RnR Savannah, GA - Marathon & Half-Marathon - Nov. 5, 2011

[Princess Roo]

Just, you say Just? Never!
Seems like you are doing great mid-week training and will be more than ready for the event.

Thanks! Referring to 5 as "just" is definitely in comparison to 13.1, not compared to the running my couch potato self was doing 4 months ago.

I was looking at the race site and it looks like the sports drink is going to be Cytomax. Anyone tried that before? You can only buy large quantities of it on Amazon, but I'm wondering if I can find it at a running store or somewhere else to try it out. My stomach is a bit sensitive, but I don't want to carry fluid if I can help it.

 

[rKyDeX]

I was looking at the race site and it looks like the sports drink is going to be Cytomax. Anyone tried that before? You can only buy large quantities of it on Amazon, but I'm wondering if I can find it at a running store or somewhere else to try it out. My stomach is a bit sensitive, but I don't want to carry fluid if I can help it.

I use Cytomax before and after training runs. I buy it online at GNC. It comes in three flavors. Their website has a store locator here: http://www.cytosport.com/locations.html

Cytomax tastes "sweeter" than Gatorade or Powerade but actually has less sugar.

For training runs over 9 miles I carry Powerbar Gel Blasts and water to wash them down.

For races I carry Powerbar Gel Blasts and wash them down with water offered on course. You never know how weak or strong the sports drinks will be mixed at drink stations, so I pretty much rely on just the water.

 

[lauren5406]

It has been all over our local news today. The race officially sold out yesterday with 23,000 participants. I can't even imagine that many people on Bay Street

They also announced the headlining act - Carolina Liar.

 

[ksoehrlein]

Glad we registered before it sold out! I hope everyone's training is going well. I'm sidelined for now with a "stress injury" (thankfully, NOT a fracture) of my second metatarsal. So frustrating, but I'm hopeful it's early enough in the season to not cause a major set-back. My last long run was 23 miles on 8/20 because I'm following the Galloway Time Goal program. I hope to get back out there after another week or so.

 

[RunFasterMommy]

I am running the full!

 

[TeresaZ]

I'm so upset!! I am sidelined for two weeks (had my tubes tied on Thursday) - just when my training was really getting underway! UGH!!

Oh well, I've been running 3 to 4 miles a day and 6 on the weekends - so hopefully I can just pick up there in two weeks.

SO MAD AT MYSELF FOR NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT MAYBE HAVING TO SIT OUT RUNNING FOR RECOVERY BEFORE SCHEDULING MY PROCEDURE!!!

 

[Bephus]

Hi
I am running Savannah and was planning on running with a buddy but she has been sidelined with a hamstring tear
So now I am on my own and I would love to have some support in these last few weeks of training! I am starting to feel better about the race this week, I have really slacked off on running since the weather has been so miserably hot and humid here in my neck of the woods (No FL). We have had a great weekend and I ran 10 miles in 8:45 min/mile Huge improvement from my 5.5 miles Wednesday at 9:45 min/mile!
So, where is everyone staying? I got stuck at a hotel near the airport or south on 95 about 20 miles from downtown. Booked both and will decide which to stay in closer to the race. Not pleased about either choice really. Does anyone have a guess as to what transportation might look like? I have only run one other RnR and it was Va Beach and I stayed on the boardwalk so catching a bus was super easy.
Is there a meet-up planned? I will be coming in Friday morning for the expo and since I will be solo, I would love to meet up with someone for dinner or whatever!
Ok, well thanks for letting me jump in here!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Whoo hoo it is coming up soon!

 

[rKyDeX]

Whoo hoo it is coming up soon!

Lily
I'm heading up Friday. Not sure what time I'm leaving, but I've got about a 7 hour drive and will be heading straight to the Expo. I'll text you when I get to the Expo to check in on what you're doing.

Saturday morning I'm going to drive to the Airport Hampton Inn and take the Shuttle Bus to the start. Also taking the Shuttle back.

Are you staying over Saturday night?

 

[TeresaZ]

How'd it go everyone?

I ran my best half yet - nearly 8 minutes faster than my best half marathon!

 

[rKyDeX]

I accidentally PR'ed by 10 minutes. Somehow hit the stop button on my garmin after the 2 mile mark while taking off my long sleeve shirt. I didn't realize it until about 1.25 miles later.

So I just kept running and didn't stop. By the time I reached the finish line I had only logged 25.2 miles even though I probably really ran about 26.5.

I was a little disappointed that the course didn't include more of the historical areas of Savannah.

 

[Goofed98]

Great weather for a run. I did the half, and dropped my PR from 2:04:something (Disney last year), to 1:54.

