RnR Savannah Half Marathon:::: #8 of 12 in 2012

rock n roll savannah half marathon, savannah georgia

half mary # 9

race# 8 of 12 in 2012

time:  2:17:42

division:  557/1266

gender: 2933/7568

expo::::

we arrived in savannah on friday afternoon and after checking into our hotel we headed straight for the expo. i remembered reading nightmares regarding the expo from last year so i wanted to pad our travel time. the expo is at the convention center, which is on an island. your options are driving, taking a shuttle, or taking a ferry. 

i would have preferred to drive since we were already in our car, but the website really encouraged parking and taking the ferry. plus all the nightmares had to do with traffic onto the island. we paid $10 to park (every garage was in 'event' mode) and took the ferry. the ferry was free and only about a 4 minute trip. 

the lines to get your bibs, swag bags, and shirts were well staffed and the lines were super short. 

the expo itself was very large. pretty much every vendor you'd ever want to see. we got some free stuff at the Brooks' setup, and Brad got fitted for shoes while i checked everything out. 

i purchased some zippfizz at Rachelle's recommendation. then in stood in line FOREVER to get a race day parking pass ($10). i SHOULD have bought this online ahead of time, then i could have picked it up a lot more quickly. but oh well, you live, you learn. here's my loot:

i have no shame, i definitely went by the downy booth twice then made brad go! i love those unstoppables!! i also stopped by the ACA booth and made two bibs. i ended up just wearing the one for my aunt sherri. i think my granny would understand why i made that choice. 

race morning::::

race morning was a little more hectic than usual for us because we were packing up and checking out of our hotel room (unplanned, more on this in a separate post). also, due to road closings, we had to be parked in our garage by 530 a.m. traffic was minimal and we had no trouble parking, but then we had more than 2 hours to kill before the race. we sat in the car for awhile and i made my way towards the start line around 7 a.m. 

i had eaten some Ezekiel bread with PB in the car, but i was starving before the race started. luckily RnR had water, bananas and bagels out for us. i had a half a bagel and some water while i waited.  

the race started on time, but it was a wave start so i think i started around 820ish. i did have a mini panic attack right before the race started that went something like this:

• i turn my garmin on before the race to allow it time to find satellites. then if it tries to turn itself off i just hit the light button to keep it on. 
• i went to turn on my iPod and it won't play.
• i proceeded to freak out and try to decide whether or not to use my phone for music (did this during the Flying Pig and it was not a good experience, plus i didn't have the playlist loaded).
• while this was going on, apparently my garmin beeped at me but i was too busy freaking out to notice. when i finally get situated (my iPod actually DID end up working) my Garmin had turned off. and it was time for my corral to start. SIGH. 
• i'm proud of myself for not completely losing it. i just hung back and waited for it to locate satellites. 

the race::::

i can't even describe to you how much i loved this course. it was mostly flat and beautiful. they changed the course from last year (after criticism about not really seeing the pretty parts of the city) and i was really happy with it. 

the course support along the way was first class. lots of water stations, GU station, and loads of bands, signs, crowds, and cheerleaders. i also saw a lot of first aid stations. 

this race flew by and i felt really good the whole time. i am also happy to report that aside from walking through water stations (i always do this, i'm not coordinated enough to drink and run at the same time) i ran this whole race!!! FIRST TIME EVER! [it only took me 9 half marathons to get to this point!! ;) ]

i'm not really sure why i thought i needed to put my hands up in every picture. all in all, this was an amazing race! great experience, great city, i'd definitely do it again. this was also my first RnR race. while i do enjoy the smaller race scene, they've definitely got it down and it went off without a hitch. 

what i'm wearing::::

under armour hat (from Suz)

nike sunglasses

lululemon run: swiftly tech long sleeve

nike running tights

mizuno wave riders (14s) with sweat pink laces

road id

iPod shuffle with yurbuds headphones

iFitness double pouch belt

my recommendations for this race::::

• try to drive to expo unless you're staying downtown. if traffic's bad, park downtown and try ferry.
• STAY DOWNTOWN if at all possible! everything's there! 
• if you need a parking pass, reserve it online to avoid the lines at the expo!
• find a bathroom before you get to the start line. 

Asheville Citizen-Times Half Marathon Expo and Packet Pick Up... And my first GIVEAWAY!!

