Cherokee Half-Marathon

This race was interesting before it started.  Joaquin caused it to be rescheduled, which is rare for races.  I signed up because the swag was so good (fleece headband and vest, gloves, gender specific shirt size, several free photo downloads).  Cherokee is also known for having really good food (fruit, chocolate milk, water, beef tamales, chili, smoothies).  The casino caters the event and does a great job.  Back to the rescheduling: the race got moved to Halloween, so a few costume awards were given out.  I wasn't dressed up as anything, but rocked a pink tutu.

This is a good race for seeing wildlife.  I saw four elk and two wild turkeys.  We also had the misfortune of running past a dead skunk...twice!

Since the race is on/around the Cherokee reservation, we got to enjoy the music of Cherokee drummers.  They play at the start and on the course.

I had an easier time with the course than before.  All of this mountain running is paying off. Overall, it's not a very hilly course.  I highly recommend it if you're looking for a race with some mountain views.  The race benefits the Madison Hornbuckle Children's Cancer Fund.

Tobacco Road Marathon

This marathon closed out eight months of training.  I trained for four months, ran the Outer Banks Marathon and then trained four months for Tobacco Road.  That meant running on plenty of cold winter mornings.  I've decided that I prefer summer training.  In the mountains, summers are easier to run in.  All that said, I don't regret doing this for a minute.

I'd run several half-marathons at this location and enjoyed them.  I had some friends doing the marathon and jumped on the band wagon.  The start was cold, but I was happy to find my friends before we began.  I was running a slower pace, but this course gives several chances to see your people.  It has two turnaround points on this (mostly) trail race.  The trail is both asphalt and dirt.  It's well-maintained all around.

It's been a while since this one, but I remember it as a great day.  The weather was wonderful and there was good food on and after the course.  One of the course tables had tons of snacks.  All the salt and sugar you could want.  I wasn't in much pain.

If it wasn't for eight months of training, I'd do it all over again next spring.  :)

OBX Marathon 2014

This was another great marathon.  It was overcast, but not rainy.  Not too hot, either.  My knees held up well.  The Tylenol before and during, coupled with wearing knee supports, does the trick.  I carried Gatorade and Twix bars.  I wore Body Glide, which prevents blisters and chafing.  My breakfast was a bagel.  I change up my race food, within reason, but most of this has become routine. 

I didn't see anyone I knew that day; we just didn't cross paths and they finished before me.  I had fun chatting it up before the race with strangers.  One was a high school student who has been accepted to West Point.  That poor thing thought that since a half-marathon was fun, this must be twice as much fun.  She is also interested in running on a marathon team at West Point.  Someone had to go and tell this kid about hitting the wall.  We caught up to one another during the race and she asked me if I had hit my wall. 

There are a lot of things I love about this race.  The community support is one thing.  It is fantastic.  The residents, visitors and churches are amazing.  One of the churches offered extra ice cream if you came back for their evening event.  I hung with a pace group for a while, but got behind.  The pacer either got left or left his group, as I saw him alone later.  The hardest parts, physically, are getting over the big bridge and running through the woods.  Some parts of the woods are actually hilly.  The soil is also soft and can be tough to handle.  Personally, I welcomed this part of the course.  It's a wonderful break for your knees.  At first, you wonder how on earth you'll make it through all those miles.  They go faster than I think.  The bridge always seems to take forever.  At the turn off the bridge, you see the CVS.  It's the most wonderful sight, but it still seems so long to the finish.  The finish line support, as with other parts of the course, is wonderful.  So are the shuttle buses at the end.  I had no desire to walk anywhere at that point, as you can imagine.  During the race, I usually think, do I want to do this again? By the time I finish, the answer is a resounding yes.  I signed up for the 2015 races before the month was up.     

80's Flashback 8k and Main Street Mile

I ran a second 8k in Franklin on the Greenway, the 80's Flashback 8k.  This time, we got rained on and it was also humid.  I think I'll stick to running in Waynesville.  Speaking of Waynesville, I ran in the Main Street Mile later in August.  It's a very flat race and I improved my time, finishing in 8:53.  Here's a picture of my 8k swag. 

Moonlight Moonshine 8k

This race was on the greenway in Franklin, NC.  The Greenway runs along the Little Tennessee river.  Franklin is more hilly than Waynesville and was pretty humid that day.  All that said, it's still a pretty place to run.  You also can't beat the classic post-race refreshments: an RC-Cola and a moon pie. 

Bringing Home Agape

In winter 2014, I began volunteering at Feline Urgent Rescue of WNC.  I didn't think I should adopt another cat, as I live in a small home.  I also didn't think my building owner would allow it.  In June, I fell in love with this boy.  He sat in my lap and that was the end of it.  It wasn't long before I knew we needed each other.  I got up the nerve to ask permission and brought this boy home in late July.  He is extra special.  You see, his ''owners'' abandoned him, starving and flea-bitten at the county shelter.  He was rescued by FUR of WNC.  He's about 7.  He has a bad hip, which sticks out.  Thankfully, it only bothers him when pressed.  I try very hard not to bother that place.  He also has a bump on one of his bones, which may indicate a previous break.  In spite of all this, he is an incredibly loving boy.  That's why a rescue volunteer named him Agape.  He is a lap kitty and he'll accept any lap.  He is a bottomless pit.  This may be because he'll never forget going hungry.  Little man, you will always have love and food in my house.  Check out the pictures.  I think he's filled out a bit.   

 

 

Mission Serve: Viral (2014)

Mission Serve 2014 was in Savannah.  It was a beautiful city.  As you can imagine, summer in the deep south is very hot.  As much as I miss Greenville, this confirmed that I'm never moving back.  I've gotten too used to the mountain air.  We stayed in Ardsley Park Baptist Church.  The building wasn't ideal for a crowd this size, but we made it work.  I had a fantastic squad.  They were young, but very hardworking.  We had wonderful leadership.  It was a HOT week (did I mention that?), but roofing went well.  We also got done early.  This allowed us to take a trip to Tybee Island.  It was incredibly cool and refreshing in the water.  I also didn't realize how much I had missed the beach.  Earlier in the week, we were able to tour Savannah on our evening off.  We took a boat ride, enjoyed the stores and had dinner at Sweet Potatoes (featured on Man Vs. Food).  Here are some shots from an unforgettable week.