North Carolina Half

The first half I was able to run in 2020 was my North Carolina half in Oak Island.  Although I know I won't be able to have a fun getaway weekend for every half, this one was!  Dave and I were able to go away for Valentine's Day and get a run in.  It was a win win!  

Dave ran a fast 5K and Amy ran fast for her on her half!

We left on Valentine's Friday and made it to the race expo in time to get our bibs and a new pair of socks.  Then we had a great dinner at an Italian restaurant in town.  It was delicious!  And a good carb load.

Sunset at Oak Island

We had an early start, per usual for a run, on Saturday morning.  And it was a very chilly morning!  Temps were in the 30s when we arrived!  Amy started before Dave, but of course he finished before her!  He even had time to take a nap in the car!  It was a mostly flat course and I was able to stay with another girl who was running at a fast pace for about the first 3 miles.  Although I slowed down after that, I was able to finish in 2 hrs and 11 minutes, which is my fastest or 2nd fastest time for a half.   

Before

After

After a a shower and a short nap, we went into Southport to explore the town.  We had lunch at Oliver's and Dave said they had the best lobster bisque he has ever tasted!  

The view from Southport

We walked a lot in Southport and even went in the town museum.  Then we found a great bakery and I got the most lemon filled pastry I have ever had!

That night we went back to the Italian restaurant and got a pizza to take back to the hotel so that we could relax and not walk anymore!  On Sunday, we toured the Oak Island lighthouse before heading back home.  It was pretty scary walking to the top, and nerve wracking standing outside at the top!  Although I am glad we did it, I would and have signed up for more races, but I don't plan on climbing that lighthouse again!!

The scary stairs!

The view from the top

Oak Island Lighthouse

All in all it was a delightful weekend.  And state number 3 is checked off my list!

Running Goals

 Running has been a big part of my life, especially during quarantine in 2020!  But before this miserable year, in 2019 I made a goal of running a half or full marathon in all 50 states.  As of 2019, I had only done this in two states.  I have done most of my races in SC, and almost almost all in the Charleston area.  My first half was in Myrtle Beach in February 2008.  I didn't immediately get the long distance running bug then, but in 2013 I signed up for the Charleston half and have been running since!  Here are some of my SC races....

My first half that I ran with, or rather behind, my brother in law Rob,  Myrtle Beach  February 2008

My first marathon, January 2014, with my faithful family supporters!  It was very cold that day and they had to wait a long time for me to finish!!  Charleston Marathon

My parents also showed up to cheer me on at the end!

Diva Half Marathon 2014, Myrtle Beach, SC

My most unique "medal"  This was for a May Day run on May 1, 2015.  This was a guerrilla style run that started out in downtown Charleston and ended at Folly Beach.  No road closures and no guaranteed water stops.  It was an interesting run!

2017 Charleston Marathon  (Although I had said I wasn't running another marathon after LA, I told my friend Kelly I would run it with her.)

Save the Light Half on Folly Beach with Kelly Bessinger, February 2018

About the second marathon state...after already checking off my bucket list goal of a full marathon in Charleston in 2014, my friend Tara talked me into doing the LA marathon in 2015.  She didn't have to talk too hard!!  So California became my second state.

Tara Jackson and I at Dodger stadium at the start of the race 

  

So coming into 2020, I had two states checked off and 5 more planned for the first half of 2020.  Then Covid hit!  Fortunately I was able to run in NC for a Valentine's Day getaway at Oak Island in freezing cold weather, but good running temps, Dave and I ran the Oak Island 5K and half marathon.  He finished his 5K a long time before I finished my half, but then we had the rest of the day to rest and explore Southport, NC.  It was a great weekend!!  And now NC is my 3rd state!!

But then the next four races were canceled.  The most frustrating one was the half in Memphis that most of my family had signed up to run.  Camden and I trained for this to happen in April.  He had trained so hard and had made it up to running 11 miles before they postponed it to June 6, 2020.  If you are reading this, you know that by June, Covid had not disappeared.  So after training for a second time, Camden was really disappointed!  We now will have to wait until April 2021, hopefully, to finish that race.    

But for me, I was able to find a half to run on June 6 thanks to Vacation Races.  But that is a story for another post!