This year I was lucky enough to be picked as a race ambassador for the Rite Aid Cleveland Half Marathon. Although my race entry was free for this race, all thoughts and opinions are my own. You know I always #keepitreal!
Whoa! I’m back from a whirlwind weekend in Cleveland and still trying to catch up on sleep. It was such a FUN weekend and I got to meet a bunch of people, including Rachel! Here’s a rundown of my weekend!
Friday, May 18th
Well the day started off crappy. We missed our 6:40am flight from LaGuardia to Cleveland because the TSA security line was utterly ridiculous (even though we were arrived at the airport early). So many people missed their flights that morning as we were all in line for over an hour. I still don’t know exactly what the hold up was to be honest. I’m not gonna lie, I was nervous that the whole weekend was ruined because I had non-refundable tickets. Luckily Delta was able to re-book us on the 9:10am flight, with no additional fee, so it all ended up okay in the end, thank goodness!
The flight was short and sweet (a little over an hour) and we were able to check into our hotel early. We dropped off our luggage and then made the 10 minute walk to the Expo.
When I arrived to the Expo I picked up my bib and shirts before reporting in for my volunteer shift. It literally took me less than 5 minutes. Everything was so well organized. Since this race weekend had MANY races (Kids Race, 1 mile, 5K, 8K, 10K, half marathon and marathon), all of the t-shirt pick up booths were clearly marked. It was so easy to find the booths for my Challenge hoodies, 8K shirt and half marathon shirt. after I picked up my items, I reported in for my volunteer shift. I was signed up to do t-shirt distribution for the Kids Race. I was able to interact with a few parents as they picked up the bibs, shirts and goodie bags for their kids. It was a lot of fun and I was glad I was able to help volunteer at the Expo!
After my volunteer shift I had about 2 hours to rest a little and get ready for the VIP Dinner Reception. Luckily it was held in my hotel so I didn’t have to travel far! The food was so good. They had salads, rolls, chicken, pasta and plenty of sweet treats! I also got to meet the lovely Rachel (aka @running_onhappy)! We’ve been blogging/Instagram friends for a while so it was awesome to meet her in person. I also got to speak with some of the other race ambassadors too!
When I got back to my hotel room I noticed that my left ankle was really swollen. Maybe I was on my feet too much? I’m not sure but I iced it for about an hour and it looked better. Luckily it was fine when I woke up on Saturday morning.
Saturday, May 19
It was time for the Cleveland 8K! The race start was within walking distance of the hotel (yay)! It was supposed to rain later on in the day, but of course it started raining as soon as we left the hotel, so I went back up to my room to get a lightweight hoodie to tie around my waist. I didn’t even have to do that because it stopped raining rather quickly! Although it was humid, it wasn’t too warm which was great! The race started right on time at 8:00am!
We all started in Public Square (we started with the 5K runners). The course was a little tight and bottlenecked in some places, but the course thinned out once we split from the 5K runners. The roads weren’t that great (lots of potholes) but I kept my head down most of the time to make sure I didn’t trip or fall. We ran a few miles through an industrial part of the city, but we also ran past the Great Lakes Science Center, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Convention Center. Unfortunately I didn’t get the 8K PR I was hoping for (due to the course not being as flat as anticipated), but I ran the whole race and didn’t stop for a walk break so I’m proud of that! After I finished I felt a tap on my shoulder and it was my best friend and her mom. They live about 20 minutes from Cleveland and came down to surprise my mom and I at the race finish. We were planning on meeting them for lunch later on in the day, so seeing them at the finish was a great surprise! When we got back to the hotel I looked up the results and saw that my mom won 3rd in her age group!
Later that afternoon we went to lunch with my best friend and her mom at Zanzibar Soul Fusion. It’s a really great soul food restaurant in Downtown Cleveland and the food was amazing!
after lunch we walked around for a little while before going back to the hotel. Once we got back I picked up my free breakfast bag from the hotel lobby. They had pre-made breakfast bags for any guest running on Sunday and the bags included a bottle of water, bagel and banana. It was a really nice gesture from the hotel!
I watched some TV, scrolled on social media and then it was lights out for an early morning wake up on Sunday!
Sunday, May 20
It was finally race day! Unfortunately I woke up to rain (whomp whomp). It was unexpected since it was supposed to rain in the afternoon and not in the morning. It sucked because I had this super cute shirt I wanted to wear, but I had to run with a lightweight hoodie due to the rain and temperature (it was a little cold at the start).
