March 18, 2025 • 56 mins
Jessie and Eric join the podcast to share part 2 of their experience at the Big Beach Marathon weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama. They completed the challenge, one as a long-time runner and the other as a first-time half-marathoner.
Big Beach Marathon Weekend Links
Eric and Jessie referenced our pre-race weekend breakdown in RED Episode 293 with Nikki Popovich from Junction 311 Endurance Sports:https://www.runeatdrink.net/podcast/2024/9/9/red-episode-293-featuring-a-runcation-destination-the-big-beach-marathon-in-gulf-shores-alabama?rq=big%20beach
2026 Big Beach Marathon Weekend
https://www.bigbeachmarathon.com/
The Lodge at Gulf State Park
Doc’s Seafood and Steaks
https://www.docsseafoodandsteak.com\
Rotolos
Flora-Bama
Bad Ass Coffee
https://locations.badasscoffee.com/list/al/orange-beach/
Connect with Jessie
https://www.instagram.com/harleyruningal/
Connect with Eric
https://www.instagram.com/eric.million.223/
THAT’S A WRAP!
Thank you for listening! Because of your support, we are in our eighth year of the podcast! Don’t forget to follow us and tell us where to find you next on our website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Also, check out our store on the website and get some swag, thanks to Pure Creative Apparel. Thanks to www.PodcastMusic.com for providing the music for this episode, too!
THAT’S A WRAP!
Thank you for listening! Because of your support, we are in our eighth year of the podcast! Don’t forget to follow us and tell us where to find you next on our website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Also, check out our store on the website and get some swag, thanks to Pure Creative Apparel. Thanks to www.PodcastMusic.com for providing the music for this episode, too!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Miss Brooklyn .
Hi, brooklyn, it's nice to meetyou.
My friend Amy, have you everbeen on a podcast before?
No, no, you are now.
Do you want to say welcomeRuncation Nation?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Runcation.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Nation.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Welcome Runcation Nation.
Welcome to the Run Eat Drinkpodcast.
We feature destination racesfrom across the country and,
after the race, we take you on atour of the best local food and
beverage to celebrate.
So, whether you are an eliterunner or a back of the packer
like us, you'll know the bestplaces to accomplish, explore
(00:48):
and indulge on your nextruncation.
Welcome to the Run Eat Drinkpodcast.
We feature destination racesfrom across the country and,
after the race, we take you on atour of the best local food and
beverage to celebrate andbeverage to celebrate.
So, whether you are an eliterunner or a back of the packer
like us, you'll know the bestplaces to accomplish, explore
(01:14):
and indulge on your nextruncation.
Hey, welcome to episode 302 ofthe Runny Drink Podcast.
I'm your host, amy flyingwithout my co-host what can I
say?
He has a day job, he has aninjury, he has important places
(01:34):
to be, he's a man about town.
Look for him to return andshare fabulous food and beverage
from his travels, coming to aRun Eat eat drink podcast feed
soon, anywhere.
You get your podcasts in themeantime.
(01:55):
Welcome, welcome, welcome and ashout out to everybody who has
been so patient with us over thelast couple of months, while we
had put the recordings on pauseand we're back.
What can we say except we areso happy to be back.
I am looking forward toaccomplishing, exploring and
(02:18):
indulging with you all,especially after spending a
couple of hours with Jesse andEric, who are back to recap the
Big Beach Marathon Weekend 2025.
This is part two of theirRuncation Recap.
Let me rewind.
Before race days what aboutcarb loading options and food
(02:44):
options that you partook, thatyou ate before the race?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
When we first got there, we went to Doc's Seafood
and Steak in Orange Beach.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Doc's Seafood and Steak.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yes, and I have the link in that which I'll send you
, because I wanted to make sureI had all the good food places
that we went to.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
We're all about it.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
I personally had, along with Susie and Dawn the
three of us we had their Alabamacrab cakes.
They were the best crab cakes Ihave ever had.
The meat was plentiful, thebreading was limited, it had
flavor and you get three reallybig ones.
I ate two.
I took one back to the hotel,which I ate the next day cold,
(03:26):
and it was yummy.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
You had a refrigerator in your room.
Yes, ma'am, we did Great.
Did you have the crab cakes too, eric?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I had fried clams, fish usbuckles and french fries.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
A lot of people will worry about having seafood
before races, but it sounds likeyou all did not worry.
No, it's always.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Generally, my go-to meal for pre-race is grilled
salmon with a sweet potato andthen either broccoli or green
beans.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Carbs, lean protein, yeah, when I saw crab cakes I
was like, oh, they're good ifthey're done right.
And that crab to breading ratio.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Oh, definitely way more crab little breading and
chunks, big chunks of bread.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, it was delicious and right on the beach
A little one-man band.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
There too, this guy was singing some great songs, so
it was like fun, openatmosphere.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Aw, did it have a patio and indoor-outdoor seating
?
Was it?
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
But because it was a little nippy, I feel like Ford's
Garage has those bay doors, oh,that you can roll up.
I had the bay doors closed.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
It's 29 degrees.
It wasn't that cold yet.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
We woke up to 29.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
It was probably in the 40s Still for Florida people
yeah, probably in the 40s.
Still for florida people yeah,so you had seafood pre-race.
Was that before the 7k?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
yes, yeah, the first night it was friday night the 7k
was on saturday and it wasthrough the park the nice thing
about the 7k is you walk out ofthe hotel and you walk over the
little bridge that goes acrossthe main road and and the start
is right there.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Like towards the beach, no, on the opposite side.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Okay, it's on the opposite side, so you've got
beach lodge parking lot and youjust walk right over the thing
and there's the start, so yeah.
So it started in a little parkand then part of it went through
a small section of the statepark.
So you've got a little.
You got a little, a tiny littlepreview of what you were going
to see for the half but itwasn't just a shorter part of
(05:35):
the half, but you got to seesome different things than you
did on Sunday.
There's like a little playgroundtype perk like a recreational
facility for because I had it,cause I have a little theater,
like a little.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Outdoor amphitheater.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
A small section, because the emcee they had, oh
my goodness.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
She had.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
So much energy.
She was awesome.
I mean, she was fan freakingtastic.
So there was a couple that hadon blow up flamingo costumes For
the 7K.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
It was cool.
Cool, though, and they gottheir own special.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
They were so cute and I don't know if they have an
award for best costume or if shejust made it up.
I have a feeling she just madeit up, but they were so cute
that she called them up at thestage.
I'm giving you a $50 gift cardor $25 gift card or whatever it
was I don't remember thenomination to the hangout she
goes, but you guys definitelyhave best costume.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Now the hangout is the premier sponsor and partner
for the race on the beach.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Yes, okay, cool place Super cool.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Place Super cool, very beachy, very laid back.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
She was funny.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
She's like okay, so I have these keys that somebody
might need to drive their carand I have this sweater now.
If you meant to throw it away,she goes.
That's fine, we'll donate it.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
This is the race announcer yeah, the mc, oh cute.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
So on the day of marathon and half marathon,
she's up on the table with hermicrophone all right, who's up
here ready to run?
Speaker 1 (07:03):
and she was just like oh oh, that's always good to
have that energy at the start ofa race oh, so much energy.
She definitely was pumpingpeople up oh yeah, so did she
pump you up for your first 7kabsolutely she was just very
high spirited, yeah 100.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
If you walked in feeling not so pumped, she was
definitely going to add a littletouch to you.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
You were sad when you left that place.
You definitely had a problem.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I didn't see one sad face.
Leave that place.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
So that race started about 7 am oh and the longer
races were earlier the next day.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Yes, that was the one thing I didn't write down.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
It stands to reason, because it's not a long distance
and nobody was worried abouttime.
It was like a run.
Were there strollers, werethere dogs?
What was the course like?
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Probably a little bit of everything, yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
So for the 7K you went through the park and there
were some boardwalk areas andsome trail area but paved with
the foliage For the halfmarathon and the marathon.
You start out by the hangoutbehind the hangout beach side
you start off, so you got thatbeautiful sunrise right before
(08:13):
the start and then you run alongthe beach just for a little bit
.
You come out around the otherside of the building and then
you run down the main road.
They got the main road blockedoff.
Down the main road for I don'tknow a mile and then you turn
off and take the entrance intothe state park.
Now, when you're in the statepark, there are pathways.
(08:34):
You know what it looked like tome, amy?
It looked like at some pointthere was a road through there.
They chopped up the road inwinding fashion to make a
pathway, because you could seethe yellow markings.
So it was cool, it was allpaved.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
It was nice and safe and you felt stable.
It wasn't like a trail runwhere you had to worry about
tree branches and roots.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
A trail run is definitely a totally different
course.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
No, obviously you need to be careful.
If you were like, say, yourintervals and we put up our hand
and we move over, make sure youdon't you watch your footing on
the edge, because every now andthen there might be the itching
because the way that the roadwas cut, okay, but you had open
areas, like I said, where I sayit was like prairie and maybe
marshland, okay, and then thewalks where you know you can see
(09:21):
the water and you can see thewater towers and it's just
beautiful surroundings.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
So then you crossed the finish line for the 7k, and
what was that after party like?
Speaker 3 (09:36):
that was really just a matter of everybody gathering
so you finished, you had theemcee making jokes and
announcing people and music andthen she went through.
You had your general snacksthat you would do after a run
the oranges and and electrolytesand some cereal bars and such.
And then they went through theawards and basically you had
(09:58):
your drink tickets that you hadon your bib for your two beers.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
You save the tickets.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
You don't get them.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
You have to come back to the marathon and the half
marathon, and that's when youcan reveal your tickets.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
We got eight beers on Sunday that we took with us.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Each participant gets two beers on Sunday for the 7K
and two beers for either thehalf or the full.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
If you've got a bid for whatever race you run, there
are two tickets.
Each Got it.
We had eight.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
We did not drink them all at once.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
That's good.
We gifted two to you Becauseyou have to After you have a
race.
Jeff says get some good carbsand good protein and not
necessarily take all the carbsin liquid form.
I would imagine hisrecommendation would be because
he's against puking our coachand and after you run, if you
(11:00):
haven't eaten anything do youeat anything before a race, when
you all run?
I do I.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
I have to have something.
He doesn't.
I need my English muffin withpeanut butter and honey, or I
need a good, solid protein bar.
I need a carb.
I need my banana and I need abread of some sort, whether that
be a half a bagel or oatmeal.
I like the Kodiak.
I have to have peanut buttercrackers.
I have to have some carbs, witha little bit of sweet, a little
bit of protein I don't.
(11:26):
Before the race the one thingthat he's eaten is the nature
valley protein with the caramelon the bottom.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
He'll eat one of those I will eat a banana, for
sure, for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
No, you, okay, yeah you're good, she's making sure
okay, so we've talked about the7K and Saturday.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
What medal did you get for the 7K?
Speaker 3 (11:52):
So the 7K, because they have their little zoo area.
It's cool.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Because it was like a safari.
So everybody who is watchingthe video out in patron land can
see that it's like the bigbeach safari because that's what
they branded the race.
And you can see all thedifferent colors like yellow and
orange and brown.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
There's a rhinoceros, a lion, an elephant, they
actually use sand to make theground.
Where's the sand?
Like in the bottom?
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Oh look.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
He's dead.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
You did a really nice job.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I have a 7K shirt.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Oh, what's the shirt like yes, that you picked up at
the expo?
Oh, look at this, it's yellow,and then it's got all of the
safari theme and it's got bigbeach.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
And then on the bottom, there's your beach.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Oh, and the water lake, and you have wildlife on
the back.
The back is actually utilizedtoo.
It's the sponsors and it's theart.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
It's on top because they have the zoo See the
Alabama Gulf Coast.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
why it's safari themed and did you find that
they were true to size forpeople who are signing up and
having to pick their sizes whenthey register?
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Yes, because this one is a medium.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
And that's what you normally do.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yes, it was perfect and I like the neckline.
It's a V.
It's not like a true V, butit's a V, so it's comfortable.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
For the women's, and it's a short sleeve for anybody
who's listening and his themen's is typical round, yeah
like just the round neck, notthe v, and short sleeves.
