Fits Do Race Reviews: The Marathon to Marathon

By Cool J


Yesterday, the D-man and I ran the Marathon to Marathon from Storm Lake, Iowa to Marathon, Iowa. The weather conditions were tough: 90+ degrees, no clouds, just glaring, hot sun on open country roads with no shade. We both finished about 20 minutes off of our goal paces (4:20 for me, 3:43 for D) but we survived, and felt proud of our accomplishments on a tough day.

And more importantly,  we completed state #10, so we are officially pursuing the 50 state goal!
This was marathon #12 for me, and marathon #16 for the D-man!




Race Weekend:
The weekend began with a 4 hour drive to Storm Lake on Friday.

Welcome to Iowa! Fields of Opportunities!

I had booked a room at the "SailInn Motel", which was listed on the marathon's website as a suggested lodging option. It looked okay online, but when we arrived, we were both a little apprehensive... It looked more like a place where people stayed for extended periods of time when they are really down on their luck..Maybe something from a scary scene from Dexter!

We quickly drove around the tiny town to determine if there was another place to stay, and we ended up at the "King's Pointe Resort and Waterpark".

We had tried to book a room at this hotel originally (D-man loves his waterslides), but they didn't have any open rooms at the time. We got lucky though on Friday, as someone had cancelled their reservation, so we were able to stay there for the night.

Fiasco #1 avoided (The SailInn also did not appear to have air conditioning...not so good when it was 94 degrees when we rolled into town!)
King's Pointe to the rescue!

The expo was held at the Storm Lake High School. It was by far the tiniest expo I had ever been to.

We were lucky that the race was tiny, because we found out when we arrived that they didn't have the D-man's registration..(or maybe he forgot to register? I do love my husband...but sometimes he needs a little hand holding!) That would not have been good... to have driven all the way to Iowa and not be able to run???

But thank goodness, he was able to register on the spot.

He was the 215th marathoner. I was #3!

After avoiding another potential fiasco, we headed to an early dinner. I had read a lot of the reviews for this race on "http://www.marathonguide.com/" and had read about "Honey Kissed Pizza" as the best pre-race carbo loading location. 

(I was really glad I read the reviews because Storm Lake is TINY, and we didn't have many non-fast food options)

We ordered a simple pizza with tomatoes, pineapple, and onions. The pizza was served with honey for dipping the crust, which was a unique sweet treat.

But the most unique part of this tiny pizza joint was the thousands of records for sale. The owner was the sweetest old man, who clearly had a passion for music.

 I couldn't decide which album to buy....

Ricky Nelson?

Or perhaps some Wilson Philips?

I decided on a classic album that I grew up listening to with my mom. 

It's a great addition to our (small) record collection.

 (The D-man still has a working record player)

Okay, so you're probably wondering when I'm going to stop writing about records, and talk about the marathon, right? 

The race SWAG was small, but charming. Who can resist a beer koozie?

The finisher's tees were nice too, although my medium is as long as some of my Vegas dresses....

The race started at 6 am, (or as the race director said, "Gun goes off at 6 bells, whether you're ready or not!")

Our alarm went off at 4:45, and we were at the high school by 5:30. It was already in the 70's, so we didn't really need the indoor waiting area at the high school, but I'm sure on a cooler morning, it would have been a nice touch. It was quite a perk though to have normal bathrooms at the start, and the race was so small that the lines were not very long....(though D did tell me that there were no doors on the stalls in the men's bathroom..what the heck??)

I have never been able to wait with D before a marathon. We usually say good luck, and split off to our respective corrals. But here, we both waited together in the small group, while a duet of talented singers sang the Star Spangled Banner.

Oh, so special :)

And then we were off....

(Please note that I experienced ZERO chafing even on a hot day in this outfit: Women's Moving Comfort Fiona Sports Bra - Calypso Blue 34C, Nike singlet, and Lululemon shorts. And CBRC BIC band of course!)

The Course:
I didn't have a camera on the course, and there were no photographers either. In fact, even though the race is a sanctioned marathon, it's not even chip timed! I have never done a non-chipped timed marathon. Clock time it is, baby!

I'm not going to lie- the course was pretty boring. It was a point-to-point course on "farm-to-market" roads with only pig farms and roadkill for scenery. We jig-sawed around country roads from Storm Lake to Marathon. The runners were quite spaced out, so there was no small talk or camaraderie. There were very few spectators, but those that did come out were some of the kindest and enthusiastic people in the country. 

