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New Balance Fashion Fitness Expo

After a visit to the expo, flat Ashley and flat Deborah are ready for 13.1 fun-filled miles tomorrow!

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I enjoyed some sunshine and humidity during a quick, easy two mile shake out run this morning. Any run that includes palm trees, majestic live oaks and sunshine is a great run.  I used the run as an opportunity to take my New Balance gear for a test run before tomorrow’s race. My mom and I are both wearing hot pink so it’ll be easier for our spectators to spot us amongst the other 2,500 women!

IMG_8024After a quick breakfast we headed downtown for a quick coffee and expo date. Mom and I love The Collins Quarter’s walk-up coffee bar which includes more than twenty delicious drink options ranging from their specialty, the lavender mocha latte to cold pressed coffee.

The Collins Quarter coffee barThe Collins Quarter

Coffee in hand, we crossed the street towards the race expo which was held at the Hilton Savannah DeSoto hotel. Unlike any expo I’ve visited, this expo was aptly named the New Balance Fashion Fitness Expo.

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Our first priority was picking up our bibs. As this was mom’s first race expo experience, we had a blast going by all the booths and talking with the volunteers. Everyone was very supportive, helpful and knowledgeable! The swag for this race is not your usual t-shirt or technical t-shirt. Instead, each woman receives an awesome New Balance gym bag! With four outside pockets, one outside zip pocket, and an inside zipper this bag is the perfect gym bag! The gray color and fun purple and green detail put a feminine spin on it. All you heard near the bag pick-up was shouts of glee and lots of compliments!

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Our next stop was the Corona and Natalie’s juice booth where they checked our identification before giving us post-race wristbands so we can enjoy mimosas or beers after 13.1 miles!

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There were booths from all of the sponsors including Fleet Feet Savannah, Leopold’s Ice Cream, Publix, St. Joseph’s Candler, Savannah Bee Company, Byrd’s Cookies and Optim Orthopedics. Fleet Feet allowed visitors to spin for prizes and discounts while Optim Orthopedics gave runners race kits including Sport Beans, lip balm, and blister kits!

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Within the expo, New Balance dedicated a section to their expansive women’s wear including Publix Savannah Half branded items and pieces from their yoga, lifestyle and running lines. There was so many adorable pieces that mom nor I could resist buying a few pieces of branded gear.  The local touches including a New Balance fountain of shoe laces and shoes, which looks like our iconic Forsyth Park Fountain and cobble stone walkways and artificial grass. IMG_8049

I had the chance to catch up with my New Balance friends who were kind enough to send me home with a new pair of Fresh Foam Boracay shoes as part of our race ambassador partnership. The New Balance and Fleet Feet Savannah staff working the expo were absolutely wonderful today. Everyone was very helpful, happy to answer questions and look for sizes while also explaining the difference between their many lines of apparel and shoes. My mom snagged a pair of the New Balance Well2Go flats which will be perfect for their Europe adventures next month!

IMG_8045Just as we were leaving I saw two friendly brunettes, Claudia and Victoria, who are also race ambassadors! These lovely ladies are integral parts of the Savannah running community and have been huge supporters of this race on a local level. Victoria is pacing the 3:00 run/walk group tomorrow. IMG_8047

After the expo Mom and I enjoyed a celebratory birthday lunch. We met Ryan, Madeline and my dad at Lili’s on Wilmington Island to catch up with my brother and his girlfriend while celebrating her birthday.  The seared shrimp salad is my new favorite. Filled with tasty shrimp, fresh blueberries, couscous, feta cheese, and crushed pecans this salad will fill you up and cover all the taste buds!

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An Early Morning Run with Fleet Feet Savannah

Good morning from Savannah!

Just like I expected, last night’s flight landed later than I wanted which meant that I didn’t crawl into bed until past midnight. It was hard to go to bed when my parents and I just wanted to sit downstairs and talk. While we talk on the phone multiple times per week it’s just nice to chat in person. So much more personal and intimate- especially since most of the time when we talk I’m walking somewhere which means there are sirens and traffic in the background!

But, a promise is a promise! When my alarm went off at 5am I saw that Victoria had already texted me letting me know that run club at Fleet Feet Savannah was still happening. I looked outside and saw that the rain had stopped but based on my window temperature it was still a bit chilly. Luckily when I packed my suitcase I threw my favorite New Balance running top (similar one)and my Nike crops. They were the perfect gear for this mornings run especially since I knew there was a chance we’d get caught in the rain. I grabbed a water bottle and my dad’s UGA hat before dashing out the door, ready for a great run.

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(Above picture is clearly not from this morning’s run as it was pitch dark this morning, but at least it gives you an idea of what the store looks like! source)

At 5:45 I met Victoria and 8 other runners in front of the Fleet Feet store.  This morning’s run was a 5.5 mile “easy run” which would lead us through the Ardsley Park neighborhoods towards Forsyth Park and then culminate in a loop of the Park before heading back to the store. As this was my first opportunity to meet Victoria I stuck with she and her running coach for the entire run. Victoria does a 4-1 method of run 4 minutes and walk 1 minute which was new to me. For the first few miles I would run ahead and turn back while she was walking which helped me shake my legs out. The run itself was a great, relaxing chance to get to know a new friend, learn more about the Savannah running scene, and welcome the morning. During the run portion we were keeping around a 9:50 pace which is perfect for an easy run.

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If you’re in the Savannah area or near another Fleet Feet store be sure to check out their run club. The local club’s training mantra is CREW (Collaborative Relationships, Empowering Workouts) and you can feel this from each member.

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Though they are all different speeds during their 3 weekly workouts they support and coach each other to new, small victories and they ensure that each person is never alone on the run!

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After the run I stopped at Starbucks for a cappuccino.  There is nothing like knowing that a frothy, warm cup of java is waiting for me after a workout! I picked up a skinny vanilla latte for my mom as a fun surprise since I know this is her favorite. By 7:30 I was back home ready for a great day!

My aunts and uncles don’t arrive until later today so I’m not sure what my parents and I are going to do today especially since it’s supposed to pour all day. Regardless, it’s nice to be back at home with them and relaxing for a few days! I’m forcing myself not to check my work email even though I’m still the only person awake right now!

Last but not least, if you have a minute, head over Robin Hoods. This Kick Starter campaign is an amazing cause which one of my fellow UGA Alumni and NYC ladies, Tracey, has started to support women such as her mother who are facing hair hardships. It’s such an amazing cause and she’d love any support and awareness as she gets up and running! 

When you go back home to you run or workout with a local group or go solo?

 

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