Run50 #16 | North Carolina: Oak Island Marathon

📍Location: Oak Island, North Carolina

🎽Event: Oak Island Marathon

It’s mid-February in Kentucky, and the tail end of winter is still swirling.

The sky was gray and windy, and the sunlight was as thin as a rag.

I've been training with Norton this winter and I'm feeling pretty good.

So I thought about finding a marathon not too far away to test the results of winter training.

It’s like a midterm, runner’s version.

We were flipping through the race list and were attracted by the "Run Oak Island Marathon" at a glance.

The medal is so big that it looks like a metal compass hanging on the wall.

Not only is it full of texture, but it also has its own "seaside flavor".

More importantly, it is at the southeastern end of North Carolina, a place called Oak Island.

According to the map, that place has reached the Atlantic Ocean.

So we set off from "Louisville",

Drive all the way southeast, all the way from the inland to the seaside.

I plan to run a marathon in Oak Island and check out North Carolina, the 16th state.

🏝Oak Island, NC

In the southeastern United States, there is a long and narrow island called Oak Island.

It belongs to Brunswick County, North Carolina,

Facing the Atlantic Ocean and backed by the Inland Waterway, the wind is strong, the sea is wide, and there are few people.

We are here to run marathons for medals and to accept winter training.

Also for the 16th state in the Run50 series: "North Carolina."

As a state with "North" in its name, North Carolina is often confused with "South Carolina."

But this state is not simple:

The first airplane took off from here: In 1903, the Wright brothers completed the first human flight on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

College basketball's strongest rivalry: UNC and Duke, the strongest rivalry in NCAA history.

One of the longest coastlines in the Eastern United States: more than 300 miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, from lighthouses to sandbars, military ports to national parks.

Across the mountains to the sea: the Appalachian Mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

Oak Island is just a corner of this "other side of the sea".

Marathon running here is like running from the American continent to the end of the sea.

📣Oak Island, NC

Day 1｜Kentucky → Tennessee → Smoky Mountains

It was quite cold in Kentucky in February, so we stuffed our luggage into the trunk and set off.

Our first night we stayed at an Econo Lodge in Newport, near the Smoky Mountains.

The town is as quiet as an old postcard, and there is a sense of anticipation in the air that "the journey has just begun."

Day 2｜Smoky Mountains → Wilmington → Oak Island

Starting from the mountains and heading south, the weather gets wetter and wetter.

Along the way, we pass Asheville, Charlotte, and then all the way east, approaching the coastline.

We arrived at the fairgrounds at the Run Oak Island Marathon around 5pm.

It was late, and it was among the "last few waves of people before closing the stall."

The venue is not big, and as far as the eye can see, there are several rows of tables and cardboard boxes. Most of the volunteers are local residents, who are skilled in operation and have friendly smiles.

Scan QR codes, send packages, everything is as smooth as a social activity at your doorstep.

We received the competition package smoothly and took a look at the medal series displayed by the organizer.

This event is part of the BAM! Race Series (Big Ass Medal Race Series), a series of marathons jointly organized by several North Carolina islands.

Includes:

Run Oak Island

Run Sunset Beach

Run Holden Beach

The medals for each competition are very large and very designed, like a metal sculpture that can be hung on the wall.

No wonder there are so few runners who sign up for three races at a time just to "gather up a set."

After collecting the equipment, it was already dark, so we found Indochine Express, a Thai restaurant with good ratings in the small town of Wilmington.

This shop looks like a classic cabin from an American TV series, but inside it hides a pot of fragrant red curry.

The coconut flavor is rich and spicy. It is paired with refreshing salad and white rice. It is just right to replenish carbohydrates before running.

Return to Airbnb in the evening, simply pack up the equipment, and run Oak Island the next day.

📣Oak Island, NC

Race day morning: An episode at the starting line☀️

We woke up early on the morning of the race, but didn’t expect the drive from our Airbnb to the starting point to be longer than expected.

When we arrived at the starting area, the first wave of half-marathon runners had already set off. The place was crowded with people, and music and drumbeats filled the air.

The weather is very nice. The sea breeze in the early morning is neither cold nor hot, and the sunshine is soft, making it one of the most ideal conditions for marathon running.

Route Introduction: Oak Island Marathon & Half 🗺

The full marathon route is a complete loop around the island, starting from Dolphin Drive in the southwest corner of the island, passing through the east coast, the central interior, all the way close to the inner waterway and the Atlantic coastline, and finally returning to the starting point. The whole journey is quite rich in scenery.

