Thankful Thanksgiving

I apologize for being late with my update from my last running adventure, the Tryptophan Half Marathon.  As I mentioned in my last post, I wasn't ready for it.  I didn't run any training runs leading up to it, since the Halloween Half.  I mentally prepared for not having that PR or an outstanding performance, and settled to just completing and not hurting afterwards.

I was told that we would be travelling to my wife's family south of Atlanta (hour drive) after I returned from the run.  Then I was told that the family had requested my Rosemary Bread and Lemon Chess pie.  So two days before, I began baking.  My daugher, Katie, and I made the requested items along with pumpkin and apple pies.  Just the thought of the desserts and my mother-in-law's pasta dinner, made me thankful that I would be burning some calories before the feast.   My wife, Susan, comes from a close knit, large Chicago Italian family, who moved to Georgia when she was a teen.  Her mom can cook!

The big day arrived.  My sister was running with me and met me early to ride together.  I stepped out into the brisk 39 degree morning air.  I was thankful that it wasn't as cold as the year before at 19 degrees.  My family has acquired a tradition of visiting Dutch Monkey Doughnuts around the holidays.  Since I began running events in Cumming, just down the street from Dutch Monkey on Thanksgiving, it was expected that I bring some home for Susan and the girls.  I thought I'd be smart and pick some up when I went to packet pickup the day before, but they were sold out.  I was asked by my girls if I placed an order.  I thought I was too late and would disappoint them.  I sent the request the day before and was told that I would have my doughnuts ready for me to pickup on Thanksgiving, but told that they would close by noon.  I was thankful again for not disappointing my girls.  So, before the run, my sister and I ventured to pick them up.  The past couple of running events we attended in Cumming, they were sold out after the run.  We arrived early and found them fully stocked!

We headed over to Fowler Park and the Big Creek Greenway to gather for the run.  The wind had picked up and I believe the temperature had dropped.  Still, the morning seemed promising.  Those running the Half Marathon and the 10k started first and were followed by the 5k group.

The Big Creek Greenway is a great place to run.  Wide paths, boardwalk, and for the most part, flat except for the bridges over Big Creek (Vickery Creek).  It stretches 26.5 miles, from Forsyth, down to the Chattahoochee River in Roswell.  Every time I run here, I always get a big smile each time I pass the Self Check Speed Zones for bicyclists.  For the math challenged, that 22 feet per second equates to 15 miles per hour.  I don't have to worry about violating that rule.

 I saw the clouds lifting and thought it would warm up.  I was doing well until mile 4, when I got too hot in my hooded sweatshirt.  I slowed to shed it.  After reaching the northern turn around, the wind picked up.  At mile 5.5, I was putting the sweatshirt back on.  It was around this point, that my sister passed me, and I was able to pace with her for a while.  I stopped to help a young lady who had fallen with leg cramp.  I always carry bandages and bio-freeze sample in my running belt, for those 'just in case times'.  I let her have the bio-freeze and made sure she didn't need the bandages.

view from one bridge over Big Creek

I was debating taking off the sweatshirt again when I got to an area where the trees blocked the wind.  I decided to keep it on and the temp seemed to drop more.  Around mile 9, I was pelted by brief shower of frozen ice pellets.  I was thankful that it was brief!  For the first few miles, I soared with a 11:22 pace.  First mile was 10:50.  Way too fast for me.  I slowed on the last half to a 12:30-13:40 pace.  I thought I was doing great till the last 5k portion.  I wasn't having leg or knee pains, but my lower back was starting to hurt. I kept the slower pace to prevent a later injury. I was so glad to get that last mile done.

My Sister Robin, dressed for the cold

  As I approached the finish line, I noticed the photographer.  We received an e-mail that this year's event photos would be free from True Speed Photo.  Another reason to be thankful for a great race event, free photo to remember! Last July, the photographer caught me running on air, and this finish with a smile.  I had finished and I wasn't cramping up with dehydration or poor fueling.

I had finished around 2:53;38.  I didn't PR or finish below 2:40:00, but I had fun and wasn't hurting afterwards, despite not training for a month. This is a race I would recommend and would love to see more attend.   

