Tag: race review

race review

Fall 2021 Boston Marathon

October 21, 2021

So if you are reading this, you already know what an honor it is to attend the Boston Marathon. It’s the Olympics for any marathoner and often a dream race. Being a person who has gone a few times and even ran part of the course, no one so far has ever experienced it in the Fall, virtual and fewer attendees than before. There are a lot of changes that have been made since I have arrived. Besides it being a larger airport, it’s a lot of changes that have been made from where you can eat to just picking up a car share ride area. I hardly saw the usual sea of Boston and race jackets as I usually saw. I got excited to see a few on my flight from DC, but we didn’t high-five each other or anything before. The mood was different. The SEAPORT! I stayed at the seaport area, which was once where they had the expo. I like the seaport area, but it was much less busy clearly than I remembered. With no expo at the convention center and most people not staying there, it was just a regular weekend, and many were in for other things going on in the weekend, such as the Red Sox and Celtics games. This allowed me to at least find a place to grab some food, but like with anything, I recommend always making reservations because the seaport is the new up-and-coming district now. For Saturday, a significant change is my favorite 5k. I am not a fan of 5ks, but once I ran the Boston 5k, it was the Boston of 5ks. Folks are racing and all; it’s also my slowest 5k because I took all my race pictures, and you get on the actual course its self. This year, there was no 5k, which felt weird. But in the change, there was a lot of progress as BAA helped support the local chapters of black men run and black girls run, Boston in their first shakeout run on Saturday morning. This run was more like a historical tour with stops and information on various historical moments in Boston that have impacted African Americans. For example, many affluent African-Americans in the early 1900s were only affluent due to working around the tin. On the surface, this sounds great, but it was only because the owners and companies would hire blacks. After all, they were cheaper labor than any other race. These low-paying wages for blacks were considered high for them during this time, thus changing the lives of many families. Shopping on Boyselon and Runners Things From the expo to the runners’ lounge, I think the most significant change we’re seeing is the reduction of people there. I was able to make it through the expo and most lines without a wait on Saturday morning. I went to Tracksmith, Lululemon, and even the Nike store to enjoy recovery items, commemorative items, and lots of shopping because why not. We were able to meet up with many other folks in the area and grab a bite to eat to watch college football. The weather was perfect and excellent, and everyone was chilled. This didn’t feel like race weekend as most people were just there on a regular weekend, and the lines weren’t as crazy as usual. This was positive because I’m not too fond of lines and got the experience a lot that I missed before. However, I was sad because I thought about the amount of money lost during the typical Boston Marathon weekend for many local businesses. That evening, I ate with the Garmin group of ambassadors and team at Joe’s, which is very popular and by the start line. We had a great time, and I was able to help the Garmin team during their first time at Boston with where to go and what to do. This felt more like a business meeting, one of the most significant aspects of going to Boston. There are many brands there, so this week is an excellent weekend for networking and showcasing to both domestic and international people. It’s easy to catch coffee or schedule meetings to discuss business plans, which I did with Garmin for 2022. Sunday Shakeout Sundays are filled with everyone’s shakeout runs. Let me be honest. There were a million more shakeout runs, and all of them started close to the Fan Fest area, close to the finish line. From iFit hosting aerobic and yoga classes outdoors to the Boston pioneers and even Garmin hosting shakeout runs, Sundays are filled with tons of them. Frankly, I was tired of shakeout runs, so I did my usual and took pictures with everyone and met many people in real life. We also went to attend prayer over athlete services but could not do so as they were turning people away for the first service. In the past, there was always room at the first service, so that I would go to that. This is the first time I have seen them turn away people before they start service too. They did an impromptu and prayed over us outside. I loved this. We were able to say safe and still have a prayer. Prayer is needed no matter if you are running the following day or in your life. Black Boston Marathoners Event The event was a crazy one. We have grown this event from just a handful of people to a waitlist of over 60 people. We had a news crew and a room full of first-time 6-star finishers and sub-3 athletes. The shirts were a hit as since we weren’t able to deliver them to the Boston team locally to wear that weekend, we could give more to each person who attended. Adriene, who founded this meetup, will be announced as part of the new induces to the board of the BAA, which is a significant milestone. She continued to thank Brooks