The half marathon is divided into two versions:

East Course: The starting time is 6:45 AM, starting at the same time as the entire marathon

West Course: Start time is 7:15 AM, half an hour later

Siqi signed up for the half marathon on the east route, which started at 6:45, while I wanted to run the "full marathon".

But due to our late arrival and the delay in parking, by the time we arrived at the venue, the full marathon and the first half marathon had already started.

It was still a while before the Western Half Marathon started, so I just thought about starting with this group of people, and sorting out my cell phone and bib number at the same time.

Siqi chose to set off quickly to catch up with the runners on the eastern half marathon. As he was leaving, he reminded me that the routes for the western half marathon and the full marathon were different.

It was quite good to set off under the sunshine of the island. I ran correctly. I separated from the half-marathon track at an intersection and accurately cut back to the main full marathon route.

The opening remarks of the morning on the island: sunshine, birds, small villas, and a road that cannot see the sea🎽

At this time, there were not many people on the road, and Oak Island had a quiet enthusiasm in the early morning.

Colorful seaside huts stand one after another. The wooden walls reflect the sunlight, and the shadows of the trees sway beneath your feet.

Running and running, I caught up with Siqi within the first mile or so.

We paused in the middle of the road and took pictures of each other with our cameras in the sun.

After gathering my rhythm, I continued running forward to catch up with the large group.

After rounding a corner, I finally met a few marathon runners. It was less than two miles now.

I started to get back into the rhythm of the peloton and was able to enjoy this "rush to the Atlantic" journey.

Running forward with the sea breeze blowing, although you can't actually see the sea most of the way, you can tell by smelling the humid, brackish air that you are not far from the Atlantic Ocean.

The sunshine is gentle and not dazzling, and it feels like a morning massage when it falls on your body.

At the third mile, the route turned left and passed through a quiet residential area. There were many side roads in the area and there were more and more people. Half marathon runners began to "merge" with me. Most of them were returning from the other end of the area.

After coming out of this community, I saw a big sign that read: Caswell Dunes.

This is a golf community close to the beach, known for its beautiful scenery and quiet environment. The road here is wide and flat, with neatly manicured lawns and small villas of the same style on both sides.

Continuing to run towards the northeast, the sun is shining slantingly, and a few birds can be seen gliding in the sky.

At about 7 to 8 miles, I finally came to Oak Island’s landmark building: Oak Island Lighthouse.

Built in 1958, it is about 153 feet (about 47 meters) tall. The exterior is a typical three-stage gradient paint: dark gray at the bottom, white in the middle, and black at the top. Although not ancient, it is one of the few lighthouses in the United States still operating from the original lighthouse system.

Its light can shine up to 16 nautical miles away and is an important guidance sign for navigators.

This tower is special not only because it is still in service, but also because it was painted without a “paint”

Instead, the color was added directly when the concrete was poured. In other words, it never needs to be repainted, which is considered a "black technology" in the lighthouse industry.

The competition set up a turnaround point not far from the lighthouse, where photographers were taking pictures of the contestants.

I adjusted my breathing, took a pose, and showed a flying posture by the way, the posture of an elderly person?

Turning around and heading back, the oncoming runners were all smiling. I don’t know if it was because of the lighthouse or because of this flat and open road, which made everyone feel more relaxed.

The turnaround point in front of the lighthouse was at the beginning of mile 9. Not long after that, I saw Siqi running towards me.

This time it was "47 without glasses", smiling and waving to me, looking quite relaxed.

The sky was still gray, and the sun seemed to be covered with a screen. It was not dazzling, but instead laid a soft filter on the track.

There are also some volunteers on the roadside, setting up small tables to distribute water, "Coke, and whiskey."

Several firefighters sat on the front bumper of the fire truck and cheered us leisurely. The leisure and casualness of the island was fully revealed at this moment.

After running past the shop filled with surfboards and model sharks, mile 14 was up. We were close to the beach again, but our view was still blocked by rows of houses.

There were a few seabirds circling in the sky, and occasionally spectators raised signs to cheer, and the atmosphere was relaxed. There are several classic cars basking in the sun on the roadside, like a landscape still in the sun.

At mile 17 the sun came out and it got a little hot. The sun shone on the small colorful houses, dyeing the whole road bright and warm. I continued to move forward in the hot wind, and the tranquility and heat of the island were intertwined.