Same design, yeah and it's softit is soft.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Yeah, it's very breathable.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
So comfy, yeah, and breathable.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Okay, it looks awesome.
And then the men's sizes.
It fit pretty well.
True to size for you.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I wear large and, yeah, it fit very well.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
So let me then take you chronologically to the
pre-race meal.
So for the half.
Where did you go the nightbefore?
Speaker 3 (14:05):
So for the half, where did you go the night
before?
But then after the 7K we allrested a little bit, got our
showers and we decided to go tothe Floribama restaurant.
So of course it's at theFlorida-Alabama line.
Back in the day it was just apackage store, and now they've
got the package store and giftshop area and then they've got a
separate store and gift shoparea and then they've got a
(14:25):
separate bar and grill area.
It's just fun.
we ate a little bit later and weate big kind of full definitely
indulged heavily so we hadindulge very on brand when we
went there, I got the Cajunshrimp cowboy.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Carbs and protein in the form of a sandwich.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Yes, with french fries.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Also.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Then we had some fun drinks.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Did you have a bushwhacker?
You talked about that being athing in the area and I was like
I had a bushwhacker down in KeyWest oh okay.
So you were like yeah, I'mlooking for the bourbon drink,
you're looking for the.
What I was looking for bourbonAmy.
Oh, you were looking forbourbon, because you all have
recently taken up the hobby ofbeing bourbon connoisseurs.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Yes, yes, his lunch was a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Was it good, I was looking at a burger.
So, it wasn't your typicalspaghetti carb loading, pre-race
kind of dinner.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Okay, we did that later because we did it at the
hotel.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Oh, you ate at the hotel.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Yeah, all right.
No, it was a pizza place, itwas so so something was
delivered to you.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
At the hotel, yeah All right.
So here, well, oh, tell us more, okay, because sometimes you
want to get to bed early, and soeating dinner at the hotel can
be good.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
So yeah, so JoJo was our Uber.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
She was our Uber Eats that night.
She was our Uber.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Eats.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Did you tip her?
Well, is what we want to know.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Yes, we did Okay.
Good, she volunteered and we'relike okay Because we needed to
tip her in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
She was our driver for all things in Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
She's great.
So in Floribamba's we had thehickory smoked tuna dip
Delicious Because it had a niceamount of smoke to it Love
smoked fish dip.
It was really yummy and thedrink he had his Bloody Mary.
I like Bloody.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Marys, the best one is Sundae's.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Oh, shout out to Colin and Annie.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Sundae's Bloody's.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
They are the best Hands down the best Spicy only
Spicy is the only way to go foryou, Eric, so when the girls
were talking about the BloodyMarys, dawn said let me tell you
something is the only way to gofor you, eric.
So when the girls were talkingabout the bloody marys I don't
like v8 and I'm not a fan ofbloody marys I have fallen in
love, calling an amy dawkins yesthey're spicy, however.
(16:59):
They blend that freaking jar ofgoodness right flavor profile
is just out of this worldthey're fabulous flavor there
and the spice like you don'tneed.
They're like oh, what did youadd to it?
Nothing, vodka that's it.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
That's all you need, because it's a mix.
It doesn't come with that.
You add it and then it's aparty oh, it is so freaking good
, it's a party.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
You had the floribamas and and and their
signature bloody mary was goodsince sundays but it was good.
But I had the big easy when thebig easy was buffalo trace,
bourbon southern comfort,passion, fruit syrup, orange
juice, lemon juice and a splashof grenadine citrusy sweet smoky
(17:41):
hold back on the sweet likesweet, but I wanted to taste the
profile, so the syrup wasprobably half of what they
normally put.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
And it was nicely balanced.
What was this restaurant calledFloral Bama?
Speaker 3 (17:55):
F-L-O-R-A.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
hyphen Bama, Because you're in the Florida Alabama
line and it sounds like theycustomized the drink to your
liking.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
they did because I told him I wasn't crazy about
the sweets.
I said we could just back offon the syrup a little bit.
I said I want the bourbon butbut I wanted to try your
specialty.
So I don't want to take awayany of the elements, but just if
you could back off the sweet alittle bit.
For me, nice, our server wasjust fun she was really funer
girl and just fun Good, becauseit looked like all of them, like
(18:29):
they all had the old schoolwaitress check pads.
They all had the personalizedlike little notebooks, like hers
was like blingy.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Oh, it's like an oh, have y'all seen office space?
Oh, there's a restaurant inthere where it's all a riff on
TGI Fridays.
How much flair can you have?
It's like how many buttons andthings can you have?
If you know about Office Spacein the audience, you can say yes
, amy, I know what you'retalking about.
It sounds like you had anamazing pre-race meal there.
(19:03):
Was it too far from the hoteland the race location?
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Five miles.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
We could have run there.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
A good pre-race run.
Warm up the legs.
He is a newbie.
He's the kind of newbie that'sgoing to do a warm-up run before
the 13 miles.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
When you come on, there's this hook before.
You get down like what I callthe.
You get down like what I calllike the strip.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
And it's on the strip .
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Okay, it's not that far at all, so it's good it's
five minutes.
It wasn't that far at all andit was fun.
The atmosphere was fun, thefood was great, we all had
different things and the companywas good.
And JoJo and Susie or Dawn tookdessert back to the hotel.
What?
Speaker 1 (19:44):
kind of dessert.
Do you remember Cheesecake?
Yeah, ooh, that's good.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
JoJo is definitely about the cheesecake.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Dawn got a little miffed because her honey might
have dabbled into her cheesecakea bit.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Oh, sharing is caring .
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Dawn, it's a cool place though, too.
Yeah, Anybody and everybodythat has probably ever been to
that establishment has alsosigned the building.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Signed the building Inside and out Like with a
Sharpie on the wall.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Sharpie pen, whatever you may have on your hands or
your person.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Really the walls are fun.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Yeah, the walls are.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
So you all signed the wall somewhere?
Speaker 2 (20:23):
No, we didn't.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
We were too busy just talking and cackling and having
a grand old time.
And then finally I'm like, oh,I guess we ought to go.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Oh.
So it was one of those mealswhere you had great food, great
beverages, great service andmade memories caught up with
each other and relaxed.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
So in the part two of the basket that I dropped off a
little sticker that is inbetween that is a bloody mary
sticker from floribama.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Yes, there we go for people who are watching, for our
patrons and supporters of theshow.
Thank you for bringing thatback.
I figured it was the drink.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I was looking at all their stickers and I'm like oh,
this is a drink one, so we bringthat one.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
We all have a Sunday sticker, but we had to have a
Flo Bama sticker.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Of course, what we do with all those stickers is we
put them on our luggage, so theygo with us on all our
runcations.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Mine's on my cooler.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
See, it's perfect.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
When we got back to the hotel Friday, me, Dawn and
Eric went to the expo to get ourpackets.
The girls couldn't get theirsuntil Saturday.
They couldn't no, because theygot there too late, or no, but I
think also that they just theyhad the 7K.
It was a 7K pickup, only 7K,and a challenge.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Oh, so they did that to manage the traffic and manage
the crowds?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Yes, I see.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Okay, that's fair and the challenge.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Oh, so they did that to manage the traffic and manage
the crowds.
Yes, I see.
Okay, that's fair.
Saturday afternoon we went backand did the expo again, and
that's when the vendor was there.
So the vendor wasn't there thefirst night.
They just had the backdrop andthe shark or the dolphin or
whatever, but the vendor gotthere Friday late, so that
Saturday was fully open foreverybody that came because a
lot of people were there for thehalf marathon.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Yeah, or the marathon yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
We went back and did that with them and when we all
started we were all, we're notreally hungry to go to a
restaurant, we are watching ourbudget a little bit.
So they were like what's apizza place?
We saw two, three pizza placeson the way and we picked.
It was rotellos, which I haveto link thing.
Okay, tell us r-o-t-o-l-o-s.
It was not far from the lodgeeither and we all gave our we
(22:37):
all text our orders to jojo andzelda money and our u Eats girl
picked it up.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
She is the planner, organizer and the one who
executes all plans.
Jojo, you're amazing.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
She was the mother hen of the weekend.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
She took care of everybody.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
She was our mother hen.
When you walk into the lodgethere's a little coffee shop
area.
They've got this long woodentable.
We we commandeered the table.
I had one of their specialtypizzas which had like career
cheese and cranberries andarugula and caramelized onions
and it was delicious.
Jojo and suzy went for thespaghetti and the meatballs.
(23:20):
That was their traditional carbloading.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
They're probably like let's not do anything new
before vig rates.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I'm trying to remember what dawn had.
We had some crazy calzone.
It was a jalapeno popper cup.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Oh it was good probably like ricotta cream oh,
it was ricotta.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
And because I told him like now, honey, this is
your first half marathon.
I don't know because we dospice all the like.
I don't know that you want todo too much spice.
It actually was done nicely.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
It wasn't overbearing it was flavored yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
You could still taste the cheese and the bread, and
it wasn't just your mouth onfire.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
No, and he was fine, cause we were worried, but it
was delicious.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
We always share.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
So that's what we did before the race.
So that's good and a nice calmatmosphere in the lodge where we
just hung out.
And then I got up from thetable the little barista was
right there and I got my littlefun little coffee drink oh,
that's so great.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
A lot of carb loading and camaraderie.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Yeah, we were down there for a long time.
You're talking collectively andthen you're side
conversationing, and then you'reswitching partners with
conversations across.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Did you go to bed early or late?
Speaker 3 (24:36):
No, yeah, I mean average.
I wouldn't say it was early,but I wouldn't say it was late.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
But you didn't have a Disney-esque kind of wake up.
It wasn't like a 3 am kind ofwake up because you were close
to the start and hangouts what?
Two miles down the road so didyou end up walking there?
Were there shuttles?
When you got up in the morning,what was that like for the big
race day?
Speaker 3 (24:59):
so they had shuttles that they had announced and you,
can you book the shuttle to go?
Oh you book it.
They said, book it.
But I think people walked upand just but you all actually
booked.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
It, though is what I hear eric saying what was that?
I hear you saying that we didwhat we needed to do and we
booked the shuttle.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Actually, no, because I've been before and I knew
where they were gonna drop offand oh you drove, we were gonna
have to boogie because we had a10-hour drive home, because we
left right after Actually, no,because I'd been before and I
knew where they were going todrop off.
Oh, you drove, we were going tohave to boogie because we had a
10 hour drive home because weleft right after the race,
that's right A little bitearlier than the girls and got a
prime parking spot.
Like the last two years, wewiggled our way in Maybe what we
(25:43):
shouldn't have been and got aparking spot, but this year they
had parking across the streetfrom the hangout.
That was free and because wegot there super early.
We literally were like thethird car into the parking lot.
I liked that they opened upthat area because it made it
very convenient for those thatdid want to drive.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Your tip is go early If you are driving.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
It didn't take long.
Yeah, it started filling upfast.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
And what time did you arrive at the parking lot?
Speaker 3 (26:06):
just to give people a frame of reference 6 30 6, 30 I
was up at five I need to getmotivated, get moving.
Have my coffee he doesn't drinkcoffee.
He makes me coffee I don'tdrink coffee jojo doesn't drink
coffee either.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Do you do tea?
What do you do in the morningthen?
Do you do tea?
What do you do in the morningthen?
Energy drink and energy drink.
Okay, fair enough to each hisor her own, correct?
Yes?
So you got up around 5, 5, 30,got moving, got your beverage of
choice because it's whateverybody works don't do
anything new on race day and.
And then you parked.
Did the girls take the shuttle?
(26:43):
They did and you all had noproblem finding each other and
heading to the start.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Oh gosh, no, the hangout is just right there.
It's not like Disney, whereyou're trying through the
plethora of people to findanybody.
We were inside.
We text each other.
We're like we're inside, we'reat a table.
They're either in the hangoutor they are on the beat at that
amazing sunrise.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Oh that's so good.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
The backdrop for the beginning of the race is just
beautiful.
We got some cute pictures.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
So you all found each other.
You got some great pictures.
At the start I'm sure there wasa lot of were you excited for
your first race there.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
I was excited and she's always you nervous at all.
