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Where to Eat and Drink in Savannah

Believe it or not, it’s not easy to answer questions about Savannah restaurants. There are so many amazing restaurants in Savannah and my family is close friends with so many different restaurant owners, the last thing I want to do is hurt anyone’s feelings.

But, the Savannah Rock N Roll marathon and half marathon are quickly approaching and I’ve promised a few readers that I’d provide suggestions on where to eat, celebrate, and relax while they are in my hometown. Therefore, I’ve decided to highlight a few of my absolute favorite places on this blog and am making myself available via comments, email, Twitter, and Facebook for further questions.

If you read this and are from Savannah or have experience in the city, I’d love you to add your two cents in the comment section. Being a native who only has the opportunity to return a few times each year, I may forget about or not even know about a recent addition to the Savannah food and drink scene.  Without further ado, below are my suggestions of places to eat, relax, and party in Savannah.

Carb Load the Night Before

It would be very easy for me to limit this to restaurants in historic, downtown Savannah since that is where the race begins and ends. However, I am being realistic and realize that many people are staying at hotels all over the city. Therefore, I chose one restaurant downtown and one restuarant in midtown.

Oh Shit I Forgot My Running Shoes

While I assume the RNR expo will have plenty of running gear and options, I can’t recommend Fleet Feet Savannah highly enough! The staff is super friendly, they’ve helped bring the marathon to Savannah, and they have a great selection!

Favorite Breakfast or Brunch

Savannah does food very well, especially anything that has the word biscuit or bacon in it! These are in descending order and I can’t stress enough how amazing both The Breakfast Club and Mrs.. Wilkes are in their own ways. If you’re looking for a big out place post half or marathon that is steps from the beach than Breakfast Club is your place. If you want a true taste of Southern cooking than Mrs.. Wilkes is your best bet and it’s also located in historic downtown.

    Jalapeno’s (cheap Mexican with amazing margaritas that are the perfect way to celebrate post race)
    The Pink House (It epitomizes Savannah: classy, Southern, and reasonably priced.)
    Mrs.. Wilke’s Dining Room (See above)
    Soho South Cafe (Eclectic and funky but serves delicious new Southern bistro lunches.)
            I’m Ready to Toast the Amazing Race I Just Ran
            Churchill’s Restaurant and Tavern
            Pinkie Master’s Lounge (One of Savannah’s oldest bars.)
            Savannah Smiles Dueling Piano’s (Always a good time!)
            Wet Willie’s (Their really sweet slushy drinks pack a delicious punch!)
            Molly MacPherson’s or Murphy’s Law

            Last But Not Least, My Favorite Restaurant in Savannah

            Elizabeth’s on 37th Street

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            Marathons+Moderation Guest Post #21

            Hello there, Healthy Happier Bear readers! My name is Shannon and I blog over at Tropical Eats.

            I’m a Florida beach bum who moved to NYC with $200 in my pocket and am currently tapering to run my first marathon this Sunday– the ING New York City Marathon! (I’m kind of freaking out about it. Like big time.)

            While I haven’t actually run a marathon yet, I trained 26 weeks and am ready to show NYC what I’ve got. I graduated college a little over a year ago and since then have creatively learned how balance an entry level salary, repaying student loans and NYC expenses– aka the real world. Budgeting can be a little tough at first, but with a little help from Mint.com, it actually can be kind of fun!
            With that, here are my tips on How To Train For a Marathon on A Budget:

            Don’t give into a fuel belt, unless you really really need to.

            Find running paths with a lot of public water fountains and you can even hold a water bottle in your hand! I won’t lie, it can get annoying at times, but after a few miles you tend to zone out and forget about it. Money Saved: About $50

            Buy GU in bulk on Amazon.com

            Find your favorite flavor and order it in the 24-count box. Just make sure to order it well in advance of your scheduled long run! Money saved: A few dollars.

            Forever 21 tank tops and Target Shorts FTW

            As comfy as Lululemon sounds, it’s just not in my budget. Maybe one day! If you’re training during the summer, I highly recommend F21’s colorful $4-6 tank tops in their basic’s section. They’re light, airy and get the job done. Target also holds a special place in my thrifty heart for their spandex shorts. I bought my current pair about 2 years ago and they haven’t let me down! Money saved: $50+

            Shop til you drop at Trader Joe’s

            During training, your appetite will increase like a crazy person. While it’s nice to consume food like a vacuum cleaner, just remember that your grocery and restaurant bills may also skyrocket during this time. Therefore, take advantage of Trader Joe’s inexpensive products so that your fridge will be well stocked and you’ll be a happy runner. Money Saved: $50-$100/month

            Wash your workout clothes under hot water after your run.

            This little trick is my favorite. Especially in NYC, doing laundry can be the biggest hassle. To save your sanity and a little laundry money, wash your sweaty sports bra, dry-fit shirt and shorts under hot water right after your run. Taking a shower? Knock out two birds with one stone and wash your clothes while you’re in the shower. Mmm sweat. Money saved: A few dollars.

            Track your distance using the Runkeeper App

            As much as I drool over the Garmins on Amazon.com, I can’t complain that Runkeeper gets the job done. From my experience, the Runkeeper GPS distance measurement is about 80% accurate. So I don’t freak myself out if I actually did just run 16 miles, I usually chart my run on either MapMyRun.com or Google Maps before trekking out for a long run. Money Saved: $130+

            Running for charity? Ask your job to sponsor you.

