We are so happy to welcome Sam Yeager-Allen to the Suite Run Podcast!

Sam is a runner, a CPA, a wife and a new mom. She lives on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay in Alabama. Sam is a 12 time marathoner (and a 4 time marathon winner!) with a 2:49 PR, but prefers shorter distance races. She has run almost 200 races in the last 15 years and holds 9 Alabama individual age group state records. She has a masters in tax accounting from the University of Alabama and has been working as a CPA in public accounting for 15 years. She and her husband, Richard, have one human child and too many animal "babies" to count ... goats, chickens, pigs, ducks, a dog etc., you name it, they've probably got it! Sam loves to be outdoors, especially on the water, which makes living on Mobile Bay in Sweet Home Alabama even sweeter!  

We chat about Sam's running journey and life with her sweet baby boy (with the coolest birthdate!) and then in the second half of the conversation, Sam shares all about her gorgeous hometown of Mobile Bay, AL! From beautiful running routes to a jubilee (find out what that means in our conversation), you'll be ready to pack your bags and check out what makes Sam's town a special place.


Enjoy our conversation!


Sam's recommendations for Mobile Bay, AL:

RUN

1. (In Sam's words:) My favorite place to run is on the Eastern Shore Trail, a paved path that runs along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay from Spanish Fort to Weeks Bay, passing through the communities of Daphne, Montrose, Fairhope and Point Clear along the way. In 2010, the paved path was designated a National Recreation Trail. The "trail" is mostly concrete or asphalt, but because of the wide variation in grade, you will encounter elevated boardwalks and bridges, both wood and metal. 

One of the best things about this route is that you can hop on just about anywhere and run as little or as much as you want. You can go a mile out and a mile back, a few miles point to point or thirty miles out and thirty miles back (if you are extra like that!). It is also great for workouts as there are lots of very flat stretches of smooth pavement to run on. 

EAT AND DRINK


1. Sunset Point
Sunset Pointe would be one of my top dinner recommendations. You can sit on the creek (with misting fans keeping you cool) and enjoy a cocktail while you watch the sunset and wait for your dinner to arrive. You can dine on some fresh gulf snapper, grouper or shrimp. 

2. Coffee Loft
In the morning after our run we will definitely be hitting up Coffee Loft for their delicious flavored coffees (creme brulee, southern pecan, blueberry, oh my!) and their tasty smoothies.

3.  Manci's Antique Club

4. Cousin Vinny's. 
I would highly recommend Vinny's! They have a grilled yellow fin tuna sandwich that is to die for. It has avocado, sprouts, mozzarella, smoked provolone and asiago vinaigrette.

5. Punta Clara Kitchen
Where you can satisfy your sweet tooth with a homemade treat. Punta Clara (Spanish for "Point Clear") Kitchen offers specialty candies, homemade fudge, pralines, jellies, preserves, pickles, relishes, and cakes. All of the products are made from scratch in small batches to ensure a homemade flavor and quality. 

6. The Wash House Restaurant
An upscale, fine dining, locally sourced, coastal cuisine restaurant located in Point Clear. The Wash House is another top recommendation for dinner, especially if you are looking for something a bit on the fancy side (and not fancy like Applebees).

7. Warehouse Bakery and Donuts
I would highly recommend the baja bowl! You get roasted sweet potatoes, steamed veggies, avocado, salsa and shredded cheddar cheese with two eggs cooked however you like them on top. It's delicious. They have a breakfast all day menu as well as a lunch menu. You can get everything from donuts, to oatmeal, to fried chicken on french toast!

8. The Fairhope Brewery (best place to grab a beer!)

9. Mr. Gene's Beans (dessert)



Stay

1. The Grand Hotel
 The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, has been known throughout the South as The Queen of Southern Resorts for more than 170 years. With a spirited allure, and very independent signature throughout, the Grand Hotel has joined the Autograph Collection by Marriott, an exclusive array of hotels where the hospitality is exciting and original, exactly like nothing else. Directly on the hotel grounds you have access to pools, a spa, a fitness center, tennis, golf, shopping and plenty of dining options.

Races

1. If you come in the Spring, you can race the Spring Fever Chase 
The Spring Fever Chase 10k is one of my all-time favorite races! This year was my twelfth time running it (it was cancelled the last two years because of COVID). It's a small local race (think no chip timing) with a lot of hometown charm. It's a rolling 10k that winds through beautiful downtown Fairhope and finishes overlooking Mobile Bay. The race takes place during the Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival.  Over 200 vendors from all over the country bring their best work and set up booths all along the streets downtown. After the race, you can meander through the streets of downtown or just hang out and enjoy the atmosphere. It’s awesome! If you don’t believe me, you just need to come experience it for yourself!

2. If you come in the Fall, you can race the Battleship 12k!

Live Music

1. The Blue Gill (casual, live music - small place)

2. The Wharf amphitheater (Bigger venue further out of town with bigger headliners)

Places of Interest/Things to See

1. Fairhope Pier
Known by locals as "The Big Pier." The pier is Fairhope's "town square" with a swimming area, picnic areas, landscaped rose gardens, benches, restrooms, a marina, walking trails and a duck pond.

2.  The Jubilee! During a jubilee, the lack of oxygen in the water forces bottom-type fish and crustaceans ashore (looking for oxygen). Because of the lack of oxygen, the fish and shellfish cannot carry out normal muscular activities, such as swimming. They move slowly and are reluctant to swim. During a jubilee you will see hundreds of flounder, crab and shrimp all right at the surface of the water.

For a jubilee to take place, a very specific set of conditions must exist. They occur in the summer before sunrise during a rising tide. The previous day’s weather conditions must include an overcast or cloudy day, an east breeze and a calm, slick bay surface. It takes a combination of all these conditions to produce the phenomenon. Jubilees of this magnitude occur only in two places in the world, Tokyo Bay in Japan and Mobile Bay in Alabama.


Running Stores

1. Running Wild

2. Fleet Feet (On the other side of the bay from Mobile Bay in Mobile)

3. Run and Wild (On the other side of the bay from Mobile Bay in Mobile)

This episode is sponsored by:

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This episode is sponsored by:


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Where to find Sam Yeager-Allen:

Strava, Blog, Instagram! 


Where to find Natalie and Jerold:

Natalie's Instagram
Suite Run Instagram
Natalie's Twitter
Suite Run Twitter
Natalie's Facebook
Suite Run Website
Suite Run Facebook