Traffic was brutal getting to packet pick up, but overall, well done.

 

[FireDancer]

Congratulations on the PR rKyDeX.

I look forward to some race reports. I need an October or November fast, flat full for next year and on my current short list are Toronto, Columbus, Space Coast, and Savannah.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I would say it is a great flat course. I walked with my DH who was doing his 2nd half and he did great! He enjoyed the flat course as well. There were some things that the back of the packers did not get to take advantage of, but I am used to that so basically bring my own sustenance. Only one station was out of cytomax and that was in the beginning not a serious problem. There was plenty available along the way. I understand there were snickers bars available, but we did not get any of those. We did get muscle milk and I did enjoy that. It seemed like a good time for me. Later in the event, but still some miles to go.

The weather was perfect. We stayed in an outlying hotel and getting to the event was a bit tricky, but not impossible. We spent time in the downtown area exploring and enjoying the history. Great place!

 

[Princess Roo]

It's been a crazy week catching up at work after being off Friday!

I did the half - my first - and did OK considering that I had developed anterior tendonitis 2 weeks prior and wasn't able to really run. By race day it hurt to walk fast, but wasn't too bad to jog, so I ended up jogging most of the time with stretch breaks instead of doing the run5:walk1 that I had trained with. Finished in 2:20, which wasn't as well as I had hoped to do, but I was very pleased given the circumstances.

I thought the half course was fine (and definitely flat - never could have handled hills with my injury) but there were a lot of complaints about the full course. I wouldn't be surprised if they changed that next year.

 

[FireDancer]

It's been a crazy week catching up at work after being off Friday!

I did the half - my first - and did OK considering that I had developed anterior tendonitis 2 weeks prior and wasn't able to really run. By race day it hurt to walk fast, but wasn't too bad to jog, so I ended up jogging most of the time with stretch breaks instead of doing the run5:walk1 that I had trained with. Finished in 2:20, which wasn't as well as I had hoped to do, but I was very pleased given the circumstances.

I thought the half course was fine (and definitely flat - never could have handled hills with my injury) but there were a lot of complaints about the full course. I wouldn't be surprised if they changed that next year.

Do you know what the complaints with the full course were?

 

[Princess Roo]

Do you know what the complaints with the full course were?

Apparently miles 20-24 or so ran on a stretch of freeway (Truman Parkway) that was ugly, hard/impossible for spectators to get to AND had significant headwinds. In general, there were complaints that the course didn't showcase the beauty of Savannah and the historic areas. I don't think that part is going to change due to cobblestone, narrow streets, and traffic. But I wouldn't be surprised if they try to fix the Truman Pkwy issue.

Here's a link to the course map from this year: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/files/2011/10/11_Sav_course_map_11.5.pdf

 

[s_atl]

Do you know what the complaints with the full course were?

The last part of the full was on the Freeway. While they couldn't have really controlled the headwinds (which were at almost 30mph on the freeway!), it was hard for the spectators to reach, so almost 0 crowd support when it is needed the most.

Other complaints -
1. Mess of the expo on the Island with one road leading up. So HUGE traffic jam after 5pm (most folks driving down from Atlanta after half a day's work). Even the ferrys were at 1.5+hr wait.
2. Same issue with shuttles to get to start in the morning. Race started at 7:30 and there were still people in line waiting to get on shuttles.
3. Drivers of shuttles did not know where to go. Lot of the shuttles, passengers with GPS on phones or local were directing them.
4. Sparse food - 1 bottle cytomax, 1 bottle water, 1 banana and 1 fruit cup (the mixed fruit one which I bet is great to eat with sweaty hands after running 26.2 miles)
5. No one at expo knew where to direct spectators who wanted to catch their runners at points. Most of them that did follow their runners drove on their own and just lucked out.
6. Shuttles from Tybee Island that people had paid for - the first one at 5:30 never turned up. The next one got lost.

Pros -
1. Flat
2. No logistical nightmare to deal with if you got a room in town (if you are even thinking maybe on this race, book a room and then decide to sign up or not).
3. Great destination for after race party!

 

[s_atl]

I look forward to some race reports. I need an October or November fast, flat full for next year and on my current short list are Toronto, Columbus, Space Coast, and Savannah.

How about Chicago or Philly?

 

[FireDancer]

How about Chicago or Philly?

I've already done races in both of those cities. I'd like to do one someplace I haven't before. I have done Columbus but that is just on the list in case I want to do one close to home. It is only a 2 hour drive away.

I hope they fix the problems for next year. They sure aren't the first race to make sure the boring part of the full is on the second half. I see a lot of races that make the fun part the first half for the people only doing that half.

Thanks for the info.