My sister wanted to wait for some friends to finish.  While waiting, other late finishers stopped to thank me for encouraging them to keep going and finish, and the young lady I stopped to help, gave me a hug at the end.  Sometimes it's not about getting that PR, receiving that big beautiful medal, but enjoying the run and encouraging others around you as go.  I'm thankful that I didn't pass up the run for lack of training, and I ran.  I met some incredible people completing their first Half Marathon.

At home, I was welcomed by open arms, not for running a half marathon, but for the doughnuts.  I handed them over and was told I needed a shower.  After cleaning up, we headed south.  Mid-way through Atlanta traffic, a massive hamstring cramp in my left leg reminded me that I didn't stretch after the run.  I'm surprised I didn't set a land speed record in a Honda Odyssey van.  A couple of prayers later and I was able to move again; thankful I hadn't wrecked or pulled over for speeding.  Another lesson learned was to make time to stretch afterwards.  

With all the extended families present, we had a wonder thanksgiving feast, thankfully reflecting on the blessings we had been provided for the past year.  I want to give a belated Thank you for the encouragement and motivation to my fellow runners from Run Disney group, Idiot Running Club, Adventure runners, my local running group Team Awesome, and Frank Pizarro.  I've learned that just taking that first step and trying, you can do almost anything. 

As I finish this, I have been challenged again by Frank to answer some random questions that give readers insight to who we are.  I have accepted the challenge and will post soon.  

Haunted Halloween Half Marathon still haunting me...

It has been almost a month since I completed the Atlanta Halloween Half Marathon on October 26th, and I am still haunted by it.  Not that it was scary, but that it was difficult for me.  I am haunted by doubt and apathy.  It didn't start that way, so let me tell you what happened....

A couple of weeks leading up to the event, my family and I ran the Tower of Terror 10 miler at Walt Disney World.  For me, it was great.  They finally got to participate in a RunDisney event with me.  Afterwards, I went on a great business trip to tour Sandals and Beaches Resorts in the Caribbean.  I came back to work and remained too busy to get out and train for the upcoming Atlanta Half Marathon.

The big weekend arrived.  I had a scheduled 5k on Saturday night, and the next morning, the half marathon. I felt that completing the Dopey Challenge in January, and the Dumbo Challenge in August, I could do both back to back.  It didn't occur at the time, that one would be less than 12 hours after the other.

On Saturday night, my youngest daughter, Brooke, and I ran a local 5k, Cherokee Twilight Run, and had fun. This was a work sponsored run, so several of my co-workers attended as well.  Since I was planning on running with Brooke and had the half marathon the next morning, I wasn't going to run for a PR.  I held back and paced with Brooke.  I think I like running in the dark better, as we made great time.  It was a loop run where we start at a local park and run neighborhood streets circling back to the park.  Brooke began dropping back as we approached the park and I challenged her to catch me.  I ran the last half mile with a steady increasing pace, unknowingly, passing a couple of co-workers in my age group.  I finished ahead of Brooke, but managed to get a picture of her finishing and getting a PR for her.

We waited for others to finish and view the costume contest.  They announced award winners and Brooke learned she finished first for her gender age group.  She had the biggest smile as they handed her the first place medal.

I had finished third for my age/gender division.  I felt so slow and couldn't believe I had finished in a top three.  There was a good turnout, but either several faster runners didn't complete the time cards as it wasn't chip timed, or they weren't in my age group.

It was time to get home and get some sleep as I had to get up early to get to packet pick up before the race.  I didn't have time to get to early pick up the day before.  Despite the name, Atlanta Half Marathon, it wasn't in Atlanta.  It was in Cumming, way north of Atlanta in the foothills of the Appalachians.  I say this to point out that it is quite hilly.  There are flatter  sections in Cumming/Forsyth County, like the Greenway, but this race was not there.  I arrived at the Cumming Fairground and picked up my bib, shirt, and other items stuffed inside.  It was a cold 48 degrees and breezy.  I waited in my vehicle till about twenty minutes before start.  There were a couple of hundred runners gathered, and I learned that most were there for the 5k that started a half hour after the half.  Many were in costumes and I had considered it, but I was running solo.  It's always funner to costume up when you're with a group or another runner.  If you weren't in costume, you didn't get your picture taken.  The only photographer was staff for the run itself.