There was a very memorable "zombie" support stop. For about half a mile before the support stop, 30 signs with "zombie jokes" lined the highway...

"What did the zombie eat after getting his teeth pulled? The dentist!" 

"Why did the zombie lose his job as a teacher? He only had one pupil"

Though the jokes were lame, they offered up a huge distraction, and I know I really appreciated it. I'm sure the other runners did too. And then of course, the volunteers handling that support stop were all dressed as zombies. It was awesome!

I had heeded LL's advice and told myself I couldn't turn on my iPod until I passed the halfway point. When I finally got there, it was a HUGE boost to start up my tunes, and I was feeling AWESOME from mile 13.1 to 19...until my iPod DIED! Ugh. Clearly, I had not charged it enough the night before, but that was a huge disappointment...

I needed something to keep my mind off the 7 remaining miles, so I tried "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall"...I think I made it to 30 before I gave up. 

At that point, it was just "a Calhoun and a Harriet- just an easy two lakes Cool J"...I let myself walk through the water stops and told myself, "Don't think. Just run"....It was very mentally challenging, and it was so, so hot...

The heat was intense, and I could tell that I was coated in salt. I had followed lots of the tips from Friday's post for running in the heat. I filled up my water bottle at every stop, and used it to pour water on myself to cool down. At the stops with ice, I filled a cup with ice and used it periodically to put on my head or down my bra.

It was a brutal run in tough conditions, but as always, crossing that finish line was an amazing feeling.
The D-man was there cheering me in, and snapped this action shot as I tried to finish strong!

The sweetest little old lady greeted you at the finish line and put your medal on your neck, thanking you graciously for visiting Marathon. It was beautiful.

The finish area had an ice bath for soaking your feet, freezie pops, water, oranges, gatorade, iced sponges, and best of all?

SHOWERS!
The D-man and I had both planned ahead and brought dry clothes to change into, so we took advantage of the community showers and quickly changed into dry clothes.

D also took advantage of the pancake breakfast that was being offered at the community center, and he became BFF's with the race director (while I wandered around trying to find him- no cell phone service in Marathon. How did we survive before cell phones???)

Shuttle buses took us back to Storm Lake every 45 minutes or so. We checked out of King's Pointe Resort, but not before going down a few more waterslides!

We then decided to drive back to Minneapolis that afternoon. What do you need when driving 4 hours after a marathon? Compression socks! (though pink socks with red Tom's is probably a failed fit, right?)

We also drove back to Marathon quickly before hitting the road, and snapped a few shots with this great sign outside the town.

Although the heat made this a very challenging marathon, and I probably would never run it again, it still had its charm. The wonderful people in these two towns really displayed the friendly Iowa/Midwest mentality. They all seemed so happy to have us visiting, and they were so proud of this event. It was a unique experience for sure, one that I will remember for a long time.

I really enjoyed those freezie pops...I think I had four of them!

Featured Fit: Tips for Running in the Heat

By Cool J


As a follow up to my earlier post about our upcoming marathon tomorrow in the crazy heat, I would like to share this article with tips for running a marathon in the heat. Enjoy!


Source:
http://runnersconnect.net/running-training-articles/running-a-marathon-in-the-heat


Tricks for running a marathon in the heat
Pre cooling

• First, buy a disposable cooler bag from any drugstore to take with you to the starting line of the race. You should be able to find them at CVS or Walmart or you can also use a regular cooler. Basically, you need something that is going to keep ice frozen for a few hours.

• Freeze a paper cup of Gatorade or buy some freeze pops and put them in your cooler. Eat the freeze pop or Gatorade slushy 10-20 minutes before your the race. This will cool your core from the inside.

• Grab a few hand towels or small bath towels and get them wet. Place them in the freezer overnight and put them on your neck, head and back 10-15 minutes before the race starts. Warning: it will be shockingly cold at first. If you don’t mind losing the towels, you can run with them until they are no longer cold.

Electrolytes

• Try to spread out your fluid intake so you’re taking small amounts 4-5oz every few minutes. These might mean you have to carry a bottle or be adept at carrying a cup, but it’s worth it in the early miles.

• Drink early in the race and don’t be afraid to slow down through the aid stations. Missing a water stop when it’s 85 degrees is not a smart idea.

Pour water on you as much as you canYou’re going to need to adjust your pace to account for the temperatures. Stating out too fast and overheating is not the strategy to run your best race and stay safe.