Toronto Marathon Guide & Review

June 28, 2019

This year, I set out to do my second international race. I went to our neighboring country of Canada to tackle the Toronto Marathon for a weekend run-girls trip on a budget. We travel, shopped, ran and conquered new records in Tonrot and had a great time! Here is your guide to traveling to Toronto and running the Toronto Marathon. Where to Fly I flew both American and AirCanada and honestly because AirCanda is so large, I recommend flying it. It’s much better in service, food, and cost. Additionally, the AirCanada terminals are way better than what I experienced with American Airlines, which I was returning from Toronto to the USA. The American area was depressing and barely had anything for us. Toronto’s airport is very nice, organized and clean. Additionally, they allow you free carts for your luggage and various accommodations for those traveling with families/kids. For my United States folks, this is International so I recommend having global entry or at one of the other international trusted travel programs like Nexus if you have that to avoid the customs lines. Because I have global entry it took me 90 seconds to get through customs compared to my friend Alex which was over an hour. Where to Stay in Toronto for the Toronto Marathon Since this right before the summer break, flights are cheap and tons of options for traveling. So your hotel won’t cost nearly as much as most races ($200-$300 a night) During my stay, I choose the Hilton hotel, which was also the host hotel. The main reason is due to the service and also centrally located to everything. The shuttle for the race also picks up outside the front of the hotel and thus you can roll out of bed easily and without much stress. You will have to pay the additional $30 bucks or so for the shuttle to make sure you do ahead of time. It’s cheaper and seems to be less of a hassle. Pricing was affordable and it’s connected to a variety of other areas within the area to walk too. I picked out a few other popular housing that many runners also recommend and close to the city. Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Residence Inn Toronto Downtown City*Stay Condos – Simcoe Street The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar Toronto Luxury Accommodations – University Plaza Where to Eat & Dine In Toronto for the Toronto Marathon Don’t forget that your dollars go a lot longer as the currency situation works to our benefit. For one American dollar is equal to .70 Canadian cents. This means you can budget very easily on everything from hotel to dining especially when splitting it between two people. If you get lost, one thing I noticed is that we consistently hit the street Queens so when in doubt, try to head on this street and you can venture to most places from or to there. While you are on Queens don’t be surprised to see fries being served everywhere. It’s a thing in Toronto. Titos: Since this race takes place around or during Cinco De Mayo, you must have a margarita, or tequila or some chips and salsa. Go here to have it all and a band and much more. Vegandale Brewery –Toronto’s Only All Vegan Brewery and Restaurant. This was a great pre or post race place for the race. Donatello: We went here for our pre-carb/race meal and had a great authentic pasta. Juice: There are several juice spots and bubble tea in the city but one popular place is Revitalize. Fresh juice was amazing there and a great variety of flavors and sizes. Bacon Nation: When you finish a race and want to demolish all your calories, this is one place that you can indulge. Candian Comfort food is the slogan and thus it lives up to it. Assembly: Don’t know what to eat? Go here. We went at least twice because we didn’t know what we wanted. From vegan cupcakes to the Gnocchi that Beat Bobby Flay, we ate everything we wanted while surrounded by great DJs, a nice projector displaying the latest news and sports and loads more celebration. Toronto’s City Hall: On our way to the Mall, we ran into Oosege hall, which is a part of Toronto’s city hall. It’s a great place to quickly learn some history and a nice area to get on the streetcar. What to Do & See In Toronto For Toronto Marathon Biking: Easily grab a bike and ride around town, which is great before or after the race. The Mall: Enough said. Everything you need and then some. Great mall within a few blocks of the hotels downtown. We shopped, ate and even had bubble tea while there. Diverge Virtual Playground, which is awesome to do if you can plan accordingly with a group. Sports: You have a variety of sports to pick from such as baseball, basketball and the beloved hockey. Take a day to enjoy and celebrate! CN Tower: Completed your race and then head over to the CN Tower the following day. Take the tour and then take the picture of your medal over the entire city. You gotta do it for the gram! Bricktown: Shop, chill and eat in this cool part of the city. This is also a great spot for local “relaxation” if you get my drift. Chinatown & Kensington Avenue: These two places are next to each other so grab your wallets, put on your shoes and take a walk up and down these two unique towns. Don’t forget to grab your camera to stop and take tons of photos for the gram. Graffiti walls around all around these towns as they are truly town art. Toronto Marathon Review, Tips & Recap No matter when you go to Toronto, I highly recommend the Toronto Marathon race in May. It’s the perfect weather for anyone traveling to Toronto and the best times too. For runners, the race