Just got back from the expo and packet pick up! I can't believe this is actually happening!

It was at the Sherrill Center on UNCA's campus. I'd never been up there, they have a nice arena. There were a decent number of vendors there. We stopped at the Jus' Running and Foot Rx booths. Brad found a pair of Mizuno shorts for 50% off and I got a belt at iFitness. I also saw a booth for a The Haunted Half Marathon. Should I or shouldn't I? I'm gonna decide after Saturday, but I'm thinking YES!

I picked up my shirt and bib:

**This is actually the third shirt I got. On the first two the screen printing had smeared and looked crappy. I HATE taking things back or saying anything about stuff like that, but dangit this is my first half marathon shirt and I want to be able to wear it all the time. Even to sleep.

So I'm off to eat some delicious carbs (I keep reading that you shouldn't carb load the night before but that you should eat a few more carbs for a few days before the race). I can probaby handle that.

Now that I've made you suffer through all that, let's get down to the good stuff... my first giveaway!

A mix of my favorite fuels! Shot Bloks, GU's and sport beans. You'll get everything pictured, and maybe a few other sweet treats! Want to enter? Here are the ways you can:

**MANDATORY - must be a follower** (1 entry)

Optional entries:
Blog, tweet, or facebook a link to this giveaway. (1 entry for each)
Tell me your favorite race fuel. (1 entry)

Leave me a comment for each entry pretty please!

Good LUCK! I'll pick a winner on September 24th at 11pm (ish, let's face it I'm not punctual at all). I'll either use the random number generator or figure out a way to let Riley pick.

I Heart Under Armor

Oh, and by the way... I blew up the UA outlet this weekend.

Did you do any 'back to school' shopping? [that's my story and i'm sticking to it!] It was tax-free weekend in NC, but we were in OH [dummies].

Firecracker 5K/10K Brevard, NC

Yesterday I ran the 16th annual Firecracker 10K in Brevard, North Carolina. Brevard is about 45 minutes south of Asheville. The race was scheduled to start at 8am, with check in beginning at 630am.

I arrived downtown around 7 and found a place to park. The streets were blocked off for the 39th Annual Fine Arts and Crafts Showcase. I ended up parking completely across town from the start line. Whoops. It was a great warm up at least.

I got to wear my brand new American Flag Active Band!

Pardon that horrible picture! But let me just tell you, this is the first band I've ever worn that I did not have to adjust or even think about during the whole race. It was AMAZING. I didn't have to worry about my silly frizz ball hair, leaving me plenty of time to concentrate on not being last running. If you haven't ordered a band from them, you should go check them out now! They always have great deals and coupons on their blog too! I got this 4th of July band for free when I ordered my other band last week.

Aren't they cute? I may or may not have copied http://painprideperseverance.blogspot.com/ Sorry Julia, you have good taste!

The race check in was simple enough. They had booths set up and the volunteers were very helpful.

I picked up my packet and my chip.

I've never used the type of chip that they used. You had to wear it around your ankle, more on that later, but here's a pic.

You should be very jealous of my tan.

The 5K and 10K used the same start and finish lines, but the 10K runners started first. Which made sense in theory, but it also kinda sucked. Sucked in the sense that I don't like being passed, and all these people were passing me and I had no idea if they were 5K or 10K. My first mile was in 9:09. What the... I have no sense of pace whatsoever. I need to start paying more attention. I get so excited when I'm racing that I run too fast and wear myself out.

When the 5K split from the 10K I definitely considered taking the 5K route. I was on track for a PR. But I kept telling myself that I've never ran a 10K so I was gonna get a PR either way :) I was super bummed after we split when I realized not many people were following me. I was way in the back... And there were mountains... And that darn chip was rubbing my ankle like crazy.

But I sucked it up... And I finished my first 10K!!! 

My chip time was 1:09:33, which was weird because my Garmin was at 1:09 when I realized I hadn't turned it off (and I had drank two cups of water and a handful of grapes by then). But who knows.

What's important is that I did it!

I didn't get to check out the festival, I had to get home and get ready for work. But I had a little time to try out my new 2XU compression calf guards.

They make my legs feel amazing. Seriously, like a hug for your calves.Now I just need a full body suit. Or these. My thighs could use hugs as well!

Did you run a 4th of July race?
Have any new gear that you're loving?

God Bless our troops and God Bless America!!!