Don’t look at your watch  In 2007, I ran in the very hot and infamous Twin Cities Marathon (the same year they closed Chicago because of the heat). The biggest mistake I made in that race was getting frustrated by looking at my watch and not having a backup plan. Every mile I was running slower and slower because of the heat, but I was actually gaining on the entire field (which is a good reference point for your performance when time is out the window). However, because I was so stuck on my watch and my paces, I defeated myself mentally and forgot to just compete and run to the best of my ability.

Focus on what you can control  Finally, in the days leading up to the race, just focus on the elements you can control. Yes, the weather is going to be warm, but you can’t change that. What you can have an effect on is how you prepare. Eat right, get mentally prepared, strategize your hydration plan, and implement some of the tips I mentioned above. While the time might not be a PR, you will perform your absolute best and walk away from the race knowing you gave it your all what will be a memorable day.


I  plan to try to utilize some of these tips tomorrow!

• Sloshing in your stomach generally means it’s full. Don’t push this limit or you may end up cramping.

• Consider carrying a bottle of cold water to keep squirting on yourself every 5 minutes. Like the pre-cooling strategy, the longer you can keep your skin and core cool, the better you’ll be able to run at the end.

How much to drink

• Try to spread out your fluid intake so you’re taking small amounts 4-5oz every few minutes. These might mean you have to carry a bottle or be adept at carrying a cup, but it’s worth it in the early miles.

• Drink early in the race and don’t be afraid to slow down through the aid stations. Missing a water stop when it’s 85 degrees is not a smart idea.

• Sloshing in your stomach generally means it’s full. Don’t push this limit or you may end up cramping. 

Don’t be afraid to adjust your pace  

Fit the Bill: Beach Coverups

By: Cool J

As I have mentioned in a few (i.e. a lot of) posts,  I spent last week in Mexico for a friend's wedding.

As with any beach trip, bikini coverups were a "must" for the suitcase.

My friends were gracious enough to let me photograph some of their adorable coverups, all of which "fit the bill!" These girls are smart and savvy shoppers, and I love sharing stories with them of great finds at unusual stores!

Kelly's coverup was from TJ Maxx. 

The mango color and fun fabric were perfect for the beach.

Susie's coverup was from none other than JCPenny!

This girl knows how to find items that "fit the bill!"

My coverups were a mix of Target, H & M, and a LTB (Long Term Borrow) from LL.

Outfit details:
Hat: Heartbreaker
Dress: LTB from LL
Bikini: Target
Sunglasses: H & M

 Outfit details:

Coverup: H & M

Hat: Heartbreaker

Bag:  H & M

Sunglasses:  H & M

Bikini: Victoria's Secret

Outfit details:

Coverup: H & M

Tank: Heartbreaker

Bag:  H & M

Shorts:  Heartbreaker

Sunglasses:H & M

Bikini: Athleta

All items that "Fit the Bill!"

So, I will leave you with these tips I found on how to pick the best Beach Coverup for you!

1. Think about where you will wear the cover-up. Decide whether this is an item you'll wear only to walk on the beach, or if you want something more stylish to wear to a local restaurant or other venue. Where you intend to wear the cover-up will help you to choose a style
2. Show off your best feature. Keep in mind a bikini cover-up is not meant to cover your body from head to toe. Think about the part of your body you like best and show it off. For example if you have great legs don't buy a cover-up that is down to your ankles
3. Hide your flaws. Avoid being overcritical of your body when considering an area that you feel needs improvement. Most women have some body part they don't like. Select a cover-up that conceals the least favorite part of your body.
4. Be sure it is functional. Keep in mind you may be walking around or playing sports such as volleyball in a bikini cover-up. When trying on the cover-up move around in it to determine if it is too tight and restrictive or falls off easily.
5. Try different styles. Some bikini cover-ups are wraps that only cover the lower half of the body. Other styles look like sun dresses. Try different types of cover-ups on. If possible try them with the bikini to see how they look together
6. Consider the material. Bikini cover-ups may be made of cotton, rayon, spandex or other material. Keep in mind the climate you live in and don't select something that does not breathe well.

Fits on the Road: Cancun

By Jessie

As I have mentioned in the past, I am the kind of person who needs to work out while on vacation. Usually this works quite well for Dustin and me, since a lot of our trips are centered around destination marathons. But we still travel quite a bit outside of our marathons, and I am always trying to ensure that I can “sweat once a day” while traveling!

