Georgia done. Much better weather than last year. I got beat up by the wind on the way back from Savannah State University. How did Yasir and Dan do?
Okay so...THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AT Savannah
3.1 3.1 0:07:19 0:22:40
6.2 3.1 0:07:19 0:22:41
10 3.8 0:07:15 0:27:32
13 3 0:07:40 0:23:00
20 7 0:07:49 0:54:45
26.2 6.2 0:08:40 0:53:43
26.2 3:24:21
For comparison, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AT SUGARLOAF
16.88 16.88 0:07:39 2:09:15
26.2 9.32 0:08:44 1:21:24
26.2 3:30:38
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AT LOUISIANA
6.2 6.2 0:06:48 0:42:12
13.1 6.9 0:07:10 0:49:28
20 6.9 0:07:41 0:53:00
26.2 6.2 0:07:45 0:48:06
26.2 0:07:21 3:12:26
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AT STEAMTOWN
18 18 0:07:12 2:09:45
26.2 8.2 0:07:44 1:03:25
26.2 3:13:10
My finish time at Savannah was right about where I thought it would be. As I found out last year, this race is a half marathon with a few people running the full. As scenic as the first half is, the second half is interstate overpass, with a brief stop at Savannah State University. As promised by the race officials, there were more bands than last year. I heard more Skynard in my race than any man should be forced to bear. Sure, you could hear covers of Black Crows and Georgia Satellites, and. of course, OutKast playing. But Skynard ruled the day.
Early on in the race, I noticed an older woman yeling "Don't Stop!" at people at water stations. First, let me say that I give her all of the credit in the world for running 7:15 pace for the half. Really solid. After a couple of water stations, I started thinking "Is this her thing? You know, sign up for races to yell at people?" Then she yelled at me. I yelled back "I didn't stop." She yelled again "You dang near stopped!" I said I barely slowed down. She was really not going to let this go. This goofy interchange got my mind off of running for a bit. Our pack for the first half included the eventual overall women's #2 and #3 for the marathon. Also, There was a woman with one leg doing the hand crank cart, that would pass us on the downhills, and we would pass on the uphills (not that there are many hills to speak of). She was near me for @ 20 miles of this race. Anyway, at the very next waterstop after fast crabby old lady yelled at me, hand crank woman had to lock up her brakes behind the crabby lady. I didn't need to say anything. The moment was delicious.
Last year, we stayed next door to 2 women that were running the half. The husband of one of those women was in a bluegrass band that was playing on the portion of the course that i was cut off from last year, so i never saw him. He was playing in the same spot! As i passed by him this year, I pointed at him and yelled, and he yelled back.
When we decided tht my family wasn't going with me to this race, there was a while there that i had planned on going solo. My mother in Law said she wanted to go, and man, I'm glad she went. There was about a half hour of just me being dumb after the race, and it was really good to have someone that likes me at the finish. I needed someone to tell me to put the banana down, so that i could open the water bottle. Or to put the water bottle down, to peel the banana! Seriously. The post race headliner was "The Old Crow Medicine Show." I am not a country or bluegrass fan, but they were amazing! what a show! We toured Fort Pulaski on Friday, and it was crazy to see the fort last year before the hurricane and this year after.
I wonder if I would have a better opinion of this race if I had run it only once. Because this year was really good.
I don't know what race is next for me, and I don't think I'm going to decide until I get back from arizona.
Thanks to all of my friends here for the suport.
And thanks to Sasha for putting this blog together.
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