Early on in our planning for the 50 states goal, we decided we would not select states and races that merely “checked the box”.   We committed to finding places that we wanted to visit, and races that we wanted to run.   However, in all honesty, when we selected the Big Beach Run in Gulf Shores, Alabama, we were skating perilously close to box checking.  Finding a January race that was both accessible and weather friendly in a state we hadn’t already done was almost impossible.   We determined if we flew into New Orleans and drove 200 miles to the little beach town of Gulf Shores, Alabama, we could make this one work.   So it found a spot on our calendar.

Race weekend started with a 3:30 am wakeup call, a flight to Houston for Kathy and me, and then a connecting flight to New Orleans where we met up with Melodie.   We collected our little rental car around 4:00 pm and started the long trek east.   Even with the best company in the world, the miles seemed to go on forever.   Our stomachs eventually began clamoring for attention, so we pulled off in Mobile in search of a ladies’ room and a place to eat.   Opting for convenience, we pulled into a restaurant called “The Waffle House” and asked to look at a menu.  We looked at the menu, looked at each other, and exited stage left.    After doing a more exhaustive google search, Melodie came up with a place called “Kitchen on George”.   It had high marks, an interesting menu, and wasn’t too far off the beaten track, so off we went, following our trusty iPhones.    As we wandered through a very poor residential area, it was hard to believe we were going to find a 4 star restaurant.   I wasn’t entirely sure I even wanted to get out of the car.   However, amazingly enough, we did find it – a lovely little restaurant sitting on a street corner, promising farm to table fresh food.

Charmed, we walked in, sat down and perused the menus.   This time, we didn’t walk out.   In fact, we were a bit worried we were underdressed and would get thrown out, but everyone was charming and courteous.

The food was delicious and very, very rich.  We had not accounted for the fact that farm to table also meant a LOT of cream and butter.  In any case, though we left a lot of food behind, we left much happier than when we arrived.

An hour and a half later, we finally pulled into the Best Western in Gulf Shores.  The wind was howling and the temperature was hovering in the 40’s, not an auspicious start for a race weekend.   However, Melodie had steps to get, and the Gulf of Mexico was literally on our doorstep, so off we went.

Being the weather watchers that we are, we knew that sight seeing was not going to be high on our agenda for the weekend.    So as an alternative, we signed up for a Jeff Galloway Running School that was being offered as part of race weekend.   We were familiar with Jeff and his coaching methods, but thought it would be inspiring and educational to meet and hear him in person.

The seminar didn’t disappoint.    Jeff, at 72 years of age, is lively, a wealth of information, and passionate about helping the everyday person run for life.   It was three hours well spent.    We left determined to try some new things.

We spent the remainder of the day walking the town and beach (someone wanted 10,000 steps even though we were running a half the next day!) and fueling, another one of our favorites activities.  Despite the cold, stormy weather, people were out walking and enjoying the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama.   The sand was so unique – very fine and unusually white.  I did a little digging and found out it is made almost entirely of quartz grains washed down from the Appalachian Mountains, thousands of years ago.

The ocean was endlessly intriguing.     We couldn’t get enough of it.

Someone was looking out for us, because race day dawned a full twenty degrees warmer, with no wind or rain.   Our hotel was within walking distance of the starting line, so race morning was pretty relaxed.   

And off we went.   Much of the race course took us through Gulf State Park which included paved trail, beautiful vistas, and miles of boardwalk.

The runners in motion – not always the most flattering of pictures, but they tell the story.

And the finish.

Finisher shots at The Hangout.   It was a great race, but as always, we were glad it was over.

The rain started up almost as soon as the race was over and continued for the rest of the day.    Because it was off season, we were able to get a hotel room with a balcony that was literally just a few hundred yards from the beach.   We spent the rest of the day relaxing, hot tubbing, and enjoying the sound and sight of the ocean.

Our last day in Gulf Shores dawned cold with nary a cloud in sight.   After three days of gray, stormy weather, the blue was much appreciated.   We marveled again at the beauty and tranquility of this place.    When we envisioned visiting Alabama, this was not what we had expected.   And because it was January, we had it mostly to ourselves.

We found a fun little coffee shop for a quick bite before hitting the road for another long travel day.

And so another running trip comes to an end, containing in equal parts the expected and the unexpected.   No matter how many of these trips we take, we always learn something new – about ourselves, our world, and each other.   So long Alabama, you treated us well.

Next up, Chicago, Illinois.