I can’t truly enjoy a day of lounging in the sun with a fruity drink in hand, unless I start off that day with some sort of exercise.  Luckily for me, I was in the right crowd on this Cancun trip, as the friends we were traveling with were friends from the Calhoun Beach Running Club!

Therefore, it wasn’t difficult to convince everyone to meet up around 7:30 am every morning for a 5 mile jog.

Even though we started early, the sun was already quite intense. Five miles was about all I could have handled in that heat, but it was a solid effort on every day of vacation (except, of course, the day AFTER the wedding..we all wanted to sleep in a bit that day J )

In addition to running, we also broke a sweat playing sand volleyball a couple of times. Though the games were not competitive (we didn’t even keep score) it was still a good way to do something active on the beach. The waves in the ocean were also pretty intense- it was a bit of a workout just to cool off in the ocean and stay upright against the current!

A few of the girls took advantage of the free spin classes offered by the resort, and they said the classes were quite good. There was an air-conditioned gym on site, which was also visitied quite frequently by others guests of this wedding. However, Dustin and I stuck to what we knew- running! By the second day, we had discovered a nice, wide red sidewalk/path that ran around the island. We stayed at the “Gran Caribe Real” resort, and the sidewalk was right outside the resort. It was convenient, and a few parts were even SHADY!- woo-hoo!

Though I definitely relaxed plenty on this trip, I was happy that I was still able to find some "fits on the road" in Cancun, Mexico!

Failed Fit: Running a Marathon in the Heat

By Jessie

Dustin and I are set to run the "Marathon to Marathon" this Saturday. It runs from Storm Lake, Iowa to Marathon, Iowa.

We've done all the training. We didn't miss any long runs, and put in a lot of miles throughout the weeks. However, we've had to adjust our expectation for one reason....the weather.

Storm Lake Forecast: Saturday

93 | 70 °F

As runners, we can control a lot of things -- our diet, our training, our rest, etc. But we can't control the weather, and with temperatures in the 90's we both know our bodies won't be able to perform the way they could in 45-50 degree temperatures (ideal marathon temperatures).

I'm going to try my best to go into this weekend with a positive attitude. I'm going to take it easy, drink a ton of fluids (no alcohol this week), and try to enjoy my 26.2 mile tour of Middle America and farm country, with no expectations for time or performance. After my "death march" marathon in St. Louis, MO last year, I know that I am just not one of those runners who can tough out the heat. My body does not cooperate. So I'll do the best I can, and try to have some fun!

This spring has been a tough one for marathons. The Boston marathon faced high temperatures, and race directors decided to allow runners to defer to next year. (Read about it here.) 

In fact, race directors there suggested adding up to 2 minutes/mile for the heat that day. 

“Allow for an additional two minutes per mile to slow down and be sensible about it,’’ Grilk said. “Be part of what could be a well-remembered experience, but do it in a way that is careful. Ultimately, it is an individual sport and individual decision, but we want to make sure we provide people with the comfort of knowing they can make the decision.’’

The Green Bay Wisconsin marathon was cancelled two and a half hours into it. (Read about it here.)

The Madison, Wisconsin marathon was cancelled three days before the race. (Read about it here.)

As you might recall, LL and I debated extreme heat vs. extreme cold running here and here.

For the sake of the debate, I took on the side of running in extreme cold, but I actually agree with LL. Running in the heat is much harder! Clearly, the health risks of running in the heat are severe, and race directors have frequently had to make that tough call to cancel races due to these conditions. 

I am still holding onto the hope that a cold front could surprise us all and come through Iowa before Saturday! 

But I am also preparing for the worst- Iowa could be cancelled due to extreme temperatures. We do have a back up plan. There is a tiny  marathon in Viborg, South Dakota the next day (Sunday). We could drive there from Iowa, and register that day. There are less than 100 marathoners. The course is held at tiny church camp, running multiple figure 8's around a lake, with fixed aid stations that runners pass several times. And the best part? Ringing the camp bell as you cross the finish line! 

Surprisingly, this marathon is a sanctioned course! It actually sounds like a one-of-a-kind race, and if it becomes our spring marathon, so be it. (We haven't checked South Dakota off of our list yet anyhow!)

Read about it here and here. 

