Run Eat Drink Podcast
Welcome to the Run Eat Drink Podcast! This is the podcast where we embark on exciting adventures, combining our love for running, delicious food, and tasty beverages. Whether you’re an elite runner aiming for victory or just starting your “Couch to 5K” journey, we’ve got something for you. Let’s dive into the three pillars of our show:
Accomplish (Run): Accomplishment is deeply personal. Are you eyeing a race series win, planning your next “run-cation,” or hoping to set a personal record in your next half-marathon? Each week, we feature fantastic destination races from around the country. Discover scenic courses, learn about the charities they support, and get inspired to lace up those running shoes. And when we’re not on the road, we share interviews, training tips, and insights from our own running journey.
Explore (Eat): Running and traveling go hand in hand. As we explore new places, we also explore local cuisine. We seek out hidden gems—the eateries that locals rave about. Bold flavors, interesting dishes, and passion for food—that’s what we’re after. After each race, join us as we wander the city streets, discovering post-race refueling spots. Whether it’s a gastropub, a food truck, or a cozy café, we’ve got dining options to satisfy your cravings.
Indulge (Drink): When the running is done, it’s time to unwind. We raise our glasses to celebrate our accomplishments. Local breweries, coffee shops, speakeasies, and watering holes—these are our destinations. From craft beers to artisanal cocktails, we explore the beverage scene. Cheers to a well-deserved drink after crossing the finish line!
Join us on this journey of accomplishment, exploration, and indulgence. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a curious foodie, there’s a place for you at the Run Eat Drink Podcast.
Run Eat Drink Podcast
RED Episode 301 Runcation Recap of Big Beach Marathon Weekend Part 1: Running Through Life Together
Jessie and Eric join the podcast to share their experience at the Big Beach Marathon weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama. They completed the challenge, one as a long-time runner and the other as a first-time half-marathoner.
Big Beach Marathon Weekend Links
Eric and Jessie referenced our pre-race weekend breakdown in RED Episode 293 with Nikki Popovich from Junction 311 Endurance Sports:https://www.runeatdrink.net/podcast/2024/9/9/red-episode-293-featuring-a-runcation-destination-the-big-beach-marathon-in-gulf-shores-alabama?rq=big%20beach
2026 Big Beach Marathon Weekend
https://www.bigbeachmarathon.com/
The Lodge at Gulf State Park
Rotolos
Flora-Bama
Bad Ass Coffee
https://locations.badasscoffee.com/list/al/orange-beach/
Connect with Jessie
at https://www.instagram.com/harleyruningal/
Connect with Eric
at https://www.instagram.com/eric.million.223/
THAT’S A WRAP!
Thank you for listening! Because of your support, we are in our eighth year of the podcast! Don’t forget to follow us and tell us where to find you next on our website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Also, check out our store on the website and get some swag, thanks to Pure Creative Apparel. Thanks to www.PodcastMusic.com for providing the music for this episode, too!
This is Miss Brooklyn. Hi Brooklyn.
Speaker 2:It's nice to meet you, my friend Amy. Have you ever been on a podcast before? No, no, you are now. Do you want to say welcome Runcation Nation?
Speaker 1:Runcation Nation.
Speaker 3:Welcome Runcation Nation.
Speaker 2:Run Kitchen Nation. Welcome to Run Eat Drink Podcast. We feature destination races from across the country and after the race, we take you on a tour of the best local food and beverage to celebrate. So, whether you are an elite runner or a back of the packer like us, you'll know the best places to accomplish, explore and indulge on your next runcation. Hey, welcome to episode 301 of the Runny Drink Podcast. I'm your host, amy, flying solo while Dana's out of town, and I have a great show.
Speaker 2:It's a Runcation recap from Runcation Nation members Jesse and Eric, and it was so big that we have divided it into two episodes. So this week and next week we are going to recap a weekend that we were looking forward to but could not attend. So Jesse and Eric are here to fill all of you in from a participant perspective, both a longtime runner, jesse, and a first-time half marathoner, eric. So, without further ado, this is part one of their Runcation Recap. It's time for another Runcation Recap and with us today we welcome two members one I can call a classic, an OG of the Runcation Nation, jessie. Jessica Lynn O'Keefe we always say her entire name, I don't know why, it's just always been that way, but we welcome Jessie and a new member of the Runcation Nation, eric to the show for a Runcation Recap.
Speaker 2:Welcome Welcome, miss Amy, and thank you so much for coming on the show for a Runcation Recap. Welcome Welcome, miss Amy, and thank you so much for coming on the show because, as you know, I was very I had a lot of FOMO, I would tell Dana, when it came to the Big Beach Marathon weekend, we had Nikki Popovich on and I was so excited to come and meet up with everybody from the Runcation Nation there. So I've decided, you know I had to reach out to you all and live vicariously through you and your Runcation Recap. So thank you for taking time to be on the show.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you for inviting us and we missed you so much. But we understood completely. So you were in our prayers and I listened to that episode prior to Big Beach and it was a great episode that was full of information for the new people coming to Big Beach and what to expect For those that were coming that haven't done it before. It was very informative.
Speaker 2:And we'll link to it in the show notes for this episode so you can have the maximum amount of knowledge for what you can expect at Big Beach from an organizer and also from participants. Yes, so you've done it three times, but, eric, this was your first Big Beach.
Speaker 1:And his first half marathon period okay, okay.
Speaker 2:So for the members of the run nation who may be new or are catching up and don't know the two of you haven't been to a meetup or a race. Where you have been can you take take time to introduce yourselves? Tell us a little bit about your life outside of running? And also, while we're having this conversation, in this Runcation Recap, what are you drinking? Who are you?
Speaker 1:Where are you?
Speaker 2:from what are you drinking?
Speaker 1:So we have from Three Daughters Brew, three daughters brewing, which is local, as you know. Saint pete, yeah, yep, it is a florida orange ipa oh and I figured it had the little alligator on there. Look at that.
