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.