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Tybee Island Half Marathon 02Feb08

690 views 17 replies 16 participants last post by  Econo 
#1 ·
This is my first kickrunners race report. This is not a race report. Here is why:<br><br>
More often than not, I sign up for races, train haphazardly, eat horribly, go out too fast, die at the end and swear to do better next time.<br><br>
This time, in order not to die at the end... I signed up for the race, trained haphazardly, ate horribly, but... DID NOT GO OUT TOO FAST...and still swore to do better next time.<br><br>
At least I fixed one thing.<br><br>
Tybee Island, 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon. 0800, Saturday, 02 February 2008.<br>
Ralph and I decided to run this because three of our running friends were going to make the trip and Ralph needed Georgia. (I gave up on a marathon in 50 states... I have 12 marathons, 11 states. Ralph now has 21 marathons, 20 states, I think?)<br><br>
So we drove 500 miles down 95 to a lovely town outside of Savannah. There are few, if any franchise-type establishments and no high rises, nothing over 4 stories, I believe. It was quaint and lovely and had an artsy feel to it.<br><br>
Tybee Island's beach is clean, wide, and has nice soft sand. Our room overlooked this and the sunrises were inspiring.<br><br>
The packet pick-up had a few vendors there and they had supplies that runners need, gels, socks, body glide, nip gards, shoes, clothes, etc.<br>
I picked up some $3 gloves and Ralph got some nip gards.<br><br>
The spaghetti supper sponsored by St. Michael School was worth every penny of the $8.00 per person! Delicious pasta served by the students and cooked by the parents. The pastor, himself, seated us and checked on our table. A real class act.<br><br>
The weather was perfect. Chilly at the start and then just perfect. I had worn my gray chamo skirt and gray underarmour top with a gray tank top over that with my number attached. And the three dollar gloves. I shed the underarmour and gloves at mile ONE! I got hot quickly but was comfortable after shedding the winter wunning wear... I carried the items for 7 miles, until we ran by our hotel and then I dropped them at the curb in hopes of finding them after I finished. Happily, that is what happened.<br><br>
My plan was to run this as a training run because: 1. I had surgery in December 2. I only ran 75 miles in January (walked 95 miles in January) 3. There was no way to PR, so why not run smart?<br><br>
So, I decided no mile could be under 10 minutes and no mile over 11 minutes. Somewhere during the run 2 miles were run in the 9:50's and the slowest one was in the 10:50's (I walked and ate some Luna cubes).<br><br>
I felt great. At the 10 miles mark, I shouted to no one in particular, "HEY, we only have to run a 5K now!" I was shocked that some guys behind me grumbled and made snide remarks. Saddened by their lack of joy... I took off and made those last three point one miles better than the previous 10.<br><br>
I met my goal. I had run the race like a training run and felt great the entire way. I focused on form and enjoyed the scenery.<br><br>
After the race, I walked the mile back to the hotel and picked up my friends' postrace bags. Then I went back to the finish and looked for our first guy. Joe's previous best for a marathon was 3:15, his goal for Tybee: 3:10. As I saw 3:09 appear on the clock, I got worried. But then... I saw him! Here comes Joe looking as focused and happy as he had the whole race (I saw him several times during the run, the half and full ran the same course, the full just did it twice)<br><br>
Sure enough, he finished in 3:10. He had met up with three guys with similar goals during the first mile and they ran as a team, when they headed into wind, they took turns breaking it (ha ha). Two of the guys had 3:20 as their goal but, since they were in this tight group of 4... they shattered that goal! All four finished in 3:10!<br><br>
It was fun seeing Joe finish so well and so healthily... last time we ran a marathon together... he ended up in the hospital getting IV's and having folks worry about him surviving! But that was almost 3 years ago.<br><br>
After Joe was safely inside getting his massage. I went back to the finish to cheer and wait for Ralph to finish. He had not trained for this but had run The Breakers in Rhode Island in October and put in a few long runs and decided to just have fun here. He said he ran the half in 1:45 and felt good up until the last 5 miles, he finished in 3:39. Four minutes slower than The Breakers.<br><br>
He was fine and did not end up in the hospital like he did in November when he ran Stinson Beach.<br><br>
Then I waited for our gal, Jojo. She is a young lady who wanted to make up for Chicago. She ran that but, well, you know what happened there. She was ready to run Tybee very WELL. But... she got the FLU last weekend and was coughing and run down. Influenza can do that.<br><br>
I suggested she not run but she wanted to give it a go.<br>
Ralph told me he had seen her a few miles behind him so I knew she was okay then. I was worried, though. A lot can happen in those last few miles.<br><br>
But. YAY! Here she came, running by as beautiful as she is. She finished in 3:50. Before the flu, her goal was 3:38. After the flu, her goal was to break 4:00. YAY! She shattered Chicago by an hour!<br><br>
Ooops! SOrry this is SO long! I just wanted to say that I was happy I stuck to my plan and that my runner friends did well.<br><br>
TYBEE ISLAND MARATHON! I recommend it. Excellent organization, excellent folks, beautiful weekend!
 
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#3 ·
Hooray for Rosie! Sounds like you had a great trip and ran a fantastic race.<br>
Congrats to you, R, and your pals.<br><br>
hup
 
#7 ·
I'm glad your group was all satisfied with their races. Congrats to you all! It sounds like you went on vacation and happened to do a little running in the process.<br><br>
Thanks for the report. Your description reminds me a little of Kiawah Island, a personal feeling smaller race.
 
#11 ·
<img alt="" src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/boomerbarbara/beforetherun0208.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><img alt="" src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/boomerbarbara/3fullsandahalf08.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><img alt="" src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/boomerbarbara/50.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><img alt="" src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/boomerbarbara/postraceTybeeBeach08.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">
 
#12 ·
Hey Rose! It sounds like a nice, fun run...congratulations on running the race you planned. Glad you had a good weekend trip, too.<br><br>
Nice pictures...I love a "not race report" with pictures. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">
 
#14 ·
Great report Rosie and glad you are recovering well. I like your new outlook, hope you can keep that and continue to just have fun. Now you have to get Ralph signed up here and posting his RR's!!<br><br>
Barb(1)
 
#15 ·
Quite the contrast to your "snow" picture from last month!! <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">
 
#17 ·
So you <i>exercised</i> discipline, my dear fren! Not easy, I know.<br><br>
I really enjoyed your report, Rose, and think I will follow your lead, sign up for a race and just have some fun.<br><br>
Love the pics and the commentary about Ralph and your friends (congrats to them too!) Your outfit is smashing (glad you got all of it back!)
 
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