The Diva Half Marathon in Myrtle Beach

Lish and I

I woke up very early the morning of Sunday, May 20^th for the Diva Half Marathon in North Myrtle Beach, SC.  It was a 7 am start time, and with parking concerns my friend Lish and I left our hotel at 5:30 am.  We parked and rode the shuttle to the race start.  The day was beautiful and the weather was perfect!  We were all concerned the day before the race about tropical storm Alberto making a presence.  Thankfully, Albert stayed at sea and gave us a perfect race day. 

The running momma

The thing I love most about running is the friends I have made.  When Lish and I got to the race staging area, I recognized one of my Facebook friends, Michelle.  She let out a squeal as she ran toward me to hug me.  I was just as happy to finally meet her.  Then it was time to meet up with my running momma  friends that I had dinner with the night before.  We took a few group pictures, then we all as a group headed to the race start. 

Love this sign! 

There were no corrals at this race.  At first, I was not sure how I felt about this, but it seemed to work well.  Race organizers hung up estimated minutes per mile speeds.  Runners were asked to start the race near their estimated pace.  I started in the twelve minute per mile pace with my friend Lish and some of the slower running mommas.  Since I was so far back, I did not get to hear the start of the race.   Half the race was behind me, so none of them got to hear it either.  The crowd started moving forward slowly, and with about seven minutes on the clock, I crossed the start! 

I got this picture from a friends Facebook page.  A sea of Divas!

The first three-ish miles were run on the road the parallels the ocean.  Although there were lots of hotels between us and the ocean, we got plenty of glimpses of the beautiful Atlantic and felt her beautiful breezes.  This part of the race was crowded but maneuverable.  Here is where I ran into my friend Jen dressed as Rainbow Bright.  The course took a turn and we began to run through a residential neighborhood.  After that, the course went through the staging area.  There were so many people—friends, family, children—cheering us on.  I always enjoy reading signs people make to cheer on their loved ones at races. 

Tiara and Boa station

By this time, it was getting very hot and very sunny!  I was still running strong by the time I hit mile marker nine.  This was the mile along a main highway and past my hotel.  We then turned into a brand her neighborhood still under construction.  These were some of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen.  Around mile ten and a half, I began to feel very nauseated.  I tried to fight it off, I tried to keep running but I could not.  Water did not help, Gatorade did not help.  I ended up walking most of the last two miles, on the same ocean front road we stated the race on.

Kendrick and I at the finish

At mile thirteen, there was the signature Diva tiara and feather boa stop!  This was so much fun.  They had several tiaras to choose from, some with pink or purple rhinestones.  After the tiara and boa stop, I started to run toward the finish.  I ran though the finish line and a medal was placed around my neck by a shirtless fireman.  I looked up at the clock and noticed I beat my first half marathon time by about thirty minutes!  The official Diva training, Kendrick,  was just past the finish line congratulating runners.  I got to meet him at the expo, but was so excited to see him again at the finish line.  I headed off to the Diva café to get some food and water, and wait for my friends to finish.  After some fun pictures with friends, it was time to head back to my hotel to see my daughter. 

My Diva bib and medal

MyOverall the Diva Half Marathon was a great, very well organized event.  Parking was easy, bag check was very efficient and the course was well marked.  Was it as magical as the runDisney Princess Half?  Maybe not, but to me, nothing will be. My second half marathon was a success.  I can’t wait to run like a Diva in Long Island on October 7^th! 

A dream is a wish…

--Amy

Have you checked out my Memorial Day virtual 5k to benefitthe Leukemia and Lymphoma Society?  I would really appreciate your support! 

The start line!

Diva Half Marathon Expo

I just got back from a wonderful trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the Diva Half Marathon.  The trip was perfect!  The drive down was about 10 hours.  My mom, my daughter and I arrived in Myrtle Beach around 8 PM on Friday evening.  We checked into our hotel, got some dinner and then made a Wal-Mart run for some last minute essentials.  We went to bed that night with plans of hitting the Diva Half Marathon first thing Saturday morning. 

We got up Saturday morning, got some breakfast and headed out to the expo.  I was not sure what to expect for this Expo.  The only other Expos I had ever been to were Disney.  We got to the Expo around 10 am.  The cars were pouring in.   We parked and went in.  A very grouchy lady from the chamber of commerce handed my mom and I a bag of coupons and directed me to packet pickup.  There was no line at packet pick up.  I told them my bib number, showed them my ID, and they gave me my packet.  Very easy! 

Inside the packet was my bib, some bib pins, a draw string back pack and the race shirt.  I really like getting a goody bag, but it is nice to not have a bunch of papers to through away.  The shirt is awesome!  It is a ladies cut tech material, hot pink and super cute.  The draw string back pack is nice and also served as our gear check bag. 

After I got my packet, I walked around the vendor stands.  There was maybe 10-15 vendor stands at the Expo—much less than at Disney.  I checked out Running Princess and got an awesome shirt that I wore for the Diva half.  I checked out some other vendors and got a new headband.  My last stop was the Diva Lounge.  At the Diva Lounge, there were lots of tiaras, feather boas, and Diva bling to play dress up with.  There were also banners to take pictures with.  I also got to meet Kendrick, the official trainer for the Diva running series.  I have been following him on Facebook and Twitter for a while now.  He always gives great advice and answers reader’s questions.  He is a real class act. 

