Walk Into the Future

Tag: Nissan Stadium

  • 2025 Nashville Half Marathon

    ā€œI love Nashville.  It seems like everywhere you walk; thereā€™s great music coming out of every wallā€.

    (Imelda May)

    My Walk into the Future brought me back to one of my favorite cities, Nashville, Tennessee (NashVegas)! šŸ˜Š

    I always look forward to my yearly pilgrimage to the Music City for the half marathon, live music and great food.  Nashville is my city!

    I added bridge repeats to my training program this year to help me battle the Nashville hills.  This additional training got me ready, like my old training routes in Tallahassee, Florida.  I never imagined how the hill training in Tallahassee prepared me for the half marathon distance.  Yes, I need more hill training in my life!

    The 2025 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon was a battle.  This was not because of the distance or the hills.  I put in extra work to get me mentally and physically ready to rock the half marathon (pun intended).  The battle on race day was because of the unseasonably high humidity.  April temperatures in Nashville rarely get past the mid-60s but our race day started with temperatures in this range and the humidity hung in the air.  Again, the race temperature at the start was fine but the humidity was my primary worry.  Yes, I train in Florida, but the humidity has not been high so far in this training cycle.

    The race is well organized and there are aid stations about every 1.5 miles on the course.  I made a mental and strategic plan to get extra fluids at the aid stations to keep myself hydrated throughout the race.

    I stayed in a new hotel this year.  The Marriott Courtyard West End which was one block over from my normal hotel.  I got a great rate which included parking and breakfast and allowed me faster access to the great restaurants in the West End of Nashville.  I got an early morning flight from Orlando to Nashville so I could hit the race EXPO when it opened and then head over to Broadway for food, beer and music.

    Getting through the EXPO was a breeze!  The Rock N Roll folks know how to throw a race party.  I got my bib, t-shirt and Rock N Roll carry bag and made my way to visit the vendors in the Music City Convention Center.  I didnā€™t really need anything but always get some food samples and explore clothing options.  I found a funky headband that matched my projected race outfit and tried out some recovery bootsā€”this is always a highlight if there are no long lines.  No, Lauren, I did not buy the high price recovery boots. šŸ˜Š

    I left the EXPO and walked one block over to Broadway to take in the sights and hear great music.Ā  My first stop was Rippyā€™s Honkytonk for food, beer and live music.Ā  Rippyā€™s is a popular spot and has great BBQ.Ā  This is not my typical meal before a race, but the pull pork is outstanding, and I doubled up on the French fries as part of my carb loading process.Ā  I left Rippyā€™s and made my way to my favorite spot, The Stage.Ā  I love this spot because of the stage configuration and the quality bands that play here.Ā  This is my go-to spot in Nashville.Ā 

    I left The Stage and made my way down to 2nd Ave to check out Luke Combā€™s new spot, Category 10.Ā  This is where the old Wildhorse Saloon was located, and I was anxious to see what they did to the place.Ā  The inside of the venue has been upgraded with new floors, light show and sound system.Ā  They also provide line dancing lessons throughout the day.Ā  Yes, Maria, I like line dancing when Iā€™m in Nashville. šŸ˜Š

    https://www.rippyshonkytonk.com/

    Home

    I didnā€™t want to stay on my feet too much with a half marathon coming up, so I made my way to the Westend of Nashville and checked into my hotel.  I made a point to get to bed early so I could tackle the Nashville hills in the morning.

    My hotel was only 1 mile away from the race start line, so I walked down Broadway as a warmup.  I was assigned Corral #6 this year which put me close to the elite runners.  Iā€™m not saying I am elite, but I could see them from where I was standing. šŸ˜Š  I got a nice warmup by walking to the start line and stretched well before getting into the corral.  Getting extra hydration on the course was going to be a needed resource due to the humidity.

    The Rock N Roll series uses rolling starts to ensure runners are safe at the start line.  They release corrals every two minutes, so I didnā€™t have to wait long to get my start down Broadway.  The first portion of the course on Broadway is downhill before we make a right on 4th Ave and then begin the climb back up towards Music Row.

    My first mile was run in 9:20 which felt pretty good considering runners experience the first major hill climb within the first half mile of the race.  My pace stayed consistent throughout the race with Mile 11 being my slowest at 10:34.  I stuck to my race plan and got fluids at each aid station and made a point to pour water on the back of my head to avoid overheatingā€”this really works. šŸ˜Š

    I finished Mile 13 with a pace of 10:12 and crossed the Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon at 2:12:45 which was 8 minutes faster than 2024 even with the heat and humidity.  Unfun factā€”there were several racers who needed medical attention on the course.  This is the only race where Iā€™ve seen runners receiving medical attention.  Iā€™m hoping these runners have speedy recoveries and can get back to running soon.

