Wow...what an incredible weekend in Va. Beach. Over 20,000 participants for the weekend.
Here is the link to the race:
http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/Home.htm
The entire family went down Friday, leaving by 2:30pm arriving in 5 1/2 hours later. Stayed about 20 minutes out at a Homeward Suites - great price ($76 per nite) with free breakfast. Had a nice clean room and the girls loved the pool and hot tub.
Saturday was packet pick-up, at the Va Beach convention center, awesome time. There were great giveaways - 2 shirts and a hat, plus a ton of vendors to purchase stuff. The girls found 2 Irish princess tiara's, in the discount section(nice shopping girls) Collette found 2 sweatshirts that she had to have(not as good as the girls) and I found a nice pull over. It was really neat to see all of the vendors and other race organizers pushing for sign-ups. Disney Marathon (Races) had a representative with all of the medals displayed - I have to do one of these races soon, before they end them. After getting through the vendors, we were able to watch the Irish Dancers - what a great performance, then it was off to the beach.
The weather was awesome, but the temperature was about 10-15 degrees less on the beach with the breeze coming off the ocean. The girls and I went in the ocean - it was COLD, really COLD. We were in and out, then it was time to get some lunch. Ate at Dough Boys - not bad, not great.
Sunday, 4:45am wake-up, drive to beach and arrive at 5:40am, girls stay in van and watch some movies, I walk up 9 blocks to the start, it is windy and chilly. Start is at 7am, sharp.
I have a good start and my first mile is 7:30 - good not too fast. I keep this pace for about 3 miles, then I start pinching, yep gotta find a port-o-pot. Mile 5 - it is official, I have the RUNS, spend about 3-4 minutes of not stop action. I finish up and feel much better, scared to even fart, but much better. I pick my pace back up and start moving good, I find a groove -first time ever.
Get to mile 11 or 12, uh-uh, my knee hurts, a lot. Think to myself, kep long stride, stay relaxed, finish damn it, DO NOT STOP NOW!
Suck it up and make it to finish, 1:42 - nice not my goal of 1:40 or less but subtract the 3 min portopot stop and I made it, yeah me!
After party was incredible, all the yueungling you could drink - if you were not driving home. Awesome Irish Stew, a great band, and it is all on the beach - girls and I go in ocean again - yes it is still cold, VERY COLD.
We have talked about making this an annual event for the family, maybe we can talk another family to go with us - more fun for girls and us.
Until next year, March 18 - 21, see you there?
Here is the link to the race:
http://www.shamrockmarathon.com/Home.htm
The entire family went down Friday, leaving by 2:30pm arriving in 5 1/2 hours later. Stayed about 20 minutes out at a Homeward Suites - great price ($76 per nite) with free breakfast. Had a nice clean room and the girls loved the pool and hot tub.
Saturday was packet pick-up, at the Va Beach convention center, awesome time. There were great giveaways - 2 shirts and a hat, plus a ton of vendors to purchase stuff. The girls found 2 Irish princess tiara's, in the discount section(nice shopping girls) Collette found 2 sweatshirts that she had to have(not as good as the girls) and I found a nice pull over. It was really neat to see all of the vendors and other race organizers pushing for sign-ups. Disney Marathon (Races) had a representative with all of the medals displayed - I have to do one of these races soon, before they end them. After getting through the vendors, we were able to watch the Irish Dancers - what a great performance, then it was off to the beach.
The weather was awesome, but the temperature was about 10-15 degrees less on the beach with the breeze coming off the ocean. The girls and I went in the ocean - it was COLD, really COLD. We were in and out, then it was time to get some lunch. Ate at Dough Boys - not bad, not great.
Sunday, 4:45am wake-up, drive to beach and arrive at 5:40am, girls stay in van and watch some movies, I walk up 9 blocks to the start, it is windy and chilly. Start is at 7am, sharp.
I have a good start and my first mile is 7:30 - good not too fast. I keep this pace for about 3 miles, then I start pinching, yep gotta find a port-o-pot. Mile 5 - it is official, I have the RUNS, spend about 3-4 minutes of not stop action. I finish up and feel much better, scared to even fart, but much better. I pick my pace back up and start moving good, I find a groove -first time ever.
Get to mile 11 or 12, uh-uh, my knee hurts, a lot. Think to myself, kep long stride, stay relaxed, finish damn it, DO NOT STOP NOW!
Suck it up and make it to finish, 1:42 - nice not my goal of 1:40 or less but subtract the 3 min portopot stop and I made it, yeah me!
After party was incredible, all the yueungling you could drink - if you were not driving home. Awesome Irish Stew, a great band, and it is all on the beach - girls and I go in ocean again - yes it is still cold, VERY COLD.
We have talked about making this an annual event for the family, maybe we can talk another family to go with us - more fun for girls and us.
Until next year, March 18 - 21, see you there?
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