1. The Night Before
We all want to have a good night sleep the night before the race. It usually doesn't happen because we are thinking too much about the next morning. I went to bed fairly early. I say bed because I couldn't get to sleep. Hours later when I felt I had just fallen asleep I heard this loud noise. It startled me so bad and made me jump out of bed. Well let's back track a few. The day before the race they were calling for severe thunderstorms the day of the race. We even received emails that were giving us updates about the race. So when I heard that loud noise the next morning I thought it had to do with the tornado they were talking about the day before. No, it was the fire alarm going off. And it was raining so hard out. This went on for almost an hr. By the time it was done. It was almost time to get up anyways. So I made coffee and ate my breakfast.
2. Transportation
We had a 5 am van that was taking us downtown to the start of the race. This was so nice not having to stress about parking. But 5 am was way early I thought when the race didn't start til 7 am.(The 5k started at 6:45). Luckily by the time we got on the bus the rain had completely stopped.
3.The course
If you have been a frequent reader on our blog you know that I usually don't study the course map for the races.
After we picked our race packet up at expo,my friends who were running the 5k wanted to drive the 5k course. For being a 5k I thought there were some steep hills. I guess I never realized how hilly Nashville was. I thought wow if this is the course for the 5k I can only imagine what the half course is. It's best not to look.
4. Entertainment
In addition to being a Rock n Roll Race and having it in the Country Music City, I thought there would be many more bands playing along the course. I didn't think there were any more than any other of the Rock n Roll races. Then again, I always have my Ipod on and zone out. The headliner that evening was Martina McBride but I had to catch a flight back home so I was unable to attend.
5. Location
The race started on Broadway. The main strip of downtown where all the bars are. I wish we would have ran more of the downtown area. It felt like after we passed that we ran in a lot of residential areas. My corral was about a mile into the race and we could still see runners lined up in the corrals. All the way to 40! This was a huge race! There were a few hills in the beginning of the race. I have to say that they really didn't phase me because I had such a side stitch that my attention was focused on that rather than the hills. I knew I had ate breakfast way to early. Darn that fire alarm! I ended up having a GU at mile two. Who does that? The girl that ate her breakfast at 3am and is now starving, that's who! After taking that and stopping for water and gateroade at the next few stops I began to feel much better. The second half of the race went better than the first half. Even though the hills did not get any easier. I knew the finish line was at LP Field(where the Tennessee Titans play). Our last stretch was running across the bridge towards the field. At every race when I can see the finish line I usually sprint those last 100 yards. Well this time I did not see it. I crossed the timing chip pad and it was over. There was no finishing banner. I was so surprised. After receiving my medal and getting my snacks I met back up with my friends to walk to the shuttle stop to head back to hotel.
It ended up being a beautiful day for racing. It did not rain nor thunder at all which was in the forecast for the day. I didn't have much time to really be a tourist this time, but my BFF lives in Nashville so am able to visit often. Here is a post I did about a visit to the Gaylord Opry House and some famous scenes from the show Nashville.
Have you visited Nashville? -L
We are linking up with the ladies from the Friday 5
I've never been to Nashville, but I've heard it's a great city. I'd be so mad if a fire alarm was going off! That's so weird that there wasn't a finishline banner or arch. I'm glad the weather ended up being good, though!
ReplyDeleteNashville is so much fun! Yea I was a little disappointed about the finish line.
DeleteI have seriously had that happen before too.... Alarm at the hotel going off. If it ever happens for real, we will end up not believing it right?! Glad your weather was better than expected. .. always better than the other way around! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYeah it was no fun getting woken up to that in the middle of the night.
DeleteI have never visited Nashville. Too bad a bout the fire alarm... not a fun way to start the day. I rarely get a side stick anymore. When I do it is because I am dehydrated which is why I drink tons leading up to race day and race morning.
ReplyDeleteI thought I did drink plenty of water I think I was just hungry. Felt better after I had that GU
DeleteIt sounds like you had a good race! I've never been to Nashville but want to go. I have relatives in Memphis so I'm going to try to visit Nashville the next time I'm out there.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great city! Hopefully you'll get to visit it soon.
DeleteI am sorry I missed you- you probably finished a lot earlier than I did, we lucked out on the weather and we had a great time! I love reading other recaps, everyone sees things a little different so I enjoy the different perspectives! You missed a great concert- it was excellent! TGIF ladies!
ReplyDeleteYeah I was disappointed that I was unable to attend the concert that night. Darn work!
DeleteSounds like a great race. I remember going to Nashville and remember thinking that it was hilly too! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYes it was surprisingly!
DeleteI've never been to Nashville, thanks for the recap! I know how you feel about R&R not have as much musical entertainment along the course; I felt the same way about running Philly.
ReplyDeleteYes I thought that about Philly as well.
DeleteWow, no finish line banner? That's so odd! I do have RnR Nashville on my radar and hope to run it one day! I've visited Nashville once but didn't get to explore at all because it was a super fast overnight trip. I did stay at the Gaylord, though! Gorgeous hotel!!
ReplyDeleteI bet that was beautiful!
DeleteGreat luck that it didn't rain during the race at all! But he fire alarm in the middle of the night...ugh! I can see why you had to have a Gu at mile 2! Glad that you felt much better the second half. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteYes we definitely lucked out w the weather. Goodluck at your race this weekend!
