This is the most exciting blog post I have ever wrote! I have so many things to share with you about my recent trip to Grand Exuma in the Bahamas. Where do I begin? Have you ever had the opportunity to run an international marathon? I think that was the biggest part of this whole trip for me, I've never run an international race before. So this was the trip of a lifetime for me!
The Bibrave Getaway Package
There were a lot of things that were included for us and anyone that booked the Bibrave Getaway package through The Grand Isle Resort:
- Welcome Cocktail Reception
- VIP Registration on Property
- Pre-Race Pasta Dinner
- Race Day Shuttle
- Race Registration and Entry Fee
- Post-Race Celebration Dinner
- Breakfast Included Daily
- $200 Resort Credit
Day 1
I arrived on Exuma and got through customs pretty quickly. Bibrave Pro Mai was waiting for me outside the airport along with our shuttle driver. The drive to the resort seemed like it was so fast, and I bet you can imagine my surprise when I realized that they drive on the left side of the road. A car was coming towards us and I was instantly like, wtf is going on and why are they driving so crazy.
We arrived at The Grand Resort and it was so beautiful! The shuttle dropped us off right at the reception building. We checked in and waited to be greeted by Carolyn from Team Bibrave. She had our race packets for us and welcomed us to Exuma. Then we we driven to our villa by the bellman who gave us a detailed room orientation. He made sure to showcase the different bedrooms, kitchen, laundry room, and how to open the doors to the lanai (porch).
After unpacking our bags we took a look at our race bags. We each were given a Vooray Pulse Active Backpack which had everything from the packet pickup plus a few extra surprises! Inside we received extra swag from brands that partnered with Bibrave for the Getaway package. We received a pair of Knockaround Premiums Sunglasses, a tube of Nuun Hydration Sport Tablets, a Go Sili hot/cold cup and two different reusable straws, and the new Buff Pack Run Cap. All the other runners who entered the Bibrave Getaway also got a pair of Aftershokz Aeropex too boot!
We also got the swag from the race too which included a shirt, bottle, cup, pen, drawstring bag, and stuffed plush pig. The pig is the mascot for the island since one of their main attractions is to swim with the pigs. The race medal even has a pig on it, not to jump ahead.
After opening our swag bags we headed to the pool to meet up with Team Bibrave. We hung out at the pool for a while and caught up, since I hadn't seen them in person since TRE last November. Then we returned to our Villas to get ready for the Welcome Reception.
The welcome reception was held at The Grand Isle's newest addition to the resort, 23° North which is a restaurant, lounge, and adult only infinity pool. The reception was with the managers of the resort and organizers of the race. There were several cocktails that we complimentary like the "Run" Punch. I opted not to drink since I was trying to stick to my nutrition plan for the marathon. They had some hors d'oeuvres for us to pick at like fresh fruits, cheese, and crackers, additionally they has several hors d'oeuvres that were passed. The most notable was the conch cake. Conch is one of the native ingredients that is used in a lot of island cooking. The texture was very intriguing because it was more dense in texture than scallop but more tender than octopus or squid. The conch cake was more conch than filling which made every bite so enjoyable.
Day 2
We met up with Team Bibrave for a short shakeout run early in the morning. I'm so glad that we made a point to do that because it helped me get a feel for the climate that I would be running the marathon in. It was very humid and warm at 7AM which was reminiscent of the humid summers we had in Hawaii so it was familiar to me. We ran a loop around some of the houses along the golf course by the coast, which were to die for! Big houses with the most perfect ocean views you could ask for. I didn't dare look up the price of them.
After we cleaned up from the group run we had breakfast with Team Bibrave in their villa before heading down to 23° North for a day by the pool. We ate lunch at Sandy Toes which is the beach bar operated by the hotel. I ordered the grilled Mahi Mahi sandwich and it was seasoned perfectly and so enjoyable. The coleslaw as a topping added the right amount of crunch and acid to balance each bite.
Then once we were sun-kissed enough we headed back to the villa to clean up and get ready for the pre race pasta dinner. This was no ordinary pasta dinner were you get some cheap buffet food. This was an action station where the chef cooked your pasta to order. You were able to choose from several different vegetables and meats, three different shapes of pasta, and three different sauces, I went on the plain side to not upset my belly and got a pesto and bolognese mixture for my first bowl and then just pesto for my second bowl. I also ducked out early to get back to the villa and make sure my gear was all organized for the morning.
I also drank a Nuun Rest before bed to help calm my mind. This was a great choice since I had some pre-race jitters.
Day 3: Race Day
I remember looking at my clock and seeing that I had an hour before my alarm was going to go off. Then the next thing I knew my alarm was blaring! I was out of bed right away and didn't skip a beat with my race day routine. I went right to the kitchen and grabbed the iced coffee I made the night before and a big glass of water. I wanted to make sure that I first off could get some water to flush through me and that I could use the bathroom before I left for the race. No issues in that department. All my gear was gathered up and I was off to meet a couple from Ireland, who were staying at the resort nearby, and graciously agreed to pick me up and drive me to the race since they were also running the marathon.
The race start was in Georgetown and took about 15 minutes to get there. There were only 3 runners for the ultra and 3 runners for the marathon. Both races started at 4AM. The EMT's were kind enough to let us give them a bottle to give us when we got to the halfway turn around. So I froze a bottle of my Nuun Endurance so that it would be thawed but still chilly by the time I got there in a couple hours.
