2017 Queen Bee Expo
Cincinnati, Ohio
The Duke Energy Convention Center was a BUZZ with all of the Queen Bee participants picking up their race packets Friday. There was shopping (lots of shopping), hair braided, massages given, fashion shows watched, nails painted, the Cincinnati Orchestra enjoyed, and tons of selfies taken.
As part of the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon this race does not disappoint and is top notch with the race swag. The half marathon participants walked away with a tote bag, headband, long sleeved tech shirt, and poster. Everyone at the expo was able to score some great giveaways at the P&G booth. I grabbed deodorant, shampoo, tissues, etc., not to mention, the coupon book they passed out with over fifty dollars worth of savings!
New this year was the fun, interactive Kid Zone. I was lucky and able to drive downtown kid free. However, there were many moms taking full advantage of the Legos, trampoline jumping, and art tables.
The 2017 Queen Bee Half Marathon had nearly 3000 participants this year. There were many others who participated by running/walking the four mile course.
Looky there! Proof that I was on the list!
While I made it through the apparel section without purchasing anything (I had picked up a couple shirts at the 2016 Queen Bee Expo), I did not make it passed the Fleet Feet booth empty handed. The new Mizuno Wave Rider 21s came out this month. Fleet Feet had posted on social media about their partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the new initiative raising funds for breast cancer research, Project Zero. Each time a pair of the Mizuno BCRF Wave Rider 21s are purchased, $10 is donated for Project Zero.
“The effects of breast cancer are far-reaching. One in eight women will receive a cancer diagnosis in her lifetime. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to achieving prevention and a cure for breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research. The BCRF provides critical funding for cancer research worldwide to fuel advances in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, metastasis, and survivorship. The BCRF is the highest-rated breast cancer organization in the U.S. with an A+ from Charity Watch and 4 out of 4 stars from Charity Navigator. 91% of all money goes to breast cancer research and awareness programs”. (fleetfeetsports.com)
My next running shoes are these pink beauties!!!
Although I ran this race last Fall, I still took a quick stop at the map to check things out. All of the girls who were running it for the first time kept asking me how bad those hills were in the beginning. I still stand by my opinion; it is the second half of the course that gets you. Those last four miles are tough.
As I picked up my bib, I ran into the Queen Bee herself!
Back home, I started to become nervous about the weather forecast. Race morning was looking pretty warm and humid. Not my ideal racing weather. Still, I knew I was prepared and ready to take on my seventh half marathon! Just maybe not as fast as I had originally been hoping.
More on the Queen Bee Half Marathon to come…