Speaker 2:Oh for, for patrons who have the video, we have the little gator on there on that ipa can from three dollars.
Speaker 1:It's very light. You can taste the orange very predominantly, but it's not overbearing.
Speaker 2:It's really smooth and we are drinking it in our pint glass okay so you're drinking a florida beer, an ipa, a citrusy ipa, would you say. Because of the orange notes you mentioned. Not too bad citrusy.
Speaker 1:No, it's not heavy. Not heavy. More orange, more on the orange side, because IPAs can be more on the grapefruit side.
Speaker 2:Or they can be really piney. I'm not going to lie.
Speaker 1:And it's not bitter. It's very light and refreshing actually. So I'm a bit of an IPA. It's a hit or miss. I either like it or I don't. And it's so smooth it's definitely would be a rebuy.
Speaker 2:Shout out to three daughters.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So now to go back to the first part. My name is Jessica Lynn O'Keefe, as Miss Amy said, my Instagram Harley Running Gal. I started running back in 2016. I was walking and then dabbling into running. I had committed to doing a virtual 5k every month. I would go on Run Motivators, virtual Strides or one of the virtual running platforms and pick a charity that meant something to me. Every run that I did, it was either important to me or something that one of my family was a part of, or just something that touched my heart.
Speaker 1:So, every medal. I look at it and it's not just because I'm like, oh yeah, I'm just going to run. So it was very heart warming for me, the ones that I chose, and then I was just like with my friends here's a crazy idea, let's do an inflatable 5k. Here's a crazy idea. Let's do a mud run. Here's a crazy idea, let's do a challenge. Here's a crazy idea. Let's do a half marathon. Oh wait, here's a crazy idea. We should do the challenge that has the five, 10 and the half and then oh wait here's a crazy idea let's do a marathon.
Speaker 1:So it literally just kept progressing into a. Let's just keep challenging ourselves. So I've done four half marathon or four marathons. Now it's been a couple of years and I'm looking forward to doing another one soon. So then, in my journey of running and in my journey of life, I have a son, and throughout it was during a work day that I met this handsome gentleman next to me. He did some work at my office, and it took him about three times asking me out before I finally said yes. And then we started enjoying a lot of things together, and he went with me to my first triathlon. It was pouring down rain and, god bless him, he was in the rain with me, having my running gear ready, my bike gear ready, my swim gear ready. He was a true Sherpa. And then after that, he says well, I want to do more to support you. How about I run with you? So then it started and I let him take over from there, okay.
Speaker 3:So my name is Eric Millian. I'm born and raised here, yep, and so we started our. We did our first run. My first 5K was the JC Park.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was a Bucy 5K Addiction.
Speaker 3:And that also means a lot to me too, because of family that I have that has those types of issues or problems, family that I have that has those types of issues or problems. So things that we run for we do run for from the heart.
Speaker 3:It's something that means something to us whether it's good causes, breast cancer awareness, so on and so forth, military law enforcement, all the above. So I just was committed to only doing five Ks. I told her no half marathon shenanigans, no full marathon shenanigans. I can do the 5K and I'll do those. And then, all of a sudden, she's saying something about the big beach and I'm like, yeah, I'll do that with you. And it was just the 7K is all I was signed up for, was supposed to sign up for. Then I said no, I'm going to go above and beyond that. I'm supposed to sign up for it. Then I said no, I'm going to go above and beyond that. I'm going to do the challenge with you. I'm going to do the 7K and a half marathon that I've never even ran six miles, let alone 13.1 miles.
Speaker 2:He's never run ever, and I never ran. You jumped straight from the 5K to let's do a challenge.
Speaker 3:Yes, you did. I did one 10K. Oh, you did Two weeks before the race.
Speaker 2:Two weeks before the race.
Speaker 3:Yes, I did a 10K. We did a 10K down in Naples for the boot challenge.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the traveler time traveler. Okay, it was an article race so it was a little low attended. There's a lot of races that weekend, so it was the perfect 10K setting for him and he did amazing, Like a good training run yeah he did amazing, like a good training run yeah.
Speaker 2:Looks like a good training run. It's like when, oh gosh, what is that documentary? There's the spirit of the marathon and they chronicle everybody's training for a marathon and there are elite athletes that are running to win, that are sponsored by big shoe companies and that kind of thing, and then there are just like your everyday average Joe people who are running for charity, that kind of thing. They it's how you catch the bug, and then it's have you seen it? Have you seen it? I have not.
Speaker 2:Oh, so, spirit of the marathon. There are two documentaries. One of them is the Chicago marathon and then one of them chronicles people who are completing it's. I believe it's the Athens or the Rome marathon. So yeah, so it's. I thought he was just gonna say he's going to do the 7k, he's not gonna do the challenge, he's not gonna step up to the 10k or anything like that, he's just gonna do the gear. But no, he Eric, new member of the Runcation Nation says I'm going to train for a challenge a 7k and a half on back to back days, and then I'm going to do a 10k as a just a training run two weeks before the whole thing, yeah, and in those documentaries they say you do half the distance, about like maybe six or eight weeks before you do the full, whatever the race distance is.
Speaker 1:And. But yeah, I'm just going to give you a push up the high dive in the deep end.
Speaker 2:If you're going to be a bear, be a grizzly, or I don't know, yeah, or I don't know, yeah or sore. But I bet the post-race meal and beverage were so much more enjoyable after having achieved the accomplishment, though right yes, just a little bit better.
Speaker 1:And I was proud of him because, in looking at him, I hadn't done even a half in a long time and I've been running for a while'm like 2016 you're going on 10 years and then he's over there, he's just like yep I'm good like he just looks.
Speaker 3:So it's that first time glow breathing and I'm just like she says I do that at every run, oh, oh, really, it's a natural.
