After running my first marathon in Rockland County in August of 2004 followed by the Columbus Marathon in late October that same year, I decided I wanted to combine traveling and running. Summer of 2005 I ran the Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage Alaska and enjoyed sightseeing and touring incredible Alaska! That fall I took a quick day trip into Pennsylvania with a few WCBS co-workers to run the Steamtown Marathon; it was a great run and I had my PR there at 3:48. I didn’t get a single pic, below is actually us after we ran the Yonkers Half Marathon together the Summer of 2005.
The next year, although I had a lot going on in 2006 from planning my wedding in Ohio (while living in NJ) and working WCBS, CBS News and all of the News12 Networks, I was able to make a trip to run the Mount Desert Island Marathon in Bar Harbor Maine. That race was my second best time of 3:49; so although I was working a ton, I was also feeling great! And New England in October was stunning! Acadia National Park was is so very beautiful! I then jumped in the 49th Marathon of Dean Karnazes 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days on November 4th! It was at the Jersey Shore and wasn’t certified. We all finished with Dean and his time was clocked at 4:09, so that was our pace.
Throughout 2007 I was committing all my time to News12CT as they were only considering hiring me during the first few months, only to actually to do so officially in late April. My sister was living in Nashville at the time and suggested everyone could run the Nashville Country Music Marathon April 28th! Today it’s now the Nashville Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon. Maybe they realize country music today isn’t actually country music. So having a trip to visit the country music city, run a marathon and see my family, I thought it was a great idea! We all made our way to Nashville with exception of my brother who couldn’t make it. I ran the full marathon while my sister who lived there in Nashville and my other sister who lives in Ohio ran the half; oh, and my husband jumped in the half that morning when he realized he didn’t want to be bored waiting for us to finish. And he’s always up for a physical challenge. Mind you, he did not train to run. At all. Not even a mile.
Nashville is a fun city, we had a good ol’ country time! I didn’t have the best camera during this trip, so my photos are very limited. The marathon was a good race in terms of organization. It was PACKED as most of the music marathons are, but still very organized and well put together, as most of the music marathons are! It’s a good race for anyone who prefers people and spectators to be around… everywhere. I enjoy peaceful runs but it definitely pumps you up to see a lot of people cheering! And live music every two miles can keep you going if you’re starting to “fall asleep” as my coach used to say when I’d settle into a comfortable pace that was too slow. Above you can see on the map all the little red guitar logos are where bands are set up and playing! The course is a bit of a clover-leaf with some out and back aspects to it, which I’m not too crazy about as I get into my older years of running long races, but it was still cool to see all the different parts of the city. I like point-to-point races more than repeating the same road/trail I just ran. But sometimes turning around and coming back can give a much more different run, such as running up hill then back to run down, and it can change the view completely!
The night prior to the race we had a good meal at a restaurant located inside the very pretty Grand Ole Opry Hotel. The food was great, good carbo load! Look at us! Pure Country Love! My dad, my sister Libit who lived in Nashville at the time, my sister Kristen who lived (and still lives) in NYC, my sister Annie who was in her residency in Columbus Oh, me and my mom! My husband Dan took the pic for us! My brother couldn’t make the trip. This pic looks like we’re sponsored by the sign to the left, HydroponiX.
Let’s imitate the statues!
So it’s race day and here we are, the “Three Little Ones” pre-race! Me, my sister Annie (rocking the VAIL sweater, a favorite yearly ski location we’d all take together along with the Ohio State Ski Club) and Libit.
The family that runs together! The “Three Little Ones” in high school after a rainy track meet. We were called the “Three Little Ones” because we were the last three of five kids and I guess we were always “little”. Although I am the youngest I don’t think I was ever as “little” as my two older sisters the other “little ones”. I was a freshmen, Libit was a junior and Annie was a senior.
Another pic from pre-race time! My husband rocking the WVU TEAM t’shirt. Those t’shirts were awesome during college because you could only get one if you played a sport at the school. They made sure they were not available to buy. So if you saw someone wearing one you knew they were a student athlete and were apart of the TEAM for some sport for the school. TEAM SZAPKA!
Libit and Kristen getting pumped to run! You can see all the people behind them and all around. There was a lot of runners and walkers for this event!
Libit and my dad. He always knew the course layout, elevation and where it would be best to stand to see us as we ran by. He did this for every single race as I grew up! Running Cross Country and Track, he volunteered as an official timer and the team Doctor! He still continued to do this after my school was over, mapping out my races and timing for my marathons! I could always hear him as I ran by “Doin’ good Jamer! Doin’ good! You’re in 10th place for women and you’re at a solid 7:40 pace! Keep it up!” followed by a weak whistle.
There he is at one of my high school races. ZHS! Go Blue Devils!
Off we went as the race started, we were moving at the steady pace of a heard of… turtles. It was so packed and we all gathered together at the 9:00/mile pace. We could’ve started closer to the start, but it was just shoulder to shoulder, we decided to just get into a pack and go. The first mile we came in around 9:40… tooooo slow! We picked it up and my husband and I broke away, running a bit faster at a 8:15 pace by mile two (2) and then onwards to about a 7:45 mile pace by mile five (5). We kept it there and he stayed right with me until mile 11 where the race splits. I went on to follow the full marathon course while he broke away to finish the remaining two (2) miles for the half. Libit happened to be right there as we came around mile 12 so she was right behind us the entire time. They both came in with a sub 2:00 time for 13.1 miles. As I kept going, I felt good, but it was hot and I was pushing it the best I could! The map below shows a part of the race that is kind of that part of a clover-leaf, out, loop, and come back. I remember seeing the loop in the distance with the runners ahead of me, this being just after mile 22. It was so painful to see how FAR I had to go! I was slowing down at this point. I made it around the loop and I remember my sister Annie coming around the corner around mile 25!!! She had finished her half marathon and was looking for me around to cheer me on to a strong finish! WOW did that help! Seeing her I realized I was almost to the finish, I was able to pick it back up and I came in at 3:52.
It was HOT. Dangerously hot for a marathon. People were dropping all over the place, collapsing due to heat exhaustion. I remember after I finished I had to slowly catch my breath, get some water and relax. I was very very slowly walking around looking for everyone, not finding anyone until I saw Annie then Dan. They said everyone else was up at a restaurant eating so I walked in the direction I needed, hearing the music from the race and then more music from the center of town, holding a bottle of water needing more and more. I eventually started to feel sick and had to take it slow later in the day, but I rebounded just fine.
That evening Libit had reservations for us on a fantastic river cruise! I loved it! It was perfect after a hard race in the very hot sun! As the boat begins its trek down the river, dinner is served in the boat’s dining area that is really beautiful! The food was delicious! Live entertainment begins with dancing and country music featuring songs from Hank Williams and Johnny Cash as well as music from current country favorites! It was on a river showboat called the General Jackson! I highly recommend! I took the pic below as we boarded, classy!
The marathon and half marathon made for a very well-fit trip while the music and seeing family completed the well-defined aspect for us!