    The race after party was epic again this year with food trucks, free beer and a concert.  I stayed around a little longer this year to soak in the atmosphere and celebrate a hard-fought race.  I am already looking forward to my return to the 2026 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon.

    What are you looking forward to?

    FYI–part 2 will cover my time on Broadway! šŸ˜Š

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    ā€œThe half marathon is not a race against others; itā€™s a race against our own doubtsā€.

    (Unknown)

  • Nashville 2023

    Nashville, Tennessee is one of my favorite places to visit.Ā  The culture, music, food, and activities around the Lower Broadway area keep bringing me back year after year.

    The 2023 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon was the draw that got me back up there in April.  The race organizers do a fantastic job with the race and really take care of the runners.

    Made my way to Nashville on Friday and wanted to ensure I had time to explore the race EXPO.  My friend Lauren and boyfriend Reese came down from Philly and we met at the EXPO.  This was the first time seeing them since last year for the Atlantic City Half Marathon.  Lauren had never run in Nashville and wanted to experience the sights, sounds and music Iā€™m always talking about.

    We got our race packets and made our way to visit the vendors and see what new products are out.  Tested a few of the new hydration drinks available but didnā€™t buy anything.  Decided I wanted to get new leg compression sleeves and got a Rock N Roll custom designed pair.  They matched my running outfit and provided me with a new look for the race.  We got EXPO photos together and listened to the music for a bit. 

    The Rock N Roll folks moved the EXPO from the Music City Convention Center to the Musicians Hall of Fame.  Sounds similar but the new location was a lot smaller, and the vendors were cramped into a hallway.  I hope we move back to our regular location next yearā€”plus it would put us closer to Broadway and all the music venues.

    Left the EXPO and made my way back over to Lower Broadway to continue to carb load and find some music.Ā  Found an open seat at the Wildhorse Saloon and got food and beer while watching the line dancers.Ā  Love the Wildhorse and the band playing was great, and the line dancers were having a ball.Ā  Decided to forego line dancing since I had a half marathon the next day.Ā  Left the Wildhorse and hit a couple other music spots before making my way back to the hotel to get some rest.

    Met Lauren on race day close to the start line so we could stretch and mentally prepare for the Nashville hills.  I texted her during my training sessions to let her know I was running hill repeats over bridges.  She didnā€™t fully understand why until we got to Nashville.  šŸ˜Š

    Shoutout to my friends at the First Baptist Church in Nashville!  They open the church property and allow runners to relax inside while waiting for the race to start.  This really comes in handy when the weather is cool and helps runners get off their feet prior to the race start.

    We made our way to the start line and settled into Corral #5.  Surprisingly ran into an Orlando runner I met last year at this race, and he remembered me.  Turns out he came back for the race because he did not like his 2022 race time and wanted to improve.  I met another runner who lives in Buffalo but moved there from Orlando.  They saw my Track Shack running shirt and it was a family reunion prior to the race start.  I highlight these encounters because I tried to prepare them for the hills they were about to run.  They did not seem to think I was serious and could not imagine the hills were going to be as extreme as I described.  I tried to help them, but they had to learn on their own.

    Fast forwardā€”Lauren and I started the race together and ran down the Lower Broadway hill with a smile on our faces.  The first half mile in Nashville is downhill and the rest appears to be up a different hill for the next 8 miles.  Wish this was an exaggeration but check the race elevationā€”the hills are steep in Nashville.

    We split up after the third hill and ran our individual races.  The weather was a lot cooler this year and this made running the hills a lot more pleasant. 

    Ran most of the race with a smile on my face and enjoyed the great music and spectators that lined the course and cheered for runners.  This may be my favorite race for spectators on the course and the music is fantastic.

    My race splits were:

    Mile 1:  9:57/ Mile 2:  10:40 / Mile 3:  10:47 / Mile 4:  9:48 / Mile 5: 9:58 / Mile 6:  10:02 / Mile 7: 10:10 / Mile 8:  10:04 / Mile 9:  9:54 / Mile 10:  9:28 / Mile 11:  9:54 / Mile 12:  10:05 / Mile 13:  10:04 / Mile .1 / 2:48   (2:13:34 Half Marathon)

    ***Super proud of that Mile 10 split!*** šŸ˜Š

    Lauren and I spent time at the after-race party recovering from the hilly half marathon, drinking beers, and getting some pictures together to commemorate the race and great atmosphere.