Speaker 2:Okay, but now you've caught the. It sounds like you caught the running bug and then you gave the running bug to Eric Jesse.
Speaker 3:Yes, yeah, she definitely did, because now I own three pairs of running shoes.
Speaker 2:They say that running is a cheap sport. You can just get out there and run, but really you can't. Just there. We've made every mistake in the book and not having the right shoes. That's the very first mistake we ever made when we started running Dana and I did, and I think not being properly fitted with the blisters and not having the right support, because everybody's different. And number two is not having more than one pair, because if you're running in weather, having more than one pair, because if you're running in weather, like you endured jesse at the donna, and you have another race the next day, let's say then oh so you're a smart man you're a smart man is what I'm saying to you he bought, so it started with he did
Speaker 3:was it the second race? Their third race?
Speaker 1:third race no, second race, sorry we did, and he went over to fleet feet.
Speaker 1:Oh, fleet, yeah, so he went to go pick up race packets and then, while he's there, he went perusing. So he did the right thing. They looked at his feet and everything. And then so I come to visit and he's. So I did a thing. I'm like what to do? I might have bought myself a good pair of running shoes. I'm like, yeah, you so running the 5K. And when he committed to the 7K and the half, I put us on a training plan and as we got the longer miles, my feet are starting to hurt a little bit. My socks Did you get a blister?
Speaker 3:No, I never got blistered.
Speaker 1:You lucky duck.
Speaker 3:The cotton socks that I was using.
Speaker 1:I know, but you wanted to seek out the proper socks which is also important to shoes, mind you.
Speaker 2:Essential.
Speaker 1:Yes. So then he posted out in the different running platforms a bunch of the different Facebook platforms and Instagram platforms. Hey, so I'm a new runner. I know it's custom to your foot, but what are people using that are proper? So then he got a lot of ideas and suggestions and such.
Speaker 2:And then Santa Claus might have brought him a few different brands to try Eric as a new runner. Are you a brand loyalist now or do you have a couple of different brands that work?
Speaker 3:Yeah, when it comes to a brand, I'm going to stick with the ones that I know is going to work for me, after having the first pair of shoes and then running the longer miles in that training with everything that was happening because of the shoe, the one pair, one pair of shoes brooks glycerins. Yeah, he's got the glycerin max okay and those for a long distance run, I will swear by because they are 100%.
Speaker 2:You find what works.
Speaker 1:So I went throughout his research. He bought a pair of features where he got features and salchonies and his favorite out of the three so far are the features.
Speaker 2:Oh, Dana loves those too yeah.
Speaker 1:Also when I could wear the short socks, but now I have to wear the long compression socks.
Speaker 2:So that's the brand that you use, but you're a features guy through and through. You and Dana have a lot in common.
Speaker 3:Different races with all three different brands. The features seem to have won.
Speaker 2:Won the race for you or will continue to support the accomplishment of racing? For you let me ask you this, since you're both on the show before we get to, because you've talked about how you found running both of you but what I want to ask you is have you found that running together has strengthened your relationship?
Speaker 3:Oh yeah 100%.
Speaker 2:In what ways would you say Both, two ways?
Speaker 1:It's time alone, without outer interference, and I don't mean that in a bad way. But when you're career driven, you're a parent, you are a codependent, helping family members, when you have so much other outside stuff which are all very important and you enjoy them and you like them, having that time together where you don't have your phone, you don't the phone's not ringing and nobody's asking for you, you're not tasked with something, you're just doing something where it's just you're on the open road or you're in nature or wherever it is that you're running, you can collect your thoughts individually and you can have conversation collectively, just being there. It's very mind clearing.
Speaker 1:So we might not talk for a little bit and listen to our, our music, and then we might get into a conversation that we needed to have to just talk things through, and then we might just start giggling and laughing and just point out stuff in the trees or the cars or the whatever. It's. Just, it's light-hearted it's relaxing, so like you're tired and you're using the muscles and you're out of breath, but in the same part it's relaxing and we're connecting a whole new level and I imagine that you all I feel it with Dana.
Speaker 2:We push each other. When he is well and we are running or walking together, Then it is. If I'm having an off day, I find that he can encourage me and be there to push me through a tough run.
Speaker 1:He does that to me because he'll see like my breathing gets a little labored and he'll be, like all right, don't listen to your watch, cause you know me, I always have my intervals on.
Speaker 1:Don't listen to the watch. We're going to that tree and you got this. He does that to me all the time and I'm like I'm the one who's running and he's the one that's. You got this, babe. But there'll be times where we can't run together due to our crazy schedules, and he'll know I'm running and he'll text me like all right, honey, I'm going to go out for a run, I got this many miles. And then he knows about what I can do, when and right. It's always seems like it's at the right, opportune moment that my phone goes off and I look at my watch and it's him, babe, you got this, keep going.
Speaker 1:Keep going, I know there's a tree coming up, so you better be running past it. Yeah, so even when we're not together, we're encouraging each other on our runs. When you think you can't do it and you've got your partner next to you saying, no, you can do it, forget about the week you got this.
Speaker 2:You can let go of whatever is outside of that training run and you can connect and encourage each other and find a new freedom, something that is that de-escalates the stress, that releases worries, and then you come back to regular life and I find you might be exhausted but you're also reinvigorated to be a better parent, a better for me, a better wife For Dana. He says it helps him in his career. That can be so stressful in law enforcement. And I also think that when you cross the finish line like you two are talking about how you started running for a cause that it is when you cross, when you put all the training together and you cross the finish line for a cause. I think that, whoever is the higher side, whether it be a friend or a family member or the runcation nation, it's something that bonds you together, even though you may have known each other maybe 20 years, five years, two years or two hours.
Speaker 1:There are some races where we like go see what you got in the tank and believe it or not. He still smokes me.
