Tobacco Road Marathon & Half Marathon: Why This NC Race Is a Must-Run Ep 132

WEBVTT
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All right, welcome back to the Find Your Edge podcast.
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I am your host, Coach Chris Newport.
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And today I am here with Dave Gross and Mark Dill from the Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon, which we are proud sponsors of this year.
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And I love highlighting both race directors and local races and just awesome things that we have in the mix.
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So I'm excited to hear from you guys.
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Thanks for coming on the show.
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Thanks for having me.
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Yeah.
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All right, Mark, I'm going to start with you because you have been with this race from the get-go.
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So when did it start?
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Tell us about why it got started and all that good kind of stuff.
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Well, technically, you could say it got started in 2009 because it takes that so long to uh prepare.
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But the first race was 2010.
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The inspiration, the force of nature is Kazem Yayapur.
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It wouldn't happen without Kazem.
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And he really founded it, and that's just his nature.
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He wanted to do something to help others in a meaningful way.
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So that's where it got.
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Plus, he was he was a big time runner himself.
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Okay, cool.
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So helping others, you guys have a ton of beneficiaries.
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I mean, like, let me list the numbers, right?
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Well, I think the major beneficiaries, but you're right, they're we've got a lot.
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Uh but the big boys that get the most money uh are the breakthrough TD1, formerly JDRF, the American Red Cross, Hope for the Warriors.
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Not to be confused with with uh I forget the other one that's national, but this one's based in Oregon.
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Oh yeah, that's great.
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So some large beneficiaries and some smaller, more local ones.
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Yeah, I mean, those are the ones that get the bulk of the money, but then we try to help out a lot of people, and then Kazam Institute something like uh three or four years ago that everybody on the board could give a thousand dollars to whatever charity they liked.
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What?
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They wanted to help.
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That's so cool.
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Yeah, so my wife and I uh uh she convinced me Dorcas, who she's done a lot of work with, yeah, is would be a good beneficiary.
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They're great.
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And Dave, what who's your beneficiary being on the board?
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Well, I just learned this fact, so I'm gonna have to think quickly here.
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Um Alzheimer's.
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You don't have to commit to it.
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Maybe if you no, I'll commit.
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I'll commit.
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Yeah.
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Uh both my parents were afflicted by Alzheimer's, so uh yeah, I'll I'll throw it behind that.
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Oh, that's a good thing.
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Wow.
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Yeah.
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I I like the fact that the some of the local charities too are beneficiaries included, like the Triangle Rails to Trails and the Wake Um Park and Recreation.
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So it kind of gives back to the very course we're running on.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Thank you, Dave.
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I I omitted to mention them, but yeah, they've been with us a long time.
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And of course, it's like giving back to the people that tend to the trail, which is essential.
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Yeah.
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Okay, so let's talk about the course.
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Speaking of the trail, um, because it is tobacco road, and a good majority of the course is literally on the tobacco trail.
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Tell us why that makes such a great race.
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Hint hint, it's kind of fast.
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Well, I mean, when you talk about doing interviews, I mean, one of our key talking points is this is the flattest, fastest course in North Carolina, and it is.
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That's why we qualify 18% of our runners for for Boston.
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So about 21 miles, I think it is, uh uh is of the marathon is on the trail.
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People like it because it is, it's it's flat, and there's a lot of undulating terrain around here that can kind of really wear you out.
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And this one is is relatively easy.
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Yeah.
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Flat, but yet the uh I've been running on it for over a decade now, and I'm still trying to discern when I'm going uphill and when I'm going downhill, but they're there, they're very subtle, and they're kind of key points in the race uh that it can wear you out and you don't even know it because it looks flat and it's it's got a little bit of a grade to it.
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So and you're mostly surrounded by trees.
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Right.
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You know, it's nice that you're not uh I know so many races have to like, okay, well, we're gonna take you through this random little neighborhood or down this you know street, and you're like, why am I running down this random street?
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It's it's just so nice that you're like, here I am on the trail, like pretty much the whole time.
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Yeah, it's shaded, it's shaded most of the way and and soft.
