Underwear Paris Marathon Sweepstakes

Disclaimer: I received Runderwear to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Okay let's cut to the chase, you love to run or else you probably wouldn't be reading this. Well you could win the trip of a lifetime to run the Paris Marathon with your bestie! No joke, all you have to do is register for the sweepstakes. CLICK HERE TO ENTER

If you win you will also get a ton of other prizes!

So if you have any interest at all then you need to sign up. It's a pretty sweet deal which includes airfare and hotels. There is no obligation either.

You can follow Underwear on Social at:

T: runderwear

IG: Teamrunderwear

Product Review: Zwift Run

Disclaimer: I received a Zwift Run Pod to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!




I don't know about you but I HATE running outside once the weather gets cold. It's just not fun, the air just cuts through you clothes and make it's so uncomfortable. I could go on for a while about the negatives to running in the cold, but I want to share with you something amazing that could prevent you from running outside in the cold.

Zwift is a digital platform that has created several different virtual world for athletes to exercise in from the comfort of their home or gym. While there are both biking and running options for Zwift, I'm going to tell you about the running aspect of it.

It starts with their run pod, it clips on to your shoe and connects to your device via bluetooth. You can connect it to many devices, I connect my to an iPad. The pod send the Zwift App data about your cadence and speed, from running on the treadmill, which the app then uses an avatar of yourself to depict yourself running in their virtual world, based off the speed you're running on the treadmill.

It's a super smart system that allows you to run specific workouts, group runs, and freestyle runs. For the purpose of this campaign we were participating in their group runs every Tuesday. It was named, Turn it Up Tuesday.

You have to download the Zwift Companion App which is how you access your profile when you're not running. This lets you join the Zwift Community to see what group runs are available, and then you can follow your friends. We had to join the Turn it Up Tuesday runs on the Zwift Companion App each week. Then when we were on the treadmill using the Zwift App we were able to click a button to join the group run.

The groups runs are great because in the Zwift Companion App you get to choose what pace group you would like to run with. I love this feature because you can choose when to push yourself or when you just want to take it a bit easy.

I was a pace leader for the B Groups which runs around a 8:00/mile. The workouts were a variety throughout the weeks of our training from tempo runs to intervals. I was using these workouts to get ready for a turkey trot. These workouts were great because the app told me exactly what paces to set the treadmill for. It took all the guess work out of the workout and let me really focus on the run rather than my pace.

 I didn't end up making it to my turkey trot because I didn't feel fully recovered from my marathon, and it was a frigid morning too. However I love the option of taking the treadmill to new limits with this app so I can keep running in the winter and stay in shape without having to brave the cold!

Bibrave Getaway Exuma

Disclaimer: I received free entry to Run For Pompey Exuma Marathon race and a 4-night stay at The Grand Isle Resort as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

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!

Race Recap: GAP Trail Relay

Disclaimer: I received free entry to The GAP Trail Relay race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Running a race can be hard, but it's even easier when you do it with friends! I was able to run the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) which is a 150 rail trail from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA. A daunting task when you try to run it alone but the race is a relay.

You can have groups of 4, 6, or 8. I'm pretty sure you can have some mix in between but those are the sizes that you choose from. I was super pumped for this race because they sent the Bibrave team a little swag in the mail months before the race. It was a Read, Set, Move Box with so many goodies. This here really set the expectation for the race because they never lacked in the swag!

At race day check in I was the team captain so I picked up our bibs and welcome bags. Each bag had Balega socks, a tube of Nuun, Honeystinger gels and waffles, GU gels, a Nathan's tail light, a water bottle, Body Glide, and a gift card to Sheetz (local gas station). WOW! As a captain I got a few extra perks like a Brooks Run Happy Hat and a free pair of Brooks shoes of my choice. WOW again!

At the start they also had NYC bagels that were still warm, and photo opts with backdrops and frames. Brooks also had a booth to made signs to cheer along your team.

There was a mandatory safety meeting before the race started that detailed what to expect on the course for markers. This was super helpful since there are other people on the rail trail, so we knew what we had to look out for. They also set the expectation for safety gear during the night runs. Each runner was required to wear a reflector vest, headlamp or knuckle lights, and a tail light after 6:00pm and until 8:00am. This was important for people to see you and you see other people.

The race started prompt at 11:00am with the first leg. We printed out the directions to each of the exchange locations which was the best thing we did and a MUST do for anyone running the race. They did not print them for you. On the directions were turn by turn directions however there wasn't distance for each turn. So we got lost a few times because we were sure how long we were supposed to stay on each road. But then we realized that there were GPS coordinates for each exchange area. When we put those into our phones they took us right there.

The exchange areas always had a staff member from he race at them and a coned off area so we knew where to hand off the slap bracelet. As the race progressed there was so much food for us at the exchange areas. I'm talking pizzas, bagels and coffee, or Uncrustables and chips. They did not skimp out of make sure we had food throughout the race.

I ran the 2nd, 8th, 14th, and 20th legs. My total mileage was 24 miles. Scott had 30 which was the most of us all. Since the legs aren't the same length each time, we all ran different total distances.

