
After having worked at the emergency animal shelter every day in the last week due to Hurricane Matthew, I was unsure how much energy I would have for this race. I had decided that this would be a race to do just for run, plus the finisher medal was promised to be beautiful! This is a race I have wanted to do for a few years, but didn't because I was always involved with the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon in South Carolina and the two races are always on the same weekend. That race has kinda lost some of the things that made it special, so it was time for a new venue.
Once the race started, I quickly ran into my friend Libby, who I had met years ago through the animal shelter here in Greenville. We ran a bit together and then separated for a bit until just after the finish line. I couldn't believe how BEAUTIFUL Durham was. The picture I have in my head when I think of Durham is a run down city with broken roads, broken buildings, and smelly. I blame the media! What greeted me was the complete opposite. Yes, the roads were very broken, however, the scenery was absolutely beautiful. I decided that I could still never live there, as I like the slow life out here in my "big" little city. I found myself so distracted by the buildings that before I knew it, the race was over.
I don't remember what my finishing time was, but I will always remember this as my "post-Hurricane Matthew race". It was refreshing to get away from the hard work that was going on back home. This is definitely a race I will be coming back to again next year. Personally, I don't get much out of the Food Truck part of the festival, but it looked like they had pretty good food. Being vegetarian, food trucks do not often have anything appealing. Sure, there are fried things, but healthy? Not so much. Regardless, I will be back again next year!
I must be still on the triathlete/runner's high because.......six days ago I decided to sign up for the City of Oaks half marathon that is this weekend in Raleigh. That will be the day after a 5k that I won a race entry for.... Yeah, I'm an addict. It happens to the best of us!