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That's what I was gonna say.
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Yeah, yeah.
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So that matters to me.
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I, you know, run enough around a neighborhood to know that concrete's hard and some.
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Well, Dave, when you're 35 like you are, then it doesn't really matter, does it?
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Right, right.
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Yeah.
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I wish I were 35.
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Wish I were half that.
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So flat, fast, great, like surface to run on, uh body friendly.
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And it's mixed.
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So I know some folks sometimes are wary of well, if it's soft, then you know I'm gonna lose some traction and so forth.
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But you know, there's asphalt in there too.
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You gotta run to the trail.
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So um, and I've never really I'd really rather have a soft surface that's equips well.
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I think it's a great variety.
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One thing that makes it different, and you mentioned this, that you're not going through neighborhoods.
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So in other races, you know, now you see houses, but people come out and you know, look at all the fools killing themselves.
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You can get out on the trail and rially uh kind of zone out.
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And whatever you want to think about, or you want to pray, or you know, whatever, it's it's uh it's more private than uh, you know, most other distance races.
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Yeah, peaceful, I would say, perhaps.
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Yeah, and well supported too.
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Just because you know, you're on the tobacco road, you guys have great support and uh aid stations, medals, t-shirts.
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What what else is in the swag?
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Is there anything that else that I missed?
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Uh one that's near and dear to many.
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You already Mark already mentioned that a lot of BQers in the uh in the group.
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And one thing that I like is that if you BQ, you get a special technical tobacco road shirt that you know it over and above the race shirt that go you get, you get a BQ shirt if you if you qualify.
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That's really cool.
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Yeah, and very don't forget, don't forget uh the free beer from Bond Brothers and the free pizza from Papa John's.
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I mean, that's a form of sponsorship and that's good stuff.
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It is, absolutely, for sure.
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One thing that I love about Y'all's race is that there is a bell at the end, ding, ding, ding.
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Right?
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Yes.
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So if you uh it's like basically like the PR bell, but honestly, like if you if even if it's not a PR, can you still ring the bell?
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Maybe, yeah, yeah.
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You know who's to stop you?
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That's right.
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Yeah.
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I do love that bell.
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It's so cool.
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Yeah.
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And it's not like it's I mean, it's it's like a gong version of a bell.
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It's big, it's a big bell.
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It's cast iron, it's old school.
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Yeah, definitely.
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And you guys have great music.
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So this the I will have to say, this was my one and only marathon.
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I checked the box.
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Um, and if you're watching on YouTube, and you can hear it if you're just listening.
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Look at that thing.
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That thing is it's got like a little train, and apparently, this year's race is even better.
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The this year's race metal is even better.
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Yeah, they do, yeah, yeah, they do.
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You guys have great metals.
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You guys have great music too.
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Like a good music at the end.
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There's a really good festive experience in the at the start-finish with the the beer garden, the tent, the music, the the band, people hanging out, you know, usually uh nice weather.
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Uh last year we get did get a little douse of rain at the end.
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But uh, you know, another thing I that just occurred to me that I I like about the race too is photos are at least the last couple of years, I think have been free.
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So you go give it your all and look back and download some pictures.
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We got a what is it, stand and repeat, you know, behind you with the logos and stuff.
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Uh makes makes it look very professional.
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Yeah.
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And another point I want to mention on the weather is I mean, we were thoughtful, it's it's St.
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Patrick's Day weekend.
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And if you look at the average temperatures, it's in the low 50s, so it's good running weather.
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And we have been lucky, despite the late showers we had last year.
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We have never been rained out.
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Not gonna be.
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Yeah, exactly.
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Well, in addition to St.
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Patty's Day, though, it is also March 16th is Dave's birthday.
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Oh, I mean, that's why we are all coming.
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That's why that's one big Dave Gross birthday party.
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I celebrated my 10th marathon on my birthday.
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I actually I've run this 10 times, so three times marathons and seven times half.
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Oh, that's cool.
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Yeah.
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And this year for 2026, it's March 15th.
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So it's Sunday, March 15th, right?
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And we'll be at the expo.