No, I don't get nervous.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
More excitement than anything else.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
I definitely get excited because it was a longer
race and the longest run I'veever done.
That much more excited.
Plus I was doing a challengebefore doing the run plus half
marathon that was exciting.
Plus I get was doing achallenge before doing the run
Plus half marathon.
That was exciting.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Plus I get to be with my honey on the beach you get
to meet some of my amazingfriends.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Meeting the girls was definitely a pleasure.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
He's talked to them on the phone because when we
were at Gasparilla, when Ifinished the race, I had him on
speakerphone.
Jojo, Susie and Darlene andDawn all had heard his voice
from Gasparilla, so this wasneat for them to get to meet
Eric.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
You're the one putting the smile on her face
now.
You all were there together,and how was it lining up at the
start?
Did you have you line up bypace, or what was the situation
there?
Speaker 3 (28:19):
General running etiquette.
If you're fast, go to the front.
If you're a little slower,middle to the back of where you
feel comfortable, race etiquettefront.
If you're a little slower,middle to the back where you
feel comfortable.
It's race etiquette.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Everybody is so polite and so easy and there
were pacers and they were easilyspotted in the crowd.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Oh yeah, bright fluorescent yellow shirts, so
you couldn't miss them.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
I remember Nikki talking about that on the other
episode.
What was the start like for youall?
You were maybe mid to the backof the.
Is that where you?
Speaker 3 (28:46):
yeah, essentially I wasn't sure how he wanted to be
and we wanted to stick with thegirls in the beginning because
we wanted to run that firstlittle bit until we got into the
park together so you all stayedtogether for the first.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
What mile or two?
Yeah, I want to say it wasabout a mile, and how was that
all together?
Speaker 3 (29:05):
oh, it was so much fun.
I got some great little photosof everybody laughing.
I was in front of them, I wasin the middle of them.
We were just cutting up.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
And, from what I understand, susie had Darlene's
bib.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
She did so.
She had emailed the racedirector and explained
everything and asked if shecould have her bib and if she
could pick it up.
And she did she and asked ifshe could have her bib and if
she could pick it up, and shedid.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
She wrote on the bib and she had it on pinned on her
back.
So darlene was with you allyeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
So we took pictures right in the beginning of the
race and then, when we finished,we got our bloody marys, which
was darlene's favorite post racedrink, and we got a picture of
the Bloody Marys next to her bib, with the 50 States logo on the
back of Susie's tank top.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
Oh, fantastic, and the director that took the call
was right behind us in the linewhile we were taking the
pictures of the bib with theBloody Marys.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
She's like oh, so you're Susie.
Yeah, so we got to meet them,which was really nice.
And her husband oh, oh my god,what a card.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
He was so funny oh, it was so great five thousand
plus people at that race.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
It was a high number.
It was a high number and Ishould have written that down.
I'm sorry no, no.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
If people go back and listen to that episode with
nikki, they'll know hey,remember that name, I took your
call, or?
Your email, that's so great.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
And then they had a similar experience of the same
thing where they had somebodywho had passed and they wore
their bid.
So that director had the samething happen the close friend of
hers had passed and she wasable to run with that person's
bid, so she had no problemgiving that, you know.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
It's so nice when somebody understands and has
that empathy and it's I'mtelling you, it's the running
community.
Such compassion and justinformal.
Yeah, sweet people.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Sharing tips and just .
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Yeah, all around, yeah, so you all stayed together
for the first part of the race.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
The first mile until we turned off to go into the
park.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
And so it was on the road and then you turned off
into the park after a couple ofmiles, about a mile, about a
mile, and that was the terrainthat the 7K shared with the half
.
Is that right?
No, it was a different portion.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
Because you got to remember, the 7K started right
across the street from the lodge.
We're a couple of miles downthe lodge at the hangout on the
beach.
So we were on the road.
Police had marked it off untilwe turned into where the state
park there was an interest inthe state park.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
So it was a different part of the park?
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Yes, it was a tail end park, where we actually came
up to a start.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Okay, so you got into the park that way, and how long
were you in the park?
Speaker 3 (32:02):
The 7K.
No for the half.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
The whole race yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
It was the remainder of the.
It was the remainder of therace.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
The remainder of the race yeah, so 12 miles.
So how was it nice shady orsunny shady?
Speaker 3 (32:18):
yes, all the above correct because you had foliage
over you in some parts and insome parts where you were on the
boardwalk it was fully open, soyou had full elements and sun,
but it was beautiful because youhad the shade when you needed
it.
You had the sun when you wantedto get warmed up a little bit.
There was one little likesidewalk, but it wasn't sidewalk
, it was asphalt.
When I say sidewalk, I meantlike width wise, alongside a
(32:41):
street that you're on for just ashort period of time how are
the water and nutrition stops?
there was only.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
I think you saw three , but we didn't use it.
You carried your stuff.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Right, and that's probably why I don't remember
exactly where they were, becauseone of them was a mile 10.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Okay, it was five, and the last one was just before
we exited that RV park.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
There is one area where you come off the boardwalk
and it goes into this RVcamping area.
So the RVs are in the littlecul-de-sac areas.
They're drinking their coffee.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
They're cheering us on.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
Oh, that's good Like at the Donna yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
Hey, we get to see people running.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
It's just water and Gatorade electrolyte kind of
thing.
On the website there are mapsthat they show exactly for which
race where water stops are, andfor the marathon if it's a
medic or whatever.
So there are very nice maps outthere that tell you exactly
where all those stops are.
I carry everything with medetailed.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
I understand that different people have different
routines for races and youdevelop it over.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
I imagine that, since you all were together that eric
, your routine for this racemimicked what jesse did yeah, in
terms of carrying on our firsttraining run, when I had
nutrition, I would have half andthen share half with him so he
could see how it felt and whathis body felt like.
So for the half marathon I waslike, okay.
(34:20):
So general rule of thumb iseither every 30 minutes or every
three miles, depending on howyour body is.
You got to listen to your body.
I says.
One thing that I've learned isyou can't get it back, can't
play catch up, you can't catchup, and so you don't want to get
in that situation.
I mapped it out.
For every three miles I saidhere are your packets.
(34:41):
You take them when you feel youneed them.
Sure, you only need two.
You know, maybe you only needone.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Because I know my body and it will speak.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
They do Our bodies talk to us?
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Yeah, I was taking mine before his.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
I was probably about every three miles.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
So you all pretty well had timed out your
nutrition, your hydration, andyou were pretty much responsible
for that.
But if you want to listen towhat Nikki had to say about the
water and nutrition on thecourse, if you want to, if
you're the kind of person thatlike, yeah, I'm just going to go
out and I'm not going to carryanything with me and I'm just
(35:18):
going to rely on the water steps, then you'll know what to
expect there.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
But yeah, you described that very well and it
is mapped out very well.
From when I did my marathon, Iwas very much a part of where
are they?
Because I I want I carry mywater with me, because I want to
drink my water when I want it.
It was important for me duringthe marathon because I knew when
it was coming.
I'd unscrew my cap so when Igot there I would pour in my
bottle so I could keep going andthen, when I wanted to, so for
(35:46):
longer race.
For me that's really importantfor a half marathon and under.
I don't pay that much attentionto it because I'm
self-supporting.
There's a lot of elite runnersand other runners that don't
want to carry.
That information is helpful andshe was very informative.
In the podcast she did with youit's all written out, and what
they post on the website too,they're very thorough.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Big Beach is a race that is well planned, executed
and you could definitely run fora PR.
Or if you're trying to run fora proof of time for a different
race, like one of the biggerraces, or trying to get a proof
of time for a corral placementin other races, it might be a
(36:30):
good opportunity, would you say.
That's true.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
Yeah, I would, because whether you're in the
front or you're in the middle ofthe pack, once you start out,
then you start thinning a littlebit.
There's plenty of room to thenpick up your pace.
Every race there's a lot goingon when you first start, then it
starts spreading out.
People settle into their grooveand with their groups and you
(36:53):
felt the paths are wide enoughthat you can pass and go how you
wish, how you can.
Okay, certain areas.
There's only certain areas thatare narrow.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
Where you have congestion.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
No, where you're actually running through,
there's a couple areas that area little narrow, a couple of
people, but they're short, okay,so you wanted to gain or pick
off people.
That person, they're in a pinktank.
That's my goal to catch thatperson or stay with them Space
to do that.
Good, you set a goal, you canabsolutely accomplish it.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
So let me ask you about the finish and what that
was like for you.
You reached your goal of a halfmarathon, Eric.
What was going through yourmind as you were finishing?
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Can't believe I actually did it.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
You had doubts.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
No, I'm not really doubting myself.
I always told myself I could doit.
But then to actually do it andgoing across the finish line,
yeah, no, I've done it, it'sbeen accomplished, not being an
avid runner for only a year,five days and 110k you come off
the main road, so out of thepark, and you go back over one
(38:07):
of them walking bridges like alittle overpass, but it's a
walking bridge.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
Yes, yes, okay, so that incline at the end you're
like oh good God, is it going todo me in?
You get over the bridge and itlets you off, literally.
When you're coming off thatlast bridge, the lodge is right
here, great.
So then you're running down tothe hangout.
They've blocked off part of theroad.
You're on the road, thesidewalk, wherever you want to
(38:36):
be, down to the hangout.
Just before the hangout you'reveering around the beach
boardwalk.
you're around that corner andyou start hearing everybody's
chain and you hear just thatcrowd and they're yelling your
name and your number andeverything and that's when you
get that little boost and theygot the most perfect picture of
us crossing the finish line.
It was just absolutely amazingand you cross the finish line
and they're giving you yourmedal and then they're like
you've got the challenge becauseyour bibs are different.
(38:57):
Just walk over to the table andshe gives you the little
hanging thing that goes in thebottom of your medal.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Oh, just show us, yeah, show us so we can describe
it, yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
You're going to have to tell me about the, so here's
the top part.
Speaker 1 (39:09):
Okay, so it says 10.
Speaker 3 (39:11):
Because, this year was the 10th year anniversary of
Big Beach.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
So it's 10 and it's got stained glass and palm trees
and it says the Big Beach HalfMarathon and it's gorgeous.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
It's really pretty and it's bigger than my previous
medals, but it is really.
And again, it has the sandaround it and, like you said,
it's got the little stainedglass in it, so it's pretty in
the sun, and then the dolphinchallenge hangs off the bottom
of it and it's got the dolphin.
Speaker 1 (39:39):
So you have the extra metal that attaches to your
half marathon metal.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
And then the 7K.
It could all hang together.
Look at this trio of metalshere.
Who wouldn't want to go forthat?
And what is the half marathonNow?
What were you grabbing there toshow us?
Speaker 3 (39:59):
So this was 2022's metal Stained glass.
Speaker 1 (40:03):
Yeah, I can see.
Yeah, that's gorgeous.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
And then this was 2023.
Again, it's got the sand and alittle bit of the stained.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
Ah so.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
It was a 10-year anniversary, so they went big on
the medals.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
Oh it was gorgeous.
I love that.
Speaker 3 (40:22):
But all three medals for all three years that I went
are beautiful.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
The beautiful, the stained glass, the sand elements
those are awesome.
The fact that the challengemedal connects to your bigger
race medal I thought that wasreally cool, super cool.
Speaker 3 (40:37):
See on the bottom of this one.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
You have to do the challenge.
You can't leave those ringsabsent anymore.
Now I know why.
I know what I need to do.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Turn to a fourth year and we'll do the shark
challenge.
Ooh.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Did you hear him Wait a minute now?
Did you hear him Wait a minutenow, did you hear?
Speaker 2 (40:56):
him commit.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Did you, Eric?
I have it on recording.
Anyway, let's talk about theshirt, Jess.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
It's beautiful.
I love the fact that I got theshoe print Like if you're
stepping in the sand.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
Oh, that's so cool.
Speaker 3 (41:13):
And then it's got the beautiful sky, blue colors and
then the yellow the yellow, thesun and sand palm trees, the sun
, and then the same.
It wraps around the back justas the but the palm trees, and
that it's very artsy.
