My AirBNB Brooklyn Half Adventure
By: Katina Copeland, BGR! All Access Member
Words can't express my gratitude to AirBNB and Black Girls RUN! All Access! for the opportunity to run AirBNB Brooklyn Half. I was overjoyed when I received the email offering me the free entry. I thought it was the universe way of getting me ready for my first NYC Marathon in November. Due to work I couldn't stay the night in Brooklyn the night before the race. But I didn't want to miss out on the AirBNB Pre-Party.
So my adventure began....
Friday morning I jumped on the megabus bright and early from Philly to Manhattan with the help of Google and a few friendly New Yorkers I caught the subway to High Street. Unsure of how to get to Brooklyn Bridge Park I was excited when I saw the sign at the top of the stairs telling me "You're Almost There".
I let the signs lead the way and I arrived at the Pre-Party with time to spare. As I waited I took in all the beautiful views of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Noon quickly arrived and within minutes I had my race bib and I was trying on my race shirt on for size. Race swag in hand I did a quick walk through of the Pre-Party before I left for Manhattan I had a 2:35p megabus back to Philly. I had to bartend at 6pm.
Fast forward to race day......
3 hours after I fell asleep my alarm went off at 4am and by 5am I was ready to hit the road for Brooklyn. One hour and 40 minutes later we arrived at the race and the first thing I saw was a sea of pink and black...Black Girls RUN! of course! I went over and introduced myself and to my surprise BGR! from all different cities and states were there to run. A few chats and pictures later it was time to get to our corrals.
It was race time. Me and Margo were in Wave 2, Corral I. I was so happy Margo made it. She got food poisoning the night before and didn't think she would be able to run. But she persevered and we started the race together. A few miles in she told me to go ahead she found her happy pace and on I went running the rest of the race solo. I was in the zone taking it all in. I loved the energy I felt while running the volunteers, the cheers, the course everything was so uplifting and carried me along the course even the hilly parts. I loved the moment when I saw the Coney Island sign and we ran the parkway it was just us runners and the road. At that moment the world was ours. When I approached the finish and I heard the screams of my girlfriend and her son on the boardwalk as I approached the finish I cried. I ran up the boardwalk and crossed the finish line and wiped the tears from my eyes as they gave me my medal. Not far behind me was Margo, I cried when she crossed too. We did it! We ran 13.1 miles. The first thing I wanted to do now was sit in the Coney Island sand.
My Personal Quote:
Strong is beautiful, powerful and can overcome anything.
4 Responses
Tiki
Outstanding Katina!! Congratulations and I admire your commitment with all that traveling back and forth!! Way to go!
Darlene
Great job Katina, you are awesome. Keep encouraging and inspiring others. And yes your strong is beautiful!!
Iris Owens
Way to go and I agree, strong is beautiful. Congrats on your race. :-)
Sierra
May 27, 2016
Great recap!