Gasparilla Distance Classic 15k

Like I posted this weekend, I signed up to run at Gasparilla without really thinking it through, but now that the race is over, I'm so glad I gave in to my FOMO!

Friday

I got permission to leave work a little early on Friday and I hoped that would mean I'd miss traffic. I did get caught in some near Sarasota (it always slows down there due to construction) but I made it to Tampa for the expo with plenty of time. (Last time I ran at Gasparilla, we literally had to run through the doors as they were closing!) This leg of the trip took about 3.5 hours but it should have taken 2.5.

Going to an expo alone isn't very fun. I signed the Dick's Sporting Goods wall and found my name on the other big wall - expos have a thing for giant walls lately, huh? - got my bib and shirt, and called it a day.

I drove another hour to Jenn's, where Tommy had made baked chicken and risotto. I would have gotten photos but I was enjoying catching up too much to get my phone out; and besides, I had pretty much cleaned my plate before I remembered to take a picture. It was the best pre-race dinner I've had in ages!

I didn't end up using any fuel during the race, maybe because I fueled so well at dinner!

We stayed up much too late, but I slept really well and was up easily at 4:20am and out the door by 4:45 to head back to Tampa for our 5:45 photo op!

Saturday

My plan had been to park in the convention center's garage, but all the streets were already closed. Instead, I parked over the bridge in a Walgreen's parking lot and hoped no one would tow my car. I sipped my UCAN while I walked, and ten minutes later I found my people!

Can you spot me?

Andy, Therese, Montana, me, and Will. 100% ProCompression and Skirt Sports. Too funny!

Meeting Laurie "Mama" Canning was a major highlight of this race!

Pre-race with Therese!

Now, although I've met a number of my Sub-30 friends in person and run races with some of them, I've never run with them in a race. This would be the first time I stuck with a pack, and the first time I'd be doing intervals. I literally had no time goal in mind for this race and just wanted to have fun and not exacerbate any aches left over from A1A, so this seemed like the perfect time to be introduced to the Galloway method.

At the start, just us and 30,000 of our closest friends.

Running with these people was the most fun I've had on a race course in a long time. Everyone was
joking around and our spirits were high. We were doing 3:1 intervals, and every time it was time to walk, Andy or Will would shout "WE'RE WALKING!" or "RUN, RUN! WE'RE RUNNING LET'S GO!" at the top of their lungs. I'm sure we were incredibly obnoxious to some, but we also adopted some other runners who liked our style. I adjusted my pace a few times to run with various people in our group and tried to talk to everyone and meet everyone. It was exactly what I had wanted!

Staying to the right; good walking etiquette is key!

#squadgoals and also #crazyfacegoals and #completelyfuzzypicturegoals 

Running together, flags up!

By the way, the weather was perfect. Mid-60s, overcast, and breezy! I was a little annoyed that it was so gorgeous when just last weekend it was so bad. I know that next time I drag Elizabeth into a half marathon, we'll travel north instead of south.

I got a little frustrated with the intervals around 3 miles; I felt like it was taking us forever to get anywhere and I was impatient. This feeling faded, and this experience led me to consider trying intervals for long runs, but I'd likely do a 5:1 or 6:1 ratio. Anyway, at mile 6.5, we paused by an inflatable dinosaur because his sign matched the back of our shirts.

My phone was all wet at this point so my pictures are a little blurry. Oops.

I've never paused in a race for pictures before, so this was another first. It's just a completely different experience to run a race with this mindset!

Here's the best thing about running with and belonging to this group: they truly are the most supportive people I've ever met. I watched as the "leaders" of our pack made sure no one was left behind. When we walked through water stations, they kept an eye out for stragglers before urging us to run again. They made sure to run with the group, not just ahead, to keep everyone in it together. I honestly felt so comfortable and accepted, even with those I had only just met; for me, that's really saying something because I tend to be really aloof and distant when I meet new people. Sub-30 is all about being together and working as a team to accomplish our goals.

Anyway, at mile 7, I began to pick up my pace a little and ended up running the rest of the race with Kim. She was battling a bad cold and had the 5k to run right after the 15k, but she was still out ahead of the group. By mile 8, the shouts of "AND WE'RE RUNNING!" were fading away, so we just followed her watch and ran the rest of the way together.

Walk break!

