Nashville Marathon: Nashville, Tennessee, April 22, 2023 – Marathon #13
Anyone who knows me understands I’m a country girl at heart. I love all things country—especially the music and the vibe. But after running the Nashville Marathon, I may need to reconsider my love for the rolling hills of Tennessee!
The trip started off eventful, as most of my races do. I had mentioned before I left that I wanted to work on my pacing and be more patient. I tend to get caught up in the excitement and run too fast in the first 15-16 miles, only to slow down later in the race. I thought if I could flip the script, my times would improve. What I didn’t anticipate was how my patience would be tested before I even left the airport in Nashville. Yep—two hours in line for my rental car, even though I had a reservation! Needless to say, I decided to start making friends early to pass the time.
After I finally got my car, I headed to pick up my race gear, only to discover the address listed in the emails for packet pickup was from the previous year. This is where the adventure began. When I arrived, there were about 15 other runners with the same issue. We all chuckled and realized we were clearly in the wrong spot. It was then that I met a wonderful lady named Cynthia from Louisiana, who was running the race alone. We decided to spend the afternoon together. We hiked for what felt like 2 miles before we spotted runners with race packets in hand—finally, we found the expo! We grabbed dinner afterward before parting ways, exchanged Facebook friend requests, and wished each other good luck.
Race Day: A Nashville Adventure
Race day came, and I managed to sleep well, despite being unsure how the hills would treat me. But I was ready. The atmosphere was electric, with 24,000 runners between all the races. I even ran into my neighbor, Catherine, from Kansas City, and we snapped a quick picture before the start. The first part of the race took us downhill, then we turned a corner and headed straight up the famous Nash Hill. I had to get a video of that—it’s as crazy as it sounds!
By mile 5, I got Lei’d by a supportive fan (which is a Nashville tradition, apparently), and was offered a pickle at Shelby Park around mile 22. The last 6 miles were tough, but that “thigh burn” feeling was kind of awesome. I crossed the finish line with a time of 5:11:44. I was satisfied with that, especially considering the hilly course.
Afterward, I took a well-deserved nap and then treated myself to an evening at the Grand Ole Opry, which was a fantastic experience.
Post-Race Fun and Nashville Vibes
On Sunday morning, I got up early as usual and treated myself to breakfast at the famous Pancake Pantry. It was delicious, and the service was amazing! Afterward, I made my way to Broadway, only to find the aftermath of a wild and crazy Nashville Saturday night. It didn’t disappoint! I had some time before my 1-mile race, so I toured the Johnny Cash Museum and snapped more pictures of the colorful spots on Broadway.
As odd as it might sound, I know I just ran 26.2 miles, but I couldn’t resist collecting two extra medals at the 1-mile race. My time was 8:19—not too shabby! Then it was back to Broadway to dance and listen to some live bands. As I was walking down the street, I heard several bands playing, but one particularly caught my attention: The Ricky Tanner Band at The Stage. I decided to go in and have a closer listen.
That’s when I met one of the coolest grandmas ever. Lynn Beggin from Lima, Ohio, at 87 years young, was tearing up the dance floor. She was using every inch of the “runway of life.” Watching her smile and dance with such joy was absolutely contagious. I don’t normally dance, but I couldn’t resist joining her. We snapped a picture together, and before long, the entire bar filled up, and there was no room left on the dance floor. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Thank you, Lynn!
Next week, I’m heading to Louisville, Kentucky for my next race. I can’t wait to see what adventures await me there!