Speaker 1 (41:26):
It reminds me of the art fest in fort myers.
Yeah, it reminds me of the artfest 5k and also the key west
ones that are so colorful in abeach town-esque type way.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
It's pure to size and so soft.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Long sleeve.
This was long sleeve, whereasthe others were short.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
And the reason why they said they do that is so
that you feel like you're notgetting the same shirt if you're
doing multiple races during theweek, the weekend, so if you're
doing two races, they wanted togive you two different types,
sure.
Speaker 1 (41:55):
Yeah, so you got one for the half and one for the 7k.
Did you all get a bonus shirtlike a challenge shirt, or no?
Speaker 3 (42:02):
No.
Speaker 1 (42:03):
No, what was the medal?
The 2022s For the half marathonand marathon, which is all
yellow, very mimicky of themetal, with the sun and the
ocean.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
And then 2023.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
Oh, look at this 2023 .
What is that?
Like a green, like a seafoamgreen.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
In itself, it's the lighting.
It's actually like a grayishblue.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Oh, like a grayish blue, and then the artwork is
that Like a big wave coming up,like an ocean color blue, and
then big beach in yellow, nice.
Speaker 3 (42:39):
It's nice that each year the shirts mimic part of
the pattern of the medal.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Yes, that's how they're connected.
That's great.
Did you all wear your medals toyour post-race meal celebration
?
Speaker 3 (42:55):
Let's talk about that .
In previous years we finishedthe race and we got a very nice
boxed meal that had a gourmetsandwich, a gourmet cookie and
some chips, and then we got abowl of hot seafood.
Gumbo, oh gumbo.
It was delicious.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
This was all provided at the race finish.
Speaker 3 (43:16):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (43:17):
In the past years.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
This year it was different.
I don't know what they did, butthis year they had a hot plate,
so they had pasta.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3 (43:27):
Whether you wanted red or white.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Sauce.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
Pasta with red sauce or Alfredo sauce.
Alfredo.
Speaker 2 (43:33):
You could have chicken.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
So you had a meat sauce with your noodles, or you
had the Alfredo sauce with thechicken, and then it was a
cookie, a breadstick A hotbreadstick and then a grandma's
cookie, like two in a pack.
And then, of course, because wehad our two beer tickets from
the 7K and our two tickets, butwe didn't open any of the beers
(43:57):
because we I had eric, webecause we finished first and I
sent him up to the bar to getthe bloody marys so that when
don and jojo and suzy finishedwe had our bloody marys to toast
.
Darlene and I took a picture ofthe bloody mary with the metal
out by the beach, but when theycame through, so we were
drinking those and then Ibrought so I have one of those
bags that that folds up.
(44:19):
I knew we were getting all thebeer.
Speaker 1 (44:22):
So wait a minute.
Speaker 3 (44:23):
So the beer it wasn't from the tap, it was in can't
and they didn't open it smartbeneficial for us because most
races they'll open it up and yougot to drink it there.
You don't want to take it offproperty.
They didn't open up any of ourcans, so we got three.
They had four different kindsand we ended up with three
because they ran out we put themall in my little bag that I had
(44:43):
stuffed in my pocket and putthem in the car and the cooler
so that we could consume themwhen we got home.
I believe I put in your basketthe carnival one and the
pineapple wheat.
Speaker 2 (44:55):
And the pineapple is delicious.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
The pineapple is good too.
They're both very delicious.
Okay, it's the Lysmack IPA.
That's the pineapple one.
Speaker 3 (45:05):
Oh no, I take that back.
It was Little Shack.
I'm sorry I didn't give her apineapple one.
No, pineapple.
Speaker 1 (45:10):
Now I'm upset, no.
Speaker 3 (45:12):
I'm kidding, I'm upset.
No, I'm kidding.
Speaker 1 (45:13):
I'm kidding, I'm totally kidding.
So this is the Little Smack IPAYou're trying to convert me.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
We're open to that, so it's fine.
The other one was gearedtowards Mardi Gras that was
coming up, carnival Cake Ale,and that one was delicious, also
Wait it's wrong yeah.
There you go.
You've got the King Cake on thefront, fat, so wait, it's wrong
.
Speaker 1 (45:37):
yeah, there you go you got the king cake on the
front that tuesday was coming up.
Speaker 3 (45:39):
Yay, so those are two of the beers that we got at the
race.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
Thank you for bringing them back.
I'm not gonna open them untildana gets home from his work
trip, which is why he couldn'tbe a part of our runcation recap
.
But how did you enjoy thepost-race party?
It was good.
Speaker 3 (45:57):
We were a little sad that we had to right.
Speaker 1 (46:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (46:02):
Because, knowing that also we had the late checkout
that we might've stretched justa little bit.
Speaker 1 (46:08):
Hilton is very good about that, though.
Speaker 3 (46:11):
What's nice, too, about Hilton is they text you.
That was your stay, so I gotthe text about the checkout.
I'm like we literally justfinished the race.
We're gonna get there asquickly as we can.
They were like let us know whenyou're walking out.
I text them when we werewalking out to load the stuff up
in the car.
So they were veryaccommodatable, although they
(46:31):
might have wanted us out alittle bit earlier.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
But oh, it's all they have to.
I know they have to get theroom, they have to turn over the
rooms and get them clean andready, and that's but and I
understand that they're veryaccommodating like they're good
Speaker 2 (46:44):
it was good, so you know.
Speaker 3 (46:45):
So, yes, so post meal was great with and the
camaraderie was great.
We did a little pictures withdarlene and everything.
The way they had it set up,they had on a line flowed very
fluidly.
They had multiple areas whereyou could get the beer.
That was very well planned outthere.
The hangout is a super coolhangout.
It's super, super cool.
(47:06):
I had a band playing like coolstuff out that cool artwork.
It just was just really I wouldlove to be like be there and
been able to hang out like moreand maybe next year we can plan
that we just have literally hangout more is that the thing I
can't do, I don't know I can'tdo the sim surfs up surfs up,
dude surf surfs up, wait, okay,no, it's super super cool place.
(47:32):
If live there, I could totallysee where you could just hang
out and just have a blast.
Yeah, it's cool.
Speaker 1 (47:39):
I love that you described so well the laid back
atmosphere.
It doesn't sound like there wasany pressure on the course.
Sounds like it was well manned,organized and very secure and
safe.
It sounds like the packetpickup was a breeze the party,
the shirts, the medals.
It sounds like you wouldrecommend doing it.
Obviously, you've done itmultiple times, eric.
(48:01):
Would you do it again?
Speaker 2 (48:02):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (48:03):
Yeah, speaking of racing again.
What's next on the horizon forthis Runcation Nation Cup?
We have the Cape Coral DonutDash coming up at the end of
March.
Yes, I sent you the link.
Speaker 1 (48:19):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (48:20):
It'd be really nice if you and Dana could maybe be
able to do a local event.
I know your schedules are tight.
Speaker 1 (48:25):
He's still recovering from his injury, but I'll see
if I can get him to come out andcheer us on That'd be awesome,
and it does benefit the CapeCoral Police Department, so
that's where you can get them.
I think it was.
What did you say?
That was what I read is thePolice Athletic League?
Yes, ma'am, and their chief,Tony Sizemore, is just an
advocate for the Police AthleticLeague and what it does for the
community, that's a great localrace.
Speaker 3 (48:49):
It's something that I support.
That's where I reside.
Good cause, and the donuts aregoing to be protein packed
believe it or not.
Speaker 1 (49:01):
Donuts, on course, donuts after and with protein.
We'll see how many of Dana'sbrethren in blue will partake.
Speaker 3 (49:06):
Brooklyn is going to come with us and do that race
with us also.
Speaker 2 (49:09):
Yay.
Speaker 3 (49:11):
I have my donut compression socks ready.
Speaker 1 (49:14):
I saw pictures Donut compression socks.
I believe Dana might have donutsocks to cheer us on, but I
will consult with him.
Speaker 3 (49:24):
The other thing we have.
I'm old school.
Speaker 1 (49:27):
You have a list.
You have a written list.
I have a calendar that I writeon A written calendar.
You got to have it, you got tohave it.
I'm old school, you got to haveit, so you're organized.
Everybody is different, likewith training plans and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (49:41):
March we have the Donut Dash and then in April my
favorite race events, which isanother outfit that I just love
their races.
Speaker 1 (49:49):
That's the name of the organization.
Speaker 3 (49:51):
My favorite race events.
The packet pickup is a breeze.
Everything is in a nice closedenvelope or a nice closed bag
with your name on it.
Speaker 1 (49:59):
You're in, you're out and fun.
Speaker 3 (50:02):
They just have the energy in all of their races.
So much fun.
I have not done one of theirsin Bradenton yet.
They have a half marathoncalled Running for the Fishes.
Speaker 1 (50:12):
If you're going to be in Bradenton.
If you haven't been toMotorworks Brewing, you should
definitely visit.
Just a tip for the Bradentonarea Other than that we really
don't look at a whole lot.
Speaker 3 (50:25):
No, to be honest with you, there's probably a couple
little local 5Ks here and therethat we'll jump on.
Speaker 1 (50:30):
I hear things happening in the future August.
Speaker 3 (50:37):
August is my Ridge of Gods and it's also a 10 year
anniversary.
It's up in Cascade.
Speaker 1 (50:45):
Oregon.
Speaker 3 (50:46):
Joe and Susie did that race and I was supposed to
go.
It was my birth Cause.
Every birthday I do somethingout of my comfort zone, hence
the triathlon one year and dueto some personal things you
couldn't go just like me withbig beach.
Speaker 1 (51:00):
I'm a firm believer everything happens for a reason.
Speaker 3 (51:03):
Yeah, so I certain race directors and events.
You can defer some, you can'tsome right there's discretion.
So I sought out.
The director wrote a niceletter, explained my situation.
They allowed me to defer andgave me a credit code.
Once that race was over andthey posted the new race, I
(51:25):
could sign up for it again withthe credit code.
Then I was registered for thisyeah so.
But again, everything happensfor a reason.
It's now going to be ananniversary race.
When there's an anniversaryrace, when there's an
anniversary race, it's usually alittle more grander, a little
more.
Speaker 1 (51:38):
They're trying to pull out all the stops.
Speaker 2 (51:41):
Make it great.
When she first signed up forthat, I wasn't running at that
point.
Speaker 3 (51:46):
He's going to go with me.
It'll be our first flight outof town vacation.
And we decided that race.
Also, we're going to make it ascenic race.
It's not going to be a crazybecause you run over this iconic
steel bridge.
That it's just gorgeous.
If you google the bridge of god, the half marathon race, the
(52:07):
scenery pictures are justabsolutely gorgeous.
Okay, but my understanding fromthe girls in the middle of the
race.
There's some steps.
You have to conquer part of themountain.
Speaker 1 (52:18):
Like a hill.
Speaker 3 (52:20):
Yeah.
So we've decided that we'regoing to do a big beach and
we're just going to enjoy ourrace.
And if we want to run, we'regoing to run.
When we want to walk, we'regoing to walk.
We're just going to enjoy theelements around us with that
gorgeous scenery they provide upthere.
Speaker 1 (52:35):
Make it a true runcation.
Speaker 3 (52:37):
But I'm thinking maybe the Bradenton one we might
see what we got in the tank.
Yeah, Tell them to have our ownraces and see.
Speaker 1 (52:45):
That's what we did for Fort Lauderdale for the A1A
back in January of 2020.
It was a PR for Dana and I wasso proud of him and he got to
have Irish whiskey in his kilt.
You never know what the bridgeof the gods will have for you.
We would love for you to comeback and recap that on the show
(53:06):
after you experience it, if youwill.
In the meantime, how can theRuncation Nation get in touch or
connect with you all Meantime?
Speaker 3 (53:15):
how can the Runcation Nation get in touch or connect
with you all?
We're on the Runcation NationFacebook page.
I haven't posted pictures in alittle bit so I need to get back
in a regular.
I got to be like Rob.
I miss Rob's pictures.
Speaker 1 (53:27):
Oh, Rob Nadeau.