I crossed the finish line just before the 2:00 mark with a pace of 12:21; this may be the slowest I've ever run a race, but it was also the most fun. My feet and hips did hurt a little; I wore my Ravennas as a kind of test of my calves and in the end I think this particular pair is definitely ready to be retired, unfortunately.

Nearing the finish line!

Success!

After we finished, Kim and I got in line to meet Meb. I shook his hand, told him what an inspiration I find him to be and thanked him for being there, and we took a photo. Then we got our medals and met the rest of the group.

With Meb! He must have been taking these photos for hours; he was a trooper!

I was so grateful to finish the end of the race with Kim!

With Nicole! I was so excited to finally meet her.

A little while later, we all gathered again because someone had managed to convince Meb to take a picture with all of us.

The Sub-30 Club and Meb!

Afterward, I had to head out. I needed to get to Sarasota for Scott and Robby's engagement party. I wished I could have stayed longer, and I think maybe the Challenge will be in my future, but this race was just what I needed. It was wonderful to leave stress and ambition behind and actually just run for the joy of it.

Also, I got back to my car and it hadn't been towed, so really this was the perfect day!

The rest of the group went on to do some awesome things this weekend, including breaking 2:00 in the half marathon (that was Andy and Therese's goal and they killed it). I'm glad I got to be there to experience some of the fun, and I hope to do it again next year.

ABK

A Surprise Race

Did I tell you guys I'm running at Gasparilla this year?

Signing up for the 15k was definitely an impulsive choice at the time. I wasn't going to run it because I had seen that it was only a week after A1A. But then some time passed, and I forgot the specific date of the race, and I saw so many of my Sub-30 friends signing up, and I remembered how much I loved the 15k when I ran it in 2015...

The next thing I knew, I was signing up. This is the perfect example of a FOMO race registration!

The race is on a Saturday morning (so, today...if you're reading this when the post goes live). I was originally planning to actually race it, but my body hurt way more than I expected it to after A1A, so I'm adjusting my plan.

There's another reason to adjust, too. I'm staying with my little, Jenn, Friday night and want a chance to spend time with her and enjoy my visit, which means I'll be missing the Friday night Sub-30 dinner. Then, I have to leave pretty much immediately after the race so I can make it to Scott and Robby's engagement party Saturday afternoon. That means the only time I can really spend with my Sub-30 friends is during the race.
The Sub-30 Club is a running group focused around the goal of breaking 30 minutes in a 5k; many of our members are slower runners and proud of it. The plan for most of us during the 15k, especially considering that many of the runners are doing various Gasparilla Challenges and racing two or three times this weekend, is to run/walk the race at a comfortable pace and enjoy each other's company on the course.

I won't make it to the Friday dinner and I can't stay for Saturday's afternoon hijinks, so it looks like the best way to spend time with these inspiring, hilarious people is to run the 15k with them!

I just can't miss out on seeing these folks, and meeting some of my virtual friends IRL for the first time!

I think this is a solid decision. After all, I'm still recovering from the half six days before, and this race is more about socializing, camaraderie, and enjoying myself than anything else. I can't wait!

Do you ever get race FOMO?
Do you ever get JOMO? Constantly!
Do your friends or family think it's weird that you're friends with people you met online?

ABK

The Best Thing About Running

Today for the first time I'm joining Erika at MCM Mama Runs for her Tuesdays on the Run Link Up. I've wanted to do link ups for a long time but I'm pretty terrible at planning ahead; I hope I'll be able to make this a habit.

It's hard for me to pick one best thing about running. Running has given me increased confidence, physical health, and mental stability. But when I think about running and the joy it's brought me, I can't help but think of the people I've met. The best thing about running, for me, is the community and the friendships I've made.

I'm not an easily social person. I tend to be a bit standoffish until I get to know people, and then I usually go through a period of trying too hard and being overly self-conscious once I figure out that I like someone. But there's an instant bond between runners than makes meeting new people a little easier, and runners are by far the kindest, most generous, and most supportive people I know.

I've met local running friends through races in my area, like Sean, who Matt and I first met at a SUP race and has become a great running friend. And if it weren't for Ragnar, I never would have met Kristin or a number of the other women who have become good friends of mine through our mutual love of running.

Finding Sean at a race has become a tradition!