The race started outside Quicken Loans Arena which was pretty cool! On the course, we ran by Playhouse Square, Progressive Field and a few other places in downtown Cleveland. We also ran over a few bridges which were cool, but we had to run on grids which was a little awkward. The race started off fine and I was in a good groove, but I was constantly looking down at the ground. The potholes on the course were pretty large and now filled with water which was freaking me out. I didn’t want to slip and fall, but I also didn’t want to get my sneakers soaked by stepping right into a pothole. My legs were a little tired (I logged 22,000 steps the day prior – yikes!) but I was still doing well until around mile 5. I hopped over a pothole and I must have landed weird because I felt a twinge in my hamstring. While it wasn’t excruciating pain, it was uncomfortable and my leg felt tight and sore. I had to change my stride to compensate so I ran when I could, and walked/jogged/hobbled when I needed to. I was thinking of downgrading and just going on the 10k route, but I really wanted to finish what I originally started. Thankfully I’m happy to report that I finished! 🙂
After the race I grabbed my extra medal for completing the Challenge Series and headed over to the VIP Brunch to meet up with Rachel. I didn’t eat anything (I wasn’t hungry yet), but it was good to catch up with Rachel and see her one last time before leaving Cleveland.
After lunch at Wahlburgers (so good by the way!), we headed over to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The race offered discounted tickets to runners so I had to take advantage. I am obsessed with music so this was like a dream come true for me. I probably took close to 100 photos, but here are just a few:
After exploring the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame I treated myself to an Oreo Cheesecake cupcake from Colossal Cupcakes. It was SO good and the perfect end to the weekend!
As with every race, I always list my pros and cons:
Cons
Course Support – Due to the weather, the course support was a little scarce 🙁
Race Course – To be honest, the roads in Cleveland are pretty bad. Lots of uneven pavement and tons of potholes. These potholes were filled with water which definitely didn’t help make the run any easier. I spent a lot of time with my head down making sure I didn’t trip and fall. Also the course measured way long. My watch showed 13.6 miles and other runners I talked to had around the same distance. I’m not great at running tangents but I’m also not that bad either!
Race Shirts – The sizing of the shirts was a little off. For doing the challenge, I received a lightweight hoodie. I had to get a bigger size because they ran so small. The tech shirts for the 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon also ran small. On the flip side, the shirts for the 5K/8K were cotton and those ran big. So basically, neither race shirt fits that great, lol. It’s not a huge deal as I have TONS of race shirts, but it might matter more to someone else.
Pros
Expo – I felt like the expo was the perfect size – not too small or too large. I was able to walk around the expo after my volunteer shift and it was very easy to find everything. The lines weren’t outrageous at any of the booths either. There were some awesome clothes that I really wanted to buy, but since I’m ballin’ on a budget, I didn’t purchase anything. My mom ended up buy a really cool RUN CLE shirt and now I’m kicking myself for not buying one!
Post Race Food – Although I wasn’t that hungry upon finishing either race, I was happy with the food options. They had bottled water, chocolate milk, bananas, CLIF bars, pretzels and chips available to us after crossing the finish line. I also found a new flavor of CLIF bars that I really like!
Race Course – Yes, it’s under both the pros and cons sections. While the roads weren’t great, I did enjoy starting at the Quicken Loans Arena (where the Cavs play) and running by landmarks, through parts of Downtown Cleveland and near Lake Erie.
Race Medals – The medals were pretty big! Also the medal for the 8K was super unique.
Things to Do – I was pleasantly surprised that there was SO much to do in Cleveland! I actually need to plan another trip there since I didn’t get to see everything. Our hotel was centrally located in downtown so we were able to walk to a lot of places. I enjoyed all the food that I had there (we ate at Wahlburgers, The Chocolate Bar, Zanzibar Soul Fusion and 1890 Restaurant). Also the sports arenas are downtown as well (Cavs, Indians and Browns). I really enjoyed my visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after the race on Sunday.
Overall it was an awesome race weekend. While it was super busy, I’m really glad I got to experience both the 8K and the Half Marathon and cross another state off my list for my 25 State Half Marathon Challenge. Thank you to the Ambassador program for giving me the opportunity to meet new runners and race over the weekend!
I’m linking up with Marcia from Marcia’s Healthy Slice, Erika from MCM Mama Runs and Patty from My No-Guilt Life for Tuesdays on the Run.
