2015 Savannah Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon Recap – The Short Version

Going into Saturday’s half marathon, my goals were simple: leave everything on the course in hopes of breaking the elusive sub-2 hour half marathon and help my mom and aunt finish their first and second half marathons.

I spent the week leading up to the Rock’n’Roll Savannah Half Marathon tapering like a seasoned pro. I slept an average of eight hours each night, I hydrated, I ate well, I practiced some gentle yoga, I put together a great pump-up playlist, and I prepared my mind for a great race.

If you want the abbreviated, short version of how the race went down, here is what you need to know as well as a few pictures:

• The temperatures during the race hovered around 80 degrees with 99% humidity.
• Due to conditions, I abandon my PR goal at mile 5.7 when my pace went from a solid 9:01 avg to 9:40 due to conditions.
• My dad and brother were incredible cheerleaders, along with what felt like most of Savannah, and supported us five times along the course! 
• My mom, aunt and I all finished the half marathon together while Bo pushed forward and ran the 13.1 miles.
• The race organization and experience was wonderful and Rock’n’Roll continues to impress me though only half the course was in what I’d consider “gorgeous, downtown Savannah.”
• Due to conditions, the marathon course was closed if you had not reached a certain point by 9:35 AM.
• This was a smart decision as there were two deaths and hundreds of medical issues for both the half and full marathon. (News articles can be found here and here) 
• The word that best describes this year’s running journey is FRIENDS. The majority of this year’s races have become more about spending time with friends (Yes, I consider my mom and aunt to be friends, just ask anyone who knows me well!) and helping others complete a race than toeing the starting line and pushing for a number on the clock. I do not regret this decision and am thankful for the experiences I’ve had. There is always another day for that number on the clock but how often can you run with friends in multiple countries, states and races?

Now, if you want to read the longer version, come back later. Between work and life, this recap has taken longer to type than expected!

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