One of the risks of running marathons as frequently as we do, is that the weather is not always going to cooperate. One of my sisters is running her second marathon this fall (her last one was nearly 10 years ago) and I'm sure it would be more disappointing for her if her race had the same kind of weather. For her, it is not "just another marathon".  I hope she has better conditions for her day. But for us, it's going to happen occasionally, and we just have to swallow our pride and tough it out. 

Let's just hope that we both run smart on Saturday, and are able to cross the finish line in good health and good spirits! 

Fits Do Race Reviews (sort of): The Minneapolis Marathon

By Jessie

Let me start off this post right away by stating that I did not participate in any of the Minneapolis Marathon events! I'm only writing this "review" from the point of view of a spectator.

Please share your insights in the comments if you have actual experience with this race!

The Minneapolis Marathon is relatively new. I believe this is only the third year of its existence.
It's very different than the quite popular Twin Cities Marathon, which is held the first Sunday in October. The Twin Cities Marathon has been around for decades, and it runs through Minneapolis and finishes in St. Paul at the capitol. My personal opinion is that the Twin Cities marathon offers a much more beautiful urban course, and it shows off the best of the Twin Cities.

However, the new Minneapolis Marathon does give runners another option in the area for a spring marathon, other than Grandma's Marathon in Duluth.

The Minneapolis Marathon is organized by Team Ortho, which is the same organization that held the Monster Dash 1/2 Marathon that I ran last Halloween.

Pros:

1. Great Gear: Team Ortho events have great SWAG- great medals, great finisher's shirts, etc. 
2. Customized Runner Tracking: They also have great "apps"- there was a SmartPhone application free for download, that allowed you to track your runners as they progressed. It was quite sophisticated. You could only track two runners at a time, but the app was easy to use, and seemed pretty accurate.
3. Fan Support- Despite the fact that this is a new race, there were still a lot of fans who came out to cheer for the runners, including the D-man, Matilda, and me. I even dug up an old cowbell to ring! I guarantee the others around me were chanting more cowbell please! :) 

Cons:

1. Weather- it was HOT, HOT, HOT! The race directors try to counteract this by starting the full marathon at 6:30 am, but the runners still had to contend with blazing sun and warm temperatures. We were located around mile 18, and we were sweating just as spectators. I am sure the runners were roasting.

2. Course There was also a half marathon that started an hour later (7:30). It was an out-and-back on the same course, so the full marathoners easily caught up with a lot of the half marathoners. I can only imagine that it must have been difficult to dodge the crowds as a full marathoner when this happened. We witnessed runners who were probably on pace for a 3:15 marathon, who had to weave in-and-out of thick crowds of half marathon walkers.

Also, as a spectator, I have to admit I wanted to cheer extra loudly for those full marathoners who were darting through the crowds. I found myself yelling "Go FULL marathoner!" since I knew how tough it was out there at that point in the race. They were at mile 18, whereas the half runners were only at mile 8. However, I felt guilty for singling out the fulls. I'm sure as a participants this was difficult for both parties.  

My personal experience with full marathons that include a half has always been that the half runners were the same course at the same time, and then they would split from us to go to the finish much earlier.

I understand why race directors include a half marathon. It opens up the event to a greater number of participants, and brings out the crowds (and the $$ of course). Yet, I always enjoy the races the best where the full marathon is the MAIN event.

Here's a quick recap of the races I've done, and whether they included a half:

1. Twin Cities Marathon: Minneapolis, MN- the full marathon is the main attraction. There is a 10 mile run, but it is on a completely different course and starts much earlier.
2. Bank of America Chicago Marathon: Chicago IL- the full marathon is the ONLY event.
3. Rock n Roll San Diego: San Diego, CA- When I did this race in 2006, it only included a full. I believe it now includes a half on the same course.
4. Grand Rapids Marathon: Grand Rapids, MI- Only a full marathon.
5. Big Sur International Marathon: Big Sur, CA- 20 mile race as well as the full, and a relay. All on the same course.
6. Rock n Roll Seattle: Seattle, WA- Full marathon shared the course with the half until they split off for the finish.
7. Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon: Milwaukee, WI- Full marathon was the only event.
8. Go! St. Louis Marathon: St. Louis, MO - Full marathon shared the course with the half marathoners until they split off for the finish
9. St. George Marathon: St. George UT Full marathon was the only event
10. St. Jude's Memphis Marathon: Memphis, TN Full marathon shared the course with the half until they split off for the finish.