Speaker 2:And then he comes back and he cheers me on for the the ending part of my run. And then you do the same, missy, you do the same for people. You have done that for me plenty of times at jc park at turkey trots. So I I'm telling you, I just think that it's true, either virtually or in person, that members of the Runcation Nation or the Will Run For podcast or the Rise and Run podcast, or even people that you meet at races are just some of the best people that you meet and get to know in the community, the friendships that.
Speaker 1:I have made through my local community are just unparalleled. It's amazing. And then, of course, who I've met through my local community are just unparalleled it's amazing. And then, of course, who I've met through Runcation Nation at Big Beach. We had JoJo, susie, dawn and then Darlene. Rest in peace. We would have had Darlene and we would have had you guys she was with you.
Speaker 3:I know we all were. That Big Beach run meant a lot to everybody, including me.
Speaker 1:In Big Beach we decided that it was a race that we were going to stick together.
Speaker 1:So there's certain races where we're like see what you got, and then there's certain races that they just mean something different and you just stick together, and that's what we did. We stuck together in Big Beach. And then my favorite picture is on my cover page right now on my Facebook profile of the two of us going through the finish line holding hands hands and we have our hands up in the air and we're like we did it and there's nothing like that feeling and it's, I think, that it brings you together in celebration.
Speaker 2:It brings you together in even in the saddest and the worst of times. Running can be something that just is. It's so supportive of your emotional, physical and mental well-being in the community around it Is that absolutely so, and you all are that for me and for Dana. You have talked about your kind of, your history in running and what it means to you, and you make a good point about sticking together in the Big Beach race. If anybody hasn't guessed yet, that's listening or watching we are recapping the Big Beach 2025 edition that happens at the end of January in Gulf Shores, alabama. Let me ask you this then why Big Beach for you? And let me ask Eric first.
Speaker 3:Why Big?
Speaker 2:Beach. You're a smart man. You're a smart man. You could even stop there because she's in charge. She picked it and then we're off and running, unless you want to add to that.
Speaker 3:Unless you want to. I say I'm running and she signs up all right, I'll have him along a little bit.
Speaker 1:Okay, like I'm going to alabama, who's with me? What do y'all think of this race? And I said to him I've done the race twice already. It is so incredibly organized, it is a beautiful course and the after hangout party is just so much fun.
Speaker 1:It's full of energy oh I see my friends from rendication nation are going. So I'm going, I says. But I haven't did the challenge yet. So he committed at first to the 7k and I was doing a challenge. He was going to be cheering us all along for the half and then, as I talked about it more he's. You know what he says. It sounds like a really beautiful course. I want to enjoy what you've basically described with me personally oh that's when I signed up and I said okay, I'm signed up.
Speaker 1:I says I'm about ready to sign up for the 7k for you and he goes sign me up for the challenge. I'm like are you sure? And he's yes and I'm like, all right, I'm gonna give you till tonight because the price increases tomorrow.
Speaker 2:So yeah, what was it like hours or oh?
Speaker 1:yeah, because Cause it was the morning so I'm like okay, so by the end of the workday I need to know, cause by midnight the price goes up, so I need to know by 1155.
Speaker 2:Budgeting. You're budgeting and giving him a countdown. I was budgeting.
Speaker 1:Cause I didn't want to pay the extra. Not that it was that much, but and he's like no, he says I'm in, yeah. I want to see what you're describing to me.
Speaker 2:So it sounds like you're a good salesperson. And, eric, what were you going to say?
Speaker 3:I also told her that I was going to not only do a challenge, but do the challenge to challenge myself. Because, along with doing our runs for training, as we started getting longer distances, it was like, yeah, you did nine miles.
Speaker 2:I can definitely be 13, so I said no sign up yeah and when you got to race day, did you regret making that decision? No, he was calling us a cucumber good, because some people are standing at the start and they're like this seemed like a good idea six months ago or like 16 weeks ago or whenever.
Speaker 3:It is that you started training side by side with my honey enjoying all the views and scenery and doing a challenge together yeah, seeing her first challenge of the big beach race and my first half and challenge so.
Speaker 2:So, yes, what were you going to say, jesse?
Speaker 1:No. So when I went to do my first marathon, I spoke to a couple of friends of mine that were elite runners and I said what was your favorite marathon that you just enjoyed thoroughly? I got a few different names and then one person that I really respected said that she really enjoyed Fort Lauderdale and that was her first. That's a good race. So we did the Fort Lauderdale A1A. Sorry, bentley, see somebody outside the window there.
Speaker 2:That's okay. You hear Buck and Danny on the podcast all the time. Our babies, our puppies you hear it all the time.
Speaker 1:So, this being me being fresh into oh my goodness, I'm about to sign up for 26 miles what am I thinking? I'm like, what training did you do? And I know a lot of my Disney friends do Galloway and they absolutely love it. But, she said to me I did the Hal Higdon training because I've seen what she has done, I'm like okay, then I'm doing Hal Higdon. So I did that from. That was a training plan I chose for my marathon. So when he committed.
Speaker 1:I said, all right, then I'm downloading, because we have to do a training program. We need somebody to say you need to run this many miles this day, you need to run this long, you need to go up and up. So I downloaded the app, he downloaded the app and so Hal would be on our watches going you have X amount of miles today. Oh, hal talks to you in his app.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:He sends us notes on yeah, he messages us, which we get on our watches too and he's like so how was your run today? Did you complete the full run? And then when we would do less or we would do more, because sometimes, due to scheduling, we couldn't do it on Saturday and we'd have to do it on Sunday, and then we would do a little bit more.
Speaker 2:You're a little bit of an overachiever today. Maybe you should dial it back a little bit, like literally, Rest is important too. I can't do any kind of accents or like I can't.
