Mobile Marathon

This past weekend, Kenny and I headed to Alabama partially as a babymoon and partially for me to run the Mobile Marathon. We headed out Thursday night after work and made it to Montgomery by 10pm due to the beneficial time zone change in our favor. We awoke, did a nice little jog to explore the area and then headed to the Civil Rights Memorial. Designed by the same artist who did the Vietnam Memorial in DC, it was simplistic in design but overpowering in its significance. What a sad and shameful time in US history.

We then headed down to Gulf Shores in an ill-advised beach day. The 20 mph winds and 30 degree temps kept us from staying out on the beautiful white sand beaches for more than a few minutes, but did not prevent us from finding a great little diner for a tasty lunch. 

Bundled up on the beach

Downtown Mobile

The next day we spent in downtown Mobile, which I liken to a cleaner New Orleans. Similiar architecture and both seem to be built around Mardi Gras(Mobile was actually the first in the nation to celebrate). Another good meal, race expo and a few beers at the Biergarten right on Dauphin St, rounded out a good day in Alabama. 

Beignets!

The next morning was race day. Kenny had mapped out the course and decided to run to a few spots that she could spectate and still be back for the finish. Apparently we had underestimated the distances as she had thought she'd be doing 6 but ended up closer to 8.5. Pretty impressive for being  6 1/2 months pregnant! 

Having her on the course was a great help and kept me running hard in the first half. Unfortunately she wasn't there when I fell apart the second half. The wind and the hills in the second half, plus a much needed bathroom break, kept me from a sub 3 hour marathon, but after a few years of sub par races, I will take a 3:03 and 8th place finish. And that meant that I am now 50% complete my marathon challenge of running a marathon in every state. 

Post-race band

Definitely a good course and one I'd recommend. Plus a far more fun little city than I had expected. The best part? The race which is a fund raiser for a charity helping adults with cognitive impairments, gives out awards hand-painted by the residents. That along made it all worth while. 

Front of the award(I was given the 9th place award, even though I am recorded as 8th-I'll take it either way)

 Up next? I was able to get into the Black Mountain Marathon in the end of February so that should be interesting... 

Until then,

Danny

2017 was an Epic (Fail)

At the onset of 2017, I made a goal to run 2017 miles during the year. Well, let me tell you. I. Did. Not. Make. It. Not even close. In fact I was able two hundred miles less than the year before. I should have ushered in the New Year partying like it was 1572, because that was the mileage I was able to run this year. But interestingly, the year 1572 is the 2116 in the Buddhist calendar so it's actually kind of like I ran MORE miles than I had planned. FAIL!

So was 2017 a bust? Hardly. Just because my running(and races) suffered, does not mean this year was a fail. In fact, I'd call it epic.

Starting with New Year's Day(2017) still coming home from NYC Times Square Festivities,
 a whirlwind trip to Nashville with Kenny and Andrew

Nashville

pacing Kenny to a BQ(in my opinion at least) at Wrightsville Beach

Pre-race

 winning the Krispy Kreme dash

Krispy Kreme Champ!

winning the Get to the Green 15k, and Quarry Crusher as well as the Burger Challenge at Pawley's Front Porch multiple times.

Food!

So despite the running and bad performances, not an awful race season wins-wise.

And then add in a fun trip to Europe when Kenny and I road tripped to Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France, and Netherlands while also visiting Turkey, fun trips to Savannah, Las Vegas, Charleston, Asheville, Boone, Atlanta, New England and discovering a fun National Park and several state parks in our own backyard.

Top it off with two separate trips to the Finlands: Finland and Newfoundland and the trips end of 2017 was great.

Icebergs in Newfoundland

My parents

In addition to our Newfoundland trip, my parents joined us down in South Carolina, we visited them and my two nieces and new nephew multiple times.  I met and welcomed two new additions to the extended family courtesy of my cousins, Joey and Ryan.

What else?

Oh yeah! I almost forgot! Kenny and I got married by my sister at the Outer Banks on the ocean! And we have a little one on the way.

Baby Ferreira

Looks like life happens when you're making running plans. And 2017 will definitely go down as one of the best.


Until next time,

Danny