Tag Archives: BAM series

Hurricane Holden and Ocean Isle Half

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September 9th was the day that we were supposed to run the Holden Beach half.  However,  NC was under a state of emergency due to Hurricane Irma and Holden Beach had to cancel the race.

The race directors are so awesome and they gave many options to the runners so we could still get our shirts and medals.  Ron and I chose to run at home and we had a great run on the greenway.  It actually was a gorgeous day in our neck of the  woods and I heard it was gorgeous as well at the beach.  I understand the decision to cancel the race though because you can never be too careful when it comes to the weather.

Here Ron and I are after our half that day.

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Here I am weeks later after we got our medal and shirts when we ran the last race in the series, Ocean Isle.

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The last race in the series was Ocean Isle on October 7th.  We had a blast.  This time we rented an airB&B and although it was very close to the start and finish and very nice, if I run again, I’d try to get a room right down on the beach.

Here’s a couple of shots of our air B&B:

 

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I ran the race in my very first and only Sparkle Skirt!  I chose the Hiker Chic length and I love it so much.  I have even worn it hiking!  This length is awesome for wearing to the grocery store or to Wally World.  So very comfortable!

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It rained a little the day of the race and that is my only complaint of the skirt.  Since it was longer, it absorbed a good bit of rain and I found myself wringing it out a couple of times.

The series is so fun and in 2018 the medals are even better.  Be sure to go click this link to see them!  I don’t think Ron and I are doing the entire series next year but we may just have to go back to at least one of them.

Here Ron and I are at the beginning of Ocean Isle half.

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We both had great runs.  My official time was 2:32:10.

Here’s the last shirt and the medal:

 

 

And here are all the medals in a row!  So very cool.  I have donated mine already but Ron has all of his!

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Happy Running Friends!

Sunset Beach Half

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Sunset Beach was the 2nd race in the BAM series.  Ron and I ran it on May 20th of this year.

I made a huge mistake and didn’t book our rooms early and I couldn’t find anything decent close to the start/finish.  We ended up staying about 20 minutes away back in Oak Island.

It actually was a great place.  A super cute old school motel.  Come to find out, the owner had been coming to Oak Island his whole life.  He lived in West Virginia but his family vacationed in Oak Island.  When this little motel went up for sale, he jumped at the chance and bought it.  He and his sweet wife have been remodeling it and loving life ever since.

Our room was one that was recently remodeled and was so sweet.

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We loved it.

On the way down on Friday night, Ron and I go hungry before we made it to the beach and ended up stopping at the Mad Boar.  I was nervous at first because it was so busy and fancy and I wondered if we were dressed okay.  We were dressed very casually and that ended up being perfectly acceptable but we didn’t have reservations.  And they were needed!  I have no idea where all these patrons were coming from.  Mad Boar is really in the middle of nowhere.

We lucked out and there was a spot in the bar and we scored a perfect table.  There was even live entertainment.  Double score!

I was determined to fuel correctly and decided to order harvest veggie pasta.  Ron spied the fried pickles and we had to get them.  They were the best fried pickles I’ve ever had.  I only ate a few though.  I swear.  I’d say, no more than 3 bites!

Fast forward to race morning and I had one small banana.  I met my good friends Lisa and Claudia at the start.

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Even with conscious fuel choices, my stomach messed up again near the end of the race.

Thinking back on this, we had just had a Popsicle they were giving out due to the high heat and humidity.  It may have come from so much sugar.  No clue.  Just really, really, frustrated.

My time was 2:40:18.  Not too shabby for such a hot and humid day and having to stop yet again.

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It actually was a great race.  You had to ride a shuttle due to no parking at the start/finish. We got to the shuttle stop super early and the bus was late.  No worries though.  We still got on the 1st shuttle and snapped this photo.  My sis said we looked like the Hulk.  No clue where the green tint came from.

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I absolutely loved the start/finish area.  It was in a park near the Inter-Coastal Waterway and there were gorgeous old shade trees.  Plenty of pizza and beer afterwards.  Ron even drank a few even though there were American lagers.  Normally he won’t touch anything but an IPA.

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Here I am days later with the shirt.  I love it!  The medal is awesome too!

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My medal hanger is full and just like I have been doing lately, I chose to donate this medal to Medals4Mettle

Side note, I’ve been thinking about how my life is changing.  Never say never!

Last year my run club was collecting old medals to give to a Medals 4 Mettle.  They give them to people that are in the hospital or are fighting hard medical battles to help cheer them up. My good friend Connie was giving hers away.  In fact she once commented to me that she ran a race and was excited that you could check a box to not get a medal.  I was floored.  I couldn’t believe that someone wouldn’t want a medal to begin with and then would be willing to give them away to charity.

This year, I totally get it.  I have so many medals and although I enjoy the thrill of getting them, I really am loving donating them.

I’m also giving away some more of my race shirts.  I purged a lot last year when Ron an I first began tidying the Japanese way.  My new rule is it they don’t fit in one drawer, some have to go and go they do.  Straight to Goodwill!

I’m really looking forward to the other 2 beach races in the BAM series.

Happy Running Friends!