 

Here's a start picture where I am in the back with a white hat and black shirt 

The race started and we left the main gate  and down Castlebury Rd.  Then after a short distance, it went up Castlebury Rd.  By up and down, I refer to the 'hills'.  I would soon learn that this course had less than a half mile of flat terrain.  If you weren't running up a hill, you were running down a hill.

I managed to maintain a 12 min pace for the first few miles, but some of those hills kicked my butt!  I was hurting toward the end.  I have only to blame myself for two things.  First is not being consistent with my training and making myself get out and run. I have similar hills nearby and and just didn't get out and run them.  Second fault on my part was picking the race simply because the medal was cool and looked similar to last year's race that my sister and I hosted as a virtual run.

Haunted Headless Lemon Ride or Run 2013 for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

Here are some pictures that I took along the way. 

The course was not crowded.  There were plenty of officers at intersections to help with traffic.  There were several water and Gatorade stations.  I don't recall seeing a first aid station, but I'm sure one of the many officers on course could have summoned help. Only on one portion at a turn around was the course into a neighborhood with traffic mixed in.  This section was one of the only flat portions and had residential traffic going in both directions.  Being a rural area, there were no sidewalks, so runners had to yield to cars. There were very few spectators or persons cheering.  Other runners who had finished, close by the finish, were great moral supporters cheering those of us still on course, to keep going.    

That hill we ran down just outside the Fairground gates, I now had to run back up.  Being so close to the finish and passing by my parked vehicle, I sprinted with everything I had left to finish and get that medal.  At the finish, there were cookies, bananas, and water.  By the time I finished with 2:55:36, I was tired and sweaty, despite the cool temps.   I determined that unless there was a super cool medal that I just couldn't do without, friends begging me to join them, or losing a bet, I would NOT do this race again.  This was a once and done.  Till the organizers move it to a different location, I decided that it just wasn't fun.  Like all my races, I took a photo of the shirt and medal to remember it, before I add the medal to my rack. 

That doubt and apathy I mentioned earlier, now come in to play.  I had a great 5k experience and the half's poor performance, left me doubting myself and if I wanted to keep running the events.  Without a race to set goals or keep me focused, I have found it easy to make excuses or get 'busy' and miss out on training runs.  I have caught myself feeling like I know I can complete the run, but don't care how I do.  Hopefully this is just a small burnout and I find my 'love for running' again.

With that said, I am only a week away from The Tryptophan Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day.  This will be on a course I have already run on 4th of July, We the Runners Half Marathon.  It is on the Greenway in Forsyth, with relatively flat wide paths mixed with sidewalk and wood pathways along a river.  Last summer it was humid and hot.  This next run will be with temps between 28-40 degrees. My goal has always been to complete a half under 2:30:00.  I just haven't been training for it like I should.  I hope to make it under 2:40:00.  I'll be sure to snap some pics and update afterwards. 

Island Hopping!

Just to take a break from running, I wanted to tell everyone about my recent resort training trip with Sandals Resorts.  Just a couple of weeks ago, Oct 11-13th, I was able to take a familiarization training trip to Sandals and Beaches Resorts to three magnificent locations, Nassau, Bahamas; Providenciales, Caicos; and St Georges, Grenada.

As a travel agent, I get to help others plan their all inclusive vacation stays at the many different resorts, but I've always been worried, that not having been to the resorts, I wouldn't know which the client would enjoy more.  There is always a difference between seeing and experiencing the locations and events.

After this trip, I must admit, they are definitely worth visiting and experiencing.

The trip began with my friend and owner of the Travel Agency, Shane, picking me up at the house, and driving to Atlanta International Airport.  We had to be at the airport by 5:30 am, so we left around 4:30.  We arrived and found the international terminal, meeting with about 135 other agents and Sandals representatives.  There was a Bahamas Customs agent traveling with us, so we had our passports and customs forms completed before we flew, to expedite our travel to the resort once we landed.  We loaded up on a chartered flight, Flair Air, to Nassau Bahamas.  Flair Air is a division of Air Canada, so all the crew instructions and safety demonstrations were given not only in English, but also in French.

Picture of plane, taken at St Georges, Turks & Caicos.

It took a couple of hours to reach Nassau and we were served snacks on board. We were handed customs forms for the Bahamas.  Upon arrival, we were treated like VIPs' with separate lines to exit the airport (forms and passports already checked) and boarded the buses to the resort.  As a British Commonwealth, the direction of traffic was on the opposite of American roads.  