Og member of the RuncationNation that took beautiful
photographs.
Speaker 3 (53:34):
He was an OTR driver and wherever he would stop on
his travels of his job.
Speaker 1 (53:39):
Long haul trucking.
Speaker 3 (53:41):
Go for a run and take all these beautiful pictures
and post them and then get backin his truck.
He was amazing.
He was but yeah, Eric is EricMillion on his Instagram and
millionfloorslc.
Speaker 1 (53:51):
We will link to all of that in the show notes and
all of the links that you havementioned that you will pass on
to me so I can post those foreverybody to learn more about
the big beach marathon weekendand maybe they can join us for
our makeup race in 2026.
I really can't wait toaccomplish, explore and indulge
(54:17):
with you all really soon.
Speaker 3 (54:20):
That would be absolutely fabulous.
This is Miss Brooklyn .
Hi, brooklyn, it's nice to meetyou.
My friend Amy, have you everbeen on a podcast before?
No, no, you are now.
Do you want to say welcomeRuncation Nation?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Runcation.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Nation.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Welcome Runcation Nation.
Welcome to the Run Eat Drinkpodcast.
We feature destination racesfrom across the country and,
after the race, we take you on atour of the best local food and
beverage to celebrate.
So, whether you are an eliterunner or a back of the packer
like us, you'll know the bestplaces to accomplish, explore
(00:48):
and indulge on your nextruncation.
Welcome to the Run Eat Drinkpodcast.
We feature destination racesfrom across the country and,
after the race, we take you on atour of the best local food and
beverage to celebrate andbeverage to celebrate.
So, whether you are an eliterunner or a back of the packer
like us, you'll know the bestplaces to accomplish, explore
(01:14):
and indulge on your nextruncation.
Hey, welcome to episode 302 ofthe Runny Drink Podcast.
I'm your host, amy flyingwithout my co-host what can I
say?
He has a day job, he has aninjury, he has important places
(01:34):
to be, he's a man about town.
Look for him to return andshare fabulous food and beverage
from his travels, coming to aRun Eat eat drink podcast feed
soon, anywhere.
You get your podcasts in themeantime.
(01:55):
Welcome, welcome, welcome and ashout out to everybody who has
been so patient with us over thelast couple of months, while we
had put the recordings on pauseand we're back.
What can we say except we areso happy to be back.
I am looking forward toaccomplishing, exploring and
(02:18):
indulging with you all,especially after spending a
couple of hours with Jesse andEric, who are back to recap the
Big Beach Marathon Weekend 2025.
This is part two of theirRuncation Recap.
Let me rewind.
Before race days what aboutcarb loading options and food
(02:44):
options that you partook, thatyou ate before the race?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
When we first got there, we went to Doc's Seafood
and Steak in Orange Beach.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Doc's Seafood and Steak.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yes, and I have the link in that which I'll send you
, because I wanted to make sureI had all the good food places
that we went to.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
We're all about it.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
I personally had, along with Susie and Dawn the
three of us we had their Alabamacrab cakes.
They were the best crab cakes Ihave ever had.
The meat was plentiful, thebreading was limited, it had
flavor and you get three reallybig ones.
I ate two.
I took one back to the hotel,which I ate the next day cold,
(03:26):
and it was yummy.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
You had a refrigerator in your room.
Yes, ma'am, we did Great.
Did you have the crab cakes too, eric?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I had fried clams, fish usbuckles and french fries.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
A lot of people will worry about having seafood
before races, but it sounds likeyou all did not worry.
No, it's always.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Generally, my go-to meal for pre-race is grilled
salmon with a sweet potato andthen either broccoli or green
beans.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Carbs, lean protein, yeah, when I saw crab cakes I
was like, oh, they're good ifthey're done right.
And that crab to breading ratio.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Oh, definitely way more crab little breading and
chunks, big chunks of bread.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, it was delicious and right on the beach
A little one-man band.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
There too, this guy was singing some great songs, so
it was like fun, openatmosphere.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Aw, did it have a patio and indoor-outdoor seating
?
Was it?
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
But because it was a little nippy, I feel like Ford's
Garage has those bay doors, oh,that you can roll up.
I had the bay doors closed.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
It's 29 degrees.
It wasn't that cold yet.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
We woke up to 29.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
It was probably in the 40s Still for Florida people
yeah, probably in the 40s.
Still for florida people yeah,so you had seafood pre-race.
Was that before the 7k?
Speaker 3 (04:50):
yes, yeah, the first night it was friday night the 7k
was on saturday and it wasthrough the park the nice thing
about the 7k is you walk out ofthe hotel and you walk over the
little bridge that goes acrossthe main road and and the start
is right there.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Like towards the beach, no, on the opposite side.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Okay, it's on the opposite side, so you've got
beach lodge parking lot and youjust walk right over the thing
and there's the start, so yeah.
So it started in a little parkand then part of it went through
a small section of the statepark.
So you've got a little.
You got a little, a tiny littlepreview of what you were going
to see for the half but itwasn't just a shorter part of
(05:35):
the half, but you got to seesome different things than you
did on Sunday.
There's like a little playgroundtype perk like a recreational
facility for because I had it,cause I have a little theater,
like a little.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Outdoor amphitheater.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
A small section, because the emcee they had, oh
my goodness.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
She had.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
So much energy.
She was awesome.
I mean, she was fan freakingtastic.
So there was a couple that hadon blow up flamingo costumes For
the 7K.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
It was cool.
Cool, though, and they gottheir own special.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
They were so cute and I don't know if they have an
award for best costume or if shejust made it up.
I have a feeling she just madeit up, but they were so cute
that she called them up at thestage.
I'm giving you a $50 gift cardor $25 gift card or whatever it
was I don't remember thenomination to the hangout she
goes, but you guys definitelyhave best costume.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Now the hangout is the premier sponsor and partner
for the race on the beach.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Yes, okay, cool place Super cool.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Place Super cool, very beachy, very laid back.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
She was funny.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
She's like okay, so I have these keys that somebody
might need to drive their carand I have this sweater now.
If you meant to throw it away,she goes.
That's fine, we'll donate it.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
This is the race announcer yeah, the mc, oh cute.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
So on the day of marathon and half marathon,
she's up on the table with hermicrophone all right, who's up
here ready to run?
Speaker 1 (07:03):
and she was just like oh oh, that's always good to
have that energy at the start ofa race oh, so much energy.
She definitely was pumpingpeople up oh yeah, so did she
pump you up for your first 7kabsolutely she was just very
high spirited, yeah 100.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
If you walked in feeling not so pumped, she was
definitely going to add a littletouch to you.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
You were sad when you left that place.
You definitely had a problem.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I didn't see one sad face.
Leave that place.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
So that race started about 7 am oh and the longer
races were earlier the next day.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Yes, that was the one thing I didn't write down.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
It stands to reason, because it's not a long distance
and nobody was worried abouttime.
It was like a run.
Were there strollers, werethere dogs?
What was the course like?
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Probably a little bit of everything, yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
So for the 7K you went through the park and there
were some boardwalk areas andsome trail area but paved with
the foliage For the halfmarathon and the marathon.
You start out by the hangoutbehind the hangout beach side
you start off, so you got thatbeautiful sunrise right before
(08:13):
the start and then you run alongthe beach just for a little bit
.
You come out around the otherside of the building and then
you run down the main road.
They got the main road blockedoff.
Down the main road for I don'tknow a mile and then you turn
off and take the entrance intothe state park.
Now, when you're in the statepark, there are pathways.
(08:34):
You know what it looked like tome, amy?
It looked like at some pointthere was a road through there.
They chopped up the road inwinding fashion to make a
pathway, because you could seethe yellow markings.
So it was cool, it was allpaved.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
It was nice and safe and you felt stable.
It wasn't like a trail runwhere you had to worry about
tree branches and roots.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
A trail run is definitely a totally different
course.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
No, obviously you need to be careful.
If you were like, say, yourintervals and we put up our hand
and we move over, make sure youdon't you watch your footing on
the edge, because every now andthen there might be the itching
because the way that the roadwas cut, okay, but you had open
areas, like I said, where I sayit was like prairie and maybe
marshland, okay, and then thewalks where you know you can see
(09:21):
the water and you can see thewater towers and it's just
beautiful surroundings.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
So then you crossed the finish line for the 7k, and
what was that after party like?
Speaker 3 (09:36):
that was really just a matter of everybody gathering
so you finished, you had theemcee making jokes and
announcing people and music andthen she went through.
You had your general snacksthat you would do after a run
the oranges and and electrolytesand some cereal bars and such.
And then they went through theawards and basically you had
(09:58):
your drink tickets that you hadon your bib for your two beers.
Yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
You save the tickets.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
You don't get them.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
You have to come back to the marathon and the half
marathon, and that's when youcan reveal your tickets.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
We got eight beers on Sunday that we took with us.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Each participant gets two beers on Sunday for the 7K
and two beers for either thehalf or the full.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
If you've got a bid for whatever race you run, there
are two tickets.
Each Got it.
We had eight.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
We did not drink them all at once.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
That's good.
We gifted two to you Becauseyou have to After you have a
race.
Jeff says get some good carbsand good protein and not
necessarily take all the carbsin liquid form.
I would imagine hisrecommendation would be because
he's against puking our coachand and after you run, if you
(11:00):
haven't eaten anything do youeat anything before a race, when
you all run?
I do I.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
I have to have something.
He doesn't.
I need my English muffin withpeanut butter and honey, or I
need a good, solid protein bar.
I need a carb.
I need my banana and I need abread of some sort, whether that
be a half a bagel or oatmeal.
I like the Kodiak.
I have to have peanut buttercrackers.
I have to have some carbs, witha little bit of sweet, a little
bit of protein I don't.
(11:26):
Before the race the one thingthat he's eaten is the nature
valley protein with the caramelon the bottom.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
He'll eat one of those I will eat a banana, for
sure, for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
No, you, okay, yeah you're good, she's making sure
okay, so we've talked about the7K and Saturday.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
What medal did you get for the 7K?
Speaker 3 (11:52):
So the 7K, because they have their little zoo area.
It's cool.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Because it was like a safari.
So everybody who is watchingthe video out in patron land can
see that it's like the bigbeach safari because that's what
they branded the race.
And you can see all thedifferent colors like yellow and
orange and brown.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
There's a rhinoceros, a lion, an elephant, they
actually use sand to make theground.
Where's the sand?
Like in the bottom?
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Oh look.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
He's dead.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
You did a really nice job.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I have a 7K shirt.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Oh, what's the shirt like yes, that you picked up at
the expo?
Oh, look at this, it's yellow,and then it's got all of the
safari theme and it's got bigbeach.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
And then on the bottom, there's your beach.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Oh, and the water lake, and you have wildlife on
the back.
The back is actually utilizedtoo.
It's the sponsors and it's theart.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
It's on top because they have the zoo See the
Alabama Gulf Coast.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
why it's safari themed and did you find that
they were true to size forpeople who are signing up and
having to pick their sizes whenthey register?
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Yes, because this one is a medium.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
And that's what you normally do.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yes, it was perfect and I like the neckline.
It's a V.
It's not like a true V, butit's a V, so it's comfortable.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
For the women's, and it's a short sleeve for anybody
who's listening and his themen's is typical round, yeah
like just the round neck, notthe v, and short sleeves.
Same design, yeah and it's softit is soft.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Yeah, it's very breathable.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
So comfy, yeah, and breathable.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Okay, it looks awesome.
And then the men's sizes.
It fit pretty well.
True to size for you.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I wear large and, yeah, it fit very well.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
So let me then take you chronologically to the
pre-race meal.
So for the half.
Where did you go the nightbefore?
Speaker 3 (14:05):
So for the half, where did you go the night
before?
But then after the 7K we allrested a little bit, got our
showers and we decided to go tothe Floribama restaurant.
So of course it's at theFlorida-Alabama line.
Back in the day it was just apackage store, and now they've
got the package store and giftshop area and then they've got a
separate store and gift shoparea and then they've got a
(14:25):
separate bar and grill area.