    ACME and Wildhorse Saloon

    Made our way across the bridge over the Cumberland River and met Reese at ACME for brunch.  This is a multi-level building with great views, food, and cold beer:  https://www.acmefeedandseed.com/.

    The Wildhorse Saloon was next for some line dancing lessons and more cold beer.  We decided to get in as much Lower Broadway as possible before leg soreness kicked in from the race.  This was Lauren first line dancing rodeo, so we made our way onto the dance floor to learn a nice dance and then they turned us loose with two songs to showcase our line dancing moves.  We were great students and danced without stepping on any toes or hurting our dance neighbors.  Great experience and a lot of fun to introduce my Philly friend to Nashville line dancing.

    We hit a few other music spots on Lower Broadway to get the full country music experience.  Decided to call it a day once the leg soreness kicked in.  Made my way back to my hotel to begin the recovery process and find more Nashville music.

    Fantastic race, trip, and time with my tree branches!

    Yes, Iā€™m already signed up to return in 2024.  Who is joining the Nashville party?

    Irie!

  • 2022 Florida Half Marathon

    ā€œPlease ignore the faces I make while runningā€.

    (Anonymous)

    IMG_20220212_201240_884

    Diabolical:  Outrageously wicked (Dictionary.com).

    Never thought I would describe a race as diabolical but thatā€™s what I am going to do.Ā  I know there are other meanings for diabolical, but I will stick with outrageously wicked.

    The Florida Marathon/Half Marathon is a fine race that is put on by a fantastic run organization.  My use of the word diabolical is more to describe the course and how the runners must finish both races.

    Yes, this was a half marathon, so I was ready to put in my 13.1 miles of work in for the day.  I was happy with my 2022 Vero Beach Half Marathon results in January and wanted to translate that effort into the 2022 Florida Half Marathon in Melbourne.

    Letā€™s jump ahead a bitā€”there was no translation from the Vero Beach race to the Melbourne race.  Happy with my effort but did not get close to matching or exceeding my January race time during this race.  More on that later. šŸ˜Š

    Signed up for this race to ensure I run monthly half marathons January through May.Ā  Wanted to test myself by adding more races to my schedule in 2022 and building a run base that will allow me to get faster with each raceā€”in theory.Ā 

    Melbourne is one of my favorite places to visit because of the great beaches and laid-back vibe of the people.  This race provides the best of my worldsā€”beaches and running.  This was my first race in Melbourne, so I was excited to run the city as a running tourist. 

    Drove up on Saturday morning since this race had a Sunday morning start.Ā  I wanted to get in town early enough to pick up my race packet and continue to carb load throughout the day.Ā  My ultimate motive was to get into town early enough so I could go sit on the beach at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for a bit.Ā  I always maximize beach time when I can. šŸ˜Š

    The EXPO was held in the Front Street Park Civic Center.Ā  This sounds like a huge place, but it is the size of a regular house, and it is right on the river side in downtown Melbourne.Ā  Parking was quick and easy, so made my way into the Civic Center to get my race packet and see what the vendors had to offer.

    There were only a handful of runners in the Civic Center when I arrived so went right to the front of the line to get my race bib (#715) and packet.  Grabbed a fellow runner to take my picture in front of the step and repeat race display which is a tradition for me.  Walked around a bit to see the vendors but did not buy anything while at the EXPO.

    Went outside and took a few pictures along the river and got a great shot of one of the bridges we would have to cross during the race.  The bridge incline should have been a precursor of what was to come.

    Left the Civic Center and checked into my hotel.  Wanted to drop off my bags and get a good feel for how close the hotel was to the race start line.  Made my way to the Crowne Plaza to get lunch and continue my carb loading process.  The weather was great on Saturday and provided a perfect backdrop to relax on the beach and listen to the band playing on the deck.  Enjoyed a turkey club sandwich, fries, and Bud Light at the Crowne Plaza.  They have an extensive menu, but I stay conservative the day before a race to eliminate potential stomach issues during the raceā€”lesson learned from a past race.  Sat on the beach for a bit and enjoyed the views before heading out.

    Left the Crowne Plaza and made my way to Patrick Space Force Base (PSFB) for a quick shopping trip.  Wanted to see if they had the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22s to replace my GTS 21s.  They had the 22s but not in my size so walked around and looked at stuff I didnā€™t needā€”never a wasted trip since I get to spend time around military people againā€”love being back on-base.

    Made my way to the Olive Garden to finish my carb loading for the day and get to bed early.  The restaurant was crowded so made my way to the bar and found a seat there.  I am basic when carb loading so went with the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, lots of bread sticks and Bud Light.  Relaxed back at the hotel before an early bedtime so I could get my rest and get up early to tackle the half marathon.

