In my mind, running a full marathon was something only elite athletes did. Or masochists. Both of which I was not. However, after returning from vacation in May of 2019, I started a journey that would forever change my life; training for the Rock 'n' Roll Savannah Full Marathon. I'd never gone beyond 3.1 at the time and that had been years ago, so what was I, a 39-year-old with no baseline for running, even doing signing up for this, this, thing!? Peer Pressure from co-workers also training for the race was a great incentive.

The Expo:

I will never forget the feeling of walking into the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center on "Race Day Eve." The size of the expo, the thumping music, the energy. I had never felt anything like that and I was immediately pumped to be a participant. The environment couldn't help but scream, "race weekend is here!"

Navigating the check-in and packet pick-up was extremely easy. There were kiosks set up were you could retrieve your bib number, and then take that to get your swag. The volunteers provided a welcomed dose of southern hospitality and were incredibly kind and friendly. There was a cool photo op setup at the end of packet pick-up before emptying out into the Rock 'n' Roll/Brooks store, where my credit card immediately started to sweat. You have to commemorate your first full marathon with souvenirs, and I bought all of them. The selection of mementos was incredible, and the price point for most things wasn't terrible. Besides, there was no way I was going to pass on a 26.2 mile shirt and hoodie with my name on them!

From here, you emptied out into a well-organized fair of vendors. Everything from Goodr sunglasses, to various nutrition options, to apparel and local running flair, it was all right here and prime for exploring. I particularly enjoyed the Rock 'n' Roll booth where you could sign up for other races and see all of the amazing bling from the "tour."

Getting to the Race:

An early start on race morning, I caught an Uber with a couple other participants staying at my hotel into downtown Savannah to the corrals on Bay Street (parking your own vehicle on race day, or any "busy" day, in downtown Savannah is a bit of a headache). The hotel where I stayed was about four miles out of the downtown area, and that was a financial move to get a cheaper rate. However, downtown is really where you want to be for all things food and entertainment, both pre and post-race, and the money I spent on Ubering back and forth basically equaled any cost I would have spent on a more expensive hotel rate downtown.

The Race:

I am not a morning person, but the energy on the morning of Nov. 2nd, 2019, was absolutely electric. I had never seen so many people in one place before outside of an event like a concert, and that's precisely what this felt like! It was a bit chilly starting off, so I'd recommend arriving with something long sleeved (you'll probably shed it soon after the start of the race as, well, it's Savannah and it warms up quick, even in November). I actually heard that any clothing discarded along the way is picked up and donated to the homeless shelters, so I went to Walmart the night before and bought a $10 sweatshirt to wear to the starting line and didn't have a second thought about tossing it when I warmed up.

When you first come out of the corral and cross the starting line, there is a slight hill over a bridge and then you are pretty much on flat terrain for the remainder of the half. The full, which I ran, runs into one or two more slight inclines with "on-ramps" but there was never anything that felt difficult or hard as far as elevation. The aide stations were appropriately spaced, and there were plenty of port-a-potties (most were clean, some had been destroyed by faster runners by the time I got to them). The volunteers at the aide stations were incredibly encouraging, cheering you on at each station you passed. The bands were also fun and encouraging, and cheered as well in-between songs as you passed them. Going down the chute toward the finish was awesome! Strangers lining both sides waiting on their own family members and friends to cross also cheered for everyone else, calling them out by name on the bib or according to what the announcer said as he called the runners in.

The Finish:

First, allow yourself to cry all the tears as they hang a well-earned medal around your neck because of the amazing thing you just accomplished! Then dry your eyes and keep it moving, because there are snacks galore! Bananas, Gatorade Endurance, and Chocolate Milk, oh my!! Tons of other snacks as well, and it was literally all you could carry. Volunteers just kept giving me things and I wasn't saying no. There were also some stations for photo ops at the finish, as well as an area to have your medal engraved with your finish time (which I did to commemorate the first full). The live music at the finish was great, and you end the race at the Fountain at Forsyth Park, which was a beautiful place to separate from the crowd and quietly sit and reflect on the amazing thing I had just accomplished.

Overall:

This race is perfect for all experience levels. With a 7 hour course limit and almost no significant elevation change, this is a great race for those looking to cut their teeth on running a marathon. The scenery along the route and the vibe that is Savannah, GA, is special enough to make it fun for veterans as well. I would for sure do this race again!

As an aside, there are some fantastic places to eat in the city if you've never been. Corleone's is a great spot to grab some pasta the night before, but get there early and expect a wait. The Double Tree on Bay Street also offered a pasta bar for it's guests. This is where I ate with friends who stayed at this hotel the night before, and the pasta bar was delicious and full of options! Vinnie Van GoGo's is in the square right behind the Double-Tree and has some of the best pizza! It's cash only, so be prepared for that. Of course, Paula Dean's Lady & Sons is a Savannah landmark, and not to far down the path from Vinnie's on W. Congress St. One of my absolute favorites in Savannah, however, is a place called Zunzi's. It's this unbelievable mix of South African, Dutch, Italian cuisine, and it does not disappoint. It's one of those places where you can close your eyes, point at anything on the menu, and you're going to enjoy it.

Happy Running!