Bermuda Travel Guide For Runners

March 17, 2019

Bermuda is an island literally in the middle of the ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean as most folks think it is. This means it’s closer to North Carolina and year around the weather is pretty nice. The coldest month is February, which in Bermuda the winter season consist of the low 60s degrees but watch out for the hot and humid summers.

Bermuda Marathon Weekend Review

March 8, 2019

Bermuda is known for the’s Bermuda Triangle challenge where you run three different races and distances throughout three days. This is awesome and challenging because the competition is crazy hilly. What the race will challenge you in hills will reward you in views. Plan beforehand by just taking it easy and doing most sightseeing during the run instead of paying for a tour. Here is my review of the Bermuda Marathon Challenge.

Boston Marathon Race & Review – A Happy DNF

December 31, 2018

Let me first by stating if you are reading this, it has taken me over 6 months to write this blog post because the Boston Marathon was the best memory and achievement of my life for a race AND also the biggest disappointment and sadness at the same time.

Rock n Roll Marathon – San Antonio Review

December 31, 2018

In December, I attended my first Rock n Roll Marathon. For over 20 years, the Rock ‘n‘ Roll Marathon Series has made running fun by infusing each course with live bands, cheer teams and more. It’s definitely an experience and race that many people have talked about for years. They have a variety of races all around the world, Hall of Fame and loads of bling/medals.

Route 66 Marathon Recap

November 26, 2018

I was able to finally attend the famous Route 66 Marathon for my birthday. This was my 10th half marathon and also the start of my 35th birthday. It was a very eventful birthday weekend as we survived a hotel fire and 20 degree temperatures at the start of the race. If you are wanting to see more of what to do in the city and stay while running Route 66, make sure you check out my Tulsa City Guide. Below I will focus on the race it’s self and the highlights of the race weekend.