In terms of what to expect from the course, the trail is relatively flat. It's a rail trail that follows the train tracks for the first maybe quarter of the race, then its just a trail through the woods. Not technical at all. A few of the legs had some hills but they were isolated legs, not consistent. The longest leg was 11.5 miles and the shortest leg was only 3 miles, so there was definitely a lot of variation between legs. The shorter legs didn't give us much time to drive to the next exchange area but we made it.

We did encounter some rain for the last half of the race. It wasn't the best but we had plenty clothes to change into so that we were stuck in the wet clothes freezing our butts off.

We all waited for Jenn to get close to the finish line and we ran as a team through the banner. The medal we got were HEAVY like a centimeter thick, like a said they didn't skimp on anything. We each got a pine tree sapling to bring home and plant.

Then we headed to the restaurant by the finish line and had beer, pirogies, and pretzels. That was the best was to celebrate, hot food and beer!

I really think you need to get a team together to try this race! It's a lot of run and has some beautiful views like waterfalls, rolling hills, windmills, and mountain top vistas. It was a soul feeding race for sure!

Preparing for your First Road Relay

Disclaimer: I received free entry to The GAP Trail Relay race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!


Okay so it's time to get real. You just signed up for your first road relay and you have no idea what you got yourself into. What do you do? Panic? No, you should probably go for a run to get out any jitters, but you should be super excited!

I had just this reaction when I signed for the GAP Trail Relay, a 150 mile relay from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA. I had never run a relay before but was excited for the challenge. The one thing that was exciting, and especially frightening was that depending on how you many runners are on your team, the amount of miles you need to run can change. Meaning that you're training for a race and have no idea how many miles you might be running. CRAZY!

So how do you train for a race that you don't know the final distance. My advice is to train for the long game. If you train like you're going to be running a lot of miles, then you'll be ready for when for them but if you end up running less then you'll be ready to crush those miles.

Now for the good stuff, packing for the race. There are a lot more things to consider when packing for a relay. Here are my top five things to keep in mind when packing for your first relay:

1.) Pack a running outfit for each leg of the race

The biggest advice is that you need to pack a running outfit for each leg of the race. After you finish your legs you will mist likely be hot and sweaty. I bet you can't wait to put those wet clothes back on for your next leg...said no one ever. Having a new outfit for each leg will make sure you are comfortable, dry, and reduce the chances chafing when you run again.

2.) Look ahead at the weather

This might sound silly but seriously check it out! You will mostly likely have a leg of the race that is in the middle of the night. That means color temperatures since there is no sun. Plan to have outfits for the warmer weather during the day legs and outfits for the cooler legs in the middle of the night. There could be rain on the forecast, that means packing Body Glide (which should be on your list anyways), but maybe a light rain jacket or tank top. Depending on the weather the rain jacket might be better at keeping you dry, but you also don't want it to lock in the heat. The tank top is a good idea in my opinion since there would be less clothes to get wet and chafe. Ouch!

3.) Make safety a priority

Safety has to be one of your biggest priorities, especially during a relay race. They're so many different scenarios that need to be addressed but to keep it simple I would say to make sure you are visible during the night runs. Wear reflective vest, have lights of some kind like a head lamp or Knuckle Light, and even a taillight. The more visible you make yourself the more likely other people will see you, whether they are cars, bikes, or other runners.

4.) Bring lots of fuel

Nutrition is a big component of running in general but there are additional things to keep in mind during relay. Before the race you will want to carb load to saturate your body with all the glycogen that it can store, like any race. But once you're finished with your legs you most likely only have hours to recover and be ready for the next leg. So you need to adjust your nutrition accordingly. After your leg you will want to consume protein within 30 minutes so that you body can start of the repairs. I also like to eat a serving of blueberries after each leg to help reduce inflammation. You also need to replenish the glycogen stores in your body before the next leg. So after you get that protein in then you need to start carb loading again.

BUT that doesn't mean feasting on the pasta and pizza. Remember you are going to be running again soon. You really don't want all that heavy food in yo
ur belly before you run. That's a recipe for a bellyache and then a trip behind a tree during the race.

5.)  Have fun

This is important for a few reasons. Most of us run to have fun so make sure that you do have fun during the race. Mindset is going to be a big part of running multiple legs, so if you start out having the mindset that this will be fun then you will have more fun. It's the power of positivity. During the down time between legs, have fun with your team. share stories and connect with them. It's going to build more camaraderie with each other and help them to all have fun too!

Now that you know my top five things to keep in mind as you prepare for your first road relay, get out there and have a great race!

If you're looking for a great road relay I would recommend the GAP Trial Relay. It's a newer race that is so organized and sure to be a blast for any running team!

Product Review: Aftershokz XTrainerz

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Aftershokz XTrainers to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

So a few months ago I was able to test the newest and greater Aftershokz Areopex. Aftershokz took the amazing design and performance of the Aeropex, and like any amazing company, made them better!

