Tuesday started with a 3:30 a.m. wake-up call for my early flight out of JFK to San Antonio, Texas. I was heading to The Running Event (TRE), an annual expo where retailers and media gather to discover the latest products and reconnect with industry pros. Excited but groggy, I checked my social accounts, answered emails, and called an Uber to the airport. That’s when my phone buzzed with the dreaded notification: Flight cancelled. My new flight? 4 p.m.
Cue the chaos. I spent the day calling Delta—four times, to be exact—trying to snag an earlier flight or switch to another airline. No dice. By 2 p.m., I headed to the airport, only to be told at the gate that I’d miss my connection and end up stranded overnight in Atlanta. The only alternative? A convoluted route through Salt Lake City. I reluctantly took it.
Air
The flights were miserable, but I finally landed in San Antonio at 1 a.m. Central Time, utterly exhausted.
San Antonio Arrival: A Taxi Tale
At the airport, I grabbed a cab to the Marriott Riverwalk. The driver, with her thick Eastern European accent, asked, “Are you sure you want the Marriott Riverwalk and not the Marriott Rivercenter?” She launched into a story about a rude passenger who’d made the same mistake, and her voice—though well-meaning—felt like nails on a chalkboard after my long day.
When we arrived, I asked her to wait while I checked in. Thankfully, I was at the right Marriott. The hotel was lovely, with spacious rooms, an indoor-outdoor pool, and a well-equipped gym.
Day 1: The Running Event Kicks Off
TRE was everything I’d hoped for and more. I met new friends, reconnected with old ones, and sampled an array of running gear—sneakers, socks, and other products I couldn’t wait to write about on my blog, ATriathletesDiary.com. (Shameless plug: Follow my blog for all the details!)
The day started bright and early with a 7 a.m. Saucony breakfast. I’d already eaten at the hotel, but I grabbed a coffee and joined a table of friendly podcasters. Saucony gifted me my first pair of shoes to review—score!
The expo itself was massive. I darted from one appointment to the next, crisscrossing the floor. By the end of the day, I realized I’d missed a ton of booths. Note to self: Next year, skip the appointments and tackle the expo row by row.
Day 2: Sore Legs and New Connections
After a grueling first day, I skipped the 5K run I’d planned and opted for a light gym session instead. Since every treadmill was taken, I improvised with a quick 30-minute workout before diving into another packed day at the expo.
One highlight was finally meeting my sponsor, TravelRunner.com. Their crowdsourcing app helps runners and triathletes book stays at runner-friendly hotels—like the Marriott Riverwalk, which definitely fit the bill.
That afternoon, my cousin Mindy arrived. We hugged, caught up, and then I rushed to my room to teach my last class at Hofstra. Later, we enjoyed a cozy Italian dinner on the Riverwalk, complete with heat lamps and delicious lasagna.
Exploring the Riverwalk
The next morning, I braved the chilly 40-degree weather for a run along the Riverwalk. Despite only having shorts and a sweatshirt, I warmed up quickly and soaked in the serene views.
Mindy and I spent the rest of the day exploring. We stumbled upon the San Antonio Marathon packet pickup and ran into friends from brands like Shokz and Jogology. By evening, we were ready for a nice dinner—but finding the restaurant turned into a wild goose chase. After wandering aimlessly and even ending up at a police station parking lot, we gave up and called an Uber.
The night wasn’t a total loss, though. We hopped on a Riverwalk cruise. Unfortunately, the captain’s sexist jokes and flirtatious remarks soured the experience. When I noticed we were close to the Marriott and soon making a turnaround, I asked the captain if we could leave. He told me, “I could get fired if I let you off.” However, when a passenger asked to disembark for a bathroom emergency, Mindy and I seized the opportunity to jump ship—literally.
Austin Adventures
The next morning, we Ubered to Austin for $120 (split between us). Our options were limited: a $150 rental car, a $12 train at the crack of dawn, or this uneventful but efficient ride.
We checked into the Hilton Austin on 5th Street, a gorgeous hotel with a rooftop pool and hot tub. Since our room wasn’t ready, we strolled down South Congress Street, popping into upscale boutiques and secondhand stores. At Heritage Boots, my favorite boot shop, I couldn’t resist buying my 12th pair.
Dinner that night at The Guest House was a culinary dream. We started with a Caesar salad and crab cake appetizer, followed by salmon for Mindy and a filet mignon with king crab for me. The pièce de résistance? A s’mores dessert that was incredible with a capital “I.”
The Final Day: Travel Woes (Again)
At 4 a.m., an alarm jolted me awake. I couldn’t figure out how to turn it off. It went off again at 5. And 5:30. By 6:15, I was ready to throw it across the room—only to realize it was my iPhone alarm. Mindy and I had a good laugh.
Then came the dreaded Delta notification: Your flight has been cancelled. After a quick call to customer service, I was rebooked on an 11 a.m. flight. Of course, it was delayed too—but at least I wasn’t landing at 1 a.m. this time.
My Texas Adventure
Despite the travel chaos, The Running Event and my time in Texas were unforgettable. From reconnecting with industry friends to indulging with Mindy in incredible meals and exploring the Riverwalk and Austin, it was an adventure I’ll always remember.