Speaker 1:My point to all that is, no matter who you choose or what plane you choose, the importance of if you're amping up your mileage, especially for race and is it incredibly important to find a running program whether it be just a printing out something or some, an app that will tell you you know what your program is, how important that is because it keeps you on schedule. Um, and I told him. I says if you have a day where you're working late and it says you got to do eight miles, then then you can't do it, but tomorrow, if you can kick out four, you're at least doing something. The one thing I learned was never try to make up the miles, but try to do something and then the next day kick back into plan what it says.
Speaker 2:And if you find the plan, it gives you the structure, but it's not like you are, I don't know chained to the plan. There can be flexibility because there is life, there are families, there are kids, there are dogs. There is life. So it's and I think Hal Higdon and Jeff Galloway, america's coach and my coach, so shout out to both of them, it's amazing.
Speaker 2:It's amazing, amazing. They both provide structure Correct and you can also do make modifications and still get it done and still show up at race day feeling strong and if you basically follow the plan and not overdo it because rest, like you said, like when Hal says you've overdone it, maybe you should dial it back. There are ways to be flexible with both the run walk run with Jeff Galloway and then Hal Higdon. They're both very, they're revered, they're research-based, they're excellent, they're both excellent.
Speaker 2:Now based. They're excellent. They're both excellent. Now my question for you in the training plan for the challenge, which is the 7K family and safari run on Saturday of the Big Beach weekend and then the half marathon, is what you did on Sunday, although there was a marathon as well. Okay, and some people sign up for the marathon and the 7k or the shark challenge and then the half and the 7k is the dolphin Okay, so I would run if something was named after Flipper.
Speaker 1:I know I do most of my runs for charity, but I would be lying if I didn't say, Ooh, that's a pretty medal.
Speaker 2:Bring up an excellent point it's bling driven. You're bling driven like Dana, then what I'm is Eric bling driven also.
Speaker 1:No, I think my honey just likes running with me.
Speaker 2:So you're not bling driven, but you're also very passionate about causes is what I hear when Eric talks about why he even started running. Yes, To support to. It's a bonus. It's a bonus, yeah. So we've talked a lot about why you decided to run big beach and it sounds like the bling, the course, the challenges, the meetups are all. What about the destination itself?
Speaker 1:It's beautiful.
Speaker 2:The beaches are gorgeous.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so the host hotel is the lodge, which is a Hilton property nation itself. It's beautiful. The beaches are gorgeous.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so the host hotel is the lodge, which is a Hilton property. Yes, shout out to the Hilton people.
Speaker 1:Not a sponsor, hilton members, hilton members, but they could be. Oh yeah, they did it. It was supposed to be four of us girls going to get our Alabama state.
Speaker 2:And then, cause you're part of a 50 state group, like you're part of the 50 state half marathon crew.
Speaker 1:So that was, it was the four of us to get our Alabama state.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:And then Kelly had, I think, her husband had a work thing, or she had a work thing. Something conflicted and she didn't realize she double booked herself. So she had to defer. So she had to defer. And so the next year came around and she was like, all right, I'm going to drive up to Alabama and do this race, cause I deferred. I'm like I'm not gonna let you drive alone. Clearly you can, you're very capable, but I'll go with you again. So I went up again and we did the half. So that's why this time I was like oh, you know what, I've done a half twice.
Speaker 3:Why not just do the challenge so?
Speaker 1:anyway. So the lodge is the host hotel and in those two trips with the girls we budget, we still stayed at the lodge. We planned in a room. We got the cheapest room but this being my honey's first half marathon and it was a great room, don't get me wrong. The accommodations are amazing.
Speaker 2:But you were just trying to. It's a great hotel and even the least expensive room at a great hotel is going to be a great stay.
Speaker 1:Yes, it was Absolutely One hundred percent. But being his first half marathon and our first really vacation together, I splurged a little. Why not A water view balcony? Even with that, the organizers have a discount, so it was very reasonable.
Speaker 1:So when you sign up, when they send you all the information with the host hotel and everything it will, if you click on their link, it will they provide a nice discount code, which was gracious. Beautiful, the property is beautiful, the beach is beautiful, the food was amazing so your room was a view of the ocean. Yes, on the beach oh, with snow mind you of the ocean, yes, on the beach, oh, with snow mind you.
Speaker 2:Oh yes, I'm sorry with snow. Yes, because all that snow up the northern floor. Oh, we're going to talk about the weather.
Speaker 1:Yes, a little bit of snow on the beach yes we have that gorgeous view. Those are the estate of the lodge. On the back side of the property, when you look down, is the pool, and then that's where the ocean view is we had a beautiful view of their nice pool area and the ocean and the pier. Oh okay, beautiful sunset. We had a little table, a couple chairs out there here in the water was so calming oh, it sounds beautiful.
Speaker 2:It sounds like the perfect hotel, the perfect location and so let me just go back to the weather just for a second, because you have run that weekend, some race at that weekend, three years in a row. Is that correct?
Speaker 1:I missed the years 2022, 2023, and then 2025.
Speaker 2:Okay, so the weather at each one same different.
Speaker 1:So 2022 was freezing. We had ice on our windshields.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:It was really cold the beginning part of the race, tolerable towards the end. So like I had a three quarter zip long sleeve jacket on and it was a matter of the zip was the vent, depending on where you were in the park, because it goes through a beautiful state park and there's some boardwalk areas with some foliage, and then there are areas where it's open, like prairie, if you will, so you've got full sun. And then, of course, the last part, from when you cross over the bridge the wind.
Speaker 2:We get extra points for what you call it wind resistance if you're running into the wind against the wind, we get extra points for what you call it wind resistance if you're running into the wind against the wind yes, so it was a matter of I didn't shed the jacket, but the zipper was the temperature control, kelly and I did it in 2023.
Speaker 1:We stripped down to our tank tops. It was brisk, but then we shed the jacket. We were down to our tank tops like quarter of the way through the race and it was gorgeous because it just warmed up yeah, and it was perfect.
