One of my goals for 2016 was to plan more getaways to see great running friends. The bond that is forged between people who run long distances together is truly something special. With many of my closest running pals living in cities far from me, racecations and running road trips are a must. From a Sedona Half Marathon racecation in February to a summer trip to Eugene for the Olympic track and field trials to Rise.Run.Retreat. that I’ll be hosting and attending at the end of this month, distance hasn’t been able to weaken the strength of my running friendships (or throw a wrench into my goal for planning more running getaways this year). Last weekend was no different when I traveled to the Alabama Gulf Coast to spend an amazing weekend with two of my best running friends.

Several months ago, the great people at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism reached out to me about coming to explore the area during the Brett-Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon race weekend. With so many places to visit along the Gulf Coast (including the Gulf Beaches just a 45-minute drive from my house on the Florida coast), the Alabama Gulf Coast wants fit-minded people to know that its 32 miles of white sand beaches offer a vast array of health and wellness offerings for both the casual and serious runners and athletes.

The Alabama Gulf Coast wasn’t the first place (or even the 100th place) that came to mind for me when I thought about running, endurance sports or health/wellness, but I was eager to put the area to the test and find out if it really is a great racecation destination or girls getaway spot.

The verdict? I truly loved every minute of my time on the Alabama Gulf Coast. I felt so incredibly relaxed while I was here. I’m not sure if it was the great company, the coma-inducing food, the stunning views or the prenatal massage, but it truly felt like an escape from the real world with some fitness thrown in. It was better than I expected, and it was a running road trip I will always remember.

The Location: Alabama Gulf Coast

My weekend started when I boarded a small plane from Tampa to Pensacola, Florida. The flight was about 50 minutes once you account for the one-hour time change. The Pensacola International Airport is the best bet for getting to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. You could also fly into Mobile, which would add another 30 minutes or so to your drive from the airport.

I rented a car and made the easy, one-hour drive from Pensacola to Orange Beach, Alabama. It was just about five miles past the Florida border.

I met my good friend Beth at the condo where we were staying – a three-bedroom, seventh floor condo right on the beach that was booked through Brett-Robinson Vacations. Beth had to drive since she was racing in the triathlon in the morning and couldn’t transport her bike on the plane. The condo was in need of renovations and touch-ups, but it had a stellar view of the beach and pool, and we were greeted with the most amazing hospitality.

The beaches were really lovely. There were natural grasses that made the area feel a bit more untouched and not so commercialized. Everything is conveniently located. Nothing we did was more than a 10-minute drive from our condo, making it incredibly easy and efficient to get around town with a car (or bike).

The average temperatures during the summer months (and while we were there) are in the 80s, but it was extremely hot and humid in early September for our trip. The humidity one morning while I was running was 99 percent. Get ready to do some sweating, and don’t forget your sunscreen.

The Fitness

The highlight of my weekend on the Alabama Gulf Coast was the Brett-Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon that has a super-sprint and Olympic distance race option. At 23 weeks pregnant, the extent of my participation was spectating. While I would have loved to be out there racing, it was so much fun to cheer on my good friend Beth as she swam, biked and ran her way to the finish line. The weather went from unbearably hot and humid to a torrential downpour with thunder and lightning, but the conditions held out so that everyone could finish the race.

My spectating outfit was on point. It made all the athletes who passed me smile, and they remembered me at the finish.

The restaurant that hosted the post-race party had an amazing wishing wall where people could write a wish on a colored scroll of paper and add it to the wall. I made a wish for Baby rUnladylike that she will always be healthy, happy and strong. This made my heart swell.

While staying on the Alabama Gulf Coast, I got to run twice. You can read about my recommendations for places to run on the Alabama Gulf Coast here. I ran my first run before the triathlon started along the flat stretch of road adjacent to the beach (Perdido Beach Blvd.). Baby bump on board.

My second run was the morning before I left on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trails with my friend Elizabeth.

I learned that there was more to do than run and bike on the Alabama Gulf Coast. While I was there, I also went kayaking on Lake Shelby thanks to Gulf Adventure Center. They offer paddle boarding and zip lining as well. My friend Elizabeth and I kayaked about two miles around the river. The water was so calm and we were the only ones out there. It made for a peaceful way to catch up after being apart since February. The lake is home to some alligators, which scared the crap out of me made me a little uneasy. We saw one during our trip, but thankfully it was at the end of our time on the water. If you want to see me become a world-class kayaker, just throw an alligator nearby.

On our final morning, we took a restorative yoga class on the beach. There is nothing quite like closing your eyes and stretching deep to the sound of the waves gently washing to the shore. I loved every minute of this one-hour workout hosted by Glow Yoga.

The cherry on the top of this weekend was getting a 90-minute prenatal massage at Fusion Spa, an AVEDA spa and salon in Orange Beach. It started with a foot scrub and ended in pure relaxation. This mama-to-be and runner with tight everything was feeling good after this wonderful treatment. This is a great spot to visit while you’re on the Alabama Gulf Coast, especially if you plan to do a lot of running, biking or relaxation while you’re there.

The Food

One of the things that surprised me most about the Alabama Gulf Coast was the food and variety of options. Compared to the beaches near where I live, I felt Gulf Shores and Orange Beach had some sophisticated and unique restaurants, unlike the long line of fried seafood shacks that are a dime a dozen in most beach towns.

When we first arrived, we had lunch at Luna’s Eat and Drink, a new Orange Beach spot that features southern dishes with a unique flair and lots of craft beers on tap.