It's just fun.
we ate a little bit later and weate big kind of full definitely
indulged heavily so we hadindulge very on brand when we
went there, I got the Cajunshrimp cowboy.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Carbs and protein in the form of a sandwich.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Yes, with french fries.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Also.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Then we had some fun drinks.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Did you have a bushwhacker?
You talked about that being athing in the area and I was like
I had a bushwhacker down in KeyWest oh okay.
So you were like yeah, I'mlooking for the bourbon drink,
you're looking for the.
What I was looking for bourbonAmy.
Oh, you were looking forbourbon, because you all have
recently taken up the hobby ofbeing bourbon connoisseurs.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Yes, yes, his lunch was a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Was it good, I was looking at a burger.
So, it wasn't your typicalspaghetti carb loading, pre-race
kind of dinner.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
Okay, we did that later because we did it at the
hotel.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Oh, you ate at the hotel.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Yeah, all right.
No, it was a pizza place, itwas so so something was
delivered to you.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
At the hotel, yeah All right.
So here, well, oh, tell us more, okay, because sometimes you
want to get to bed early, and soeating dinner at the hotel can
be good.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
So yeah, so JoJo was our Uber.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
She was our Uber Eats that night.
She was our Uber.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Eats.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Did you tip her?
Well, is what we want to know.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Yes, we did Okay.
Good, she volunteered and we'relike okay Because we needed to
tip her in Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
She was our driver for all things in Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
She's great.
So in Floribamba's we had thehickory smoked tuna dip
Delicious Because it had a niceamount of smoke to it Love
smoked fish dip.
It was really yummy and thedrink he had his Bloody Mary.
I like Bloody.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Marys, the best one is Sundae's.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Oh, shout out to Colin and Annie.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Sundae's Bloody's.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
They are the best Hands down the best Spicy only
Spicy is the only way to go foryou, Eric, so when the girls
were talking about the BloodyMarys, dawn said let me tell you
something is the only way to gofor you, eric.
So when the girls were talkingabout the bloody marys I don't
like v8 and I'm not a fan ofbloody marys I have fallen in
love, calling an amy dawkins yesthey're spicy, however.
(16:59):
They blend that freaking jar ofgoodness right flavor profile
is just out of this worldthey're fabulous flavor there
and the spice like you don'tneed.
They're like oh, what did youadd to it?
Nothing, vodka that's it.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
That's all you need, because it's a mix.
It doesn't come with that.
You add it and then it's aparty oh, it is so freaking good
, it's a party.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
You had the floribamas and and and their
signature bloody mary was goodsince sundays but it was good.
But I had the big easy when thebig easy was buffalo trace,
bourbon southern comfort,passion, fruit syrup, orange
juice, lemon juice and a splashof grenadine citrusy sweet smoky
(17:41):
hold back on the sweet likesweet, but I wanted to taste the
profile, so the syrup wasprobably half of what they
normally put.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
And it was nicely balanced.
What was this restaurant calledFloral Bama?
Speaker 3 (17:55):
F-L-O-R-A.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
hyphen Bama, Because you're in the Florida Alabama
line and it sounds like theycustomized the drink to your
liking.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
they did because I told him I wasn't crazy about
the sweets.
I said we could just back offon the syrup a little bit.
I said I want the bourbon butbut I wanted to try your
specialty.
So I don't want to take awayany of the elements, but just if
you could back off the sweet alittle bit.
For me, nice, our server wasjust fun she was really funer
girl and just fun Good, becauseit looked like all of them, like
(18:29):
they all had the old schoolwaitress check pads.
They all had the personalizedlike little notebooks, like hers
was like blingy.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Oh, it's like an oh, have y'all seen office space?
Oh, there's a restaurant inthere where it's all a riff on
TGI Fridays.
How much flair can you have?
It's like how many buttons andthings can you have?
If you know about Office Spacein the audience, you can say yes
, amy, I know what you'retalking about.
It sounds like you had anamazing pre-race meal there.
(19:03):
Was it too far from the hoteland the race location?
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Five miles.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
We could have run there.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
A good pre-race run.
Warm up the legs.
He is a newbie.
He's the kind of newbie that'sgoing to do a warm-up run before
the 13 miles.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
When you come on, there's this hook before.
You get down like what I callthe.
You get down like what I calllike the strip.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
And it's on the strip .
Speaker 3 (19:29):
Okay, it's not that far at all, so it's good it's
five minutes.
It wasn't that far at all andit was fun.
The atmosphere was fun, thefood was great, we all had
different things and the companywas good.
And JoJo and Susie or Dawn tookdessert back to the hotel.
What?
Speaker 1 (19:44):
kind of dessert.
Do you remember Cheesecake?
Yeah, ooh, that's good.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
JoJo is definitely about the cheesecake.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Dawn got a little miffed because her honey might
have dabbled into her cheesecakea bit.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Oh, sharing is caring .
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Dawn, it's a cool place though, too.
Yeah, Anybody and everybodythat has probably ever been to
that establishment has alsosigned the building.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Signed the building Inside and out Like with a
Sharpie on the wall.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Sharpie pen, whatever you may have on your hands or
your person.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Really the walls are fun.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Yeah, the walls are.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
So you all signed the wall somewhere?
Speaker 2 (20:23):
No, we didn't.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
We were too busy just talking and cackling and having
a grand old time.
And then finally I'm like, oh,I guess we ought to go.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Oh.
So it was one of those mealswhere you had great food, great
beverages, great service andmade memories caught up with
each other and relaxed.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
So in the part two of the basket that I dropped off a
little sticker that is inbetween that is a bloody mary
sticker from floribama.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Yes, there we go for people who are watching, for our
patrons and supporters of theshow.
Thank you for bringing thatback.
I figured it was the drink.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I was looking at all their stickers and I'm like oh,
this is a drink one, so we bringthat one.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
We all have a Sunday sticker, but we had to have a
Flo Bama sticker.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Of course, what we do with all those stickers is we
put them on our luggage, so theygo with us on all our
runcations.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Mine's on my cooler.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
See, it's perfect.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
When we got back to the hotel Friday, me, Dawn and
Eric went to the expo to get ourpackets.
The girls couldn't get theirsuntil Saturday.
They couldn't no, because theygot there too late, or no, but I
think also that they just theyhad the 7K.
It was a 7K pickup, only 7K,and a challenge.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Oh, so they did that to manage the traffic and manage
the crowds?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Yes, I see.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Okay, that's fair and the challenge.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Oh, so they did that to manage the traffic and manage
the crowds.
Yes, I see.
Okay, that's fair.
Saturday afternoon we went backand did the expo again, and
that's when the vendor was there.
So the vendor wasn't there thefirst night.
They just had the backdrop andthe shark or the dolphin or
whatever, but the vendor gotthere Friday late, so that
Saturday was fully open foreverybody that came because a
lot of people were there for thehalf marathon.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Yeah, or the marathon yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
We went back and did that with them and when we all
started we were all, we're notreally hungry to go to a
restaurant, we are watching ourbudget a little bit.
So they were like what's apizza place?
We saw two, three pizza placeson the way and we picked.
It was rotellos, which I haveto link thing.
Okay, tell us r-o-t-o-l-o-s.
It was not far from the lodgeeither and we all gave our we
(22:37):
all text our orders to jojo andzelda money and our u Eats girl
picked it up.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
She is the planner, organizer and the one who
executes all plans.
Jojo, you're amazing.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
She was the mother hen of the weekend.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
She took care of everybody.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
She was our mother hen.
When you walk into the lodgethere's a little coffee shop
area.
They've got this long woodentable.
We we commandeered the table.
I had one of their specialtypizzas which had like career
cheese and cranberries andarugula and caramelized onions
and it was delicious.
Jojo and suzy went for thespaghetti and the meatballs.
(23:20):
That was their traditional carbloading.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
They're probably like let's not do anything new
before vig rates.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
I'm trying to remember what dawn had.
We had some crazy calzone.
It was a jalapeno popper cup.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Oh it was good probably like ricotta cream oh,
it was ricotta.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
And because I told him like now, honey, this is
your first half marathon.
I don't know because we dospice all the like.
I don't know that you want todo too much spice.
It actually was done nicely.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
It wasn't overbearing it was flavored yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
You could still taste the cheese and the bread, and
it wasn't just your mouth onfire.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
No, and he was fine, cause we were worried, but it
was delicious.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
We always share.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
So that's what we did before the race.
So that's good and a nice calmatmosphere in the lodge where we
just hung out.
And then I got up from thetable the little barista was
right there and I got my littlefun little coffee drink oh,
that's so great.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
A lot of carb loading and camaraderie.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Yeah, we were down there for a long time.
You're talking collectively andthen you're side
conversationing, and then you'reswitching partners with
conversations across.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Did you go to bed early or late?
Speaker 3 (24:36):
No, yeah, I mean average.
I wouldn't say it was early,but I wouldn't say it was late.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
But you didn't have a Disney-esque kind of wake up.
It wasn't like a 3 am kind ofwake up because you were close
to the start and hangouts what?
Two miles down the road so didyou end up walking there?
Were there shuttles?
When you got up in the morning,what was that like for the big
race day?
Speaker 3 (24:59):
so they had shuttles that they had announced and you,
can you book the shuttle to go?
Oh you book it.
They said, book it.
But I think people walked upand just but you all actually
booked.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
It, though is what I hear eric saying what was that?
I hear you saying that we didwhat we needed to do and we
booked the shuttle.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Actually, no, because I've been before and I knew
where they were gonna drop offand oh you drove, we were gonna
have to boogie because we had a10-hour drive home, because we
left right after Actually, no,because I'd been before and I
knew where they were going todrop off.
Oh, you drove, we were going tohave to boogie because we had a
10 hour drive home because weleft right after the race,
that's right A little bitearlier than the girls and got a
prime parking spot.
Like the last two years, wewiggled our way in Maybe what we
(25:43):
shouldn't have been and got aparking spot, but this year they
had parking across the streetfrom the hangout.
That was free and because wegot there super early.
We literally were like thethird car into the parking lot.
I liked that they opened upthat area because it made it
very convenient for those thatdid want to drive.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Your tip is go early If you are driving.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
It didn't take long.
Yeah, it started filling upfast.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
And what time did you arrive at the parking lot?
Speaker 3 (26:06):
just to give people a frame of reference 6 30 6, 30 I
was up at five I need to getmotivated, get moving.
Have my coffee he doesn't drinkcoffee.
He makes me coffee I don'tdrink coffee jojo doesn't drink
coffee either.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Do you do tea?
What do you do in the morningthen?
Do you do tea?
What do you do in the morningthen?
Energy drink and energy drink.
Okay, fair enough to each hisor her own, correct?
Yes?
So you got up around 5, 5, 30,got moving, got your beverage of
choice because it's whateverybody works don't do
anything new on race day and.
And then you parked.
Did the girls take the shuttle?
(26:43):
They did and you all had noproblem finding each other and
heading to the start.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
Oh gosh, no, the hangout is just right there.
It's not like Disney, whereyou're trying through the
plethora of people to findanybody.
We were inside.
We text each other.
We're like we're inside, we'reat a table.
They're either in the hangoutor they are on the beat at that
amazing sunrise.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Oh that's so good.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
The backdrop for the beginning of the race is just
beautiful.
We got some cute pictures.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
So you all found each other.
You got some great pictures.
At the start I'm sure there wasa lot of were you excited for
your first race there.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
I was excited and she's always you nervous at all.
No, I don't get nervous.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
More excitement than anything else.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
I definitely get excited because it was a longer
race and the longest run I'veever done.
That much more excited.
Plus I was doing a challengebefore doing the run plus half
marathon that was exciting.
Plus I get was doing achallenge before doing the run
Plus half marathon.
That was exciting.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Plus I get to be with my honey on the beach you get
to meet some of my amazingfriends.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Meeting the girls was definitely a pleasure.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
He's talked to them on the phone because when we
were at Gasparilla, when Ifinished the race, I had him on
speakerphone.
Jojo, Susie and Darlene andDawn all had heard his voice
from Gasparilla, so this wasneat for them to get to meet
Eric.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
You're the one putting the smile on her face
now.
You all were there together,and how was it lining up at the
start?
