Brittany Runs a Marathon

I had heard about the movie "Brittany Runs a Marathon" for a while now. A few running buddies have seen it and said that it was good. My favorite theater, Alamo Drafthouse starting showing it this week so I went to go see it. Shout out to Alamo Season Pass! It's Alamo's version of the MoviePass. I LOVE it!!

This movie spoke to me. The main character decides to take up running as a way to get her life together. The first day she decides to go for a run she looks through her closet to find clothes to put in. I swear fore God this was me when I showed up in 2008 at the 1st group with NCRC Women's beginner running program. I had on cotton shorts and a cotton shirt. I was so unaware of what the proper running attire consisted of. As my former Galloway mentor and fellow HBCU lover Dr. Christy Walker told me "cotton is rotten." If you don't know then you don't know. Brittany puts on cotton sweatpants a sports bra on top of a regular bra and a pair of Converse sneakers. I kept thinking while watching I know what that's like trying to get into some form of physical activity and not even having anything to wear. She decides to start off by running for 1 NEW YORK block, let just call that about 1/4 of a mile. She makes it. Her neighbor invites her to join a local running group. When she shows up to the group I had a flashback of the information session for the NCRC WBRG. I remember being in that room at Glen Eden community center and looking around and wondering what had I gotten myself into. When she arrives at the group run the leader announces they are going to go for a 2-mile run. OMG!!! My 1st group run was about 1.25 mile around Shelley Lake. I thought I was going to go home to glory. I was the turtle of the group as I have never run in my life. One of the volunteers Jean Hagen-Johnson was with me. We started off with 1:1 interval. Then we slowed down to 2:1 interval. As we came around the lake and there was a slight incline which I thought was going to take me home to glory we just started walking. I remember that run like it was yesterday and it really was 11 years ago. I made it through it and my entire body hurt for a week. Brittany makes it through the 2 miles. She meets a fellow runner and they decide to keep up with the running and do a 5K. She gets serious with her running and nutrition. She starts to lose weight and as anyone who has ever been on a weight loss journey knows this is a BIG win. Her roommate is her best friend and she shares her news with her and she really just shrugs it off. She even tells her that she is training for a race. Her friend jokes if she's doing a marathon and she tells her a 5K, the friend's boyfriend is even a bigger ASS and says "it's just 3.1 miles" OH MY GEE I do believe I might have hollered at the movie screen. That is the worst thing someone can say to you. It's just 3.1 miles. Yes, it is. You are moving your body to complete it. His snarky comment is how some folks really are. Trust me I have met them at races. I shall say a little prayer for them later. In my southern petty mode "Bless their heart"

Brittany and her new running buddy whose name I have completely forgotten and I could totally look up on IMDB but I don't feel like it decides to do the 5K together. There is a scene where a group of kids passes them and they think they are going backward instead of forwards. This movie is funny.
They both finish the 5K. Her running buddy family is there to see him cross the finish line. She looks around and there is no one there for here. Oh, how I could relate to that. It was YEARS before any family member saw me at a race. It was 2016 when my mom and I traveled to VA Beach for Shamrock that she saw me finish a race. The best part was she did the race with me. If you want more about that fun-filled adventure head on over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my 1st book, Power of the Turtle: Tales of Being Dead Last. I'm told it's a pretty good book.

After doing the 5K she continues to keep running with her neighbor and old boy, that's what we shall call her male running partner. After seeing a commercial for the NYC Marathon she mentions to them that they should do it the following year. They all decide to train for a year to do the marathon.
Due to an injury, she gets sidelined from doing the race the next year. After her recovery from her injury, she decides to get back on the horse and train for it the following year. I watched an interview the actress did about the movie, she actually ran parts of the NYC marathon for the movie. There is real footage of the race in the movie. This is the first time this has happened. The thing that stood out most to me during the marathon race scenes was her running buddy was there with his family to cheer her on, her neighbor was there cheering her on and her "bae" was there near the finish line cheering her on. I don't think people realize what a difference it makes to have folks cheering you on when you are there literally fighting for your life trying to finish a race.