If I hadn't taken a huge step outside my comfort zone, I never would have met or become friends with these strong, amazing women!

I've also been lucky enough to find some really amazing online communities, like the Sub-30 Club. Even though I haven't met the majority of those runners face-to-face, they're still some of the most loving and supportive people I know!

Obviously running led me to blogging, and blogging has given me the chance to make some wonderful friends.

There used to be few people that I honestly felt I could be myself around; usually those were friends I've known since I was really young. But anyone who's done a long run with a buddy knows that boundaries are basically nonexistent between runner friends, and that's something that I am truly grateful for.

There's nothing more freeing than being on a run that breaks down your own personal limits and to find yourself sharing the deepest parts of your life with someone else, knowing they won't judge you or hold it against you. Those types of friendships are rare, but luckily running makes them easier to find.

For someone who struggles to make friends, I really have running to thank for bringing all these wonderful people into my life.

What do you think is the best thing about running?

ABK

Two Hours

I haven't done a long run since BDR. There's nothing psychological about this...I just wasn't feeling motivated and I was really enjoying sleeping in and taking advantage of not having to run long (i.e., train). Plus, it was still really hot here in December and early January, and I wasn't really feeling a long run in 80 degrees.

This weekend, I knew I was at a crossroads. If I didn't run long, my possible full in February would become pretty impossible. Skipping a chance to do a long run would mean 1) I don't actually care enough to train, 2) I won't be in marathon shape when A1A rolls around. (And I needed to remind myself that even if I "only" do the half, I still need to train for it.)

Friday, Elizabeth surprised me. For someone who still claims she doesn't like running, she's certainly doing a whole lot of it! Her current goal is to run 10 miles, and Saturday morning was my chance to help her make some progress.

I was seriously shocked when she said she wanted to run farther than 6.5!

(As a side note, I'd like to get her to a 5k race so she can experience the atmosphere - I think she'd be in for a half marathon if she could just see what a race is like! I'm still working on her.)

I was a little nervous about this run, but I knew skipping it wouldn't make the nerves go away; it would only make me more nervous when it was time to run long next weekend.

Kristin texted to make sure I was up, and as usual set my mind at ease when I was faced with pointless anxiety.

My plan was to run for two hours; I was hoping to hit 10 miles. I ended up surprising myself because we literally got back to the car at exactly two hours and exactly 10.5 miles.

I ran my first 3.25 miles alone, then met up with Elizabeth. We ran about 7.25 together, then I drove her back to her car. It was fun to hear her reflect on how different a long, easy run feels compared to a faster, harder run. I was really proud of how well she did, and I felt so amazing running long again! Double digits! And it felt great!

I'm not sure what happened at miles 4-6, but I think we slowed down so Elizabeth could warm up (those were her first three miles).

(Regarding my decision for A1A, the race organizers told me I can wait to upgrade at the expo the day before the race, and it will cost $15. So I won't be making a decision about whether or not I'm running the full until the very last minute.)

Dripping with accomplishment!

After my run, I showered and ate a quick breakfast and then hopped in the car. I was Disney-bound! Kristin's first marathon is Sunday and I'm going to finally repay her for being such an amazing running buddy and cheerleader! I am seriously ecstatic to be spectating for her, and I can't wait to see her conquer her first marathon. We all know it's a huge accomplishment and truly life-changing, and I can't wait for her to join the .5% of Americans who have run a marathon.

Finally, I got to meet up with some of my Sub30 buddies, which is always a perk of any destination race. So all in all, I'd call this a good Saturday!

Kim and I finally got to meet in person, which is nice seeing as we've been texting each other for about a year now!

The Disney Sub30 runners & their Sherpas.

Wish Kristin luck as she takes on the Disney marathon Sunday!

ABK

Best Damn Race Marathon Cape Coral

Grab a snack and settle in - this is a long one.

Today, I'm at a loss. How do you respond to the question, "How was the race?" for a race like this? It's complicated. It was really, really hard, but I feel gratified. I struggled, but I overcame. I cried, but I was mostly happy. I hated it, but I loved it.

Can you ever put into words the marathon experience for those who weren't there?

I don't really know where to start with this recap. In a way,  I don't even feel the race happened. I spent so much time training and thinking over every aspect of race day, and now that it's passed, it seems impossible that it's over!