The Xtrainers, pronounced "cross trainers," are designed to be used for many more sports but do not require a phone to be connected with. I'll say that again, they do not require a phone to be connected with. The Xtrainerz have storage capacity built into them so you treat it like a flash drive and you can upload all sorts of audio files to it, music, podcasts, and even audiobooks. It has 4GB of storage which is a lot for the slim size of the headphones

Did I mention that the Xtrainerz are fully waterproof for up to two hours at a depth of 6 feet? That means that you can take them in the pool, lake, and ocean without having to worry! With most underwater headphones you have cords, or limitations with bluetooth. The Xtrainerz have none of these issues. They use the same bone conducting technology to play the music while you swim. They even come with ear plugs too boot!

Biking with the Xtrainerz is so much more comfortable than you would think. I like being able to have my phone with me for the sense of comfort in case I need to call for help. But now I'm not tied to the phone, draining the battery with my headphones, so my phone will have the power to make a call if I need to. It's also nice to disconnect from my phone while biking too. I'm not constantly having the notifications distracting me.

The Xtrainerz charge is just 2 hours and have a battery life of 8 hours. What new to this design is a third button between where the normal volume button is. This button turns them on. The volume buttons have addition features like skipping tracks.

Let's get on to the benefits in terms of training. I am currently training for a marathon and found these headphones to make a big impact on my training. My cross training has been more effective since getting the Xtrainerz. I had a waterproof MP3 player and headphones but they were cheap and started to lose sound in one year. So during my swims I would be fighting with them to play music and keep the water out of my ears. Since the Xtrainerz come with ear plugs and use bone conducting technology I get to spend more time focusing on the workout.

It's also made me look forward to my cross training. I've recently gotten into listening to audiobooks. So when I cross train and listen to a book it's my time to disconnect from the world and enter my book. I find myself making time to go swimming just to continue with the book. This keeps me active and helps to give my body a break from all the running.

I think the Xtrainerz would be beneficial to anyone who used them. I can't wait for the opportunity to race a triathlon with them so that I can use them the entire race. The possibilities are endless now that they are waterproof and don't require bluetooth connection.

If you're interested in getting them you can use code "BRBUNDLE" - $50 off the endurance bundle.

On Tuesday October 22nd Aftershokz will be sponsoring the week Bibchat! Join us at 8pm EST.

Here's what the other Bibrave Pro's are saying:

Erica Jessica Christine Corey Meridith Scott Stephanie Nicole

Race Recap: Rock 'n' Roll Philly

"Disclaimer: I received free entry to Rock 'n' Roll Philly Half Marathon race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

It's September and I finally ran my first running race of the year! I'm just getting my race season going this fall and I'm so excited that I was able to run such a fun Half Marathon! This year I have run two Spartan races and two triathlons, so my year has been far from boring.

I've been looking forward to running another Rock 'n' Roll (RNR) race since 2015 when I ran my first one in Chicago. Let me tell you, this race did not skimp out on any of the anticipation.

Since moving back home to NY, in 2017, I've been wanting to run a race in PA. I have family that live just outside Philly so this was the perfect opportunity to visit them for the weekend and get my race on!

I drove straight to the expo from work which was about 4 hours. The expo was easy and seamless. I met up with Bibrave Pro Joe at the expo and together we walked around to the booths and checked out the different vendors that they had. There were a lot of different vendors than you would typically expect at a race expo, like Purple Carrot and Daily Harvest. I found it interesting that they were both there.

I had all day Saturday to spend with my family. The best part was going out for a real brunch, duh!

Sunday was race day and I was nervous about parking since I know the race had a large number of people expected and it's in the downtown area. So I parked in one the recommended parking garages. The staircase led me to the understreet area which was terrifying. Luckily I found another runner in the race and we found our way together to the race start.

There were plenty of port-a-potties so the lines went quickly. The race started right on time and the corrals started quickly as well.

The first 5 miles of the race went through the downtown area. We were in China town the day before so it was nice to see a familiar setting. The course took us close to Independence Hall but not right past it, but I knew we were close. These miles were tough because of the wind tunnels that the buildings caused.

The next four miles took us down along the river which was very scenic and enjoyable The surrounding trees created fresh air which was a sharp contrast from downtown. Along these miles were live bands typical with RNR races. Most of them were pretty good but I do remember that there was one band that was singing "September" and they were so off that it was actually bad.

These miles by the river, though beautiful, were intense with the humidity and the micro-rolling hills. The slight up and then slight downhill definitely added some challenges, constantly changing your form. When we crossed the bridge to head back toward the finish the sun was in our eyes which just made it feel hotter. Then the uphill finish was unexpected. Not complaining about anything but I didn't look into the course beforehand so these elevation changes threw me off. I still managed to finish in under 2 hours which was my goal!

At the finish they had water, Gatorade, bananas, chips, Philly pretzels (FUCK YES), and multigrain crackers. The beer garden was close to the stage so you could enjoy a beer and listen to the awards which was a nice touch. Overall I loved the race and the challenge. I'm starting my race season strong and I'm ready for more!