Apr 30, 2007
Date: April 27, 2007
Event: Nashville Country Music Marathon Road Trip
NQRFPTR ROAD TRIP
Preparing to leave for a weekend may seem like something to look forward to for most people, but for sale people like me, it’s a nightmare. Trying to get ready to leave for a few days, requires a lot of planning. I packed for the trip last night, making sure I had all the necessary essentials for a marathon, but had to use the morning hours checking and replying to emails, finishing uncompleted projects and returning last minute phone calls. I finally finished tying up all the loose ends and met Lena Snyder in my driveway for the rendezvous with the other marathoners around 10 AM.
We made the short drive to Cracker Barrel and met up with Jon O’Neil and Joe Kucszwara. The other runners, (Amy #1, Kristy #1, Karen #1, Amy #2, Emily, Kristy #2, and Katie), gradually arrived one by one until we were ready to hit the road. Jon, Joe, Lena and myself rode together in Joe’s truck and talked about various things, mostly concerning running and marathon topics. As usual, I had umpteen different phone calls from customers, other runners, my wife, my kids and practically everyone else, all the way to Nashville. We listened to the play list Kristy # 1 created for the trip and drove straight to Nashville CMM expo, with only one stop at the Smith’s Grove exit for a bathroom break.
At our arrival at the expo, we split up and took our own individual tours of the expo. It was a really great expo. It wasn’t as large as the Marine Corps Marathon or San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon expos, but it was pretty good. Various vendors gave samples of sports drink and energy bars and I tried all of them. (Missing lunch made the samples pretty tasty.) I picked up several freebies and even bought 3 pair of Cool Max socks for $15. I also bought some triple Latte gel to make the caffeine withdrawal during the four hours of the marathon a little more bearable. True to form, I received 4 more phone calls while I was browsing the expo.
After the expo, we returned to the hotel and checked in. Joe, Jon and I took showers, got dressed and met up with the other runners, for our pasta dinner, at Maggiano’s. I made the comment that the restaurant looked an awful lot like the restaurant we ate at in Washington, for the MCM. (I found out later it was the same restaurant. Part of the chain.) I ordered a ½ bowl of spaghetti and meatballs and it was more than I could eat. Jon and I had a pleasant dinner, getting to know each other and discussing the monumental task that lay before us. Annette and Steve met up with us for the remainder of the meal and we had a great time.
After leaving the restaurant, we returned to the hotel and began preparing our gear for the long run awaiting us in the morning. I attached my race bib and timing chip and laid out my IPOD, watch and gels. We called for a 4 AM wake up call and turned out the lights around 11 PM, local time. I tossed and turned for an hour or so and finally fell into a semi-conscious slumber, interrupted only once for a trip to the bathroom. (Significant, because I have been hydrating all week.)
Event: Nashville Country Music Marathon Road Trip
NQRFPTR ROAD TRIP
Preparing to leave for a weekend may seem like something to look forward to for most people, but for sale people like me, it’s a nightmare. Trying to get ready to leave for a few days, requires a lot of planning. I packed for the trip last night, making sure I had all the necessary essentials for a marathon, but had to use the morning hours checking and replying to emails, finishing uncompleted projects and returning last minute phone calls. I finally finished tying up all the loose ends and met Lena Snyder in my driveway for the rendezvous with the other marathoners around 10 AM.
We made the short drive to Cracker Barrel and met up with Jon O’Neil and Joe Kucszwara. The other runners, (Amy #1, Kristy #1, Karen #1, Amy #2, Emily, Kristy #2, and Katie), gradually arrived one by one until we were ready to hit the road. Jon, Joe, Lena and myself rode together in Joe’s truck and talked about various things, mostly concerning running and marathon topics. As usual, I had umpteen different phone calls from customers, other runners, my wife, my kids and practically everyone else, all the way to Nashville. We listened to the play list Kristy # 1 created for the trip and drove straight to Nashville CMM expo, with only one stop at the Smith’s Grove exit for a bathroom break.
At our arrival at the expo, we split up and took our own individual tours of the expo. It was a really great expo. It wasn’t as large as the Marine Corps Marathon or San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon expos, but it was pretty good. Various vendors gave samples of sports drink and energy bars and I tried all of them. (Missing lunch made the samples pretty tasty.) I picked up several freebies and even bought 3 pair of Cool Max socks for $15. I also bought some triple Latte gel to make the caffeine withdrawal during the four hours of the marathon a little more bearable. True to form, I received 4 more phone calls while I was browsing the expo.
After the expo, we returned to the hotel and checked in. Joe, Jon and I took showers, got dressed and met up with the other runners, for our pasta dinner, at Maggiano’s. I made the comment that the restaurant looked an awful lot like the restaurant we ate at in Washington, for the MCM. (I found out later it was the same restaurant. Part of the chain.) I ordered a ½ bowl of spaghetti and meatballs and it was more than I could eat. Jon and I had a pleasant dinner, getting to know each other and discussing the monumental task that lay before us. Annette and Steve met up with us for the remainder of the meal and we had a great time.
After leaving the restaurant, we returned to the hotel and began preparing our gear for the long run awaiting us in the morning. I attached my race bib and timing chip and laid out my IPOD, watch and gels. We called for a 4 AM wake up call and turned out the lights around 11 PM, local time. I tossed and turned for an hour or so and finally fell into a semi-conscious slumber, interrupted only once for a trip to the bathroom. (Significant, because I have been hydrating all week.)
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