See Kym Run: December 2016

Rock 'n Roll Savannah 1/2 marathon - 8th 1/2 marathon

11/5/2016

Savannah, GA

Time: 2:28:06 (PR!); average pace: 11:18

Place: Overall 4744/18600; Div (F40-45) 394/865; Female 2794/5833

I really enjoyed this race! I was a little worried about how I would do since I didnt get in a ton of running since the marathon but I actually had a PR! I could have had a better PR if I didnt waste 4 minutes waiting in line for the port-o-pottie.

I realized that in the past year I had peed outside in several different states. Should this be a new goal? I'm the most grown up 43 year old ever. I forgot about my new goal as I watched a bunch of guys and gals try to hide themselves to pee outside while I waiting in line for the port-o-pottie.

I should have gone to pee alongside the trees like these girls

All I kept hearing was how hot this race was last year. It was so hot they even cancelled the marathon portion of the race mid-race. The weather on this day was amazingly perfect. I expected Savannah to be warmer than Chicago since it was in the south. I automatically think any place south of Chicago is significantly warmer.

The start of the race was pretty cold. I didnt think to bring a throw away shirt and we walked from the hotel to the start line without intentions of checking gear. The body heat from the corals helped a bit and of course once once I got going I warmed up.

I got cold again once I stopped running. I found a spot in the sun after the race in the park while waiting for Beth but the cool breeze cancelled out the sun. Still not sure why I had a popsicle!

See how I'm looking down in the photo above? Well, that's because the streets in Savannah are old and many are uneven brick surfaces. The side walks are worse. This town was founded in the 1700s and I'm pretty sure the bricks were laid at the same time. The sidewalks have become uneven from years of erosion and never having been repaved. After walking on them for a few days I looked down during most of the race afraid I'd trip and fall.

These photos were taken with my little square "spy" camera. In a few previous races I wore it clipped on to the front of my tank top. The blurry photos I got were not that great; mostly the backs of peoples heads. This time I clipped it on the back of my hat. The photos still aren't that great. this camera isn't really made for motion and it needs a lot of light. Good thing I didnt pay much for it.

The night before I left for Savannah, the Cubs won the World Series. After 108 years, they finally did it. I honestly didn't think it was going to happen in my life time. As a Sox fan I couldn't have cared less and I wasn't going to jump on the bandwagon just because they're a Chicago team. I was glad to be away from all the hype. To be spiteful, I wore my Sox shirt.

I was able to not do a run/walk for this race. I did allow myself to walk through the water stops. Most larger races have water stations that are about a block long. The water stations at this race were pretty short. Good that it added to my PR time but bad because I needed the friggin' break!

I was pretty impressed with myself when I looked at my Runkeeper app and saw that the majority of my splits were under an 11 minute mile! This race made me feel pretty good about myself. I had good splits, I wasn't dying or seriously struggling.

I went on this trip with Beth, who walked the half marathon. I got a text from her as I was crossing the finish line saying she was about 15 behind because she stopped to take some photos. Totally understandable; Savannah is one of the prettiest cities I have even been to.

I knew I had about 45 minutes to kill. It was kind of chilly out after I stopped moving but I don't recall them having heat sheets. I'm pretty sure if they did i would have grabbed one.

I grabbed all the goodies and sat on the curb in the finish shoot and chowed down. It was shaded and on this sunny day it was going to be the only place I could see my phone screen.

After a few minutes I got up and walked around the post party, grabbed a coffee popsicle and a grassy seat in the sun.

Met Beth after she finished and we walked in the direction of the hotel. We never talked about where we were going to eat after the race. Our comfy hotel room was so close, we decided to get food at the fancy gas station and head back.

Let me just tell you that this was no ordinary gas station. Upon first glance it doesn't even look like a gas station. The pumps are covered with an awning help up by stone pillars to match the building. Inside is a gourmet food section, a hot bar deli and a place where you can get your growler filled. Oh and did I mention the section where you can buy candles and plush throw blankets?