Did you have you line up bypace, or what was the situation
there?
Speaker 3 (28:19):
General running etiquette.
If you're fast, go to the front.
If you're a little slower,middle to the back of where you
feel comfortable, race etiquettefront.
If you're a little slower,middle to the back where you
feel comfortable.
It's race etiquette.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Everybody is so polite and so easy and there
were pacers and they were easilyspotted in the crowd.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Oh yeah, bright fluorescent yellow shirts, so
you couldn't miss them.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
I remember Nikki talking about that on the other
episode.
What was the start like for youall?
You were maybe mid to the backof the.
Is that where you?
Speaker 3 (28:46):
yeah, essentially I wasn't sure how he wanted to be
and we wanted to stick with thegirls in the beginning because
we wanted to run that firstlittle bit until we got into the
park together so you all stayedtogether for the first.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
What mile or two?
Yeah, I want to say it wasabout a mile, and how was that
all together?
Speaker 3 (29:05):
oh, it was so much fun.
I got some great little photosof everybody laughing.
I was in front of them, I wasin the middle of them.
We were just cutting up.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
And, from what I understand, susie had Darlene's
bib.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
She did so.
She had emailed the racedirector and explained
everything and asked if shecould have her bib and if she
could pick it up.
And she did she and asked ifshe could have her bib and if
she could pick it up, and shedid.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
She wrote on the bib and she had it on pinned on her
back.
So darlene was with you allyeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
So we took pictures right in the beginning of the
race and then, when we finished,we got our bloody marys, which
was darlene's favorite post racedrink, and we got a picture of
the Bloody Marys next to her bib, with the 50 States logo on the
back of Susie's tank top.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
Oh, fantastic, and the director that took the call
was right behind us in the linewhile we were taking the
pictures of the bib with theBloody Marys.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
She's like oh, so you're Susie.
Yeah, so we got to meet them,which was really nice.
And her husband oh, oh my god,what a card.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
He was so funny oh, it was so great five thousand
plus people at that race.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
It was a high number.
It was a high number and Ishould have written that down.
I'm sorry no, no.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
If people go back and listen to that episode with
nikki, they'll know hey,remember that name, I took your
call, or?
Your email, that's so great.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
And then they had a similar experience of the same
thing where they had somebodywho had passed and they wore
their bid.
So that director had the samething happen the close friend of
hers had passed and she wasable to run with that person's
bid, so she had no problemgiving that, you know.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
It's so nice when somebody understands and has
that empathy and it's I'mtelling you, it's the running
community.
Such compassion and justinformal.
Yeah, sweet people.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Sharing tips and just .
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Yeah, all around, yeah, so you all stayed together
for the first part of the race.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
The first mile until we turned off to go into the
park.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
And so it was on the road and then you turned off
into the park after a couple ofmiles, about a mile, about a
mile, and that was the terrainthat the 7K shared with the half
.
Is that right?
No, it was a different portion.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
Because you got to remember, the 7K started right
across the street from the lodge.
We're a couple of miles downthe lodge at the hangout on the
beach.
So we were on the road.
Police had marked it off untilwe turned into where the state
park there was an interest inthe state park.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
So it was a different part of the park?
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Yes, it was a tail end park, where we actually came
up to a start.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Okay, so you got into the park that way, and how long
were you in the park?
Speaker 3 (32:02):
The 7K.
No for the half.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
The whole race yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
It was the remainder of the.
It was the remainder of therace.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
The remainder of the race yeah, so 12 miles.
So how was it nice shady orsunny shady?
Speaker 3 (32:18):
yes, all the above correct because you had foliage
over you in some parts and insome parts where you were on the
boardwalk it was fully open, soyou had full elements and sun,
but it was beautiful because youhad the shade when you needed
it.
You had the sun when you wantedto get warmed up a little bit.
There was one little likesidewalk, but it wasn't sidewalk
, it was asphalt.
When I say sidewalk, I meantlike width wise, alongside a
(32:41):
street that you're on for just ashort period of time how are
the water and nutrition stops?
there was only.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
I think you saw three , but we didn't use it.
You carried your stuff.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Right, and that's probably why I don't remember
exactly where they were, becauseone of them was a mile 10.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Okay, it was five, and the last one was just before
we exited that RV park.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
There is one area where you come off the boardwalk
and it goes into this RVcamping area.
So the RVs are in the littlecul-de-sac areas.
They're drinking their coffee.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
They're cheering us on.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
Oh, that's good Like at the Donna yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
Hey, we get to see people running.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
It's just water and Gatorade electrolyte kind of
thing.
On the website there are mapsthat they show exactly for which
race where water stops are, andfor the marathon if it's a
medic or whatever.
So there are very nice maps outthere that tell you exactly
where all those stops are.
I carry everything with medetailed.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
I understand that different people have different
routines for races and youdevelop it over.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
I imagine that, since you all were together that eric
, your routine for this racemimicked what jesse did yeah, in
terms of carrying on our firsttraining run, when I had
nutrition, I would have half andthen share half with him so he
could see how it felt and whathis body felt like.
So for the half marathon I waslike, okay.
(34:20):
So general rule of thumb iseither every 30 minutes or every
three miles, depending on howyour body is.
You got to listen to your body.
I says.
One thing that I've learned isyou can't get it back, can't
play catch up, you can't catchup, and so you don't want to get
in that situation.
I mapped it out.
For every three miles I saidhere are your packets.
(34:41):
You take them when you feel youneed them.
Sure, you only need two.
You know, maybe you only needone.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Because I know my body and it will speak.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
They do Our bodies talk to us?
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Yeah, I was taking mine before his.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
I was probably about every three miles.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
So you all pretty well had timed out your
nutrition, your hydration, andyou were pretty much responsible
for that.
But if you want to listen towhat Nikki had to say about the
water and nutrition on thecourse, if you want to, if
you're the kind of person thatlike, yeah, I'm just going to go
out and I'm not going to carryanything with me and I'm just
(35:18):
going to rely on the water steps, then you'll know what to
expect there.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
But yeah, you described that very well and it
is mapped out very well.
From when I did my marathon, Iwas very much a part of where
are they?
Because I I want I carry mywater with me, because I want to
drink my water when I want it.
It was important for me duringthe marathon because I knew when
it was coming.
I'd unscrew my cap so when Igot there I would pour in my
bottle so I could keep going andthen, when I wanted to, so for
(35:46):
longer race.
For me that's really importantfor a half marathon and under.
I don't pay that much attentionto it because I'm
self-supporting.
There's a lot of elite runnersand other runners that don't
want to carry.
That information is helpful andshe was very informative.
In the podcast she did with youit's all written out, and what
they post on the website too,they're very thorough.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Big Beach is a race that is well planned, executed
and you could definitely run fora PR.
Or if you're trying to run fora proof of time for a different
race, like one of the biggerraces, or trying to get a proof
of time for a corral placementin other races, it might be a
(36:30):
good opportunity, would you say.
That's true.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
Yeah, I would, because whether you're in the
front or you're in the middle ofthe pack, once you start out,
then you start thinning a littlebit.
There's plenty of room to thenpick up your pace.
Every race there's a lot goingon when you first start, then it
starts spreading out.
People settle into their grooveand with their groups and you
(36:53):
felt the paths are wide enoughthat you can pass and go how you
wish, how you can.
Okay, certain areas.
There's only certain areas thatare narrow.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
Where you have congestion.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
No, where you're actually running through,
there's a couple areas that area little narrow, a couple of
people, but they're short, okay,so you wanted to gain or pick
off people.
That person, they're in a pinktank.
That's my goal to catch thatperson or stay with them Space
to do that.
Good, you set a goal, you canabsolutely accomplish it.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
So let me ask you about the finish and what that
was like for you.
You reached your goal of a halfmarathon, Eric.
What was going through yourmind as you were finishing?
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Can't believe I actually did it.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
You had doubts.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
No, I'm not really doubting myself.
I always told myself I could doit.
But then to actually do it andgoing across the finish line,
yeah, no, I've done it, it'sbeen accomplished, not being an
avid runner for only a year,five days and 110k you come off
the main road, so out of thepark, and you go back over one
(38:07):
of them walking bridges like alittle overpass, but it's a
walking bridge.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
Yes, yes, okay, so that incline at the end you're
like oh good God, is it going todo me in?
You get over the bridge and itlets you off, literally.
When you're coming off thatlast bridge, the lodge is right
here, great.
So then you're running down tothe hangout.
They've blocked off part of theroad.
You're on the road, thesidewalk, wherever you want to
(38:36):
be, down to the hangout.
Just before the hangout you'reveering around the beach
boardwalk.
you're around that corner andyou start hearing everybody's
chain and you hear just thatcrowd and they're yelling your
name and your number andeverything and that's when you
get that little boost and theygot the most perfect picture of
us crossing the finish line.
It was just absolutely amazingand you cross the finish line
and they're giving you yourmedal and then they're like
you've got the challenge becauseyour bibs are different.
(38:57):
Just walk over to the table andshe gives you the little
hanging thing that goes in thebottom of your medal.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Oh, just show us, yeah, show us so we can describe
it, yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
You're going to have to tell me about the, so here's
the top part.
Speaker 1 (39:09):
Okay, so it says 10.
Speaker 3 (39:11):
Because, this year was the 10th year anniversary of
Big Beach.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
So it's 10 and it's got stained glass and palm trees
and it says the Big Beach HalfMarathon and it's gorgeous.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
It's really pretty and it's bigger than my previous
medals, but it is really.
And again, it has the sandaround it and, like you said,
it's got the little stainedglass in it, so it's pretty in
the sun, and then the dolphinchallenge hangs off the bottom
of it and it's got the dolphin.
Speaker 1 (39:39):
So you have the extra metal that attaches to your
half marathon metal.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
And then the 7K.
It could all hang together.
Look at this trio of metalshere.
Who wouldn't want to go forthat?
And what is the half marathonNow?
What were you grabbing there toshow us?
Speaker 3 (39:59):
So this was 2022's metal Stained glass.
Speaker 1 (40:03):
Yeah, I can see.
Yeah, that's gorgeous.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
And then this was 2023.
Again, it's got the sand and alittle bit of the stained.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
Ah so.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
It was a 10-year anniversary, so they went big on
the medals.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
Oh it was gorgeous.
I love that.
Speaker 3 (40:22):
But all three medals for all three years that I went
are beautiful.
Speaker 1 (40:30):
The beautiful, the stained glass, the sand elements
those are awesome.
The fact that the challengemedal connects to your bigger
race medal I thought that wasreally cool, super cool.
Speaker 3 (40:37):
See on the bottom of this one.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
You have to do the challenge.
You can't leave those ringsabsent anymore.
Now I know why.
I know what I need to do.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
Turn to a fourth year and we'll do the shark
challenge.
Ooh.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Did you hear him Wait a minute now?
Did you hear him Wait a minutenow, did you hear?
Speaker 2 (40:56):
him commit.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Did you, Eric?
I have it on recording.
Anyway, let's talk about theshirt, Jess.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
It's beautiful.
I love the fact that I got theshoe print Like if you're
stepping in the sand.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
Oh, that's so cool.
Speaker 3 (41:13):
And then it's got the beautiful sky, blue colors and
then the yellow the yellow, thesun and sand palm trees, the sun
, and then the same.
It wraps around the back justas the but the palm trees, and
that it's very artsy.
Speaker 1 (41:26):
It reminds me of the art fest in fort myers.
Yeah, it reminds me of the artfest 5k and also the key west
ones that are so colorful in abeach town-esque type way.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
It's pure to size and so soft.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Long sleeve.
This was long sleeve, whereasthe others were short.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
And the reason why they said they do that is so
that you feel like you're notgetting the same shirt if you're
doing multiple races during theweek, the weekend, so if you're
doing two races, they wanted togive you two different types,
sure.
Speaker 1 (41:55):
Yeah, so you got one for the half and one for the 7k.
Did you all get a bonus shirtlike a challenge shirt, or no?
Speaker 3 (42:02):
No.
Speaker 1 (42:03):
No, what was the medal?