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We're excited about that because we're gonna be doing some metabolic testing for cyclists.
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So if anybody's draplays or has like friends and family who are, you know, maybe you're doing the race and you've got a friend who's doing it, we're gonna be doing some metabolic, you know, taking people's blood.
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Uh, that makes me sound like a vampire.
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I promise I am not, but doing like lactate testing and uh metabolic testing.
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And there are a ton of amazing sponsors there too.
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Like it's a it's a fun little, it's a fun little expo.
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It's a worthy expo for sure.
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Yeah.
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Um, let's talk about size of the race, because I very distinctly remember when I ran it with you, Dave, just incidentally.
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I think I found you at like mile two or something like that.
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That's right.
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And then you you you left me at mile 25.
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Yeah.
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Because someone was being a camel and not executing the fueling and the drinking.
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Even though though you're running with a dietitian who's like, cough call, maybe it's time to drink.
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Yeah, mile 19.
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Are you being a camel, Dave?
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And I was so executing the left.
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I did accuse you of that.
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There's just some of those races, the like New York's, the Boston's, which are obviously you know fantastic races, but you go there for that specific experience of being huddled with 30,000 of your friends.
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This is not that.
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I feel like not only is it on the tobacco trail, which is soft and in nature and well shaded, but it's also like you're not shoulder to shoulder.
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So, but it's also not a small race.
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So, like, talk about like size of race and how many runners you guys expect.
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If we're not the biggest marathon in North Carolina, we are real close.
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And we have like a thousand marathon runners.
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So it gives you a sense of you know, most of the runners are always in other distances, and especially like the half.
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So our total runners are about 4,000, and frankly, that's all we can fit on that course.
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I mean, that it is a constraint, and we've got about 3,000 or a little over 3,000 people in the half.
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So that that kind of gives you a sense of the size and so forth.
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I am impressed that you guys got the permits for all this.
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Like, how hard was that when you started?
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Like, I I mean, being a race director myself, holy smokes.
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Kazem is like uh Wonder Man.
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He knows how to negotiate, he knows what buttons to press, and yeah, and he did a great job.
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And you got to put all that out there to him.
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And he and he found the right people to help him.
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Yeah.
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You know, if I can add that 4,000 runners on a I don't want to call it a type course, but it is, it used to be a railroad, right?
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So, you know, when you get to the turn where the full marathoners go right and the half marathoners go left, despite being limited space on on the trail, there it it gets dispersed enough that you you don't feel claustrophobic.
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You you have enough other runners around you to you know uh motivate you.
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And uh I enjoyed our conversation.
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Um actually we were talking about podcasts, Chris, if you were.
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We were.
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Yeah, I still remember this.
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Of course I remember.
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Yeah, so you never feel too crowded, but you have uh plenty of good company.
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Yeah, and and the spectators have uh some key spots where they can cheer you on, like at the split where the full and half diverge.
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While it's not New York City or Boston where you've got, you know, tens of thousands of spectators cheering you on, there's some key spots in the race, certainly at the finish, of course, and all throughout the park as you approach the finish line where people can cheer you on, but in the middle of the course, too.
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Yeah, definitely.
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And I will have to say that it's fairly like parking friendly.
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You know how some races can be sort of uh nightmare.
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Like you get you guys got stuff figured out.
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Yeah, well, I mean, uh working at it since 2010, we kind of figured it out.
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We had a couple of hiccups early days, but uh, you know, like with the bus dri buses from that app, which have been wonderful, and effectively they're another sponsor too, because they uh allow us to uh spill over into their parking lot, and that really helps.
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Yeah, definitely.
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Um, and I will have to say, plenty of Portageons.
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So two thumbs up from the dietitian.
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You're reminding me, yeah.
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You know, I've seen been a runner in this race, coach cheered, and I've certainly volunteered most years, but two memorable years.
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One was NetApp uh with the buses, making sure that stays efficient.
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But then also one year I was fortunate enough uh to put out all the porta potties.
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Big job.
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So there's a lot of there's a lot of work.
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That's something that I had no clue about, you know, as a as a runner, just what goes behind getting um a race ready.