    Remember the term diabolical from earlier?Ā  Well, let jump into that a bit more now. šŸ˜Š

    Woke up at 4:45 am to prepare my mind and body for the 13.1 miles I needed to cover at 6:30 am.  I do some stretching and mental preparation during this timeframe before putting on my equipment (KT tape, Salonpas patches and BioFreeze) and getting dressed.  My run outfit was conservative for me so got dressed after putting on my layers of equipment.

    Luckily, I grabbed one of my running jackets before leaving the hotel because it was already raining.  The weather forecast ā€˜mentionedā€™ rain the day before, but this was just a steady flow, and it was not cold.  I thought the rain would be around for a little bit but was wrong on my forecasting skills.

    Made my way downtown towards the race starting point and arrive about 10 minutes after leaving the hotel.Ā  Researched places to park the night before and found a spot about 100 yards from the race start line.Ā  There was still a light rain coming down at this point, but it got heavier the closer we got to race time.Ā  The race announcer came on the loudspeaker and let us know the race was delayed due to weatherā€”the on-course police support was still getting setup because of the rain.Ā  I sat in my vehicle to avoid standing around in the rain without knowing the exact time we would start the race.Ā  The delay lasted for only 15 minutes, but most runners did not get a chance for a normal warmup.

    The marathon runners were allowed to start 10 minutes before the half marathoners.Ā  I did not leave my vehicle until the announcer gave us a 5-minute warning for our race to start.Ā  Made my way to the bathroom and then got a quick stretch in before heading to the start line.

    IMG_20220213_133315_491

    Yes, it was still raining, and the streets were wet!  We finally got started at 6:50 am

    I decided to go out very controlled since the streets were wet and did not want to injure myself or anyone else.  I did not have a specific finish time in mind with the wet conditionsā€”wanted to enjoy the course (LOL) and the experience.

    Miles 1 ā€“ 3 were crowded as runners were very cautious trying to avoid slipping and bringing others down with them.Ā  My first mile was a comfortable 9:19 which was probably too fast for the conditions and what was to come.Ā  Miles 2 and 3 were like my Mile 1 pace but still felt comfortable.Ā  A cool experience during this portion of the race was we got a chance to see dolphins swimming in the river.Ā  Yes, runners enjoy the scenery during races. šŸ˜Š

    Slowed my pace a bit during Miles 4 and 5 because I knew the course got a bit tougher at the 6-mile point.Ā  The FIRST bridge crossing starts at Mile 6 and goes up until you hit the Mile 7 marker.Ā  Bridge running is tough in normal conditions but gets a lot tougher in the rain.Ā  I did not want to lose too much time so gritted out the incline and then made-up time on the bridge decline.Ā  Felt great through Mile 8 but hit a wall right at the Mile 9 marker.Ā  This may have happened because my warmup routine was impacted due to rain or I went too fast on the bridge.Ā  Either way, my legs were on fire and yes, it was still raining on us.

    Decided at this point to just finish the race.  No need to try to set a Personal Record (PR) since my legs were not moving that fast anyway.

    Miles 9 through 11 were consistently slow for me but I keep moving forward.Ā  Started feeling good about myself again at this point but then the second bridge crossing was looming.Ā  So, my question is:Ā  who puts another bridge crossing at the 11-mile point of a half marathon?Ā  A diabolical person, thatā€™s who.

    Yep, had to dig down to get up and over another bridge to finish this @#$% race!Ā  I made it slowly up to the 12-mile marker and then found some level of courage to go faster on the decline.Ā  I did not want to limp across the finish line but that is how I felt. Ā I put on my best Iā€™m not in pain face and found a kick to get me across the finish line.Ā  My official time was:Ā  2:17:52 which was 6 minutes slower than Vero Beach.Ā  Iā€™ll take it with the conditions and bridge placement.

    Got my medal, a couple beers and donuts and found a place to sit down to enjoy my prizes.Ā  It was still raining so got my rain jacket out of my vehicle so I could sit and get some ice on my quads.Ā  Talked with my fellow runners and we all experienced the course in a similar way.Ā  Happy to finish but beat up by the conditions and the course.Ā  Would love to meet the person who thought it was a good idea to cross a bridge after Mile 11. šŸ˜Š

    As much as Iā€™m complaining, I will probably run this race again next year.Ā  Hopefully, we will have better weather and I know the course now and can pace myself for a better finish.Ā  We will see!

    Irie!

    ā€œI run because punching people is frown uponā€.

    (Anonymous)