Weekend Adventure: The Road to Tobacco Road

I received entry into the Tobacco Road Half Marathon as a part of being a BibRave Pro. Check out BibRave.com to read and write race reviews. 

So, if you read my last post, you'll remember that I was worried about feeling well enough to do well at the Tobacco Road Half. Well, the good news is that I was probably 95% back up to full strength. I still had persistent stuffiness (sorry all the runners that had to see me shooting snot rockets, I don't think I hit anyone), but overall, I was feeling pretty decent, so yay for that!

This was my first time running the Tobacco Road Half Marathon and I really enjoyed it. Race Management sent out ample emails to communicate leading up to the event and the race website was one of the most comprehensive I've ever seen complete with training plans, event maps including the runners village and inspirational stores from some of the people registered. I felt well informed coming into the race. This was a destination race for me, so I decided to pack up the family and make it a fun weekend excursion.

We drove in from about 2.5 hours away so that meant finding a hotel. Decided on the host hotel for the Expo for the ease, an Embassy Suites, which is a bit fancier than I usually stay, but since I brought the family with me, figured it would be easier. Not only was it easy, since packet pick up was on site, it was SO worth it as the hotel totally catered to the runners offering a discounted rate, evening reception, super early (4 am) breakfast and automatic late (1 pm) check out for runners. It was about a 20 min drive to the race. Would HIGHLY recommend any travelling runners to stay there!!

The Expo was a bit small but well organized. You checked in, got your bib number, went the area marked by your number, went to another area for your parking pass, went to another for your shirt and one more to pick up your Feetures Socks (race sponsor). I didn't mind the moving around cause I like to browse Expos, but if you were in a hurry that could be annoying. All your info was on your bib, so once you got that, it was quick and easy to get your other items. There was a store area with anything you may have forgotten from apparel to shoes to nutrition, massages, food vendors, other races and area clubs. I picked up a cute singlet and took the obligatory picture with the race themed wall (and a few goofy ones with the family) and was off. I will say that the race shirts were WAY on the small side. As in I usually wear a M and I got a L and it was super snug. You could exchange shirts, but only at the race site and it wasn't worth it to me to bring it with me. It should work as long as it doesn't shrink in the wash.

After the Expo, the family and I checked into the hotel and decided to find some low-key fun in the area. I'm not terribly familiar with the Cary/Raleigh area being there only once before, so we asked at the hotel desk what would be something fun for us to do with an 8 year old. We were sent off to a place called Frankies Fun Park. It was one of those amusement centers with arcade, mini golf, go carts, rides, laser tag and so on. So, heads up, this place was NUTS for a Saturday afternoon. We chose a few activities, including mini golf and spent about 2 hours having fun before grabbing a to-go dinner and heading back to the hotel for the evening. I had me a super early wake up call after all.

Again, not being local, I decided to opt for the optional parking pass. Best $12 I ever spent! It gave me access to one of the 900 spots close to the finish line so I didn't have to take the shuttle in. My biggest (well, only) complaint about race was they told us that even with a parking pass they could not guarantee our spot if we were not there by 5:30 am! Umm, I got the pass so I could sleep in. Well, it turns out you did, because I guess the shuttles buses only ran until 5:15 am! I understand wanting everyone on time, but making it so that everyone is there an hour and a half early, especially when its fairly cold out is a bit much. I hit the potties, but since not much was going on and there were no heaters (there were tents) I went back to the car and hung out in there for over an hour. Around 6:30, I hit the potties again (plenty on site) and then made my way to the start. It was low 40s and I had borrowed a light hoodie from a Kim and thankfully so as the sun never fully came out, but not terrible for a race day.

Let's get this party started!

The start line was well organized and the Half and the Full started at the same time at 7 am. There was ample paces, about every 10 min interval, and since I was aiming for a 2:10 finish, I found the 2:10 pacer and started a bit in front of them. Prior to the start, the National Anthem was sung and we were off.

Like my awesome mid-run trail photo, lol

The Half and the Full followed the same route for the first 2.5 miles. This covered leaving the Ball Park and through the neighborhood leading to the American Tobacco Trail. Once we go to the trail, the Full turned right to follow the North Trail and the Half left for the South Trail. Both legs were a down and back with the Full doing the North down and back and then continuing onto the South down and back. There were a few pockets of crowds leading to the trail, but once you got onto the trail, space became limited and basically it was the other runners and the trees to keep you company. The miles were marked clearly and regularly and there were several aid stations with Water and Gatorade, so many that I skipped 1 or 2 and didn't have any issues even without carrying. A few stations were also giving out Gu packs. There was minimal elevation and for someone like me used to running hills, it felt super flat. The woods were pretty, but with bit of a grey day, the scenery pretty much all looked the same so it was a bit of a long 8 miles on the trail without much excitement. 

On the trail, you basically ran 5.25 miles, turned around and ran back the same 5.25 miles to the trail entrance. It has rained a bit overnight which was nice as the trail was what I would call hard packed gravel/dirt mainly and that little rain was enough to pack the trail a bit without making it muddy. I could see where dust might be an issue on a drier trail. The trail was also a bit on the narrow side which started to become an issue later in the race when you had runners going both directions, plus the faster Marathoners coming into play. I was off the trail before the bulk of the marathon runners made it over to the half side, but I can imagine you would have a bit of weaving in and out of slower Half runners on both sides of you. Once back off the trail, it was back the same 2.5 miles to the Ball Field for the Finish Line. It was a bit hillier on the road, but again, nothing terrible, especially some of the races I do in the Charlotte area.

PR = Ring the Bell!

At the finish an announcer called everyone's number and there was lots of cheering. There was a PR bell right before the medals which I got to ring! I was swinging for 2:10 (my previous PR was 2:12) and I hit 2:07:11! The medals were really cool, pretty big with a train on them. See, flat and fast course! Past the finish area was the Runners Village where there was lots of food/drink options. You had your standard fruit, but also Papa Johns was giving out pizza slices. There was free water bottles, Gatorade, juices and coffee (YAASS) and a Beer Garden with several beer options that were unlimited for runners. There was also a pretty good band playing on stage at the end of the Beer Garden. I grabbed a quick beer, chatted with a few friends and made a quick easy exit to head back to the hotel in time for breakfast still being served.

After refilling with yummy breakfast foods, I took a quick shower. Thank goodness that Feetures was a race sponsor because I forgot to pack a pair of socks for the day, but thanks to getting a free pair with my race packet, I was set! We checked out of the hotel and headed into downtown Raleigh for some more family adventures. Decided on the Museum of Natural Science, which I didn't even realize was free until we go there, and spent a fun few hours exploring the exhibits there. It was time to take the almost 3 hour trip home, but everyone had a great time and I am really glad my family came with me on this trip.

Such dorks

Snake love

Overall, it was a GREAT race and a super fun weekend! Had a blast and will hopefully do it again next year.

Official Results!