race report: rock ‘n’ roll savannah remix challenge {11.6.2016}

Upon finishing the Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah Half Marathon, it was time to celebrate. (At least until tomorrow’s 5K and 1 Miler races.)

Meghan had secured brunch reservations at The Ordinary Pub, so we donned our medals and walked the mile or so to the restaurant.

The chicken and waffle gyro and bottomless mimosas did not disappoint.

The weather was gorgeous, so we strolled through downtown for a bit, popping in some of the local shops. Before we returned to the car, we went to Leopold’s for ice cream. It just had to be done.

By that point, we were more than ready for a shower and some rest time. We debated going back into the city for dinner, but there was a Cracker Barrel just across the parking lot from the hotel. Laziness won out, and we agreed to have a “down home” dinner and then take a soak in the hotel’s indoor pool.

Dinner was  a carb lover’s dream.

The pool was less awesome – indoor pools are always so tepid and reek of chlorine, and while it was nice to do some walking laps in the water, we didn’t last long.

Even though we didn’t have to be up early on Sunday, we were both tired and feel asleep after watching some home improvement shows on TV.

Sunday morning presented a challenge. The 5K and 1 Mile races didn’t start until 1:00 in the afternoon and were located outside the downtown area in Daffin Park. We did need to be there early enough to get parking nearby, so we figured we would eat a big breakfast (hello, Cracker Barrel again), and then get dressed in our running gear and check out.

Meghan wanted a coffee from The Coffee Fox, so I circled the blocks while she waited. I wasn’t in the mood for anything, and preferred to stick with water.

Mid afternoon and evening races are always tough for me. I never know how to eat or how to prepare. I had some granola on which to munch while we waited, and that did the trick. We found the parking area, and were lucky to get one of the last “onsite” spots. And then it was time to wait.

The 5K and the 1 Miler would start from the same part of Daffin Park, and finish along the baseline of the Savannah Bananas baseball stadium. While the 1 Mile would be a quick out and back near the perimeter of the park, the 5K would extend a little longer and wind through the surrounding neighborhood.

Easy peasy.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah 5K

We checked our gear, and got in the corral around 2:15. It wasn’t a huge crowd, but there were still plenty of people.

We started right on time and out we went. The course was lovely – shaded and lined with more gorgeous homes. While people weren’t out in droves like at the half marathon, there were still spectators on the sidewalks and street corners. There was a well stocked water stop at about the midway point, but we passed it by.

I was having a strong run until the end – to get into the stadium and reach the finish line, we had to cross a portion of rocky gravel, sand and grass. Neither of us was willing to turn an ankle, so we picked our way carefully through that area before the final sprint to the finish.

We got our medals, a beer, fruit cup and pretzels. I was in desperate need of a little salt, so the pretzels were just the thing. With two races completed, we had to pick up our Remix Challenge medals from a tent near the start line, and then hike it back to gear check to switch out our bibs and shoe tags for the 1 Mile.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah 1 Miler

You all know that the mile is my worst and least favorite distance. I’m just not about sprinting, and today was no exception, especially at 2:30 PM, after 16.2 miles already down.

However, Pie Society had offered the carrot (or pastry) that  anyone who completed both Sunday races would receive a personal pie, and we were not to be denied.

And so we toed one more start line.

Down the road and around the block and back to the stadium we went. We slowed for that dicey part one last time and crossed the finish line for the final time that weekend.

Hooray!

I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to be done running.

We cleaned up in the stadium restrooms and then hit the road. We had a long drive in front of us and we needed to get going.

And so ended a wonderful racecation weekend in the city of Savannah. I can’t wait to be back!

Have you ever earned a pie at a race?

How many races in a row on a single day have you run?

*As a Rock ‘n’ Blogger, my entry to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah Remix Challenge and Global Tour Pass were complimentary. All opinions are my own.