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Yeah, yeah.
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So let's talk about that.
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Like, what are some things that you wish people knew as runners of what goes into this event?
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Well, I mean, it's it isn't something that comes together at the last minute, but you'll have people making requests and so forth.
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And people just have to realize there's a lot of other runners out there with their needs.
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As long as you got, you know, your bib and you know where to go and you listen to the advice of people like you and stay hydrated and so forth, that you should be content with that.
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So I I discourage people with special requests, and that that's I guess something that I feel would be helpful.
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Yeah.
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Okay.
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So uh try to keep your special requests limited.
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Although I, you know, again, I don't think it's necessary with all the work you guys have put in between the great parking, the great communication, the expo, and volunteers.
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How many volunteers do you guys have?
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I have about 700 volunteers.
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That's crazy.
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Yeah, and all and the board is all volunteer.
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The only people that get paid are like the FSS series that uh does the timing.
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It's their job.
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You have to take care of those guys.
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But as far as uh guys like Dave and I, Kazam convinced us somehow we just give away our time.
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No, it's and that's part of the culture of the event that there's so many giving people, there's so much genuine desire to help others.
00:16:58.349 --> 00:17:00.990
Uh and that may sound saccharine, but it's true.
00:17:01.230 --> 00:17:01.629
Yeah.
00:17:01.870 --> 00:17:02.429
That's right.
00:17:03.949 --> 00:17:06.190
Giving back is important, right?
00:17:06.349 --> 00:17:08.509
Endurance events are important to us.
00:17:08.829 --> 00:17:20.750
It's a it's a strong community, and this is one way whether you run it, whether you cheer, whether you coach, whether you volunteer to give back and be part of your community.
00:17:20.829 --> 00:17:22.589
And that's super important for me.
00:17:22.750 --> 00:17:26.829
I you know, I happen to be employed by the marathon sponsor Varadime.
00:17:27.150 --> 00:17:31.710
So this is one way that I can give back as an employee and as a runner.
00:17:31.789 --> 00:17:36.509
And this is an important race for me personally, just on multiple levels.
00:17:36.670 --> 00:17:36.750
Yeah.
00:17:36.990 --> 00:17:41.710
And the fact that you can sleep in your own bed because it's local and to that.
00:17:41.870 --> 00:17:42.190
Yeah.
00:17:42.509 --> 00:17:48.430
Or and I mean, even if you're traveling from out of town, like there's so many options for stays.
00:17:48.750 --> 00:17:49.710
Yeah, that's a good catch, yeah.
00:17:49.950 --> 00:17:50.430
Yeah.
00:17:50.670 --> 00:17:53.789
So you know, coming back to the aid stations real quick, Chris.
00:17:53.950 --> 00:18:00.109
Um, that was one of the things that I underestimated each year in the last several years now.
00:18:00.269 --> 00:18:05.789
I've been making sure I volunteer to pack the aid stations, which is done days before, right?
00:18:05.869 --> 00:18:07.309
Or a day or two before.
00:18:07.549 --> 00:18:11.629
You know, you've got all the containers that you're packing and then they get transported.
00:18:11.710 --> 00:18:16.829
So the I totally underestimated how much work to set up one aid station.
00:18:16.909 --> 00:18:19.470
But and and we've got plenty of aid stations, right?
00:18:19.629 --> 00:18:24.269
So if someone's being a camel and not drinking, then that's not that's on them.
00:18:24.589 --> 00:18:25.549
It is on them.
00:18:26.190 --> 00:18:30.269
Because there's plenty of water and and uh you know nutrition on the course.
00:18:30.589 --> 00:18:30.750
Yes.
00:18:30.990 --> 00:18:32.190
But yeah, packing those aid stations.
00:18:33.470 --> 00:18:45.230
You know, you've got like we already talked about the bus transportation, the portageons, the music, the volunteers, the board, praying to the weather gods and uh police, right?
00:18:45.789 --> 00:18:47.069
They have to work with traffic.
00:18:47.710 --> 00:18:54.750
And don't forget uh EMS because uh we've had some scary incidents because it just happens with every race.