But, it is! Race weekend has come and gone, and it was bittersweet. Those of you on my Facebook and Instagram already know the condensed version of the story, which is that I not only missed my A, B, and C goals, but I came in 10 minutes slower than my first marathon last year!

Still, I can't seem to feel bad about it. I finished another marathon, it was more emotionally grueling than any race I've ever done, and I truly know that I trained the best I could and went in as prepared as I could be. Race day is often unpredictable, and there are always uncontrollable elements that we need to work through as best we can. In the end, I'm proud of my training and my strength, and although I didn't meet my goals, I know that everything I could control and prepare for, I did correctly. And I can't ask for much more than that.

Saturday

I was expecting to pick Megan up from the airport around noon, but her flight was delayed due to fog. Her new landing time was supposed to be around 2pm, so I made a trip to the running store to pick up Gu. While there, I decided to go on a hunt for a white tank top for race day. I knew by then that the weather would be hot and sunny, and I couldn't wear the dark tank I'd been planning on if I really wanted to be smart.

At 1:30, Megan called; she had landed early! I quickly paid for my tank - luckily I found one in a similar style to a tank top I already own so I knew it wouldn't cause chafing or issues - and went to get her. After some confusion about where she was waiting for me, we finally met! I recognized her immediately - she looks and sounds just like she does on her blog/vlog!

Bib pickup.

We drove back to my house and picked up Matt, then headed to the expo. The race expo was really small and cute. We had time to wander around a bit and check out the start line before Kristina met us. We figured out logistics for the next day, took a couple pictures, and went our separate ways.

After stopping at Publix to pick up fixings for dinner, we arrived back at home just in time to meet my sister. We pretty much cooked immediately and had a nice, family-style dinner before putting together our race day things (Steph helped me put on some temporary tattoos she got me for the occasion) and going to bed early.

Asparagus, pasta, and chicken for dinner!

Flat-Ali: Nike dri-fit tank, North Face Bounce-b-Gone sports bra, Pro Compression calf sleeves, Pro Compression PC Runners, Apple Watch, Jaybird blu-tooth headphones, Sport Skirts lioness skirt, Asics Kayano-21.

Sunday

The smell of coffee woke me up before my alarm, which was the plan. I made myself a cup and sat in bed from 3:40 to until 4:10, obsessively checking the weather, and finally woke Matt. Because I only live about 25 minutes from the race venue, the idea was to leave just before 5am and have plenty of time to park, use the bathroom, and relax before the race began at 6:45.

"Partially cloudy" was mostly a lie, but those wind speeds were pretty accurate. So were the high temperatures - it got up at 83 by the time I was at mile 19.

Everyone was up and ready to go on time. I ate my oatmeal in the car. We stopped to grab a bag of ice so Matt and Steph could hand it out along the course when I saw them.

RIP neon green 404 hat...more on that later.

At the start of the race, we found Kristina and Sean and had time to use the toilets before lining up. I found some colleagues of mine at the back of the corrals (one of them was running the half injured so they were planning to go slowly) and wished them luck before joining Kristina for the start.

Ready to go!

Within the first mile, I already felt warm. It was 67 at the start, but the late start time meant the sun was already rising, so the temperatures climbed quickly. I put in my headphones early on (I was going to avoid that and just check my pace on my Apple watch, but I had messed with the settings earlier and couldn't get Nike+ to work on it, so I put the headphones in to track my pace) and listened to Heather Dubrow's World Podcast. 

Kristina and I cross the start line!

My first few miles felt nice and easy, but my pace (which I wanted to keep between 12:30 and 12:40) was in the low 12s. I tried to slow down, but that seemed to hurt a little, so I just went with it. My left knee hurt a little at mile 4, but then felt fine. For the first half of the first loop, I felt good, confident, and strong.

Around mile 4.

That changed quickly, though. I was surprised by how early on I hit my wall. I had eaten a Gu about 20 minutes before the race began. Then I ate one at mile 5. I ate another at mile 10...and from that point on I wanted literally nothing to do with food or drinks. The heat was starting to make me feel bloated and full, and the wind was making it really hard to breathe.