The movie is based on a true story. In the end, they showed photos of the real Brittany. I called the tall dude after the movie and told him it has motivated me to do a marathon. Of course, this rascal is all excited like it's about to happen tomorrow. I told him to let's pencil it in for 2020.

Thank you Material Pictures and the real Brittany because this turtle is going to throw her hat in the ring at a full marathon in 2020. OH snap, did I just commit to a marathon in 2020. I need to lose about 500 lbs first :-)

Let's get it started 2019!!

New Year's Day for the past few years has always found me doing the Commitment Day Run 5K either at the Lifetime Cary or Raleigh location.

 I personally prefer the Raleigh location because it's about 10 minutes from the crib. This year the race was only being held at the Cary location. The website mentioned an outdoor and an indoor option. My concern was if you signed up for the indoor option would you still get a shirt and a medal. Why do I race if there is no medal?? I race for the bling. I put my junior detective skills to work and called the Raleigh location. They were clueless. They told me to call the Cary location. The Cary location had no idea. Seriously how did these people get hired? The Cary location advised me to reach out to their run coordinator, Linda Hatfield. Being an active user of social media, I reached out to her on Facebook messenger. This woman should get a raise because she told me exactly what I needed to know. You will get a medal for either the indoor or the outdoor option. She didn't have enough volunteers to monitor the indoor. I opted for the outdoor option. For the 2018 race, the tall dude told me in no certain terms that he was not racing outside so we opted for the indoor option because it was a balmy 20ish degree at the start. I told him we are doing the race outside this year cold, rain or shine.

Packet pickup was held the day of the race from 8am-9:45am. I felt I needed to be there at 8am. Don't ask me why I was at the race an entire 2 hours early but I was. The temperature was about 67 at the start with about 2000% humidity. Ok so maybe I exaggerate but anywho it was unusually warm for January. In the words of my parents, this is foolish weather. I dressed in long-running leggings tank top and a jacket. As I walk into the gymnasium to pick up my packet I am already coming out of my jacket and wrapping it around my waist. This was clue #1 that the weather was going to kick my arse today. As I head to the pickup table I spy with my little eye Janet and Shelley, 2 of my TIFL sisters who pretty much live at the Lifetime Cary run club.

If you see me at a race, you are guaranteed to see the tall dude at the same race. Just in case you are unfamiliar with who I speak of, his government name is Gregory but I call him Tall Drink. My mom likes to call him Small Sip which cracks us both up. He meets me there to pick up his packet as well. He's never been to the Cary country club, that's the nickname for the Lifetime gym. If you have ever been inside you will understand why it's called that.

We hang out in the Lifetime Cafe waiting for the race start. that's the bonus of the race being there you have plenty of places to hang out while waiting. You even have a real bathroom to use. This is a bonus. I run into a lot of peeps who are doing the race. Katie who works at the Raleigh gym is there with her daughter who is doing her 5th 5K. Katie is still trying to recruit me for the Lifetime TRI training group. They want real $$. I have my 1st open water TRI on the 2019 goal list. I just need to make a plan to make it happen.

I see one of my TIFL sister Cynthia Gary walking in. She recently performed in the Black Nativity play. She's awesome. I highly recommend it when it returns in December.

I've been feeling kinda out of sorts because the wristband on my Garmin broke the other week. I ordered replacement bands. I have been having issues replacing the band. As I am waiting in my car for the tall dude to arrive I take a look at the package the bands came in and check my Garmin. The Garmin is 920XT, the bands are for 910XT. I google if they can be used and they can not. That explains why the screws wouldn't come out. I thought it was operator error. I find the 920 bands on Amazon, order them and process the return on the 910. Where in the world would be without Amazon :-)

I also see of my BGDG cycling sisters Yevette Yarborough-Trotman. She tells me she's riding the struggle bus and will be walking with me. I tell her to feel free because you know I will be bringing in the rear like always.

We head towards the gym to get ready to line up for the race. I make a pit stop at the restrooms. It's the worst feeling in the world to have to go pee while doing a race. Take my word for it. I have had that experience in Myrtle Beach for like 2 miles during a half marathon.

