Myrtle Beach Marathon: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, March 4, 2023 – Marathon #10
When I signed up for the Myrtle Beach Marathon, I was beyond excited. I’d heard so much about the beauty of Myrtle Beach, and the idea of running 26.2 miles along its coast sounded incredible. As the race date drew nearer, my excitement only grew. But then, just a week before, life threw me a curveball—a bump in my left side.
Right before Cowtown Marathon, I was in a car accident. Someone hit me in the driver’s door, totaling my car. The seat airbags deployed, giving me a swift punch to my left rib cage. I was sore, but after a CT scan confirmed nothing was broken, I decided to go ahead with Cowtown, marking my 10th state and qualifying me for the 50 States Running Club. Myrtle Beach was next, and I was determined to power through.
The week between the two marathons, I ran less than 5 miles due to exhaustion and soreness. I was worried, but I promised myself I’d listen to my body and take it easy during Myrtle Beach. After all, once I completed this race, I’d have a break until April 19th.
Arrival in Myrtle Beach
When I arrived in Myrtle Beach, I headed straight to packet pick-up—it’s always the first thing I do at any race. It’s the moment when things feel real. While there, I met Thomas and Blake from Chicago. They had just run the Honolulu Marathon in December for their honeymoon, and now, Thomas was running the full marathon while Blake was running the half with their brother-in-law. Thomas was especially excited because this was the first race where he’d have family cheering him on. We had a great chat and shared the excitement of race day.
Race Morning Challenges
Race morning, things didn’t go quite as planned. I arrived about two hours before start time, as I always do. The start line was being set up, and I knew where I needed to park—or so I thought. I was stopped by security guards who told me I wasn’t allowed to park in the designated area, even though that’s where the runners were directed. After a bit of back and forth, they told me to return at 6:45 a.m., just 10 minutes before the race started. Anxiety set in, but thankfully, the Myrtle Beach police came to the rescue, helping me park without worrying about my rental car getting towed.
When I finally made it to the start line, I found myself alone for about 40 minutes—just me and two photographers. It was odd because I knew there were around 4,000 runners between the half and full marathons. By the time the race started, the line was packed, and the excitement built up.
The Warmest Myrtle Beach Marathon
This would turn out to be the warmest Myrtle Beach Marathon in history, with temps nearing 80°F by the end. Though my race time wasn’t what I hoped for, I found a few personal victories along the way. I helped some runners who were struggling and took a few photos with others on the course. Despite the heat, I was able to keep moving and finish the race strong.
A Special Family Moment
After the marathon, I had a special treat waiting for me. My nephew, a Marine, was stationed just a few hours away, and he had gotten married earlier that day. I hadn’t seen him in a year and hadn’t met his new wife, so I drove to meet them before Molly, who is also a Marine, had to board a flight back to her duty station in California.
They told me that Molly had received orders to go to Australia for the next 8 months. Wow, what a life as a Marine! As much as I empathized with their situation, I admired how well they were handling it. After the emotional visit, I drove back to Myrtle Beach to indulge in some seafood.
Captain George’s and a Beach Sunrise
I’d been told to try Captain George’s, and I’m so glad I did. The seafood was absolutely delicious! Since I was dining alone, I sat at the bar, where Greg and Eric, the bartenders, kept me entertained throughout my meal. They were fantastic!
By now, I realized I wasn’t going to get any pictures frolicking in the ocean, but I had a plan. I decided to wake up early for a shakeout run and then catch the sunrise, dipping my toes in the Atlantic Ocean. However, when I woke up, it was a breezy 42°F. No worries—I wasn’t going to let a little cold stop me. After my run, I quickly changed into my bikini and made it just in time to capture beautiful sunrise photos and dip my toes in the chilly ocean. It was the perfect end to my time in Myrtle Beach.
Airport Reflections and Connections
I had a few hours to burn before my flight, so I explored some shopping and grabbed more food before heading to the airport. Once I was at the gate, I met a few other marathon runners who had also participated in the race. I always wear my medals home. Some people think it’s weird, but I love it because it sparks conversations and reminds me to celebrate my achievement. After all, 26.2 miles is a big deal, especially when you’re running back-to-back marathons in different states.
At the airport, I met a runner who was frustrated with his race time—he finished in 3:05, and as much as he thought it was a poor time, I couldn’t help but be in awe. He was on his own journey to run a marathon in every state, just like me. We ended up sitting together on the plane, talking about all things running for two hours. Before we parted ways in Chicago, we snapped a photo together.
Reflection
My journey continues to be amazing, filled with challenges, triumphs, and incredible connections. Whether I inspire someone at a race or a stranger overhears my story in the airport, I hope to leave the world a little brighter than I found it.