Speaker 1:It was absolutely perfect running weather. It's still brisk, but it was perfect running weather. Eric and I ran. We were in 7k, we were in our mitts, we had our caps, we had three layers on. There was still ice. There were ice on some of the boardwalks. Even so, we had to single pilot on some of the boardwalks. Even so, we had to single file it through some of the boardwalks and there was piles of snow still here and there. It was frigid, which is why we had to do single file. And then for the half marathon race Sunday, they shoveled some of those pathways more and the sun obviously had melted more.
Speaker 3:It was better.
Speaker 2:So let me ask you. At least yeah, I wouldn't say warm, but either frigid or brisk is about what you're gonna get well, because run the runcation nation needs tips because, like you and don have talked about on social media, packing can be a challenge for a race.
Speaker 1:I had my big suitcase yeah, I wasn't. Yeah, I could pack whatever I wanted, so I had pretty much anything and everything.
Speaker 2:Now why could you pack for? Tell everybody why. You could pack whatever you wanted, because we drove, because you drove, so you can fly to this destination, like Nikki was talking about when we did the overview before the weekend happened, but you all decided to drive. Tell me why, why not?
Speaker 1:Why not? It was we took the day off of work and it was a nice road trip and it was what 10 hours.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Right around 10 hours. It was fun. It made it the road trip, just made it fun. I had a little Dole Whip with me and we had our snack bag.
Speaker 2:Now, who is Dole Whip For people who don't know, like, what is happening there? Can you talk that up a little bit?
Speaker 1:So when I injured my foot and injured my knee, it was right around the same time that my dad had passed and my amazing friends, extended family, because I call my Runcation Nation Peeps my family. Y'all put together this beautiful basket that you and Dana so graciously delivered to my home from things that were very personally picked from some of the Runcation Nation peeps, and one of the items in that was Dole Whip, because a lot of the Runcation Nation are huge Disney fans and if you go to Disney you know all about Dole Whip.
Speaker 2:You got to have a Dole Whip with rum.
Speaker 1:in my opinion, so this was a stuffy Dole Whip and it had a bean bag that inserts in the back that you could either freeze or warm so that it would, I could put it on my knee. So after I did my physical therapy with the therapist, oh, love it.
Speaker 2:Shout out to the therapist we miss Kristen.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, she's amazing. So you would put that on so I could use it. But so because it came from Runcation Nation, then it became my little. Does everybody remember Flat Stanley? Yes, so it was so for those that don't know, it's I'm sure at some point about paper dolls. Yes, flat Stanley was something that you would put if you printed it out on piece of paper, on a stick, and if you went on vacation, flat Stanley's by the ocean, flat Stanley's by the beach, flat Stanley's having a margarita.
Speaker 1:It became my flat Stanley. Dol Whip has to go on every single Runcation Nation event so he's with me. So when we went to Little Rock for that race, kelly and I got lucky that we had a seat in between us, so Dol Whip got strapped in to his own seat on the plane got strapped in to his own seat on the plane. That is adorable. I love how you have the runcation nation mascot that goes with you everywhere.
Speaker 1:Yes, and dole whip has a sidekick now oh because when we did gasparilla, which was my last race with darlene, with my runcation Nation peeps, you guys and JoJo put together the cute little bags.
Speaker 2:Oh, hers were adorable, freaking adorable I know Both the little octopi. Yes.
Speaker 1:So the octopi, because he has a pirate patch, because we were Gasparilla with the whole pirate theme. So I have sewed a little loop on the octopi so that he can be attached to Dole Whip. So now the two of them go with me everywhere, so Darlene is always with us.
Speaker 2:She was my twin. We had almost the exact same outfit at Gasparilla, so I can't. Yeah, it's good that you have those things, that that you can take with you so that you have other runners who have inspired you, because she certainly inspired me in her 50 state challenge. So you're and it will be wonderful to hear I think Susie's going to finish in Hawaii, which is where Darlene finished. And I think it's perfect, I'm a caboose on that 50 state train.
Speaker 2:I'm not even on the train. Are you getting him on the train, Eric? Are you doing the 50 state challenge or what is the situation with you?
Speaker 1:I don't know, he's got Alabama and he'll probably have Florida, because I think I'm hooking him into an. April race in Bradenton.
Speaker 2:Oh, if you don't get it in April, then you can always get it in February 2026 at Donna. I'm just saying there are options for you to consider.
Speaker 3:She's talking about the Donna which I think I'm already committed to it there you go, there you go.
Speaker 2:So you're saying that the drive for you up there to Gulf shores, if you live in a neighboring state, is a good thing to do because you don't really have to adhere to the packing challenge? Although there were two of you, so was it all your luggage, jess, and just like one piece for him, or how did that go?
Speaker 3:oh no, I bought a whole nother bag just for my running gear and another bag for just my regular everyday clothes.
Speaker 1:The fun part about driving is I can carry whatever size luggage I want with whatever size bottles. I want with a cooler with whatever I want in it. A snack bag with this pack, because I want to pack it. This one was like okay, so if we're stranded for a month, we're probably good.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, you can never tell if things go wrong and you have to call roadside assistance. We were there for anything and everything.
Speaker 1:So that was the fun part, but also again with the running together, it's mind clearing. We're looking at the snow, we're looking at the houses, we're talking about the cars, we're talking about the people. It's just fun and it's lighthearted and you're not thinking about work you're not thinking about all the other stresses that you do day to day.
Speaker 2:So it was just fun that's how we felt about the keys going in the completely opposite direction when we went to go to key west to do a half. Dana and I, we just to take the day and make the drive is so good. Now, I mean, if you can't, obviously, if you can't get there driving, then I. Then you should listen to the episode where Nikki talks about the neighboring airports and the car rental, because we were originally going to fly into Pensacola.
Speaker 1:That's what Susie did.
Speaker 2:Is that what Susie did?
Speaker 1:She flew into Pensacola and had a rental car and drove over.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:And she had, as far as I know, from what I've seen and what we spoke about, she had a good experience.