(I think this is an asthma thing, because non-asthmatics seem to think it's unusual to have trouble breathing in strong wind; my mom pointed out that it could be from the pollen or dust in the wind, too. Anyway, it happened at Space Coast last year, too, but it never seems to happen on training runs! I ended up needing my inhaler three times during this race.)

Coming up on mile 9.

I saw Matt and Steph at mile 9ish and stuffed ice down my shirt. By then, I had lost motivation to even finish the race. I felt awful. There was a moment that I wondered if I'd really get it done; finishing at the 13-mile mark was really tempting. Still, I made it through the first loop.

Despite my struggle, I was still keeping good paces.

I had an orange slice at mile 13 and that seemed to help. I saw the 3:00 half pacer, who's in the Sub-30 Club, and shouted a greeting. I waved at Kristina as we passed each other. I waved at my colleagues. Seeing familiar faces on the course was a nice boost.

At mile 14 I saw Matt and Steph and ate more ice; Matt told me a girl had asked him for his hat, because that's how hot it was. He gave it to her.

I told them I was really struggling and had no motivation, that I knew my PR was long gone, but that I'd get the race done one way or another.

It was really, really hard, guys.

I remember feeling my worst at mile 16.5, and my splits support that. I had sudden stomach cramps and literally thought I was in danger of an emergency bathroom situation. I doubled over, took my inhaler, and just let myself sulk for a minute. Then, I got back on the course.

By mile 18, I was beginning to feel better. Tiny little clouds began to dot the sky, and those little breaks from direct sunlight made a huge difference. I convinced myself to just shuffle along as best I could; at this point I was disappointed in how much I had walked, and I was really emotional, but I was determined to salvage the race as best I could.

I began to keep a steady running pace; I passed quite a few marathoners who had begun to walk. I tucked my head down to block the wind and just kept chugging.

At mile 19, I saw Kristin. She had parked near a turn-around and had a smorgasbord of food and drinks; I gulped down some Coke and it was the best thing ever. She ran about a quarter mile with me and pointed me in the direction of Matt and Steph, who were at mile 20.

I continued to feel better. The dark part of the race slipped away. At 20, I shed all my Gu and extra pockets and told Matt and Steph to go straight to 24 (they were going to go to 22, but I just wanted to dig in and get it done without anymore distractions).

Miles 20-23 were tough, but mostly okay...if that makes sense. I was back in neighborhoods with no shade and no breeze, but I was kind of in the zone. I experienced another awful intestinal cramp (I never got these in training!) just before Kristin showed up at mile 23.5 with a cup of ice water. I asked her to tell me stories while she ran with me a bit, and again she told me, "Matt's just ahead at 24!" and left me for the finish.

Mile 24...check out the ambience haha.

Just short of mile 24, a woman who lived on the course tried to flag me down to ask me a question (probably about when the race would be over/roads would open) and I kind of snapped at her. "I'm nearly done, I'm not stopping to talk!" I shouted. I feel bad about it today!

At 24, I saw Megan, Kristina, Matt, and Steph all there cheering for me with ice and smiles. They told me I looked really good, that everyone else coming through was walking, that I looked strong...and I was seriously unable to speak because I wanted to cry so badly. I wanted to tell them that I was confused about my pace and my time and the course length but all I could say was, "I'm too emotional to talk; see you at the finish."

27?! Seriously?! Sean's GPS was right at 13.1, but Megan's and Kristina's were both long, so I'm attributing the extra distance to not running the tangents and stepping off course for ice.

At mile 25, I realized my GPS was tracking long (because it told me I was done!) and, dejected, took another walk break. An absolute angel driving by handed me a water (I saw she was wearing her medal) and I poured it all over myself. At this point, I began talking to myself.

"You did it. You're going to finish another marathon. This was hard, but you did it. Keep going. Just get it done."

At 26 miles, I saw Sean waiting for me. He began running with me, coaching me along. "Just one more turn and a little sprint!" Again, I felt tears welling up.

All alone in the finishing chute.

And then I saw the finishing banner. I was the only one in the chute. Sean peeled off behind the barricades as I went, picking up speed as I saw my cheering section.

The clock read 5:52:52.

I managed to finish with a smile. My official time was 5:51:50.

More than 30 minutes off from my A goal; more than 20 minutes off from my B goal; more than 10 minutes off from my C goal/PR. Ten minutes slower than my first marathon.