The drive wasn't overly scenic and was through some poorer neighborhood areas.  We arrived through a guarded entrance to splendor. There were drummers and dancers welcoming us and staff handed us cooling towels, before our guided tours of the resort rooms, facilities, dining, and recreation areas.

The resorts had various levels of concierge to Butler service, sizes of rooms and different layouts.  This resort was for adult couples only.  We stayed here till about 3:30 pm, and then boarded the buses back to the airport to fly to the next destination.

We were handed our travel forms on board the chartered flight and were excited to be arriving at Turks & Caicos, for a couple of nights stay at Beaches family resort.  Upon our arrival, we were told that we were forbidden to photograph the outside of the airplanes, airports. We were told that if we were caught with cameras or cellphones outside of the airport, we would have them confiscated and fined.  We landed and walked out onto the runway.  We were led into the airport where we were told we had the wrong customs forms.  We had to complete new ones inside.  The Security staff here were not friendly or welcoming.  Customs agents after the security check were.  We boarded vans for the ride to the resort.  I noticed yield signs that read "Give Way", for some reason, thought they were funny.  They had neat speed bump signs as well.

We arrived at Beaches and were met by Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie.

                                      

 We had a welcome reception, and then given our room assignments.  Each of the agents were assigned rooms in the different themed village areas of the resort; Caribbean, French, Italian, and Key West Villages.  I was assigned French Village and Shane had Italian Village area.  My room was basic with two beds and no balcony.  Shane had a two bedroom Concierge level with large King master and a second room with bunk beds (children's).  There were over 19 restaurants on site.  We had dinner and toured some of the night clubs open late.

The next morning began our property tours with welcome presentation.  We split up into smaller groups of 10-15 and walked the entire property, viewing the daycare center for small children, teen clubs, water park, spa areas, dining bars and restaurants, and every village with different room options.  This resort was enormous.  All the staff were courteous, welcoming, and helpful.

View from top of Key West Village

Example of Italian two bedroom with children's bunk beds and pull out trundle

Elmo surprised us during the property tour

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The last night in Turks & Caicos

 On Monday morning after a very early breakfast, we left the resort for the hidden gem of Sandal's resorts.  St George's, Grenada.  We had another two and half hour flight south to Grenada  We had a Grenada customs agent with us and we had our passports and forms completed before landing  Here were able to take pictures and were welcomed with smiles.  We took a short less than 5 minute ride out of the airport to the resort entrance.  We could have walked it as it was so close.

It was absolutely beautiful!  I did notice though, it was hilly.

We were welcomed to the resort with music and dancers.

We were given drinks from fresh ground sugar cane, mixed with island spices.  

This beach was simply incredible. With the rocks, it gave the beach a relaxing tranquility.  I'm sure they were there to keep the beach from eroding, but the water was crystal clear and inviting.  I made sure after the tour to get in and enjoy the water.

Off in the distance, I noticed the Disney Cruise Line had arrived.  It was diverted due to tropical storm in Antigua.  Grenada is now a port for the Southern Caribbean Cruises. 

Welcomed also with ice cold fresh Coconuts.  I drank a couple of these and they were quite refreshing!

We had lunch at Butch's Chophouse. This one required reservations and we were able to be worked in.  The meal was wonderful.  You will want to try the Nutmeg Ice Cream as well.

With all adventures, they come to an end.  We were met with the Director of Tourism for Grenada and thanked for visiting.  The friendliness and hospitality of the people I met, definitely want me to return, to visit and explore the rest of the island.

We boarded our flight and headed home.  We stopped in Turks & Caicos for refueling and crew change. We said goodbye to a wonderful group of ladies and welcomed another crew.  This one was not so friendly.  We had experienced some poor weather and people were waiting for restrooms.  To get airborne, we had to be seated.  I almost thought there would be a mutiny.  The crew were so scheduled and punctual, they didn't want people to get up for restroom because they had to serve dinner and beverages.  They conceded and we worked around them.

I should have skipped the chicken dinner because after landing, I encountered food poisoning.  It took me several days to recover.  Looking back though, I'm very glad I made the trip and I'm looking forward to future ones to come.