DeleteThe Nashville half was my first ever half and yes, it's very hilly! I love Nashville though, so I would love to run the race again and see how I've improved (hopefully!) over the years.
ReplyDeleteYes it is hilly. Guess I didn't realize that prior to the race.
DeleteI ran the Women's Nashville half last September. It was hilly, humid, hot and I had cramps. But we had a lot of fun in the city afterward. Having the fire alarm go off would probably have rattled me. I would think RnR would have a huge finish line banner. Weird. Congrats on a great race.
ReplyDeleteYes they usually do at all the other races I've run. I wish we would've had more time downtown but had a flight after the the race.
DeleteI've only ever driven through TN and didn't stop at any of the cities. I had friends in Nashville but didn't get a chance to visit them, and now they're moving back to Texas. And no banner for the finish? It's RnR and in Nashville to boot.
ReplyDeleteI know right!
DeleteThat experience with the alarm sounds awful :( What a horrible way to start a race morning. But I love that shirt! I've never been to Nashville but it's definitely on my list.
ReplyDeleteYes a fire alarm isn't the best way to start race morning off that's for sure. But besides that a beautiful day for racing.
DeleteI haven't been to Nashville since I was in high school doing my college visits (I looked at Vanderbilt), and would love to get back one day. I love that RnR hosts a race there, but the timing never seems to work out well.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a fun city. Hope you get to come back and visit some day.
Deletenashville is on my list of awesome places to visit! so glad the weather worked out for y'all!
ReplyDeleteYes the weather was perfect!
DeleteNo finishing banner? At a RnR race - how weird and anti-climatic!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Nashville but my son has, for work...in fact, he's headed there later this month!
It's a beautiful time of yr to visit Before it gets too hot.
DeleteI would love to visit Nashville but I'm not sure I want to run a race there. I find that very odd there was no finishing banner. Did they forget to put it up>
ReplyDeleteThere was the metal frame up but there was no banner above that said finish
DeleteMy ex is from the Nashville area, but its been many many years since I've been there. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks. It was alot of fun.
DeleteI've never been to Nashville but this race is on my list. I could do without the middle of the night fire alarm though 😀
ReplyDeleteI know right! Well let's just say I had no trouble getting up after I heard that.
DeleteSo my grandbabies are literally like in the backyard of the Opryland Gaylord Hotel/Mall :) So I'm there all the time... love Nashville!
ReplyDeleteI WILL do this race one year.
Good. I hope u get to sometime. It's a great race.
DeleteYay for what sounds like an awesome race! I enjoyed Nashville the one time I visited (an ex-boyfriend as well!)
ReplyDeleteIt was a great race. Such a fun city!
DeleteLacey, I would love to do this race sometime; I, too, like the fact that they have a shuttle available. We had one at the first marathon I ran (in December) and I really think it helped take away some of my anxiety about finding a parking spot, getting to the starting area, etc., even though it was a fairly small race. Thanks for sharing this; hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYes, having a shuttle offered is so nice. One less thing you have to stress about.
DeleteWow, a fire alarm is a tough start to race day! And no finish line banner? That sounds very strange. Congratulations on your race!
ReplyDeleteI thought so too. I didn't know it was over until after I crossed the timing pad.
DeleteI'm glad that you had a great race! It's so strange that they didn't have a finish line banner.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Yea I thought the same thing.
DeleteI'm a Nashville native and was also at the start line! Glad the weather held out for us :). Yes, this city is surprisingly hilly. And yes - we did run through some residential areas, but that's only because Nashville is so small! The actual "city" (as in, looks like Broadway street) is actually pretty small. It's surrounded by a bunch of residential areas with pockets of restaurants etc. like you might have noticed.
ReplyDeleteWell then that explains it. Regardless of where we ran I still had fun.
DeleteI actually ran this half last weekend! What a blast!? Those hills were serious business!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah it was a great race. And those hills were no joke.
DeleteNashville is my favorite city in America-no joke! I went for a conference 2 years ago and have not stopped talking about it since. I am dying to do this race and am currently planning on doing it next year if I can fit it in my schedule.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to. It's a great race!
DeleteThanks! The skirt is perfect bc it has pockets for my GU. I wish I would have been able to see the concert.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great race! My sister and I are considering traveling to Nashville for our sister trip this fall. No racing tho--she isn't up for that! We'll play tourist.
ReplyDeleteSister trips are so fun. My sister and I have many of those.
DeleteWhat a crummy night before!!! And it is always better to get there early than late, although I hate the early wake up time too!!
ReplyDeletechristine @ accidentallyrunningmama.com
Yeah those early wake up calls are no fun. Especially the one I had the night before.
DeleteI haven't been to Nashville but my BFF goes as many times as she can a year. She loves it. Sounds like a fun race, except of course for the noise the night before!!!
ReplyDeleteYes it was a great race. My best friend lives there so I try to get there as often as I can.
DeleteI really want to go to Nashville! Were the bands at least all mostly super country and fun? Not sure I would do a RnR event there (I didn't love the one I did), but will definitely visit one day!
ReplyDeleteLove the medal and the t-shirt - would love to do that race one day!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your sleepless night! That's stressful. I was so glad the rain held off!
ReplyDeleteI have done the full there, and yes those hills!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea Nashville was hilly until I started reading the RnR recaps. Forty corrals - wow! I've never seen that many.
ReplyDelete