I’m also linking up with Annmarie from The Fit Foodie Mama and Nicole from FitFul Focus for Wild Workout Wednesday.
Last but not least, I’m linking up with Rachel from Running on Happy, Lora from Crazy Running Girl and Debbie from Coach Debbie Runs for Coaches’ Corner!
Chaitali says
That’s too bad about the potholes 🙁 I’m glad you weren’t hurt too bad! Great job with what sounds like a tough race. That’s pretty cool that they offered discounted tickets for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 🙂
kookyrunner says
Thanks so much! It’s a shame about the potholes because the race was so well organized but unfortunately they have no control over the roads.
Jennifer @ Fit Nana says
Man, 2 of the 3 things on your con list are right up there at the top of my “important” list – the course itself and course support. That really stinks about the potholes!! PS. the Mississippi Blues Marathon course (and I assume the half – I can’t remember if we ran together or not) is AWFUL. Terrible road conditions, poor course design (there was an area where police stopped runners for cars because we crossed a 4-6 lane road!!!) and not a lot of course support. In fact, one of the local colleges competing in a “spirit competition” had an empty table when I went by. 🙁
I’d have been all over those tickets for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, too! That’s on my bucket list!!!
kookyrunner says
I’ve heard the same thing about the Mississippi Blues Marathon. What a bummer! I assume that race has the potential to be great because of the location. Hopefully they can make some changes to make the race better!
If you go to Cleveland, it’s a must! They also have a half marathon around there in August too!
Debbie @ Deb Runs says
Wow, how lucky that your ankle wasn’t any worse than it was – smart move to ice it! Congrats to your mom on snagging a 3rd place in her age group!
How’s your hamstring feeling now? Hope it’s settled down. Your post race food and treats look yummy!
kookyrunner says
Definitely! I was worried about it, but most of the swelling had gone down by Saturday morning, thank goodness!
My hamstring is feeling better now. I had an ART appointment today and he did some work on that area.
Zenaida Arroyo says
I think I need to go to Cleveland again. I was there a few years ago for RnR Cleveland and hated it there.
I am sorry about the weather since running a race in rain sucks.
Love that you met Rachel!!
kookyrunner says
I didn’t even know there was ever a RnR Cleveland – interesting!
Lacey@fairytalesandfitness says
Great job on your race! Overall it sounds like a great race weekend! How nice the hotel offered that to race participants, even though it wasn’t much, it was just the thought. It is always fun to meet up with fellow bloggers in person.
kookyrunner says
Thanks Lacey! It was a great race weekend and I loved that the hotel was within walking distance of everything.
Kimberly Hatting says
How’s that hammy feeling? I know you trained hard for this, so it’s a bummer the weather kind of crapped out on you and the pothole messed with your hammy. This weekend, though, sounds like a blast! And Rachel…isn’t she a hoot? Such a sweetie 😉
kookyrunner says
The hammy is feeling a lot better. I went to my ART doctor yesterday and he really worked on it.
Overall I can’t complain because I’m so happy with how the weekend with and meeting Rachel was amazing!
Lisa @ Mile by Mile says
Sounds like a great weekend! I remember Cleveland having a lot of potholes.Baltimore is the same way! I hope your hamstring is feeling better. Im glad you were still able to finish the half even though it was bothering you! That was so nice that the hotel gave you a breakfast bag!
kookyrunner says
Seems like a lot of cities have the potholes issues! It’s a shame because the race would have been more enjoyable had I not been looking down so often, lol
coco says
I sure hope your hamstring is OK! I always think about the potholes for the DC area races. The roads are in horrible shape and you really could twist an ankle or tweak a knee. Glad you had a good weekend over all.
kookyrunner says
It’s feeling a lot better since I had my ART appointment yesterday. The potholes are so dangerous! I don’t know why these major cities can’t spend some money and fix the roads.
Laurie says
Loved reading your race report. I did the Cleveland half a few years ago, and really liked it. Liked the city too. I wish I could have read your race report before I went. The places that you went to eat looked amazing, and now I am hungry! Congrats on completing the challenge.
kookyrunner says
Thanks Laurie! I always love trying out new restaurants when I travel for a race and I loved everywhere that we went to eat!
Beth says
So sorry to hear about all of that rain! And I hope your hamstring is feeling better. But, it sounds like you were able to enjoy yourself and the city overall–happy to hear that. 🙂
kookyrunner says
Thanks Beth! My hamstring is feeling a lot better. Cleveland is a really great city.
