Race Summary: RnR Nashville - Country Music Edition

So how did I get here?

Gotta give props to social media.  While out and about on the east, I noticed @running615, DJ, talking about RnR Nashville.  Quick check and low and behold, the race is on the same day as my flight back to AZ!

Quick mental word problem calculation: Half Marathon in CDT begins at 7:15 + time to proper start corral + roughly 2 hour half marathon (gotta run fast) + 3 to 4 hour drive to Atlanta for a boarding time of ###. Carry the potential gas break + add shower and change after run + unforeseen bull ish = We can pull the off!

Jump on the interwebs; registration check.  BAMM! 1/2 marathon still has availability.  Sign me up!  Done Son!  Now to execute.

But you ain't reading this ish so you can see how totally meth'd out I am about getting another half marathon on the books.  No!  You wanna know about RnR Nashville.

Please allow me this one full level up fan moment.  DJ is the one instagram fam which inspired me to attempt to go on a FULL year #runstreak!   Yeah so a chance to meet one of my most inspiring runners in person, if only for a few moments, you damned straight I'm in.  We only live once and this was my moment to fan out! 

Ok. Nashville.  Nashville has come a long way to be a major player in the south and mimic the experiences and accommodations of a larger city in a moderate size metropolis. There are plenty of hot spots downtown intermixed with entertainment (heavily focused on Nashville’s continued and historical contributions to country music - Hehaw Grand Ole Opry Y’all), history, and sports.

It appears the major streets all have bike lanes and is relatively pedestrian friendly (getting from one place to the next, don’t expect folks in vehicles to understand pedestrians in the crosswalk on the walking light have the right of way though).

Nashville's biggest short coming is the tangled concrete and steel spaghetti they call a interstate and freeway system.  But once you get to your downtown destination, everything is conveniently placed and seemingly well thought out.

The expo is what you've come to expect from the RnR franchise, or any running expo.  Force participants through a maze of 1-sign in, 2-bib pick-up, 3-bag /swag pick-up, 4-forced maze through sponsors trying to get that wallet or purse moving and that plastic or Benjamins flowing with the "Only time you'll ever see this deal as we push out product or introduce you to the one thing you've never seen before that will magically take your running game to professional and make all your social media friends jelly status!"  Yeah, not going to happen.  But it's entertaining.  You can get a free leg message too.  Plus, if you shop wisely you can make some solid purchases at an expo.  Do your homework and just don't buy into the hype.

And for Jesus sake, DO NOT go throwing all kindz of random product into your stomach before your race you've been training months for! Hopefully you've been training. And no I didn't take the Lord's name in vein, I do know someone named Jesus.

The RnR Nashville start is on Broadway street in the heart of downtown and finishes across the river in front of the Nissan stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans.v This might seem odd as a point-to-point race but the two locations are only shy of 2/3 mile apart via a pedestrian bridge or main road bridge. v Genius!

Half Marathoners and Marathoners will share the road for about 50% of the race, little time together at the start toward the middle section (about mile 10ish), and at the very end for the final sprint to the finish line.  The course is mostly tightly wound around the downtown area a stretch out to scenic and historic areas / neighborhoods nearby.

There’s so much history in this city, specifically country music city.  If you’re not running to chase a time, or in my case a plane, I would suggest you come to RnR Nashville in a southern laid back lazy Saturday mood and really “see” the sights on the course and enjoy the tour through Nashville’s musical past and present.

Despite the map appearing an out and back, you never know.  The south is heavily wooded and the scenery and route will keep your gaze and your mind occupied.  You will be amazed at all you get to see and experience on such a tight course!

However, if you didn't train for climbing…. Yeah. So.... Nashville.  Wow….

The course could be described as "a beautiful moderately challenging course for the novice and established athlete in the heart of the south embellished with undulating terrain as you venture through musical and southern history itself."

LOL!  Course got fucking hills y'all.  A lot of them.  Not giant Colorado Rookies climbing hills, but hills none the less.  And if you've been training for Nashville on a treadmill set on 0% incline the whole time or jogging around the flat city streets for miles racking up miles after miles (looks at self), then Nashville got something for your ass!  My apologies.  Your Gluteus Maximus.

If you power through these “rolling hills", as shallow as they may seem early on, by time you get to mile 8!  Even the small ones feel akin to ascending Mt. Kilimanjaro (Disclaimer: I've never ascended Mt. Kilimanjaro, but I'm just saying).

Would I recommend this RnR event?  I would.  It's well attended.  The streets are full of community supporters that come out.  The concert at the stadium at the end appeared to highly entertaining.  It was fun!

Some RnR events try to do too much.  Nashville appears to have found that balance and I believe is worth the trip if you are looking for a trip to the south to get a run under your belt.

One Warning; the furnace (sun) and humidity can and did begin to dial up the thermostat as the day progressed, so make sure to keep hydrated and get some heat training in as well.

Wish I could have stayed longer and enjoyed the city and company of the Instagram family that descended upon Nashville this weekend, but I had to catch a plane back home. The timing was so tight and precise, I arrived at my gate with five minutes to spare before boarding the plane where I'm writing this blog for my memories and your enjoyment.

Peace!