Part 1: First Double...The Good vs The Bad

It's been a while since my last run in Tulsa. The winter training was tough. Limited running outdoors and a sore foot kept me indoors but that didn't stop me!

So here I go! My first double. Two states in two days. Coast to coast. Let the fun begin! I was off to Tacoma, Washington for state # 7. The Tacoma St. Paddy's Day Run. Another early flight with connections through Denver landed me in SUNNY Seattle! Yes, the first thing I saw was sun. I was excited. Tacoma was just a 30 minute commute from Sea-Tac so I went straight to packet pick up. No lines! (I later found out that I was two hours EARLY for packet pickup...oops!!)  I picked up our packets and started chatting with the girl at check in. I told her I just flew in from Omaha and that my friends were shortly behind me. I couldn't believe that I was at the Half Fanatics headquarters. Seeing all of Tony's medals hanging on the wall was just an amazing sense of awe. I think I acted too excited because she came back with a little present for us. Half fanatic tattoos! This was our lucky day :)

Check in for the hotel wasn't until 3pm so I was unsure what to do. The Hotel Murano. FANCY!

 

 

Off I went on a little adventure. The hotel was downtown. Many buildings but not much to do. I walked about 4 blocks East looking for something to eat. Doesn't this city have a Subway? I made a turn and there she was. Subway in all it's glorious, scrumptious, deliciousness self. I order the new usual and sat at the window to waste the time away. Of course I took some pictures along the way.

Finally it was check in time so I checked into the hotel where I waited for Jodi. 23rd floor of The Murano Hotel. My ears were popping as I made the trip up. Jodi arrived around 5pm and what do we talk about first...FOOD! Pizza or pasta? Pizza ALWAYS wins with us :)  We found a close place called The Rock Wood Fired Pizza. It's a good thing I am app savvy. With the local check in on my Foursquare app, I scored a FREE appetizer! Loving this place already. We sat and ate and ate. Yummy. Great place. Appetizer, mini pizza and H20 for $10.44 :)

 

 

 

The time zone was getting the best of us so we just went back to the hotel to get ready for race #1. Karen wasn't due into Tacoma until around midnight and we weren't waiting up. The start line was just 0.5 miles away so we didn't have to get up early and drive somewhere. Which is GGGRREEAATTTT!

 

 

 

Great race swag. Loved the long sleeve shirt. What's a St. Patrick's Day race without wearing GREEN??!!! The weather was predicted mid 40's with possible rain. Perfect. We heard Karen arrive late but I was able to fall asleep real quick after she arrived. The race was small so we knew that we didn't have to arrive the usual hours before. We arrived around 7:40 am and took some pictures.

 

 

 

More pictures...

 

 

I had planned on taking more pictures during the run. At about mile 3 the rain began. The roads were wet and I didn't want to slip so I just enjoyed the scenery and the run. Hills EVERYWHERE. Why am I always attracted to the hills?! The nice thing about hills in races is that they are NOT the hills I run on at home. So I don't easily psych myself out. I always think, "Well that hill was easier then home!" The course was an out and back with a little loop in the beginning.  We were running and I noticed everyone carrying hand water bottles. I began to worry...where are the water stops?? Not until mile 4 was there water. Never have I experienced this before. I should have brought my water bottle. And there it sits...AT THE HOTEL. I was thankful for the rain because if it was hot, this would have been bad.

 

The hills continued and I went with it. I let gravity take me down...that was kinda fun! I normally don't like any Gu products but decided to take one anyway. Mocha you are my new favorite. The race continued along Puget Sound and up more hills. The end was nearing and I was remembering those stickin hills at the beginning. Oh my word...I need to run up a hill at the finish. My watch was closing in on my PR and I was okay with it.

 

Crossing the Finish Line at 2:23:07. Not too shabby. I think the downhill's made up my time. Wasn't much time to hang out. I grabbed my medal, ate some grapes and a banana and I was off to the hotel to change. With just 10 minutes to spare, I was able to change and we were off to the airport for leg 2.  See you in Massachusetts!!

 

 

 

State # 7

 

Half Marathon # 11

 

2:23:07

 

PROS: Post race food. Easy access to/from airport. Perfect weather.

CONS: First water stop TOO far away.