The 2022s For the half marathonand marathon, which is all
yellow, very mimicky of themetal, with the sun and the
ocean.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
And then 2023.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
Oh, look at this 2023 .
What is that?
Like a green, like a seafoamgreen.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
In itself, it's the lighting.
It's actually like a grayishblue.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Oh, like a grayish blue, and then the artwork is
that Like a big wave coming up,like an ocean color blue, and
then big beach in yellow, nice.
Speaker 3 (42:39):
It's nice that each year the shirts mimic part of
the pattern of the medal.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
Yes, that's how they're connected.
That's great.
Did you all wear your medals toyour post-race meal celebration
?
Speaker 3 (42:55):
Let's talk about that .
In previous years we finishedthe race and we got a very nice
boxed meal that had a gourmetsandwich, a gourmet cookie and
some chips, and then we got abowl of hot seafood.
Gumbo, oh gumbo.
It was delicious.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
This was all provided at the race finish.
Speaker 3 (43:16):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (43:17):
In the past years.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
This year it was different.
I don't know what they did, butthis year they had a hot plate,
so they had pasta.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3 (43:27):
Whether you wanted red or white.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Sauce.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
Pasta with red sauce or Alfredo sauce.
Alfredo.
Speaker 2 (43:33):
You could have chicken.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
So you had a meat sauce with your noodles, or you
had the Alfredo sauce with thechicken, and then it was a
cookie, a breadstick A hotbreadstick and then a grandma's
cookie, like two in a pack.
And then, of course, because wehad our two beer tickets from
the 7K and our two tickets, butwe didn't open any of the beers
(43:57):
because we I had eric, webecause we finished first and I
sent him up to the bar to getthe bloody marys so that when
don and jojo and suzy finishedwe had our bloody marys to toast
.
Darlene and I took a picture ofthe bloody mary with the metal
out by the beach, but when theycame through, so we were
drinking those and then Ibrought so I have one of those
bags that that folds up.
(44:19):
I knew we were getting all thebeer.
Speaker 1 (44:22):
So wait a minute.
Speaker 3 (44:23):
So the beer it wasn't from the tap, it was in can't
and they didn't open it smartbeneficial for us because most
races they'll open it up and yougot to drink it there.
You don't want to take it offproperty.
They didn't open up any of ourcans, so we got three.
They had four different kindsand we ended up with three
because they ran out we put themall in my little bag that I had
(44:43):
stuffed in my pocket and putthem in the car and the cooler
so that we could consume themwhen we got home.
I believe I put in your basketthe carnival one and the
pineapple wheat.
Speaker 2 (44:55):
And the pineapple is delicious.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
The pineapple is good too.
They're both very delicious.
Okay, it's the Lysmack IPA.
That's the pineapple one.
Speaker 3 (45:05):
Oh no, I take that back.
It was Little Shack.
I'm sorry I didn't give her apineapple one.
No, pineapple.
Speaker 1 (45:10):
Now I'm upset, no.
Speaker 3 (45:12):
I'm kidding, I'm upset.
No, I'm kidding.
Speaker 1 (45:13):
I'm kidding, I'm totally kidding.
So this is the Little Smack IPAYou're trying to convert me.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
We're open to that, so it's fine.
The other one was gearedtowards Mardi Gras that was
coming up, carnival Cake Ale,and that one was delicious, also
Wait it's wrong yeah.
There you go.
You've got the King Cake on thefront, fat, so wait, it's wrong
.
Speaker 1 (45:37):
yeah, there you go you got the king cake on the
front that tuesday was coming up.
Speaker 3 (45:39):
Yay, so those are two of the beers that we got at the
race.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
Thank you for bringing them back.
I'm not gonna open them untildana gets home from his work
trip, which is why he couldn'tbe a part of our runcation recap
.
But how did you enjoy thepost-race party?
It was good.
Speaker 3 (45:57):
We were a little sad that we had to right.
Speaker 1 (46:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (46:02):
Because, knowing that also we had the late checkout
that we might've stretched justa little bit.
Speaker 1 (46:08):
Hilton is very good about that, though.
Speaker 3 (46:11):
What's nice, too, about Hilton is they text you.
That was your stay, so I gotthe text about the checkout.
I'm like we literally justfinished the race.
We're gonna get there asquickly as we can.
They were like let us know whenyou're walking out.
I text them when we werewalking out to load the stuff up
in the car.
So they were veryaccommodatable, although they
(46:31):
might have wanted us out alittle bit earlier.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
But oh, it's all they have to.
I know they have to get theroom, they have to turn over the
rooms and get them clean andready, and that's but and I
understand that they're veryaccommodating like they're good
Speaker 2 (46:44):
it was good, so you know.
Speaker 3 (46:45):
So, yes, so post meal was great with and the
camaraderie was great.
We did a little pictures withdarlene and everything.
The way they had it set up,they had on a line flowed very
fluidly.
They had multiple areas whereyou could get the beer.
That was very well planned outthere.
The hangout is a super coolhangout.
It's super, super cool.
(47:06):
I had a band playing like coolstuff out that cool artwork.
It just was just really I wouldlove to be like be there and
been able to hang out like moreand maybe next year we can plan
that we just have literally hangout more is that the thing I
can't do, I don't know I can'tdo the sim surfs up surfs up,
dude surf surfs up, wait, okay,no, it's super super cool place.
(47:32):
If live there, I could totallysee where you could just hang
out and just have a blast.
Yeah, it's cool.
Speaker 1 (47:39):
I love that you described so well the laid back
atmosphere.
It doesn't sound like there wasany pressure on the course.
Sounds like it was well manned,organized and very secure and
safe.
It sounds like the packetpickup was a breeze the party,
the shirts, the medals.
It sounds like you wouldrecommend doing it.
Obviously, you've done itmultiple times, eric.
(48:01):
Would you do it again?
Speaker 2 (48:02):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (48:03):
Yeah, speaking of racing again.
What's next on the horizon forthis Runcation Nation Cup?
We have the Cape Coral DonutDash coming up at the end of
March.
Yes, I sent you the link.
Speaker 1 (48:19):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (48:20):
It'd be really nice if you and Dana could maybe be
able to do a local event.
I know your schedules are tight.
Speaker 1 (48:25):
He's still recovering from his injury, but I'll see
if I can get him to come out andcheer us on That'd be awesome,
and it does benefit the CapeCoral Police Department, so
that's where you can get them.
I think it was.
What did you say?
That was what I read is thePolice Athletic League?
Yes, ma'am, and their chief,Tony Sizemore, is just an
advocate for the Police AthleticLeague and what it does for the
community, that's a great localrace.
Speaker 3 (48:49):
It's something that I support.
That's where I reside.
Good cause, and the donuts aregoing to be protein packed
believe it or not.
Speaker 1 (49:01):
Donuts, on course, donuts after and with protein.
We'll see how many of Dana'sbrethren in blue will partake.
Speaker 3 (49:06):
Brooklyn is going to come with us and do that race
with us also.
Speaker 2 (49:09):
Yay.
Speaker 3 (49:11):
I have my donut compression socks ready.
Speaker 1 (49:14):
I saw pictures Donut compression socks.
I believe Dana might have donutsocks to cheer us on, but I
will consult with him.
Speaker 3 (49:24):
The other thing we have.
I'm old school.
Speaker 1 (49:27):
You have a list.
You have a written list.
I have a calendar that I writeon A written calendar.
You got to have it, you got tohave it.
I'm old school, you got to haveit, so you're organized.
Everybody is different, likewith training plans and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (49:41):
March we have the Donut Dash and then in April my
favorite race events, which isanother outfit that I just love
their races.
Speaker 1 (49:49):
That's the name of the organization.
Speaker 3 (49:51):
My favorite race events.
The packet pickup is a breeze.
Everything is in a nice closedenvelope or a nice closed bag
with your name on it.
Speaker 1 (49:59):
You're in, you're out and fun.
Speaker 3 (50:02):
They just have the energy in all of their races.
So much fun.
I have not done one of theirsin Bradenton yet.
They have a half marathoncalled Running for the Fishes.
Speaker 1 (50:12):
If you're going to be in Bradenton.
If you haven't been toMotorworks Brewing, you should
definitely visit.
Just a tip for the Bradentonarea Other than that we really
don't look at a whole lot.
Speaker 3 (50:25):
No, to be honest with you, there's probably a couple
little local 5Ks here and therethat we'll jump on.
Speaker 1 (50:30):
I hear things happening in the future August.
Speaker 3 (50:37):
August is my Ridge of Gods and it's also a 10 year
anniversary.
It's up in Cascade.
Speaker 1 (50:45):
Oregon.
Speaker 3 (50:46):
Joe and Susie did that race and I was supposed to
go.
It was my birth Cause.
Every birthday I do somethingout of my comfort zone, hence
the triathlon one year and dueto some personal things you
couldn't go just like me withbig beach.
Speaker 1 (51:00):
I'm a firm believer everything happens for a reason.
Speaker 3 (51:03):
Yeah, so I certain race directors and events.
You can defer some, you can'tsome right there's discretion.
So I sought out.
The director wrote a niceletter, explained my situation.
They allowed me to defer andgave me a credit code.
Once that race was over andthey posted the new race, I
(51:25):
could sign up for it again withthe credit code.
Then I was registered for thisyeah so.
But again, everything happensfor a reason.
It's now going to be ananniversary race.
When there's an anniversaryrace, when there's an
anniversary race, it's usually alittle more grander, a little
more.
Speaker 1 (51:38):
They're trying to pull out all the stops.
Speaker 2 (51:41):
Make it great.
When she first signed up forthat, I wasn't running at that
point.
Speaker 3 (51:46):
He's going to go with me.
It'll be our first flight outof town vacation.
And we decided that race.
Also, we're going to make it ascenic race.
It's not going to be a crazybecause you run over this iconic
steel bridge.
That it's just gorgeous.
If you google the bridge of god, the half marathon race, the
(52:07):
scenery pictures are justabsolutely gorgeous.
Okay, but my understanding fromthe girls in the middle of the
race.
There's some steps.
You have to conquer part of themountain.
Speaker 1 (52:18):
Like a hill.
Speaker 3 (52:20):
Yeah.
So we've decided that we'regoing to do a big beach and
we're just going to enjoy ourrace.
And if we want to run, we'regoing to run.
When we want to walk, we'regoing to walk.
We're just going to enjoy theelements around us with that
gorgeous scenery they provide upthere.
Speaker 1 (52:35):
Make it a true runcation.
Speaker 3 (52:37):
But I'm thinking maybe the Bradenton one we might
see what we got in the tank.
Yeah, Tell them to have our ownraces and see.
Speaker 1 (52:45):
That's what we did for Fort Lauderdale for the A1A
back in January of 2020.
It was a PR for Dana and I wasso proud of him and he got to
have Irish whiskey in his kilt.
You never know what the bridgeof the gods will have for you.
We would love for you to comeback and recap that on the show
(53:06):
after you experience it, if youwill.
In the meantime, how can theRuncation Nation get in touch or
connect with you all Meantime?
Speaker 3 (53:15):
how can the Runcation Nation get in touch or connect
with you all?
We're on the Runcation NationFacebook page.
I haven't posted pictures in alittle bit so I need to get back
in a regular.
I got to be like Rob.
I miss Rob's pictures.
Speaker 1 (53:27):
Oh, Rob Nadeau.
Og member of the RuncationNation that took beautiful
photographs.
Speaker 3 (53:34):
He was an OTR driver and wherever he would stop on
his travels of his job.
Speaker 1 (53:39):
Long haul trucking.
Speaker 3 (53:41):
Go for a run and take all these beautiful pictures
and post them and then get backin his truck.
He was amazing.
He was but yeah, Eric is EricMillion on his Instagram and
millionfloorslc.
Speaker 1 (53:51):
We will link to all of that in the show notes and
all of the links that you havementioned that you will pass on
to me so I can post those foreverybody to learn more about
the big beach marathon weekendand maybe they can join us for
our makeup race in 2026.
I really can't wait toaccomplish, explore and indulge
(54:17):
with you all really soon.
Speaker 3 (54:20):
That would be absolutely fabulous.
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