The race started on island time about 15 minutes after the hour. I'm totally used to island time from living in Hawaii but I was thinking that that means I get 15 less minutes running in the darkness before the sun comes up. But I didn't let it bother me.
We were off! I took the lead right away and tried to keep a conservative pace so that I wouldn't burn out too quickly. A cop car was keeping some distance in front of me to make sure the path was clear and any drivers on the road wouldn't hit us. There were 8 aid stations on the course for marathoners, and 7 of them I hit again on the way back. It was more than enough in my opinion.
At the aid stations they had iced bottles of water. I would take an entire bottle with me and would use the water to pour on my body to help regulate temperature, since I had an Orange Mud Hydration Pack with Nuun Endurance in it to stay hydrated. At mile 6 or so another runner caught up to me as I was slowing down and finding my rhythm. He was running the ultra for his second time and was from Nasau. So he was used to running in this heat. I ended up pulling a head of him since he was running some then walking every few minutes.
I reached the halfway point just before the sun rose. Which was perfect since the sun would now be behind me. I brought my Knockaround sunglasses but never had to use them. I was consistent with my Spring Energy gels and Nuun Endurance, and never really hit a wall during the race.
I stopped several times to walk when I would pass a house with unleashed dogs. I didn't want to appear intimidating to them and thought walking was the best option. Then once I was out of visual range I would run again. There was one stop in the race when I was in trouble. The ambulance that had my extra Nuun Endurance wasn't at the turnaround, so I never got my refill but I was drinking like I was going to get a refill.
At about mile 22 I ran out of Nuun in my hydration pack and didn't have any water left in the bottle I took from the aid station. I was started to overheat and get thirsty which was not a good sign. Just when I was about to take a break and figure out a new plan, I saw the aid station around the corner. I drank a whole bottle of water, took a bottle to pour on me, and filled my shirt collar with ice. I was SAVED and made it the rest of the race strong. There was one point whenI was climbing one of the last hills I had to tell myself that I am a Spartan and can endure this, which was what I needed to hear to finish the climb.
As I entered Georgetown I started to get nervous because I wasn't super sure of the direction of the course. Luckily there was a volunteer who pointed me the correct way at an intersection. As I rounded the last turn and could see the cones leading to the finish line I immediately started crying. That was the point when I knew that I had won the marathon.
I had run my first international race, and won first place too! I never dreamed this would happen to me. Team Bibrave was so surprised that I finished because I told them to expect a 5 hour marathon from me. I finished with an official time of 4:35 which was less than 2 minutes slower than my NYC Marathon finish last year in perfect conditions and only 16 minutes off my PR of 4:19. I was and still am so proud of myself for finishing as strong and fast as I did. 
I drank my post race beer and started to cool off. Then I was announced over the PA system and received my 1st place trophy and $500 from the Minister of Tourism. What an honor!!
Then we headed back to the resort on the shuttle. I had a very uncomfortable shower as I chafed all around my man parts, which I used so much Body Glide on. But I was wet for most of the race since I was pouring water on myself. I have never had an issue with Body Glide, just for the record. Then we all met back up at 23° North for more pool time. I opted out of the pool to let my chafe burn heal but still put my feet in the water.
We cleaned up back at the villa and them headed back to 23° North for our Celebration Dinner. Dinner was a family style meal which started with rolls, sushi, and salad. Then they brought out Grouper, Lamb Chop Medallions, Jerk Fried Rice, and Tempura Vegetables. The grouper had this amazing sauce that it was braised in, the fried rice had the perfect amount of kick, and the tempura vegetables were the best I ever had. We finished dinner with a deconstructed Key Lime Pie which was reminiscent of a Hawaiian haupia.
Day 4
This was the day I was looking forward to the most. I spent the morning walking along the beach and enjoying a swing that was in the ocean. Then Mai and I went to lunch at Palapa, the main restaurant for the resort. I had Coconut French Toast that was everything I had been wanting on this trip!
Then I spent the next three hours at the Seastar Spa. My three hour experience started with an Island Manicure and Pedicure. I had never had either of these before and had no idea what to expect. I learned so much about how to take care of my nails and cuticles. The pedicure also included a foot fixation massage which included a salt exfoliation.
Then I had an 80 minute sports massage which was paired with a tri-enzyme facial. She did such a good job at finding the knots in my body and helping to get them worked out. I have had many massages in my day and can tell when a masseuse knows what they are doing. They don't work the knot the find, they work the muscles that connect to that knot to help release it. It was incredible!
I walked out of the spa feeling like a new man! The staff at the resort were so good at their job! After I left the spa the front desk agent called me over by name. She remembered my name event after a few days! She wanted to ask how my race went and couldn't believe that I had won first place! All of the staff at the resort were so happy and supportive of my win. They know how much this race means for their society with the donations made by the race.
We ordered delivery from Palapa for diner that night. I had a BBQ Jerk Chicken Wrap with a pineapple salsa. It was a wonderful balance of spice and tang.
Then we sadly went home the next day.
I'm truly thankful for Bibrave for allowing me to take part if this race and being their for my victory! I can happily say that I'm ending 2019 on a runner's high and cannot wait to see what 2020 has in store!
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