. The Enmark (a local convenient store) gave out free coffee and granola bars. The shirts are pretty unique as they hold a contest for the design each year. And the fabric they use feels like cotton but is performance wear. So soft!

I spent the rest of the evening doing the following...
watched the sunset on top of the Bohemian Hotel
window shopped the eclectic shops of the RiverWalk
explored the Christmas crafts/art market on the RiverWalk
got lost in the Christmas decorations, listened to live music, and explored the art walk in the Village Market...with free wine and snacks!

 

This specific weekend in Savannah is a great time to kick off the Holiday season! Just a short water ferry ride away, there is a drive thru Christmas light display next to the Westin. Speaking of the Westin, they have a huge lit up tree outside and inside, as well as a gingerbread competition in the lobby! Back on the Riverwalk side, they have an art/craft market, a outside movie on the jumbotron, carolers and dancers on stage, and fireworks on Friday night. On Saturday they have a parade that runs down the cobble street! So if you are coming for the race, make sure to stay for all the festivities!

 

The race started at 8am so I had to make my way to the ferry at 630a to get to the Convention Center next to the Westin where the 5k and Double Pump starts. (The 10K starts at the Civic Center at 9a.) I was early and the line wasn't bad at all....in fact, I think it was the first one to cross! It was a chilly morning but the day was going to be perfect running conditions....not too cold, not too hot. Most people wait inside the Convention Center and the lines for the 2 bathrooms start backing up quickly. From experience of staying at the Westin the year before, I knew exactly where everything was, so I just acted like a guest, utilized their bathrooms, took some pics of the gingerbread houses and trees, and stayed warm away from the runners chaos.

This race is very family and walker friendly, which is really great, but if you are looking for a PR, this is something you should know to line up appropriately. The director has done wonders the past couple years and has the runners on one road at the starting area and the walkers on the other road, which start a couple minutes after the runners. It still can be pretty congested. The bridge does stay open, only 1 lane is closed for us crazies to tackle the steep piece of medal. The bridge doesn't have sidewalks, so this is the only opportunity people have to go up it all year! The 10k is not nearly as crowded.

The entire Double Pump I felt pretty good. Actually, my times were really good for a bridge run. The first incline of the 10K is the steepest and just about everyone in my pace were walking. The turn around point before the last incline, I ran out of steam for a couple minutes, but was able to muster through. The several people dressed as bulls and torros as well as Wonder Women kept me entertained the entire course. However, I was disappointed I didn't see more costumes....well, more disappointed that I didn't do a costume because it seemed my chance to win would have been high. But I was super excited and proud to finish the Double Pump!

The After party for the race is one of the best out of all races I have been to. Endless beer...well, until the kegs run out, and endless Brunswick stew! YUM! There is always a live band for entertainment as well. Age group awards are handed out and then they do the costume contest, winners based on crowd support.

Unfortunately because I had to make my way down to the Palm Beaches Half packet pick up before 6p, which was a 6 hour drive away, I couldn't stay and party, or even see all the costumes :/ Maybe its for the better. I will be back in costume again....just wait! But I can always say I am a Double Pumper!!!....and Ive got my medal to prove it!