After the pit stop, I head through the gym and walk outside to where the race will begin. I see Carolyn and Jack, fellow NCRC run peeps. The rest of the crew find me outside. We can tell they must have made the race announcement because everyone is filing out of the gym and heading to the race start.

The kid's race is first. The kids have so much energy. I wish I had some of their energy. You can tell some of them have a running career ahead of them by their pace. I have no idea if races like this existed when I was their age. it's always amazing to see entire families participate in races.

After the kids' race, we all line up for the 5K. I always line up in the back because if you start near the front and you not ready you will get caught up in the fast pace and will be done before you even hit a 1/4 mile of the race. that happened to myself and Sevanne at St. Timothy's Spring Sprint years ago. Heart was beating way too fast way too soon.

The buzzer goes off and of we go. Since the Garmin is not on my arm, I start the run function and tuck it in my bra, there's no way its moving with the girls keeping it company. Off we go. The start has a slight incline and then we make a left out the parking lot and head down regency parkway. You can see the back of Koka Booth. I can see some Chinese decorations and I remembered the Chinese light show is still going on. folks have already made the turn onto the Swift Creek greenway. I make the turn and head onto the greenway. I pass 1 mile marker and keep it moving. The tall dude calls and checks on me. He warns me about how hilly the course is once you get out the trail. I tell him oh yeah I know this course. As I am in the greenway I run into Brad and Kathy Broyles and the kids and the entire family. They are all out for a New Year's walk through the greenway. Super cool. I make my way out of the greenway and I pass a couple who has been in front of me the whole time. I am so glad to be out the greenway. Woo hoo!! I know the course goes through a neighborhood and then back onto to Tryon. The course is on Kildaire and I hear these ladies tell the couple "the lady in front is the one setting the pace that you need to keep up with" I was half listening and then realized she was talking about me. As we come to a street I recognize the course monitor John Tate, fellow NCRC fun peep and Boston marathon finisher, AMAZING!!. I pass John and then make a left at the next street. The course monitor there tells me you are almost at mile 2 and there is a water stop. I pass the water stop. The volunteers tell us "we are down to out last 5 cups of water". I'm looking a full gallons of water sitting on the ground and laugh to myself. You gotta love the humor of folks who are NOT doing the race. I take the water and guzzle it down like it is the best thing on this earth. The course is winding through the neighborhood and it's getting hillier. Then we head into a business area. I walk on the bike path. The 2 ladies who were behind me pass me. The one lady tell me "You are awesome I want to shake your hand. Your pace is great." I'm like I'm shocked at my own pace because my entire body is still sore from yesterdays' workout. The lady tells me "well this work that out plus you will feel another kind of soreness from today" She ain't never lied. I'm down to less than a mile to go. I know I got this. Tall calls to see where I am as I was headed to the water stop and he's coming to meet me to walk me in. I don't know where I would be without that dude. He's truly the BIG brother I never had.

As I'm walking through the business park, I see him walking towards me. He walks with me to the finish. We come up to Tryon and make that left. We pass right by Lucky 32 which is having a New Year's Day lunch buffet and the smells coming from this restaurant are just straight delectable. It's so disrespectufl to smell those good smells as you are trying to finish a race. I just want to go on in there and get a plate. We head down Tryon and I know I got this because there are only 2 turns left. The bike sweeper past us. He tells me you're almost there. I tell him thanks because he has been riding the course keeping it same for us. I tell him I would rather be on my bike. He just cracks up. We make the left onto regency and I can see the country club. We head to the last turn and a volunteer says "you're almost there don't you see the finish line" I'm like oh yeah I see the finish line but I also know my car is around the corner. She's like that's most important. Oh yeah, you got to know where you car is so you can get home. As I making the home stretch to the finish line, I see some of the peeps at the finish line waiting for me. Do you know how happy that made me? Typically when I am finishing there is no one there. Cynthia, Shelley, Janet and Glennette are there cheering me on. I told tall that's what I'm talking about. Those ladies are the best!!

As I cross the finish line, John tells me "jo you can add this as an epilogue to your book" I tell him this will go into the next book. My first race of 2019 is in the books. In the words of Mr. Chow "but did you die" No I did not. I lived to tell the story of the race. I finished upright and I got the medal. That's all that matters.