Ah, marathon weekend. A few days of fun, traveling, catching up with friends, and exploring new places.
Along with it comes a trip to the marathon expo (otherwise known as the location where you grab your race materials while being tempted by sales at various booths crammed into a convention center with aisles that never seem wide enough as people push double-wide strollers over the very feet you are desperately trying to rest before the big day).
This is the spot where it hits you - you’re not just here to sightsee. Your trip to this town holds a greater purpose. And no, it’s not to practice patience for double-wide strollers.
Behold the top five thoughts going through my head at the marathon expo:
5. Whoa. Everyone here looks way fitter / skinnier / more like a runner than me.
I think this….and then I get over it. Marathoners come in all shapes and sizes. Some of us run/walk, some are trying to qualify for Boston, and some are actually competing to win. But we all cover 26.2 miles no matter the speed, or size of our body.
4. Holy crap, there are some hot guys here!
Hey boy, hey…need help with that body glide I see you buying? I’ve got a free hand. Just saying. So, call me maybe?
3. Put the marathon race name embroidered sweatshirt down.
And the shorts. And the Bondi Bands. And the Spy Belt and the extra water bottles and the cute One More Mile running shirts. Budget Mode = buying only things I need, not things I want, and knowing the difference between the two.
2. Uh…maybe I should have glanced at the elevation chart more closely.
And if I always made sure to study the course, perhaps I would not have had such wide eyes at the Flying Pig Marathon expo when I saw there was a steady three-mile elevation climb during the race. Ah, the memories.
1. Holy crap, I have to run a marathon this weekend.
Here we go….
Disney World Marathon Expo
Indianapolis Marathon Expo
Flying Pig Marathon Expo Sign
City of Oaks (NC) Expo
Salt Lake City Utah Expo