            Don’t be afraid to ask your boss about getting the whole company involved in your fundraising. You’ll be surprised how supportive they can be! Send out an internal email to coworkers announcing “Jeans Week” where they can donate $10 to wear jeans the entire work week. You can even suggest holding an office bake sale to raise money. If your boss truly believes in the cause, they might even cover your entire fundraising goal! Remember that it doesn’t hurt to ask. Money potentially raised: $3,000+

            Make a crap ton of ice cubes at home before your long run.

            Little things add up during marathon training, even buying ice to ice your knees after long runs! Money saved: $10+ over the length of your training schedule.

            Goody StayPut Hairbands > B.I.C. Bands

            The Goody Extra Thin Secure Fit Headbands are fly-aways worst nightmare (that should be in their ad campaign, no?) When it’s sunny out, I usually wear a hat to keep my hair and the sun out of my face, but for night time runs, it’s all about the headbands. I bought 5 Goody Hairbands for $6 in Target and I swear, they don’t budge an inch. Money Saved: $44 compared to buying 5 B.I.C. Bands.

            Don’t register for races. Just wing it on marathon day.

            Ok, so this might not be the best advice, but it’s a true “fresh out of college-life” story. I’ve always wanted to run a race. A real race. Did I mention I’m going Couch to Marathon in 4 days? Gulp. The $30-50 entry fee always made me feel a little guilty financially-wise, so I’ve never actually signed up for one. Livin’ life on the edge I tell you. Races not participated in: A lot.

            Hope these tips help!

            Feel free to follow me on Twitter: @ShannonAMay if you guys have any questions.

            Your turn! How do you save money on your workouts?

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            A Classico Easy Dinner

             

            Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a great day. I can’t complain about my work schedule this week since I’m not traveling. But, I do find that every other thought leads back to the marathon.

            My manager: “Are you working from home on Friday Ashley?”

            Me: “Well, working from home on Friday allows me to elevate my feet all day, foam roll every hour, go to the expo on my lunch break, and stay out of heels. So, yes, I think I’ll definitely take advantage of that perk on Friday!”

            This morning my taper schedule called for a rest day. Since Bo woke up at 5:30 I figured I might as well wake up and do some gentle yoga and stretching.  You may have noticed that I didn’t go to any more yoga classes last week even though I originally intended to fit at least two classes in last week. I found myself pretty sore after the class last Sunday and both my running coach and personal trainer advised against yoga classes until after the marathon. It’s easy to stretch too far in a group class that isn’t designed for marathon runners. One stretch beyond my limit could result in a tweaked muscle.

            Therefore, I’ve snuck in a couple of online yoga sessions in the comfort of my living room. This morning’s yoga session was compliments of Runner’s World and exactly what I wanted.

            IMG_5198 (640x478) My breakfast was inspired by another Runner’s World article which professed the wonders of chia seeds. After some digging I found my bag of chia seeds, purchased from GNC two months ago, hiding in the back of our pantry. When mixed with the oats, banana, cinnamon, and water the chia seeds added wonderful bulk to my oats and a new texture.

            IMG_5199 (640x478) IMG_5200 (640x478)

            It’s amazing that 1 serving of these little seeds can help with inflammation, pack in tons of fiber, and provide calcium! If you’ve never given chia seeds a chance I highly recommend adding them to your yogurt, shakes, or oats.

            All the marathon thoughts left me craving carbs for dinner this evening. I knew we had pasta in the pantry but was racking my brain trying to remember whether we had any frozen sauce. Luckily, Foodbuzz and Classico came to the rescue this evening!

            IMG_5201 (478x640)As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program, Classico sent me a complimentary jar of their new Light Creamy Alfredo sauce to sample.

            IMG_5208 (478x640) I added peas and tomatoes to a serving size of the sauce, simmered on the stove for 10 minutes, and then tossed it with my al dente penne.

            IMG_5209 (640x478) IMG_5210 (640x478)The alfredo sauce is definitely tasty but it does not have the same thick consistency you expect from an alfredo. While I really liked the taste, and would most likely purchase this sauce, I wish they could make it a bit thicker. If I hadn’t measured the sauce portion I think I would have used more by accident due to the sauce’s thinness. But, for 60 calories per 1/4 cup serving, you can’t beat it!

            After dinner, while going through today’s mail, I came across an especially exciting treat: my marathon outfit!

            IMG_5205 (640x478) IMG_5206 (640x478) As you may recall, Choose Cherries is sponsoring me and a few other runners for the New York City Marathon. As part of this partnership I’ve had the opportunity to incorporate cherries into my recovery and training plan, interview their dietician who is also a marathon runner, and partner with a great company!

            Seeing my outfit, branded and decked out with my name, put me in the best mood! I’m ready to enjoy the next few days of taper and honor the rest period so I can run a fabulous 26.2 miles on Sunday!

            Oh, in case you’re interested in tracking me, the links to the tracking tools can be found here and on this page as well. My information is below:

            Bib #57106

            Start Time: 10:40

            I’m off to spend time with my compression socks! Have a great evening!

            Question: What is your favorite song right now that I should add to my marathon mix?

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