Race Report & Then Some: Every Woman's Marathon - 26.2 #20

Let this be the long-lost race report that never happened at the end of 2024 and also a photo dump of our trip to Georgia!

There is so much that I haven't wrote about since Fargo 2024 and prior to that even. I had mentioned my mom's brain cancer diagnosis in May of 2023 and she did pass away in July 2024, now having rest and complete healing as she is with our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Since then, I have been doing a lot of life "pruning". What is priority? What isn't? My main priorities are God, my husband & family, and homeschooling - then everything else comes after that. Last February was a rough one with mom's cancer battle, my running pup Ruby dying unexpectedly, and assortment of other things just adding up. I was about ready to cut the "unessentials" of marathoning, Instagram/this blog (my running community basically), and to just do what I absolutely had to do. I was very sad and wanted to give up on whatever I had the option to. That even concerned my husband, because even with homeschooling as a more-than-full-time career, I would likely be running into walls if I didn't have a competitive outlet. Whether it be running, lifting, just something with a lot of movement. 

A wise, godly friend encouraged me to keep going - that running is really helpful for your mental health - and so I did. There are plenty of negative voices speaking into our lives daily and I couldn't be more thankful for the encouraging relationships that God has placed in my life. They really are everything. 

One month after that, Cass-Clay (a creamery in Fargo, ND) reached out about representing them at a milk-sponsored marathon happening in Georgia: Enter the Every Woman's Marathon! I was thinking about where to run for a 20th marathon in the fall and that would be the perfect celebration. 

Fueling after Fargo 26.2

As an avid consumer of Cass-Clay's milk (and a house with four growing boys that eat/drink everything in the house) this was an easy YES!

--- Fast forward through months of training + milk drinking, a really devastating summer/fall/(still now really) adjusting to life without my mom, a school year finished/soccer seasons/new school year started --- 

Let's go to Savannah, Georgia.

Because my siblings & their families are awesome, they housed and entertained our four bearcats (and even my blue heeler shelter pup) so Leo and I could make the Every Woman's Marathon a date trip! That part alone - all running aside - was absolutely amazing. No offense to our honeymoon, but this was even better. A favorite for both of us. 

We flew into Savannah and were picked up, along with other milk company ambassadors, by a fancy Mercedes Benz van. A good influencer would have taken a picture of the outside but I tend to get lost in the moment and I , much to your surprise I'm sure, am not an influencer :) I'm just here living. 

So check out those interior lights! It was basically a spaceship. The HUMIDITY we felt while leaving the Savannah airport made me a little nervous. Frizzy hair, sweaty running humidity. 

The Mercedes Benz "Space Ship"

We got to our hotel and were in shock of how beautiful it was - definitely way out of our league but we were happy to oblige. Can you tell we haven't gotten out much, just the two of us? Soon to be 13 years of marriage and kids ages 12 to 4.5... that explains it :) 

We arrived on Thursday and had some time to explore the area, pick up my race packet at the expo and admire the boats. I tried to eat boring things pre-race and Leo did more adventurous eating, especially while I was at the athlete's supper on race day eve. Des Linden spoke there - very cool! 

Warning: This absolutely is a photo-dump! There were so many cool places and amazing sights we took in. 

Walking to supper at Cha Bella

Leo getting suckered into my shakeout run

That Cobblestone! Pretty, not fun to run on though

We loved this river walk!

The Expo

Meeting new friends at the supper for milk-sponsored runners

--- Another fast forward! True to our marriage, I told Leo to sleep in while I went to run a marathon "quick"... ha. For any long runs or races, I say it will be quick to play off the situation slighty and to feel less mom-guilt. 

Race morning! We rode a shuttle from the hotel to race start and it was perfect. Every Woman's Marathon did an excellent job with having a bunch of (pink) porta potties, extra hair ties and all the little things that you could need and many races DON'T have. 

Lining up was pretty easy and you took your spot in the lineup using the "honor system" (no pace corrals). There was some protester drama before the starting gun but it's not even worth the time of explaining. 

A sea of 7,000-something participants

And we're off! 

This race in a nutshell: I did my usual and led with a guy runner for a while early on. Not a great choice but I was on pace somewhat (when will I learn?). Then two gals joined up (1st & 2nd place females) and we worked as a pack for a while. Some chatting and keeping it light & fun, which was so much better than running alone. The early aid stations weren't ready for us but the later ones came around.

The eventual 1st place girl offered to set the pace for a while and we could rotate, taking some stress off whoever was leading. Feeling that camaraderie and teamwork during a race was really powerful. We're all racing technically yet working towards our own goals. For some, it was to PR and, for others, it was literally "just a workout"! Which is amazing. Welcome to the crazy world of marathoning! 

Eventually flying solo :s

So I did fall off the pace wagon (again) but I will say this was an improvement compared to Fargo back in June :) A highlight was running around the track at one of the Savannah universities and their band played for the runners! There was so much energy and their playing was AMAZING. 

A lowlight was when a random resident came out of his house and yelled, "You're in first!!!!" My eyes must have gotten huge (behind sunglasses) and my stomach sunk, worrying I took a wrong turn on the course and there were no other runners in sight. "Actually, I'm the third girl!" I yelled back. Wouldn't that be the way... get lost off-course in Savannah?!

Miles 22/23 were on a lone interstate stretch, no shelter from the sun, no runners in sight and around 3 people on bike or on the sidelines. Mentally that was hard. "You don't have to run a single step for two weeks after this!" I said to myself. 

My hands and arms were swelling, with my race expo wristband feeling tight and making it more noticeable. It felt hot (for a Minnesotan, not for locals) but I still need to figure out what I did wrong to swell more that day - they ended up cutting the band off my arm at the finish line. 

The final kick and a 3rd female finish for: 2:53:55. Very happy, very tired and a new PR. It wasn't the sub-2:50 goal again but I had nothing else to give and that's satisfying in itself. 

The 1st and 2nd place women were amazing and an honor to run with! 

Source: @savannahsports

Source: MilkPEP Linked In Page

Source: @domenicabc_

The finish line was crazy! My only regret was forgetting to take a picture with Des Linden?! I was just ready to get out of there before chaos ensued. Some day I need to meet her IRL.

And story behind a random awkward face of mine... the fourth place girl was finishing directly behind us in the pic below! I felt bad, hoping we didn't take from her finish line moment but hey, life goes on. And now I can forever remember the funny faces I make when I'm nervous thanks to this article :) ha!

We sat down at the post-race festivities for a hot minute so I could catch my breath and then headed off to a nice latte and a much-needed shower. I gave dad a call to tell him how the race went and, for the first time, I couldn't talk to mom after a race. That was hard; something I will miss the most.

Leo and I watched the race expo filling up from a rooftop restaurant and listened to Natasha Bedingfield from there, while eating a good burger. It was an amazing time with him.

This was the BEST TRIP and here's to future adventures to come :)

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