Tulsa City Guide for Runners

May 2, 2018

This year, I am headed to Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa for my 35th Birthday. I am so excited and counting down for not only another race but also some great fun in Tulsa. I spoke at Social Media Tulsa, which is a great conference by the way, and while there got a chance to scoop the Tulsa scene. Here is my Tulsa City Guide for Runners! Tulsa City Guide for Runners! Don’t want to read? Check out this video where I go behind the scenes and show off the city digital and virtually. Where to Stay Double Tree: I stayed in the Double Tree Hotel downtown in Tulsa but it is not right on the strip of downtown. This meant I had to walk 10 minutes to everything. This is a great if you are headed down to the Route 66 Marathon and want to be connected to the expo or a little away from downtown. Other Hotels: My recommendations would be the Aloft and Marriott – Fairfield Inn or Courtyards, which are right downtown and in the heart of everything. Hard Rock Cafe: This is a casino and hotel but I would only recommend this for gamblers mostly and not specifically runners. It’s not very close to much of the downtown attractions so you would have to drive to the race on race morning. Still a must see place. Need Last Minute Running Gear? Route 66 Marathon Team: If you have any questions about running in Tulsa, Route 66 is beyond helpful. I had a long run to do while in the city and they were able to connect me with ambassadors, Fleet Feet Tulsa and much more. Route 66 also host the big marathon every year. It’s known as a top 10 best marathon for a reason! Oh yeah they have a cool App too that is very helpful! I used it while I was. in the city as a secondary reference. Fleet Feet Tulsa literally has everything and will help you with open arms. They host several different races, pop-up runs and much more in the city year around. What To Do In Tulsa Greenwood District: Is the hub of Black Wall Street, and local African- American exhibits. Additionally, it has local popular restaurants and is where the baseball and soccer fields/arenas area. Sports: From the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Tulsa Drillers baseball team, you can cheer on just about any and everyone here. Arts & Museums: From Reconciliation and Healing Walkway to the Woody Guthrie Center and, the arts are all over the city. There are at least 5 museums within the downtown area for you to quickly explore. Tulsa Jazz: Tulsa is known for producing some great artist over the last century – hello Charlie Wilson & the GAP band! It also holds the Jazz Hall of Fame. Jazz still is flowing through the city so Tulsa Jazz is your hub for all things related to music in the genre. Gambling & Hard Rock Casino: DUH! Just minutes away are the casinos so enjoy and check out the Hard Rock Casino. Center of the Universe: This is a mysterious phenomenon that no one can really explain. Located downtown and on a small hill, if you stand in the middle of the circle and make a noise, the sound is echoed back several times louder than it was made. It sounds brining when I type it but it’s really cool when visiting. It’s literally as if you were standing in the center of the universe. Where to Eat & Drink in Tulsa for Runners So Tulsa has no short of dinning places in the town. From craft beer to custom pizza, there are a plethora of dining spots. Here are some of my highlights. Glacier Chocolate: Vegan truffles. Gold Chocolate. Need I say anymore?! Valkyrie: Nothing like a good ole Old Fashion and a chill atmosphere for Class Cigars & Lounge: Did you get a PR and want to celebrate with a cigar? Classic cigars and lounge is right downtown just for you. Laffa Medi-eastern: I love Mediterranean food, which this Laffa is sooooo good! Great for my vegan or vegetarian folks and also includes some African infused dishes. All About Cha: Tea drinkers unite! Need to grab some good wifi and just relax? Looking for great tea or a bento box? All about Cha is more than just Chai tea, it’s a perfect hub for relaxing and hanging out. Pizza & Pasta Are Popular: There are a million pizza places but the one I heard a lot about was Upper Crust Wood Fired Pizza. I didn’t eat there because I had pasta instead at Ti Amo Ristorante Italiano. The food was really good at Ti Amo but my service was super slow. Manager was cool and made up for it but it had the best eggplant parmesan I have heard had in my life soooo. This post is sponsored in part with Route 66 Marathon.

