Twin Cities Race Weekend

Friday around lunch time, Toni was off work so I went to pick her up and head to the cities! A pre-road trip car wash and selfie felt necessary at the time.

The drive there felt like it flew by. I think we had two bathroom stops, and we were there. Whoa. We arrived at our hotel and received this visual reminder of just how close we were to the finish line. yessssssss!!

Our hotel has a shuttle to take you within a few miles of the hotel for food/shopping/whatever, but we opted to walk to dinner since we'd spent a few hours in the car. On the way to our dinner destination, I found FALL!.

St. Paul is so adorable, I can't even handle it. I was starving, so I only let myself stop every once in awhile for photos.

We tried to eat at the Red Cow, but they were at an hour wait. Kyle and I ate there after the Monster Dash Half and it was GOOD. We wondered up the road, and The Happy Gnome had immediate seating, but only outdoors, on their super adorable patio, on a gorgeous fall night. Uh.... yes.

Toni and I couldn't decide on our meals, so like good travel partners, we split two: a burger and a veggie/cheesy melty sandwich. So freaking good.

Also, a beer, obviously. 

Saturday morning, we woke up fairly early to head out on our shake out run. The plan was to run 3 miles, ending at a coffee/breakfast place near our hotel and walk back after eating and retrieving breakfast. Except I somehow picked a breakfast place in a hotel, and we had to walk quite a ways to find a caribou. Just what you want the day before your race: unplanned time on your feet. Oops!

We headed back to our hotel and headed out to the expo. We were about a third of a mile from the expo so we walked there as well. Despite bringing all the monies to spend at the race expo, I walked out having only purchased GUs (several toasted marshmallow), and a TCM pint glass. There were some really cute things at Mill City Running but nothing in my size. Bummer.

We stayed close to the expo for lunch and had a decent meal.

Then we headed back to the hotel for some r&r, including a nap. Traveling with Toni is my favorite. Mid-day nap? Yes please. 

When we woke up, it was time to head to dinner. I love that this race weekend was all about food and running, because those are two of my favorite things! We took a ride this time, to Pizza Luce and again split a couple of pizzas. I still have dreams about this mashed potato pizza. It tastes like happiness.

After the race, I grabbed a beer, we showered up and headed back outside into the rain to cheer on all of our running friends!! Such a great race weekend, and I can't wait for next year when it's our turn to tackle 26.2! eeps!

Race Weekend Recap: I Heart Lambeau Field

Honestly, thank you all so much for your support and congrats on the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon.  I've been totally slacking on my posts, and there was so much about the weekend that didn't make it in to the race report, so here goes!

I started my adventure to the land of cheese and awesomeness on Friday morning.  I headed to the rental car place to pick up my flyyyyyy ride, grabbed an iced latte from Starbucks and some snacks for the weekend and I hit the road.  Btw, my obsession with iced lattes is getting way out of hand.  I literally crave one every minute of every day.  More so than ice cream at this point.  Insane.

I was supposed to meet up with Alyssa and Steph for lunch, but due to some unforeseen scheduling issues, it didn't work out.  SO BUMMED!  But we will hang out some time fo sho.  :)  I powered through the drive, stopping only for potty breaks (which was roughly every 100 miles for my tiny coffee fueled bladder).  The first time I saw a road sign for mileage to Green Bay, I got all teary eyed.  Can we say emotional taper beast?  Holy crap.  I got to town 8 hours later and after some minor getting lost, finally got to my hotel.  It. Was. Fab.  I stayed in the Aloft hotels, and they were amazing.

King sized bed for the princess.  ;)  I loved the funky interior of the hotels.  Totally my taste/style.  

Macbook loooooved being able to sleep next to me at night.  (I loved it as well.  Way better than a dude.)

I had planned to do some exploring of the great city but I was struck with the worst headache EVER.  I ordered up some dinner and hit the hay early.  Of course, I managed to wake up in the middle of the night thinking that Saturday was race day and I hadn't set an alarm.  Silly brain.

When I finally woke up on Saturday (super early), I was so excited to head to the race expo.  But more excited to lay eyes on Lambeau Field for the first time.  Sigh.  It was breath taking.  But seriously.  I had no words.  

While at the expo I met up with Neil for some pre-race chatter.  He discussed the course a bit since he's familiar with the area, and totally helped set my mind at ease.  We parted ways so I could go to the first timer's presentation, which was also great at calming my brain.  Such a good program they have and yet another reason I'm glad Green Bay was my first.

After forking over only $20 at the expo (I'm just as shocked as you are), it was time to find some chow.  I checked my list of "must eats" I'd been compiling from friends and decided Curly's Pub would be a great choice.  

Curly Lambeau poster leading up the stairs to the restaurant and amazing ceiling.  I wouldn't mind having that as my ceiling.  The food, sadly, wasn't that great.  But I was doing a strict no-dairy prior to the race to avoid any digestive issues, and they're obviously known for some amazingly cheesy dishes.  So sad.  My special Curly Ale totally made up for the not so amazing food.  No dairy means no amazing ice cream either.  One single tear. :'(

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I also knew I needed to make a stop in the Packers Pro Shop.  I promised my debit card that I would go easy on her.  Can I say...kid in a candy shop?  Because....ya.  I could've easily spent $10,000 in that store.  No joke.  I was impressed I walked out down only $110, and the proud new owner of a Greg Jennings jersey and fabulous hoodie.  

Even though I wanted to hang out at the expo for hours, I made myself head back to my hotel so my legs could rest.  But not before taking some cute pictures.  I have a feeling this is what heaven's gates will look like. :)  God's totally a Packers fan.

After a delicious nap, it was back to Lambeau for a pasta dinner.  I didn't realize the pasta dinner was included in the race entry fee, which was awesome!  I got to meet some other runners and enjoy the special 26.2 brew that Titletown had created specifically for the weekend.  Sadly I had a ton of drink tickets and a stupid marathon to run the next morning!

After taking more photos of the field, I actually overheard a lady say, "Oooooooh so there's actually a guy this place is named after?!?!"  I swear to God my jaw dropped.  :)

Then it was lights out for this chica, and well...you know the rest.  :)  The drive home sucked, to put it mildly.  Although, I managed to make it home in 7 hours and 15 minutes instead of the 8 hours it took me to get there.  Never again will I drive the day after a marathon.  Lesson learned.  I have never been as happy to be reunited with my ice pack as I was Monday afternoon. :)