#DreamBig : 13.1 in all 50 states : DreamBig 2011

State #4 - Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville Country Music Marathon
Finishers: 22,015

April 28, 2011
After each race, I am exhausted, worn out yet still excited for whats next. Soon after my New Orleans race, I signed up for the big event that everyone in the south always talks about: The Music City Half Marathon. Anyone who is anyone has run this race in the running community and I wanted to be part of the hype. I signed up for what is officially known as Rock N' Roll Nashville and continued my training in Auburn through the Spring semester. Was it fun coming home from work, school, work again, changing into running clothes, waving to my roomie Erin and heading out the door every evening? Not really. But I knew it was worth it.

The plan for Nashville was to meet my dad halfway. The weekend of the race was the weekend before finals so I decided to go home to St. Louis to do some studying. On Friday evening, I packed up the car and headed to Nashville. I got to the hotel just in time for dad to offer up some free appetizers and drinks, as always.

April 29, 2011
We woke up Saturday morning and went downtown to pick up my race gear. Dad was blown away by the number of people at the Expo. The line to get it was wrapped up and down hallways and staircases. Seeing as there were 22,000+ people who ran the half marathon, it all made sense. After getting my bag and race gear, we wandered around a little and then decided to map out the course and our plan of dropping me off in the morning. If you are not aware of this, I am THE ultimate planner. I don't like surprises especially when it involves my running.

That night we went to a very fancy establishment called Cock of the Walk where we had fried pickles, mushrooms and everything else I probably should not have eaten before a race. But at least I was drinking water. When we got back to the hotel my nerves were already playing games with me and between them and dads snoring, it was not a good nights sleep.

April 30, 2011
I got up far earlier (if I even slept) then necessary to start getting all of my gear on. Jacob Watkins had given me a new Auburn hat and I decided to wear one of my long sleeve Auburn National Championship shirts since we were in a different SEC town.

Our pre-race approach went to plan and I shivered at the start line with all of the other racers until the gun went off. Thankfully I had already run a RnR race before so I knew what they were like with the wave starts. The first couple miles were rolling hills and dad was supposed to be standing at the turn around mile 2.

When I got there I didn't see him and later found out he was inside enjoying a nice hot coffee and bagel. Rude. Around that same point I ran into Jack Robertson from Auburn and said a quick out of breathe hello before he took off. From that point on, the hills NEVER stopped. We ran around Belmont and Vandy and I feel like it was a roller coaster of pain.

So close to the finish! Acting like I'm totally okay

Really everything was a hill - especially the finish. At about mile 13 of 13.1 I finally saw dad in his Auburn gear as well and I knew I was close as I could see the stadium finish as well. I crossed the finish line at 2:12:45 which was my slowest race yet but it still counts. You know what's gross? I am about 90% sure that after my race we grabbed a quick bite to eat at like McDonalds or Panera and then we immediately drove back the 5 hours to Saint Louis. Meaning my poor father sat in the car with my stinky self for 5 hours. What a trooper.

Tennessee - you can keep your hills. 4 down, 46 more to go!