00:18:55.069 --> 00:18:56.029
It does, it does.
00:18:56.509 --> 00:19:01.629
They are very responsive and they take care of uh our runners when they need it.
00:19:01.950 --> 00:19:02.589
I love that.
00:19:02.829 --> 00:19:22.509
So if you want to run a race that is not only fast and flat and hopefully cool, it may or may not rain on you, but you know, no guarantees, has a great BQ shirt, a great shirt, a great metal, great post race beer, food, and heart.
00:19:22.990 --> 00:19:26.909
It sounds like Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon is right up your alley.
00:19:26.990 --> 00:19:28.430
So, how can people sign up?
00:19:29.629 --> 00:19:35.149
Well, the the touchstone, and thanks for bringing that up, is uh tobacco roadmarathon.com.
00:19:35.549 --> 00:19:41.950
And if you're curious about all the details, I mean, there's so much information in there, we couldn't possibly cover it in this podcast.
00:19:42.109 --> 00:19:42.430
Yeah.
00:19:42.670 --> 00:19:48.750
So there's very few questions that I can imagine someone would have that they can't find the answer to there.
00:19:48.909 --> 00:19:50.109
And you can register there.
00:19:50.269 --> 00:19:53.950
But the other thing is you can even register at our expo.
00:19:54.109 --> 00:19:59.549
I think we'll have some spots and you could come in and register at the expo.
00:19:59.789 --> 00:20:03.389
But we're all going to be responsible and sign up beforehand, right?
00:20:03.549 --> 00:20:05.629
Yeah, don't wait for the weather report.
00:20:07.470 --> 00:20:11.549
I I I don't want to leave out that in that vein.
00:20:11.869 --> 00:20:26.349
We have runners from every typically we have runners from every state in the country, maybe only one, but uh, you know, we had a guy come over from Hawaii and then also some people from Europe, and we have elite runners.
00:20:26.589 --> 00:20:30.670
Those are the guys that get a little bit of money at the end uh for their performance.
00:20:30.909 --> 00:20:32.670
So it's a world-class race.
00:20:32.750 --> 00:20:32.990
Yeah.
00:20:33.149 --> 00:20:34.990
In outstanding pace groups, too.
00:20:35.149 --> 00:20:37.069
So yes, those are well covered.
00:20:37.389 --> 00:20:38.430
How do you forget that?
00:20:38.750 --> 00:20:41.950
Yeah, so I know there's there's two hours.
00:20:42.109 --> 00:20:42.990
There's 215.
00:20:43.069 --> 00:20:43.950
Is there like a one?
00:20:44.190 --> 00:20:45.470
Is it by 10 minute?
00:20:45.629 --> 00:20:48.269
Is like 140, 150, two hours.
00:20:48.589 --> 00:20:49.389
How do you refer to that?
00:20:49.549 --> 00:20:52.509
I don't know what the increments are, but I Dave, you may have to be able to do that.
00:20:52.670 --> 00:20:53.309
It's on the website, yeah.
00:20:53.629 --> 00:21:06.589
Well, yeah, it's on the website, and I know some of them are kind of centered around making, you know, if if qualifying for Boston isn't a goal, then you know, I forgot 350 used to be one, four, whatever.
00:21:06.670 --> 00:21:08.509
So there, but I it starts slow.
00:21:08.589 --> 00:21:11.230
So yeah, I guess I was I was that was the half.
00:21:11.309 --> 00:21:14.430
Um yeah, they're half in full pacers.
00:21:14.750 --> 00:21:16.430
There's half in full pacers, yeah.
00:21:16.990 --> 00:21:17.549
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:17.629 --> 00:21:20.430
So that's that's something that and they do a great job.
00:21:20.589 --> 00:21:21.230
They really do.
00:21:21.710 --> 00:21:24.509
Well, you know, and yeah, and Dave just touched on it.
00:21:24.589 --> 00:21:33.869
You what you can easily get caught up in the front runners and you know, personal goals on, but sometimes people's personal goal is just to finish.
00:21:34.430 --> 00:21:38.190
And I've talked to people and actually convinced them to enter.