Hard bridge, hard work, all the way to the finish｜US PB + big medal, still not missing🎖️

At mile 21, I glanced at my watch and saw that my pace was surprisingly steady. As long as you don't act weird, don't have convulsions, and cruise slowly, breaking 4 is not a big problem.

So I thought in my mind: Okay, then be more serious and stop acting.

Ahead is a bridge. It doesn't look long, but the slope is quite steep. As I ran, I thought, this bridge is too unreasonable, it is only 21 miles long.

But the legs are still listening, which shows that there is indeed a lot of useful information in winter training. At the end of the bridge, we turned and started to turn back. The descent was not easy.

But at that time, my mind was filled with the words "I want to break four", so I closed my eyes and rushed forward. See you at the finish line in 3 hours and 51 minutes! This is the best result I have ever run in the United States.

Running is a pretty silly exercise, but with a little serious training, you can see progress.

Before crossing the line, there were spectators applauding not far from the finish line. I raised my arms to cross the line, as if giving myself a "yeah" sign.

The medal is extremely large, and the metal is so thick that it can be used as a pot lid. In the middle is a compass, which can be clearly seen in all directions. It also has a wave carving and a serrated edge.

It's banging on my neck, and it's bigger than my face. It's BAM! Race Series: Big Ass Medal, and it lives up to its name.

Siqi had already finished work, so I went to get a BBQ burger.

After eating and drinking, we took out a small plane (Hover X1) and took a group photo of "showing off our medals after finishing the race" at the parking lot and in front of a roadside restaurant.

The background is a whole painted wall: colorful fish, waves, red buoys, and a white shrimp boat. The whole painting is full of colors, rough lines, and full of seafood.

I couldn't help but think of the "Bubba Gump Shrimp Co." restaurant opened by Bubba in "Forrest Gump".

If that store was also opened on Oak Island, it would probably have a wall like this, with paintings of sea fish, boats, and a few "Forrest Gumps" in vests and baseball caps swinging shrimp nets in the sea breeze.

Maybe there is a line written on it:

"Stupid is as stupid does."

Or “Life is like a box of medals.”

The wall was marked "49th Street", and we left a bunch of photos belonging to our "16th state".

Oh, no, Siqi is the 15th state, one less than me.

Then we drove to Planet Fitness and took a shower, which is "standard procedure" on our marathon trip. After being clean and fresh, it’s time to feed as usual.

After driving for a while, we chose an American-style Chinese buffet. As long as you have lived in the United States for a while, you will find that this kind of restaurant has a magical copy-paste feel: the decoration is similar, and the dishes are a common template across the country.

Orange chicken, kale beef, fried wontons, crab sticks, spring rolls, as well as canned fruit and gelatin pudding in the dessert area, the taste is unified like Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V. As soon as you eat it, nostalgia and MSG fly together.

Behind this type of restaurant, there is actually an entrepreneurial story of Fujian immigrants:

In the 1980s and 1990s, many people from Fujian came to the United States across the ocean. They started working as part-time workers. After slowly accumulating experience, they began to take root in small towns and open cafeterias. They have conquered the stomachs of central and southern America with the most down-to-earth flavors and the most approachable prices.

The menu is not designed for Chinese people, but is adjusted to "old American version of Chinese food". You may say it is not authentic, but it has become "authentic" in the United States.

That night we stayed at a hotel on the roadside. Breakfast is a standard "American set meal":

Eggs in cartons, fried sausages, self-service scones from the waffle machine, and orange juice coffee are all at your disposal. Although it doesn’t have the fireworks of Chinese porridge, side dishes, steamed buns and fried dough sticks, it’s not bad to have a hot breakfast on the road.

On the way back, we passed through the mountain roads of North Carolina and Virginia. The sky was wide, the sun was shining, and the scenery was picturesque along the way.

Entering West Virginia, there was still unfinished snow on the top of the mountain, which seemed to add a wintery aftertaste to the end of this running trip.

At the end of the journey, let’s wrap up with a rap!

Country Road took me back to KY. After running through 16 states, I just wanted to high five!

The lighthouse testifies, U.S. PB refreshed, 3 hours and 51 minutes, I am not trying my best, I am serious!

Standing in front of the mural looks like a time-travel painting from "Forrest Gump". The Chinese food buffets are the same across the United States.

But sweat tastes different in every state, right?

Run50 is more than a check-in map, it is a journey written with both feet;

State 16, North Carolina, I have signed!

- The end -