Little Rock Marathon Recap & Guide

April 30, 2018

So the Little Rock Marathon is known as a “A race for every pace.” It is also dubbed as one of Runner’s World “Bucket List: 10 Great Marathons for First-Timers.” This race and city is nothing short of southern hospitality, epic blinging finishers medals and tons of cheering fans along the scenic streets of Arkansas’ capital city. No matter if you are a walker or serious elite marathoner, Little Rock Marathon is a race that runners keep coming back for a reason. Check out my race guide of the Little Rock Marathon. Little Rock Marathon Race Guide Where to Stay There are three main hotels I would recommend staying in Little Rock. The Capital Hotel is where everyone goes and is also very historic. Their service is exceptional, and most governmental, celebrities and VIP folks stay here. Little Rock Marriott is the host hotel of the Little Rock Marathon. It’s connected to the convention center and right outside from the starting line. The hotel puts out fruit and water for the racers and closes to all the major restaurants and tourist attractions. Doubletree Hotel Little Rock is where I stayed both times I went to visit Little Rock. I enjoyed my stay and didn’t have any issues. They accommodated for races very well and had a mix of non-races in the hotel. This was a great perk, as I was able to roll out of bed for my races without having to wait for the elevator. My view was the best as I got to see the Riverfront and bridge. They have a shuttle so you can take that to and from the airport if you want. What to Eat – Dining Places Runners have to eat so here are a list of places you gotta eat at in Little Rock. Arkansas Burger Company: Can’t go wrong with burgers and fries on any day. Get it the Arkansas way. Kilwins Company : Ice cream Friday! Local natural ice cream is it! Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken: See why I loved them in my Cowtown Race Recap. Iriana’s Pizza: This is the most talked about pizza place, and it’s conveniently located across from most of the hotels I discussed. Great pizza before a race. One Eleven at the Capital: No matter if you are staying at the Capital or not, you should stop at 111 where it’s chefs are internally known for their ability to combined French influences with local flair. Additionally the Capital is known for it’s Sunday brunch! You know I love a good brunch. Kemuri Restaurant: A Japanese restaurant that always has 5 stars for a reason. Great place for great food and service and seafood! Vino’s: Your real hole in the wall pizza restaurant that has fantastic pizza, calzones, and beer without all the frills. Things to See & Do Anything you want to do in Little Rock is just within a few blocks and also needs to be done by 10 pm. The city is pretty much closed and silent after 10pm. Here are few highlights of stops you should see if you are headed for the Little Rock Marathon. Presidential Library: I surprised myself by spending almost 90 minutes in the library reading the work both Bill and Hillary have done over decades. No matter what your political sides are, these two have impacted the entire world, and we have benefited from their policies. Little Rock Central High School: This is the famous historical high school whereas the Little Rock Central Nine went to school Arkansas Governor Faubus called in the Arkansas National Guard to block the black students’ entry into the high school. Later that month, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent in federal troops to escort the Little Rock Nine into the school. You can learn more about this historic moment that took place from Brown vs. Board of Education here. This is a great stop to visit the center and learn and admire this national park. Pinnacle Mountain State Park: Little Rock has a lot of lands and luscious grass. This park is excellent for a nice hike with the pets or stay and enjoy a night or two in the wild. Little Rock River Market District: This was just a few blocks from my hotel, and I loved going there for fresh fruits and vegetables. There are tons handmade crafts and local concerts. Stop in for juice or State Capitol Visits: There are several museums and governmental buildings open for visitation and viewing. From the Old State House to actual State Capital building, schedule a tour and stop by to learn more about the city. Little Rock Marathon Recap & Tips Little Rock Marathon is one of the top Marathons in the country. It’s a great race that people go back to each year. It has a race for everyone and very friendly to newbie runners. There is a 5k, 10k, half-marathon and full-marathon. Little Rock is known for it’s large and unique medals. The marathon medal is a huge “dinner plate” size medal. How about that for bling?! Their medals are always gorgeous and vibrant each year. So here is a brief recap of the race and some tips if you are going to run it. Crowd Support: Crowd support and sights are nice in the race as you go through the entire city pretty much. The only downfall was not being able to Central High on the half course. However, the full marathon runs through this. There is No shortage of support throughout the course. I had grilled pineapples during the course and boy was that a pickup! I honestly have no issue with this race and would come back repeatedly. Course: It is a hilly course so be prepared but a lot of people end up with a PR at this race so don’t shy away from the hills. Weather: It can be anything. I got a little bit of everything on race day but it was nice and cool. Expect