The highlight of the Expo for me was being recognized by two separate blog/Facebook friends.   I love meeting new people!  It was so great to meet you, Cara and Jenna!  I also met up with some friends from home.  It was fun to shop the vendors with friends. 

After the Expo, my mom and I spent some time on the Myrtle Beach board walk and beach.  For the evening, I went to dinner with some of the most wonderful women I know.  Thank you to Hope Epton for hosting and giving us a place to hang out together!  It was so great to see you ladies again!  After dinner, I went back to the hotel to prepare for the Diva half the next morning. 

A dream is a wish…

--Amy 

Overlapping Training Plans

I have so many fun races coming up!  Each race comes with its own training plan.  With these races spread over the next year, what races do I train for officially?

In the immediate future, I have the Diva Half marathon on Sunday, and then the San Diego Rock and Roll Half Marathon.  I committed to do the San Diego Half long before the Diva, so I have been following the SD training plan.  Coincidently, the SD plan has me do 12 miles the weekend of the Diva, so it fits into the plan very nicely. 

My fall race training is what I am not sure about.  I have Disneyland September 2^nd, the Diva Long Island October 7^th, my most anticipated race of the season—Nike San Francisco Half on October 14^th  with Team in Training, then Hershey Half October 22^nd, then finally Disney Wine and Dine Half November 10^th.  Official training for Disneyland started on May 1^st.  Official training with the Team starts in mid-June for Nike. 

What plan do I follow? 

My plan is to jump right into the Jeff Galloway training plan for the Disneyland half as soon as I get back from San Diego.   Since I will already be trained, after DL, I plan to follow the Team plan until Nike, and then jump into the Jeff Galloway plan for Wine and Dine.

What do you think of my plan?  Have you ever worked overlapping training plans?  How did you mesh the plans together?

A dream is a wish…

--Amy

I'm Running Like a Diva!

I’m running like a Diva!  I’m doing the Diva Half Marathon in North Myrtle Beach on May 20, 2012.  I have wanted to do this race since I first heard about it.  My sisters and I had planned to do this race together, but as it gets closer all three have changed their minds.  My mom and grandmom will take a road trip to South Carolina with my daughter and I. 

The Diva Half Marathon sounds just as girly as the Disney Princess, but with a twist of sass.  There is a feather boa station and tiara stop.  At the finish, there are bubbly and roses.  The finisher medal is presented by a hot fireman.  How fun! 

I have never been to Myrtle Beach.  I have driven through South Carolina on the way to Florida once and I have visited Hilton Head, but never Myrtle Beach.  I have done some research online about MB and it looks nice.  I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

With only 7 weeks until Diva, I have to step up my training!  I was planning on 9 weeks until another half marathon—the Rock and Roll half in San Diego with Team in Training is June 3^rd.  I looked over my San Diego training plan and the weekend of the Diva race is the weekend I a scheduled to do 14 miles, so the Diva will substitute nicely. 

Have you ever done a Diva race?  Will you be at the North Myrtle Beach Diva half marathon?

A dream is a wish…

--Amy 

My Goals for 2012

2011 is the year I become a runner.  2012 will be the year I become a distance runner. Yesterday I did a year in review, so now it is fitting that I tell you about my goals for next year.  My New Year’s goal for 2012 is to run five half marathons.  I had considered the goal of doing a half marathon each month, but that might be a bit much for my first year as a distance runner—maybe in 2013.  So, what half marathons do I have planned for 2012?  I’ll tell you!

1)       TheDisney Princess Half Marathon on February 26.  I can’t believe this has been my goal for almost a year.  This is the goal that got me started with running.   I am a girlie girl and love all things princesses.  This goal brought me so many new friends and a reason to get fit.  I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

2    2)    The Movie Madness Half Marathon on April 7.  This race looks like so much fun!  The volunteers will be dressed as movie stars.  The race starts on a red carpet with the words “lights, camera, action!”  The course is along the picturesque Susquehanna River.

        3)  Myrtle Beach Diva Half Marathon on May 20.  This will be a family event!  My three sisters and I will travel from Pennsylvania to South Carolina and all run in this race together.  We will spend the rest of the week celebrating on the beach.

       4)     Disneyland Half Marathon on September 2.  I love Disneyland even more than I love Disney World—and that is saying a lot!  My plan is to do TNT for this one.  It’s a lot of money to raise, but it’s such a good cause.  It will be my first trip across the country alone. 

     5)    The Baltimore Half Marathon on October 5.  I have lived, worked and went to school in Maryland for a large part of my life, plus it’s only an hour away from my house.  Knowing the route might give me a slight advantage. 

What a year I have planned!  Besides these half marathons, I have lots of shorter races planned too, like the Baltimore Women’s Classic.  I am so excited about what 2012 will bring me!  What do you have planned for 2012? 

A dream is a wish…

--Amy

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