This weekend was the long awaited, long planned for, half marathon for Dan in Appalachicola.
We drove down Friday afternoon and checked in at the Sportsman's Lodge in Eastpoint, which I don't recommend, but it was an inexpensive bed and kitchen and bath.
Let me paint a picture for you......we stayed in Eastpoint. If you travel west across a 5 mile bridge, you come to Appalachicola (where the marathon started). If you travel south from Eastpoint, across a 4 mile bridge, you come to St. George Island. :)
Okay, here's a pic to give you a better visual (click on it to make it bigger)!!
Dan had one last 4 mile run in his training, so we went across the bridge to St. George Island (SGI) and he ran on the bike trail.
While he was running, the kids and I took chairs down to the beach and enjoyed the bright moonlit night!!
One setting on my camera got some interesting and bright pics for as dark as it was. Almost looks like canvas! :)
Saturday we came back over to SGI and spent a few hours on the beach.
The guys took horseshoes along......
A sand crab eating at my apple core! :)
As we were packing up, the clouds were growing darker to our north and west!!
This was the outside of the lodge we stayed at.....don't you love how the trees are growing through the porch?
Back at the lodge, Dan and I enjoyed coffee on the deck while watching the rain come across the Bay!
Later in the day, it cleared up and we went into the town of Appalachicola to get Dan's race packet and to browse the shops. Cute town!!
Tamara outside "Tamara's Cafe"! :)
That evening we went to SGI, where my sister and her family are renting a beach house for a week. We got to enjoy a yummy supper of BJ's pizza and football! :)
Sunday morning, we were up at 4 AM, our time! Local time was 5 AM.
Sleepy eyed, yet excited for the day!!
This is the race map.....for the half marathon. (13.1 miles)
(The red dot is where the lodge was that we stayed at)
The runners had a most gorgeous sunrise to view on their way east across the bridge.
Pics of Dan along the way.....
Over half way done! :)
And then heading west, back across the bridge.
It was cloudy and cool, with a nice breeze coming off the Gulf...perfect running weather!!
He did it!!
Official time was 2:13:13. Not bad for his first time....and with the mistake he made a few weeks ago.
Dan gives blood every couple months at the prison. Well, a few weeks ago when it was time, he decided to donate double red blood cells. Well, on his next couple runs, he noticed he was having pain in his upper arms and chest and he couldn't seem to control his breathing as well. After some research, he discovered that giving double red blood cells was not a wise decision while training!! It depletes your oxygen supply!! :P But, we live and learn and each week he felt better.
So I think he should be pleased with his time!
Ben Hall, a fellow, local runner, captured this one! :) I love it!!
Loved this guys sign at the finish line! :)
So proud of my man....he has accomplished two of his dreams so far this year! :)
And thankful to West End Quick Pic for sponsoring the race day!
Some of the A Case of the Runs group from the Blountstown area! A few had to leave before we could get the pic.
Dan, Ben & Brooke Hall, Heidi Stone, Jamey Shuler and Kim Stone.
Nice bling! :)
This was the hardest part of the run.....
*Photo credit goes to Ben Hall
After we checked out of our room, we spent the rest of the day with Dwayne & Chris, back on SGI!
Throwing football with the cousins!
Crazy sisters! :) :) :)
Tamara with her short cousin, Cody! :) Okay, so his legs are just buried in the sand! :)
Dwayne was enjoying fishing and caught a few small ones while we were sitting there....sounds like they had better luck today! :)
It was a fun weekend....now it's back to reality again! :P