00:21:38.430 --> 00:21:40.750
Oh, I wish I could enter, but I I'd be embarrassed.
00:21:40.829 --> 00:21:48.990
I'd be almost like enter the half marathon, you can walk the distance and you're still gonna be coming in ahead of a good number of the marathoners.
00:21:49.230 --> 00:21:57.549
So the beer's still flowing, Bomb Brothers beer's still flowing, Papa John's brings lots of pizzas, so come over and listen to music, and you know, have a good time.
00:21:57.789 --> 00:22:16.750
Yeah, Mark, I'm I'm glad you brought that up because yes, while you can focus on something like a BQ or uh just a general PR, but just calm because it's a great opportunity to test your fitness in what I feel like is just a prime setup of the tobacco road.
00:22:17.069 --> 00:22:28.430
Yeah, I think uh a lot of people and myself included, uh, you know, we're inspired by the people that are really struggling, and it's obvious they're not at an ideal fitness level.
00:22:28.670 --> 00:22:33.789
But don't give up, get out there, be active, and who knows where you can go from there.
00:22:33.950 --> 00:22:34.430
Yeah, yeah.
00:22:34.509 --> 00:22:34.990
Just keep moving.
00:22:35.549 --> 00:22:39.470
I feel like is another experience and opportunity for growth.
00:22:40.269 --> 00:22:40.670
Well said.
00:22:41.629 --> 00:22:42.029
Yeah.
00:22:42.269 --> 00:22:42.589
Yeah.
00:22:42.829 --> 00:22:43.149
Yeah.
00:22:43.389 --> 00:22:49.629
So I um I'm glad you brought that up because I've got uh a bunch of coworkers who aren't used to running.
00:22:49.710 --> 00:22:50.829
Maybe they want to walk.
00:22:50.909 --> 00:22:55.389
And so we've got a small group of folks at Veradim that are are going out to if.
00:22:56.029 --> 00:22:57.230
Worst case, uh walk it.
00:22:57.470 --> 00:23:01.950
But the most important thing is you just get out and move, and that's what keeps this from rusting, right?
00:23:02.109 --> 00:23:02.349
Yes.
00:23:02.589 --> 00:23:09.230
And my Holly Springers, I don't want to forget them and the carry folks that uh they'll be out there and forced to.
00:23:09.710 --> 00:23:10.670
Yeah, I love that.
00:23:10.829 --> 00:23:17.950
So get out, move your body, enjoy the amazing tobacco road that we are so blessed to have in this area.
00:23:18.190 --> 00:23:25.149
So whether you're coming in from out of town or you're local from the triangle, we welcome you to the Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon.
00:23:25.389 --> 00:23:30.750
Mark Dillon, Dave Gross, let's let's give everybody a last-minute tip who's who's racing.
00:23:30.990 --> 00:23:33.309
Or might or is like maybe on the fence.
00:23:33.629 --> 00:23:34.509
Convince them.
00:23:34.829 --> 00:23:35.549
Let's see what you got.
00:23:35.629 --> 00:23:36.269
Mark, you go first.
00:23:36.509 --> 00:23:44.909
Well, I I mean my best convincer is if you haven't done it and you want to do it, just enter the half and walk it, and you won't be embarrassed at the end.
00:23:45.149 --> 00:23:49.069
You know, the key thing is to just And ring the dang bell when you finish, you know?
00:23:49.309 --> 00:23:50.909
And ring the bell.
00:23:51.869 --> 00:23:52.269
Yeah.
00:23:52.430 --> 00:23:52.750
Okay.
00:23:52.909 --> 00:23:53.629
All right, Dave.
00:23:53.710 --> 00:23:56.750
What's your what's your tip for anybody who might be on the fence?
00:23:57.470 --> 00:24:00.750
Well, uh the the big tip is it's still open, it's still available.
00:24:00.909 --> 00:24:04.909
And that's you know, not to be taken for granted, and that won't be that way for long.
00:24:05.230 --> 00:24:07.710
Register whether you're gonna walk it, whether you're gonna run it.