Debbie says
Congratulations! And congrats to your mom! That’s so cool she was 3rd in her AG!.
I’ve never been to Cleveland (I do have memories because my mom lived there before I was born), but I’d love to see the R ‘n’ R Hall of Fame! I’ll bet it was so interesting.
kookyrunner says
Thanks so much Debbie – I’ll pass along the congrats to my mom too 🙂
Cleveland is a really fun city and the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame was super fun. If you love music, it’s a great place to visit!
Renee @runlaugheatpie says
congrats on your race weekend, Kim! how is your hamstring now?? and WOW your mom is rocking it with her AG place!!! It does sound like you had a great time overall – especially meeting Rachel (YAY!!) and going to the RnR Hall of Fame! I would love that! (Similarly, after Liverpool RnR weekend, we went to the British Music Experience which was AMAZING).
as for your course, yeah potholes are annoying! I also spent a lot of time looking at the ground this past weekend 🙁 I know the race organization can’t do much about it but these cities are drawing in tourists – do something about the roads!
Loving the medals! Great addition to your collection 🙂
kookyrunner says
Thanks Renee! My hamstring is feeling a lot better now thanks to some extra TLC and an appt with my ART doctor. I so enjoyed finally getting to meet Rachel in person and the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame was super cool!
Totally agree with what you said about the roads. It just sucks because the race was so well organized but they can’t do anything about the potholes. I’m gonna need the city of Cleveland to get it together when it comes to that!
Rachel says
I’m so happy you were an ambassador this year! It was so much fun spending time with you. I hope I get to see you next time you’re in the CLE.
And on behalf of the Cleveland potholes, we’re so very sorry… #thisisCLE? 😉
And thanks for the tip on Zanzibar. I haven’t been but those collards in your pic made my mouth water!
kookyrunner says
It just sucks because the race was so well organized but they can’t do anything about the potholes. I’m gonna need the city of Cleveland to get it together when it comes to that!
You must check out Zanzibar! They also have a location in Shaker Heights.
I LOVED spending time with you this weekend and so happy that we finally got to meet in person!
Wendy says
I like this recap! Sounds like a fun weekend. Those city races do have potholes–you’ll have a lot of that here in Chicago too. So you’ll be a pro!
I’m so jealous that you got to meet up with Rachel. The two of you are the 2 bloggers I really want to meet. I’m looking forward to seeing you in July.
Congrats on both races and congrats to your mom on that AG award!
kookyrunner says
Thanks for reading my recap Wendy! If you can believe it, Cleveland had more potholes than Chicago!
Rachel is amazing and I hope that you get to meet her eventually. I’m SO excited to meet you in July!!
Jenny Albertson says
ugh potholes AND rain!? Not a great combination there. I’m glad you had fun though. And the food sounds like it was pretty amazing! I’d go just for that haha.
kookyrunner says
Yeah definitely not the best combination, lol, but at least I didn’t fall on the course (I was worried about that)!
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says
I always find it kind of discouraging when there’s weather and you really have to watch your footing.
All that food, though, I’m drooling . . . it’s been far too long since I ran a decent distance and could just eat all.the.food. 🙂
I’ve only ever been outside of Cleveland, never actually visiting the city. I have to admit I don’t feel a calling to run my half in OH in Cleveland, though. But you definitely seemed to enjoy it! So maybe I should at least consider it. 🙂
kookyrunner says
Yeah the rain was crappy but at least it wasn’t like a torrential downfall of rain.
The food was SO good and I was thrilled with all the restaurants we visited.
Stephanie says
Oh man what a stressful start missing your flight! I’m glad you had such a great time though, congratulations!
kookyrunner says
It was definitely stressful but I was just so happy that we were able to get on a later flight!
Marcia says
Rain and missed flight aside, it sounds like a really fun weekend! How great that Delta got you on a later flight with no extra $$$. The bling assortment is on point! Congrats!
kookyrunner says
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at Delta – They really saved the day!
Elaine D says
I think one of the best things about racing in a different city is discovering the city itself whether it’s during the race itself or the day after – you definitely took the time to do several fun things in Cleveland besides just the race! Congrats on being an ambassador and sorry to hear about the pain the pothole incident but glad to hear you finished!
kookyrunner says
I agree! It’s like getting a tour of the city by foot! Cleveland is an awesome city and there is just so much to do there – lots of fun!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus says
I’m glad you made it to the race! I’m sorry about the weather and the pain. Are you feeling better now? Overall, it still sounds like a great race!
kookyrunner says
Thanks Nicole! My hamstring is feeling a lot better now due to some TLC!