Dishes like the PIGmiento Cheese Sandwich immediately caught our eye. It was a different take on your traditional grilled cheese, with housemade pimiento cheese, applewood smoked bacon and housemade B&B pickles on toasted white bread. Or how about the Fancy Burger, which comes with Irish cheddar, goat cheese, housemade pimiento, smoked Gouda cream, a fried farm egg, baloney and pork belly. Whoa!

We opted to start with the Deviled Eggs, a small plate that included four deviled eggs (two traditional and two drizzled with a ranch sauce) served with housemade pickles, pimiento cheese and seasoned pork skins. I’m not a fan of pork skins, but I gladly gobbled up the pimiento cheese.

For my meal, I ordered the grilled fish sandwich on a toasted sourdough bun with a side of fried Brussels sprouts that were simply divine (as I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner).

Luna’s Eat and Drink was hands-down a unique and delicious spot that should be on a must-visit list when you’re in Orange Beach.

We visited two other lunch spots while on the Alabama Coast. Anchor Bar & Grill was a cute little place right on the water that looked like a boat on the outside docked next to real boats to its left and right.

The views were great and the service was top-notch, but the menu was very limited. There were only six items to choose from in addition to sides, and the only healthy options are getting the fish tacos or burgers with lettuce instead of bread/tortillas. All the seating is outside, which can be a bit warm during the hot and humid summer months.

I opted for the Cuban Sandwich which was unlike any other Cuban I’ve eaten. It had tobacco-smoked pork, honey ham, B&B pickles, havarti cheese and dijoinaise in a hot pressed French loaf. It came with a side of house chips. I appreciated the uniqueness and quality of the food, but being from Tampa I prefer a traditional Cuban a little too much. This is a great spot for some beers and a snack on the water in a relaxed and chill environment, but skip this place if you’re looking for health-conscious options and a place to cool off.

Our third and final lunch spot was completely different from the first two. Fisher’s Dockside at Orange Beach Marina was all sophistication and perfection. This stunningly beautiful restaurant leaves no detail overlooked. From the moment you walk up, you know you’re about to be treated to something wonderful.

We came for Sunday brunch and left completely satisfied. Seating is open and outdoors but covered with plenty of fans. I had the Healthy Melly – an egg-white omelet with spinach and roasted red peppers served with Greek yogurt, berries and housemade granola. I also ordered one of their pepper biscuits on the side which was quite possibly the best biscuit I’ve ever eaten.

On the dinner front, we tried two restaurants that were completely different from each other.

The first night we had an amazing dinner at Villaggio Grille, a must-visit spot that feels like fine dining in a casual setting at The Wharf. The Wharf is a quaint shopping and restaurant destination in Orange Beach that has boutiques, shops, restaurants and spas near the water. It is a great place to shop around before or after a meal.

We were greeted by owner Lane who was competing in the triathlon the next morning. He and his wife own the restaurant and are active athletes. He told us about the inspiration behind the restaurant and explained a little more about the Mediterranean and Italian fusion menu. The service was spectacular, and the food was mostly on par.

I started with the soup of the day, which was a three-pea soup that was spectacular. Just the right bit of heat and flavor that reminded me of a vegetable chili.

For my main course, I tried the Truffle Honey Gulf Coast Shrimp which were served on a bed of roasted tomato parmesan risotto with green beans and a truffle honey glaze. The shrimp were out of this world. Although the risotto was cooked perfectly, it was bland and needed a lot more seasoning.

As we were finishing up our meal, the owner asked us if he could select our desserts for us. We were surprised when three of their signature treats came out looking beautiful and delicious: Carrot Cake, Creme Brulee and Classic Tiramisu. Although I’m not a big tiramisu or creme brulee fan and would never order either of those, carrot cake is one of my favorite desserts. Surprisingly, it was the creme brulee and tiramisu that were excellent, while the carrot cake (nine thin layers separated by cream cheese frosting) was dry and not worth the calories.

Although there was some inconsistency in our dishes, I would highly recommend this restaurant for the service, atmosphere, amazing menu and quality. I would definitely go back here again.

The other dinner we had could not have been more different than Villaggio’s. We tried Lulu’s which is what you would associate more with a beach spot. It was on the water and the menu was good, even including a special menu for every kind of food allergy (gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, seafood-free), but the food was marginal at best and so was the service.

We ordered two appetizers: chips and queso and Lower Alabama Caviar, which was a dip made with black-eyed peas.

For my meal, I had the Fried Green Tomato BLT with a side of green beans. Blah.

While we enjoyed the live music, the restaurant felt cheesy and touristy. It was nestled among an arcade, ropes course, shops and plenty of sand buckets to put out your cigarettes (ick). All we could think about was how much we wished we were back at Villaggio’s. While LuLu’s is probably a great spot for the right group or a large family, it wasn’t exactly what our fit-minded girls group was hoping for the evening.

We did however end the night on a sweet note with a scoop of key lime pie ice cream at Matt’s Original Ice Cream.

The End

When you are with great friends doing what you love (running) and eating delicious food in a beautiful place, you never want it to end. We didn’t either. Thank you Gulf Shores and Orange Beach for a great health and wellness weekend. I will be back!

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism covered the cost of my travel expenses and weekend activities to the Alabama Gulf Coast. I was able to explore many aspects of running, fitness, food and wellness in this area during the three days I was there. All opinions expressed about Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are my own unbiased accounts.

Tell me about your most recent running road trip.