00:24:07.950 --> 00:24:13.869
I get out there and and don't forget to drink and maybe eat along the way.
00:24:13.950 --> 00:24:14.349
That's important.
00:24:14.750 --> 00:24:15.869
Be sure to hydrate.
00:24:16.190 --> 00:24:19.789
Hydrate, and I'm a high carver, so I you know amen to that.
00:24:20.029 --> 00:24:20.670
Love those high carbs.
00:24:22.589 --> 00:24:26.509
Yes, you will probably see these guys out on race day, I would imagine.
00:24:26.589 --> 00:24:30.670
And certainly if you do decide to race, come say hi to us at the expo.
00:24:30.990 --> 00:24:33.710
And maybe I'll have like a little prize at our expo.
00:24:33.789 --> 00:24:39.069
Like if you signed up because you heard this podcast, I might have to incentivize people a lot.
00:24:39.470 --> 00:24:41.230
I'd like to I'd like to know about that.
00:24:41.950 --> 00:24:44.670
Yeah, maybe we'll do an extra like donation or I don't know.
00:24:45.069 --> 00:24:46.509
We always got something up our sleeve.
00:24:46.670 --> 00:24:53.549
So come say hi and come race or come participate if you don't like the word race.
00:24:53.869 --> 00:25:08.670
Yeah, and start out early, you runners, as far as arriving, because it it starts at uh seven, and uh you know, it it's not a huge, huge race, but it's out in a more remote area with narrower roads and so forth.
00:25:08.750 --> 00:25:11.069
So you really need to get there early.
00:25:11.389 --> 00:25:24.190
You know, don't get caught up with raising your blood pressure over whether or not you're gonna make it, just get out there and I will say that tends to be a common anybody who's new, they're like, oh, the race starts at seven, therefore I arrive at 645.
00:25:24.670 --> 00:25:28.109
Yeah, no, no, you gotta back that up.
00:25:28.349 --> 00:25:31.869
You can go take a nap later, just get there early.
00:25:32.190 --> 00:25:39.389
Yeah, come over to our tent and uh you know, you can mingle with the other runners and their support base.
00:25:39.470 --> 00:25:52.029
We we probably have uh a total of nearly 10,000 people that come because most runners have like a support team, you know, of one or two other people.
00:25:52.269 --> 00:25:54.670
So there's a multiplier effect there.
00:25:54.990 --> 00:26:00.509
You know, I've run over 30 marathons, and I think I've enjoyed the signs at Tobacco Road the most.
00:26:00.750 --> 00:26:00.990
Yeah.
00:26:01.149 --> 00:26:03.549
Um, because some of them get super creative.
00:26:03.710 --> 00:26:04.109
Oh, yeah.
00:26:04.349 --> 00:26:14.349
And especially when you're out on the trail, and then it ends up being one sign leads to another one, and um it keeps keeps the mind distracted.
00:26:14.589 --> 00:26:14.909
It does.
00:26:14.990 --> 00:26:16.349
And miles fly by.
00:26:16.750 --> 00:26:27.549
We've had unofficial uh hydration stations where people not living nearby come out and set up like a card table and offer Paps Blue Ribbon beer.
00:26:27.789 --> 00:26:29.470
Oh my gosh, that's so awesome.
00:26:29.710 --> 00:26:32.990
So there's some character to this, is the main point in saying that.
00:26:33.149 --> 00:26:34.190
Yeah, I love that.
00:26:34.430 --> 00:26:35.069
So good.
00:26:35.389 --> 00:26:35.710
All right.
00:26:35.789 --> 00:26:40.109
So if you haven't yet, sign up, tobacco roadmarathon.com.
00:26:40.269 --> 00:26:42.269
And um, there's also the half.
00:26:42.670 --> 00:26:47.470
So come out, come say hi to us, come raise, come support all these amazing beneficiaries.
00:26:47.629 --> 00:26:50.829
Um, Mark Dillon, Dave Gross, thank you so much for coming on the podcast.
00:26:50.990 --> 00:26:53.470
And I am looking forward to an amazing race.
00:26:53.710 --> 00:26:54.589
Thank you for having us.