Shannon @GirlsGotSole says
I love that you get to run with your mom for the 8k, how cool!
How neat that the hotel made up pre-race breakfast bags for the runners. Impressive for sure. And, Walhburgers, yum! Now that they have the Impossible Burger, I hope to get to my local one soon.
Love how you do a pros/cons about a race, really helpful information. Those potholes sound like a pain, hopefully, they get them fixed before the next race.
kookyrunner says
The hotel was so great! They were super attentive to the runners which was much appreciated.
Thanks for reading my race recap 🙂
Michelle @ Running with Attitude says
Great recap! Hope your hammy’s feeling ok. Sounds like a great weekend – love that you got to meet and hang with Rachel! And, congrats to your mom on her AG 😉
kookyrunner says
Thanks Michelle! My hamstring is feeling a lot better after some much needed TLC this week. I had so much fun hanging with Rachel!
Karen says
Ugh I am so sorry about the TSA line! I missed a flight coming home from Orlando one time due to a ridiculous TSA line. So crazy but I’m glad you made it with plenty of time to spare! This looks and sounds like a great set of races…and the hotel with a breakfast bag! How cool is that?!
kookyrunner says
i know the TSA lines will only get worse as we approach summer. I really hope they get it together!
Annmarie says
Great job finishing the run despite tweaking your leg – you’re a champ! Congrats to your mom for her AG finish, that is awesome!!!
kookyrunner says
Thanks so much Annmarie!
Jenn says
Congratulations on a jam-packed race weekend!
I have been to Cleveland once an dI thought it was a nice city. I wasn’t running at the time, but I’d be interested in giving it a try there.
I’m sorry it wasn’t the race you hoped for, and rain would totally bum me out for that distance, but you got it done and can get some rest!
kookyrunner says
Thanks Jenn! It was a jam packed but fun filled weekend. I’m paying for it now since I’m sick, but that’s okay!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says
What a great race weekend experience! You managed to fit so much into such a short time frame. The breakfast back from the hotel was a really sweet touch. It would be so nice if more official race hotels would put together such things, even if at a small cost to the runners. It would help alleviate some race morning stress and/or anxiety.
kookyrunner says
It was a jam packed weekend but also a lot of fun. I agree with what you said about the host hotel. A small gesture like that really does make a difference!
Lesley says
Sounds like a fun weekend, and congrats to your mom! What did you think of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame? I was there in 2003, and I was shocked at how small these musicians are. I was looking at costumes for Mick Jagger, Britney Spears, and Elton John, and I wouldn’t have been able to fit in any of them!
kookyrunner says
LoL, I had the same thought! I looked at Taylor Swift’s outfit and I was like “I can maybe fit one leg into that”, hahaha.
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says
Congratulations on your race weekend! I’m glad you were able to get your flight rebooked with no charge. I’ve never been to Cleveland, I didn’t realize there was so much to do, but it looks like the race had all kinds of cool perks to show the best of the city. So cool you got to meet Rachel too!
Racing over potholes is so frustrating, definitely a con when racing in the city. I hope your hamstring is feeling better!
kookyrunner says
Thanks so much Janelle! Getting the flight rebooked for free was amazing and I was so thankful that I gave the Delta worker a hug, lol. I hope that you get to Cleveland one day – it’s a pretty cool city!
I’m used to potholes from racing in cities, but for some reason they seemed really bad in Cleveland. My hamstring is feeling a lot better – thanks for asking!
Shathiso says
What a great race weekend! So glad your ticket was sorted out in the end and that you got to meet a fellow blogger! I love hearing stories like that!
About the race – ggrrr about your hamstring but so happy you just pushed and pushed to the end. You are such a fighter, you really are.
kookyrunner says
Yes I love to meet fellow bloggers whenever I can. I love the running community and getting to meet social media friends in person is always a huge positive for me.
Tobi says
Great recap! I’m looking forward to doing the Half in 2019 and I feel better prepared for what the experience will be like. I do have one question though… what does “run on grids” mean?
kookyrunner says
Thanks Tobi! I hope you have a great race experience there in 2019. The grids I’m referring to kind of look like this – http://lightweightbridgedecksystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/OG-DIAGONAL.jpg.
They were just very uncomfortable to run on!