Happy Running Sole: Battleship 12K Race Recap

November 17, 2019

This is another race that I've wanted to run for years. I was so excited to finally run it this year.

The race is on a Sunday, so we could have easily made the three hour drive down to Daphne/Spanish Fort on Saturday morning. However, it was during football season and Alabama had an 11:00 kick off against Mississippi State. We wanted to have a place to watch the game, so I booked the hotel room for two nights. We drove down on Friday night after Michael and I got off work.

The Weekend

We got up early Saturday morning to tour the USS Alabama Battleship . I've lived in Alabama my whole life, and I don't recall ever touring the Battleship. We got there when it opened, but there was so much to see that we felt a little rushed towards the end of the tour. We wanted to make it back in time for kick off.

I took too many pictures to post them all, but here are just a few.

We left the Battleship with only 15 minutes to spare. Since it was almost lunch time, we decided to stop at Beef O' Brady's to eat and watch the first half of the game. We left the restaurant with only a few minutes remaining in the second quarter. Michael streamed the game on his phone.

He stopped at Dick's Sporting Goods on the way back to the hotel, so I could get my race packet. Bama was leading the Bulldogs 35-7 with just over three minutes left in the half. I figured we'd play it safe going into halftime. I rushed in, got my packet, and rushed out. I didn't stop to look at anything extra.

When I got back to the parking lot, Michael was silent, the crowd and the announcers were silent on his live stream of the game. I looked at the screen and saw our quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the ground in obvious pain. He stayed in to practice the two minute drill before halftime. Tua suffered a serious hip injury after the first snap. It was his last drive of the game, and it ended his season with the Tide. We made it back to the hotel in time to watch the second half. We only scored one field goal the rest of the game. I felt sick to my stomach all afternoon and evening thinking about Tua.

We rested at the hotel and watched other games that afternoon. It was late when we got out for supper, so we just stopped at a Cici's Pizza Buffett because it was quick.

The Race

We stayed at the Fairfield Inn in Daphne/Spanish Fort. It was within walking distance to the start line. I debated staying near the finish line in Mobile, but it worked out perfectly on race morning to be near the start line. I didn't have to leave the room until almost race time.

The Battleship 12K is a point to point course, so the start and finish lines are in different locations. The race starts in Daphne/Spanish Fort and ends at the Battleship Memorial Park. There is a shuttle that runs from the finish line back to Daphne/Spanish Fort after the race.

I love the patriotic theme to this race. Each year the t-shirts and medals are designed to honor a different branch of the military. This year's race honored the Marines. Race participants names were printed in the design on the back of the t-shirt. I never found my name. I don't think that I registered in time to have it printed.

I was in such a hurry at packet pick-up that I overlooked the Run to Honor bibs. I would have liked to wear one to honor my family members who served in the military: my Mom (Army), my Dad (Army, served in Iraq 2007-2008), and my Papaw (Air Force, served in Vietnam).

I knew a lot of my IG friends were running this race. I only saw one at the start because it was so crowded. I hoped that I would get to see everyone at the finish line. There were over 1,400 finishers.

They played the 1,2, 3, 4 Marine Corps Cadence as we made our way to the start line, followed by the National Anthem.

The crowd at the start line

Start line selfie

It was a little congested at the start of the race, but runners spread out after we turned onto Hwy 98. From there it was a straight shot to the Battleship. This was my first time running a 12K, so that meant an automatic PR. I didn't know what to expect as far as time, but I hoped I could finish between 1:10-1:12, a 9:30-9:40 pace.

I ran the first four miles. Then I started using 2:00 min run/:30 sec walk intervals. I took a lot of pictures on the course. I loved seeing all the runners carrying flags and the views of Mobile Bay, the Battleship, and downtown Mobile as I got closer to the finish.

Volunteers handed the runners flags at the final turn into Battleship Memorial Park. I could hear the announcer and the music from the finish line. There were a lot of spectators out cheering on the runners.

Waving my flag with pride, I ran the last half mile loop around the park to the finish line. My official time was 1:08:03 well within my time goal.

Mile 1- 8:30

Mile 2- 9:09

Mile 3- 8:51

Mile 4- 9:07

Mile 5- 9:16

Mile 6- 9:16

Mile 7- 9:33

0.5 Miles- 8:47/pace

I saw my friend Valerie standing at the finish line with her husband and son. It wasn't long before other runners started gathering at the finish line. It was great to see IG friends Katie, Mindy, and Jenny again, and finally meet Heather, Jennifer Z., and Jennifer T. in person. This race was like one big Instagram (IG) friend reunion.

I was going to ride the shuttle bus back to the hotel, but Valerie was very kind to offer me a ride back with her family. She was staying in the hotel next to me. I was so thankful because the line for the shuttles was really long when we got ready to leave. I wanted to have time to shower and change before heading home.

I loved everything about this race and would definitely run it again one day.