Cowtown Marathon Recap

March 1, 2018

This past Sunday, I had the awesome experience of running the Cowtown Half marathon! The Cowtown is one of the largest multi-event races in the state of Texas and was voted favorite marathon by Competitor Magazine readers in 2015. It’s held in Ft. Worth, Texas, which is about 30-40 minutes outside of Dallas. Not only did I get to complete my 7th half marathon, I ran it with a group of my running friends who are more like family. Check out my Cowtown Marathon recap and experience how I hang with my running crew. The Cowtown Marathon Recap Travel Information to the Cowtown Marathon I live in Dallas so I didn’t travel per say to the race. I wanted to offer tips since I do live in the city and in case folks want to travel here. The closet airport to Ft. Worth is DFW airport. Love field airport is at least a 30-40 minute ride away. That can be a pretty expensive uber for you so I highly suggest renting a car for the weekend. The city doesn’t have the best public transportation for most travelers so this is my cheaper and best option for most. I stay in Dallas and wished I would have gotten a hotel just to stay in Ft.Worth. I had my friends in town for the weekend so I was basically an uber. Tim is a dear friend and like a running brother of mine that is on the board of the St. Louis Marathon and is a Running Influencer there. Yal know I got manners and southern hospital so I picked him up from Love Field airport and showed him around Dallas. The City – Funky Town Ft. Worth is unique and folks that live there love, Love, LOVE the city. There is a lot to see and do in Ft. Worth but it’s very different than Dallas. You can expect cowboy boots, trailers and western stores every few miles in Ft. Worth. They are the true Western Texan over there. There is a lot to see in Ft. Worth so take advantage of walking around the various sections of the city such as Magnolia, Fairmont and Sundance. Places to Eat in Ft. Worth In Dallas/ Ft. Worth, we love to eat on a good patio. Patio’ing is a thing around here so you have a million options with great Southern food, craft and local beer, strong cocktails, good service and more in the warm weather. Here are a few of my favorites in Ft. Worth. Heim BBQ: If you can, get there early or be prepared to stand for a bit. This BBQ joint always has a line but it’s worth the wait. Nothing like some good old fashion Texas BBQ. Istanbul Bar & Grill: I am a big fan of Mediterranean food. Their baba ghanoush, and gyros are perfect anytime of the day. This location has a bar so you can grab a tasty beverage if you desire as well. Mash’d: If you can go for brunch, go!! They have a 14inch pancake called the “Manhole cover pancake,” which is stuffed with blueberries butterscotch chips. Yeah! It’s that serious there. Oh should I also mention the mixology bar and they serve moonshine??!! Gus’s Fried Chicken: It’s a Memphis-based spicy fried chicken joint that has juicy fried chicken and the best sweet tea ever! Nammi at the Farmers Market: Head over the Farmers Market and roam around. When you do, stop at my favorite food truck Nammi, which serves Vietnamese food. My favorite dish is always their veggie tofu tacos and basil lemonade. Tom Thumb off 7th Street: Sounds really crazy to put this on here but this Tom Thumb is like a restaurant. You can grab a drink at the bar and watch a game, order pho, pickup toilet paper and so much more in one store. This location is also right by a lot of other restaurants as well. Weekend Socials With My Running Family Friday Night Since Tim was in town, we ended up having a happy hour for him and my local running groups We Run Things and Pint Striders. Founder’s beer came out and gave some swag while chatting about a few local things with me. After that, we enjoyed beer, laughter and good times through the night. Beer is rather normal for us runners to drink as it’s technically just a bunch of carbs and we need it run. Saturday Night Saturday I opted to ditch the 5k and go for a walk with Tim and my other running friend Alex. We ended up wakling to the the Alamo Draft House, which isn’t to far from house, to go see Black Panther. I probably have seen this movie at least 5 times now and can’t stop still! Also this is my favorite movie theater and they had a great Black Panther food and beverage menu too! After that we showered and ran to the Black Marathoners Pre-race dinner. It was great time to just meet folks from all over the country before we lace up for the following day. I had a great time meeting al to of fellow runners who live in Atlanta and I will be seeing again in October at the Baltimore Running Festival. The Cowtown Marathon Race day started bright and early at 4:45AM and it was greatness. I made it there at 6am and was able to get a close free parking space and wait inside in the warm building. I didn’t start until about 7:30 because I switched to a later corral but let me say, all 9,100 of us truly enjoyed the morning jams and tunes while waiting. I always have a mantra song of each race, so for this race, Anita Ward’s Ring my Bell was it! The race was everything! This has been one of my favorite races and I truly mean it. It was really cool to start the race with my