I wasn't sure what to feel. I was extremely confused about the length of the course and my pace according to GPS...According to it, I was on track and doing 12:30 miles the entire race. How had I lost so much time? Was it human error? Was my math off?

Finishers! Sean secured the PR he was aiming for and Megan placed first in her age group!

As I sat on the ground thinking about this, the rest of the group gathered. My sister threw her arms around my shoulders, and I decided I was really happy with the race after all. I had the most amazing support I could ever wish for, just seriously wonderful and loving people there at the finish, and I was too elated to be done to really care that I had failed.

The Squad.

Resting.

Having Stephie there was a major perk.

I hobbled back to the staging area and we took photos. After Kristin and Sean left, the rest of us came back home to shower, then went to lunch. (I wanted brunch but Skillets was closed, so we had Jason's Deli, which was a nice compromise.) We saw Steph and Kristina off and then spent the afternoon napping, hanging out, and eating. It was a good evening.

This year I was hungry enough after the race to eat half my Reuben...last year I ate three bites of tacos and called it quits.

Monday

I figured out the discrepancy in my pace and finishing time...I accidentally had "auto pause" enabled on my GPS. So, while my running paces were on track, the times I stopped to use my inhaler and stuff ice in my bra ended up adding up. That was my mistake - pure human error. Still, my time spent moving was directly on track for the vast majority of the race, so I'm happy with that; next time I plan my goal paces, I'll keep in mind that sometimes I need to fully stop - either for a bathroom break, or for medicine.

Finally, Skillets! I had a GF blueberry pancake and a southwestern omelet with grits!

Because Megan had a slightly later flight, and because we weren't able to get my dream meal Sunday, we went out to brunch at Skillets before I dropped her at the airport. This morning, my left IT band hurt pretty badly, but Kristin generously gifted me with a massage, and that took care of the worst of it.

I'm planning to take at least a week off from running, and my plans for the rest of this month are mostly to work on cross-training and easy runs only.

Final Thoughts

This race was much harder than Space Coast. I didn't realize until Sunday how lucky I was to have such an "easy" (by comparison) first marathon.

Even though I had a great training cycle and was mentally totally ready for it (the lack of spectators and quiet/repetitive route never bothered me), the weather destroyed me. There's nothing I could do about that. I know it sounds like an excuse; non-runners especially may hear that and think it's a copout. But I know, and those who ran the race know, that the weather was a huge factor. It was brutal. Not only was it hotter than last year's marathon, but it was windier and had less cloud coverage. The race began 45 minutes later than last year's, so we were running in the sun from the very first mile.

Other than practicing training runs in the sun, I couldn't have done anything else to prep for the mid-December heat wave...I know you northerners are really happy about running in shorts in December, but we in Florida are hating it.

I'm mostly proud of myself. I ran a smart race. I finished upright, running, and uninjured. I pushed myself to limits I haven't faced before. I trained really, really well. I conquered 26.2 miles (or more) for a second time. I'm disappointed, but mostly I'm just proud.

My walking pace was in the 18s, but when I was running I was moving along well, even later in the race. So again, I need to account for walking/pausing time when I plan my next marathon's goals.

I know that failing is part of the process. Without failure, there is no learning, and without learning, there is no growth. Maybe you'll think I should be more down on myself for falling short, but I can't seem to care that much because in the great scheme of things, this is just one race and I know I'll have a chance to conquer my goals again in the future.

Thinking about last year, my random calf cramps seemed to be my kryptonite. This year, it was the weather. What I've learned is that 26.2 miles is a long way to go, and it leaves room for a lot of unexpected things to happen. So next time (in 2017 - I'm still not planning a marathon for next year), I'm going to need to prepare for the unexpected, and set more realistic expectations based on unforeseen circumstances.

I am so glad that Megan decided to fly down and do this race. It was so fun to have her here, and I feel like her being here gave the weekend an extra element of fun and wonder. I hope we made her first-ever trip to Florida something really memorable!

I'll think of you whenever I look at it! :)

I don't think it can be said enough that having people there for you to cheer and support during such a big race is a huge, huge deal, and my support crew is honestly the best out there - they drove to any point, brought anything I wanted, said all the right things, and saw me at the finish. That makes a huge difference in motivation when you're in the last couple miles of a marathon, and I absolutely don't take it for granted.

ABK