Speaker 2:A smooth experience. It seemed like it was going to be a smooth experience and that's a good tip from Nikki in her episode, like to your point, jesse. So let me ask it's not an expo and packet pickup it's an. It's a packet pickup, palooza. It's a packet pickup, palooza. So how was your first ever half marathon slash challenge? Packet pickup, palooza, eric.
Speaker 3:It was crazy. There was a lot crazy.
Speaker 2:There's a lot of people a lot of people want stuff yeah you fell into the trap water bottle, but he bought things that he's seen me use and obviously things that are essential.
Speaker 1:So they had one vendor there that had quite a plethora of variety of things, from headbands to the skin caps.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:To the different types of fueling to the little disposal raincoats and the Mylars.
Speaker 2:All like ponchos and things.
Speaker 1:Right, and your magnets and your stickers and your pens. It was a small booth packed full of a lot of things. Yes, it was.
Speaker 2:So if you forgot anything, then most likely you would Pretty much.
Speaker 1:essentially, unless you didn't have shoes, then you're in trouble Because there were no shoe vendors or anything.
Speaker 1:So it's not like going to Fort Lauderdale A1A or Madonna. You've got some of the bigger expos, but what they had there was essentials and it was a really nice variety. Yeah, and the local brewery there had some of their brews so that you could taste what you would be getting at the end of the race. So that was nice and fun. And then they had a blow-up shark and a blow-up dolphin and a blow up dolphin they're walking around being silly, you know, with these cute signs in a backdrop where you have your pictures taken, and music. And so it was fun and very well organized. Oh, it's very clear If you're just doing a 7K, if you're doing any one of the challenges, you get your bibs, you go behind. They had everything laid out nice.
Speaker 1:Oh, they're like at a discounted price if you who's not going to buy a really nice textured for five dollars?
Speaker 2:you're going to use it in training so we did.
Speaker 1:We bought last year's shirt. We both did because their shirts are soft and they're cool looking. So if you saw my my picture from swamp cabbage festival, he actually has the 2024 big beach shirt on.
Speaker 2:Oh, okay, all right. So the expo was full of things that you might need, and I also have to say shout out to everybody in the Runcation Nation that participated in Big Beach that actually signed I don't know what that was, was it a backdrop or a banner? Yep, that they signed for us because we couldn't be there. And I can't thank Nikki enough, for it would have been the first time that the Runcation Nation and the Running Drink Podcast had ever had a booth at a packet pickup palooza slash expo experience and I hope that we have the opportunity to go back and do it in 2026. Nikki and everybody in her organization is just top notch in terms of organization for expo. Pack. A pickup Sounds like a smooth and a fun way to kick off the weekend.
Speaker 1:And it's at the lodge. So when you pull up into the lodge there's a big conference room area. So it's right there, very easily accessible. You walk in and get your stuff, then you can just walk right over to the main part of the hotel. So it was really nicely set up and organized and fun and full of energy.
Speaker 2:So they've got their niche, they've got their processes and they're doing it Solid expo experience and we talked about the pricing and how it's really a reasonable, reasonably priced race weekend.
Speaker 1:It is actually so. I already looked up the dates for next year.
Speaker 2:Oh.
Speaker 1:Registration is open. 2026. 2026, it's January 24th and 25th. Okay, and the marathon price right now, until july 28th, is 90, oh so you got a good stretch of months to pay the lowest price yeah, yeah. So after july it goes up to 145 oh.
Speaker 2:Oh see, that's not hey. So we're telling people they can consider it and they'll have plenty of time to train.
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely. And the half marathon is $70. 5k is $35. Okay, but then if you do the challenge like the half marathon is $70. If you do the dolphin challenge, with the half and the 5K, it's $95. Nice, so it's because a lot of times in marathons they're 50 and up, depending on where.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Certain venues, but this one, the marathon's, only 90 and the shark challenge is 120. So and say you can't go to Big Beach but you want to still participate there. They do have virtual options also, but their their registration is currently open.
Speaker 2:There you go. So we're giving people a jumpstart to get the lowest cost when they register for a fun race weekend that has a fantastic expo and it's right at the hotel, so you don't have to travel across town to get it, you because?
Speaker 2:I don't know, eric, did you don't seem like a guy that would, but I'm going to ask it anyway Do you have a lot of nerves? Did you have a lot of pre-race nerves because it was your first challenge, your first half marathon? But and you all talked about like Jesse talked about doing the half marathon, like the half marathon or the challenge training plan from Hal Higdon. So let me ask you this what was the longest training run prior to the race weekend that you had to complete?
Speaker 3:5K. No we did the 10K.
Speaker 2:Sorry. Yes, the 10K that was nine. No, we did nine, 'm sorry. Nine miles was the longest, okay, so it was just shy like four miles, shy of the distance then. Yes, and how did you feel? How did you feel going into the weekend after having completed that 10k kind of test run of half the distance and then having completed the longest training run of nine miles? How did you feel, eric, I felt pretty good.
Speaker 3:Yeah, considering the 10K, because I did a full three-mile run, I didn't stop for the first three miles, I just ran straight through the three and then walked only about three times on the three miles back on the 10k.
Speaker 2:So it sounds like you all don't do intervals as part of that hellhidden training plan for you.
Speaker 1:He stuck with the intervals with me and right now, since I had been out of running for a couple of years really, I do a minute on and 30 seconds off. So 30 seconds is like a power walk. And that's basically it gets my breathing going again, because I'm not a very good breather it's like a two to one ratio. Really, it's 30 seconds of walking, yeah so my pr that I have with my half marathon in saint pete, which is another amazing race tell me about.
Speaker 2:I want to go to that and you can get the three daughters anyway. Yeah, that's what I'm saying, eric it's not like we're trying to that and you can get the three daughters anyway. That's what I'm saying, Eric. It's not like we're trying to peer pressure you, but go ahead.