Here is a picture of one of the leading half marathoners (with a full walker on the course). This picture makes it appear as though the runners were graciously spaced, but that definitely was not the case later in the run.

3. Hills- Apparently, the course included some poorly place hills. Hills, heat, and blazing sun? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.


Like I said, since I did not actually participate in this race, I don't know that much about the rest of the events, such as the expo, the finish line etc.

Please share your thoughts if you did participate!


We did get to see a lot of our run club friends running the half, as well as a run clubber who was running her FIRST FULL! Congrats on strong work!

Go runners! Nice work!

Favorite Fit: Beach Wedding Attire

By Jessie

Dustin and I spent part of last week in Mexico for a dear friend's wedding celebration.
I have only been to one other destination wedding (Maui, 2006) and it was not actually on the beach. So, I wasn't sure what to wear for this special occasion. I did some research (i.e., online shopping) and discussed it with my friends. So here, I would like to share my 'learnings.'

My experience provided me with some insight, and I have these tips for those of you who may have just received an invitation in the mail to your own "beach wedding" in the near future!

1. Keep it Formal:
This is a beach wedding, not an MTV spring break party. Let's keep a certain level of decorum here! While you might think the bride and groom will be too wrapped up in their own day to notice what you wear, just remember, a picture speaks a thousand words—and there are tons of pictures at weddings (Trust me- you'll end up on facebook, and someone will ask, "Who is THAT girl and why is she wearing a tank top and shorts to a wedding?").  First try to find out what the bride and groom want their guests to wear. This may be on the invitation, so be sure to check that first. Otherwise, you can just ask them! You may think it would be bothering them and that they have enough on their plate, but usually they will appreciate the thoughtfulness. Alternatively, you could ring up a couple of other people that you know will be attending the nuptials, and dress similarly.

I personally checked in with my friends, Kelly and Susie, to compare notes, so we all had an idea what the other had planned. This was particularly helpful for the men too!

2. Practical Footwear!

Be practical - but not tacky- about your footwear. This means absolutely no rubber flip flops (sorry, people—save those for midnight when you've kicked off your dancing shoes, just like at a regular wedding!). But, by all means, do choose a flat shoe. You don't want to be that guest tramping through the sand in your too high, too expensive stilettos. Try a pretty embellished sandal—just give yourself a pedicure before stepping out.

3. Beware of the Heat!

If you are waiting, standing or sitting in humid and hot conditions my guess is you want to be as unrestricted as possible. I would recommend flowy pieces that can transition through day and night. 

For example, Kelly’s maxi dress was a perfect option- flowing and light and she was cool as a cucumber all night!

4.  Avoid the Wrinkles:
Depending on how far and long your wardrobe is squished in a suitcase, chances are there may be limited uses of irons available when you arrive. I always pick pieces that can be rolled up and come out of the suitcase virtually wrinkle free. Jersey is a great fabric for this and usually meets the comfort factor as well. Many may opt for linen at a beach wedding, but be wary of the wrinkles that definitely will ensue!

My dress withheld its form quite well, even while packed away in my overstuffed suitcase!

5.  Go Bright!
I say go bright and cheery! Stay away from the little black dress (too stuffy) and stay away from white (I still abide by this rule). With the beautiful scenery in the backdrop, any photos for yourself or the wedding party will be vibrant and fun, just like a beach wedding should be!

Susie's dress was bright and perfect for the occasion!

6. Be Prepared for Chillier Evenings:
Finally, remember, it can get breezy even at beach weddings, so don't forget a pashmina or wrap. We didn’t have to worry about this, since the reception ended up moving indoors, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind.

However, we did have to worry a little about the wind- i.e. a fun braided 'do or a pony tail may have worked a little better than wearing my hair down....but if you do decide to wear your hair down, try out a natural looking beach wave, like Kelly's style here:

Of course, every beach wedding is different, so it's definitely important to talk to the bride and groom, look at the wedding invitation, etc. to ensure you understand the formality of your particular event.

But be sure to have some fun with color, and as always, take lots of pictures!

Maybe even some jumping pictures!

7. And last, but certainly not least, the bride- I must give this beautiful lady her own "number" on the list. Her dress/hair/makeup/flowers all were flawless and perfect for the beach setting. I LOVED her hairstyle, and the dress fit her like a glove. 

Gorgeous!

Congrats to the happy couple, 

and thanks for letting us be part of this special occasion!