Speaker 3:I do it for the beer.
Speaker 1:So when I was in my peak and I was getting my PRS, I was doing two minutes on 30 seconds off. So I have to get to that again. But when we trained together he would stick with me at the intervals. If we were at a race that we were do your own thing, I said to the 10K I said go see what you got. And so his goal was to see can I run three miles solid? Then he popped into his own interval and just did what he could.
Speaker 1:So I think he just wanted to see what he could do.
Speaker 3:And it's amazing. There are just some races like that she does a minute on, then she does the 30 seconds off. I'm more visual. I see a target, I say I'm going to run that, and if it's a mile away I'm running solid through it.
Speaker 2:So you're doing intervals, but it's not like a set time. It's more like you're looking to maybe pass a certain like a power pole or a house or like a oh, here we'll run to the water, stop, because we can see it. And you feel like that. You're just using walking when you need to recover, but listening to your body and running most of the time yes, he's learning what works for him.
Speaker 1:For me, I have to have that little break because I just like, I chew gum and a lot of people like how can you chew gum around? But I do, and the weird thing is because it, believe it or not, it helps me breathe better because and it doesn't dry me out, okay. So I, when I come to a if it's a race and I come to a water stop or something, I carry my water but I'll pitch my gum out in the trash, can take my glue and then, as I get started, I'll pop another piece of gum in my mouth. If I'm training, I'll eat my goo and then I wrap my gum up in my goo package and stick it in my pocket.
Speaker 2:You carry with you gum and it sounds like goo is the fuel of choice.
Speaker 1:No, I say goo because people know that as a reference oh okay, what I like is glucose. Okay, they have a nice liquid one and that's the name of the company.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yes, and you both use this yes okay, I'm introducing certain things to him to see what works with him, because some people's systems are different gastrointestinal issues you don't want to have on a race day like half of mine, so we could see on a training run, yeah and actually glue has a liquid one now. I don't like the thick because it's too like icing type for me.
Speaker 2:Oh, I see, yeah, the ones that are like chocolate, like frosting, like really super thick, correct?
Speaker 1:but they knew I have a. They have another line now that's a liquid form, amy. They have a coffee one. It's really yummy. So glucose has the watermelon one and a fruit punch that are really goo has a liquid form one now also, and there's an orange and a coffee. There's a cola that basically tastes like a flat coke and it's liquid consistency, like you're just drinking something oh, like back in the day.
Speaker 2:Or shout out to Jeff Galloway, who would have a flat bottle of Coke, that we actually saw him on the Donna course with no, kidding no kidding, but now apparently you don't have to have it because you can get it from. You don't have to flatten the Coke yourself to take it out on the course, you can just have it from goo brand and I'll send you pictures.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, um tablets and it's like like salt tablets or no? It is like eating your goo. If you will, your gel, your electrolyte, yeah, but it's like eating a pixie stick back in the day, but in a tablet form oh, okay, and it dissolves in your tongue, so nice like. It's not over sugary, it's not over salty, it's like the perfect softness of eating your electrolyte, your carbon and everything, but in a tablet instead of a liquid pixie sticks.
Speaker 2:Okay, I was a fun dip person myself back in the day for people who have little white stick and then you can like yeah yeah. Okay, but so I? But I get it.
Speaker 1:I get the visual. And the reason why I like those two is because I'll put them in a little snack baggie fit in my handheld, so I'll have like. I like the Mentos gum because I got the hard shell.
Speaker 2:So it doesn't, yeah, it doesn't get sticky in your pocket. Yes.
Speaker 1:And then I have my Salt Lake tablets also.
Speaker 2:Those are fantastic.
Speaker 1:I love them and they've got some new flavors which are amazing, and then my glucose tablets and of course, I always got Apple. So that's what my little snack bag is.
Speaker 2:So you actually carry everything in a snack bag and then you have a handheld water bottle, jesse, that's what you do and then I have my gels in my pocket too.
Speaker 1:So I like to have I don't just do the liquid gel or a salt tablet. I like to have variations.
Speaker 3:So you don't get sick of things or there's not, depending on how she's feeling.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I'll run without drinking water, which she parts on me for that.
Speaker 2:But my body is very touchy. Heat sickness is no joke. Or like to be dehydrated. We have been through that. It's not good. So it's good to have a reminder to drink when you need to, not overly much.
Speaker 3:So that's why she's been introducing the gels and whatnot to me too and, at the same token, a lot of these times when we have run and it has been fairly humid and or hot. Oh yeah, her bottle and we just take it. I take a little sip off.
Speaker 2:Dan and I'll do the same thing.
Speaker 3:That's where big beach had the perfect bottle for me, cause I get fatigued hands very badly Due to my line of work, which flooring, by the way, due to my line of work, which is flooring, by the way. Okay, I bought a bottle that I could squeeze, because my hand will clench out of nowhere for no reason. And it's a collapsible bottle A collapsible bottle and it won't pop, it won't hurt the bottle and I still have my liquid.
Speaker 1:So it's not a hardcore plastic one. Now what?
Speaker 2:brand is that Was that. Do you know I?
Speaker 1:think it was Nathan. I think it was Nathan.
Speaker 2:Nathan makes a lot of great stuff.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:That was my first running belt and they're pretty solid and very widely available too. Yeah, so we've talked a little bit about your gear. We've talked about your socks and your shoes. We've talked about now that you dressed in layers, because it was something like 29 degrees. That's a wrap for this week. It was something like 29 degrees. That's a wrap for this week. Stay tuned next week for the remainder of the awesome recap. I can't thank Jesse and Eric enough for spending so much time with me, giving so many valuable tips about the weekend itself, but also about what they have discovered on their running journey together. So for now, I'm your host, amy. Stay safe and well, and we will accomplish, explore and indulge with you really soon.
