March 2016 – My Kind of FIT

Blue Angels Rock n Fly Half Marathon Race Recap

I drove over to Pensacola Friday afternoon to meet up with Rick/My Life on the Run for our second Blue Angels Rock n Fly Half Marathon on Saturday. Our Runner Bud, Esmeralda/Mrs_Incredible was coming in from Tennessee to see what all the fuss was about!! She doesn’t realize how lucky she is to spend the weekend with us!!!

We started race weekend with dinner at Ozone Pizza Pub, carb loading with the Pesto Vecchio add Pepperoni, always add pepperoni!

After dinner, we were off to get ready for the morning to support my need to arrive 1 hour before race start!!

We were up and at em EARLY!! An hour at the house and 30 minutes on the road got us there more than an hour early…OOOOPS!! The extra time allowed us to chat and scroll through social media, visit the bathroom in the Gym and then CAWFEE!! There is a Starbuck on NAS Pensacola and it is right next to the start line!! But on our journey, we ran into Tammy and Lisa!! I met Tammy in the early nineties at a facility where I taught aerobics and we have stayed in touch… ALL.THESE.YEARS! And Lisa, she is my hair goddess!! I think she has been the keeper of the locks for over 15 yrs!! God Bless Her!! Then Esmeralda, we met her at Mercedes and have stayed in touch. She just ran the Chattanooga Marathon two weeks ago and was looking for a race to cure her post marathon blues…this may do the trick??!!

We then headed to the place that is coveted by all runners pre-race…This is where you will see all your runner buds and meet new ones!!

AND this is where we ran into Valerie and her family, not that we always run into Valerie at the Port-a-Potties, but today…well we did. We introduced her to everyone and chatted for a few before heading to the Team RWB pre-race photo.

Now to head to the chute and wait for the start. The Blue Angels normally do a fly over at the start, but we were told that there was a safety incident the day before and they were unable to fly…BUMMER.

We were treated to the electric guitar version of the Star Spangled Banner accompanied by a patriotic slide show on the JumboTron and Confetti shot from cannons to start the race.

The Half Marathon course takes you all over NAS Pensacola…we passed by Barrancas National Cemetery, the Magic Brownie Station, the National Museum of Naval Aviation

Magic Brownie Station at Mile 1.70

Stop for a stretch

Nat’l Muesum of Naval Aviation

Sherman Cove, the Lighthouse, the Officer’s Club, back past the start, the US Naval Aviation School, the Navy Chapel, up Murray Road

Sherman Cove

Blue Angel Pkwy

Mile 9 Hydration Station

Headed up Murray Road

back by the Bayou Grande Sailing Marina, back down Murray Road with a few turns to the FINISH.

This would make Half Marathon #25 for me!!

Now for the BEST part of the race…Runner Bud Round Up, some old, some new!! We got to share thoughts and upcoming races with Debra (Happy Running Sole (Blog/IG)), Valerie (Ice Cream Runner (IG)), Esmeralda (Mrs_Incredible (Blog/IG)) and Lisa!! And we did partake in the post-race food – pizza, subs, fruit, beer and water.

After hanging for a few, we headed home to shower and head out for more food and to show Esmeralda the beach.

We did Lunner (lunch/dinner) at The Ruby Slipper. I had the Eggs Blackstone and a Ruby Slipper Mimosa. The others ate, but I didn’t get a picture of what they had!!

Downtown Pensacola

Eggs Blackstone

With bellies full, we head over to Casino Beach! By time we reached the Beach, the sun had disappeared, clouds moved in and the wind was picking up. We walked the pier and tried not to get hooked by the fishermen casting out for there dinner. We shopped a few shops then headed home to SIT DOWN!!

3 Things: 1. The Rock n Fly had been HOT the 2 yrs we have run it 2. I love, love, love the social aspect of running 3. Make sure to see the surrounding area and try the local restaurants

Bayou Hills 10k

We were at it again this weekend!!

This time we were running a 10k in Ricky G’s neck of the woods, Pensacola, FL.

Of course it was an early alarm, you know by now that my run/race morning routine takes about an hour. My feet hit the floor and I went at it, after all we were stopping for cawfee on the way!!

We made it to Bayview Park and sought out the bathroom thanks to the cawfee!! We were early enough that we met up with Ultra Teacher from IG, Ricky G’s BossMan and wife, and even had time for a startline selfie!!

Ultra Teacher

BossMan and Wife

Shenanigans!

It was a 7:30a start and little did I know that this run would be hills, hills, hills. and maybe a few more hills!! We were off and out under the start canopy, took a left and BAM…hill!!

We ran through the East Hills neighborhoods and eventually ended up on a road I recognized from the Pensacola Half Marathon (of course, at the top of a hill!!) only to take a left back into the neighborhood to circle back to the finish for the last 2 miles.

I had someone tell me there were 19 hills tucked in those 6.2 miles…ummmm, WHAT!

This was pretty much the only flat part of the race!

Yep!

Finished!

I will say that there were two hills that made me walk to catch my breath when we made it to the top!!

Looking at the results, I managed 4th in my AG, however I would’ve needed to run almost 8 minutes faster to take third…GOALS!!!

Found the race back drop.

On the Bayou!!

Happy Running…

ARRRGGH… Gasparilla Distance Classic Ultra Challenge part II

Soooooo…It was back to the hotel to shower and find something to eat.

We walked the Riverwalk and found the Columbia Café at the History Museum. Ummm, this was recommended by an IG friend so let’s give it a try. Well, we waited 20 minutes for a table, a community table that would sit up to 10 people but they would leave a seat between the different parties. Okay, no problem! There were so many runners at this café, after all the 5k hosted 14,000 runners!! Anyway, the community table would be great, we can sit with other runners and chat about the weekend…right???

We get seated and we wait and wait and wait, maybe it’s been 10 minutes?? But the family that was sitting with us that had been sat at the same time wasn’t having any of it!! They asked first if there was a server for the table, then I asked if I could just get a glass of water…OHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOO SHE DIDN’T!!! Our server, Kenya, that was at another table turned and in a raised voice stated that it would probably be 10 minutes before she could get to us???!! WHAT??!!

Ricky G and I look at each other and wondered if we should leave, but we’ve already vested 40+ minutes and it will be a wait wherever we go. Let me say that, as she walked by our table I said I just want water and I got the kids plastic cup with a lid and straw while everyone else had the GLASS!! OH, Kenya should’ve called off work today. Our table never got the Cuban bread to snack on, nor did we get any refills while dining. The kids at the other end of the table were getting restless and hungry, Mom asked a server, Jake if he could bring them some BUT they never, never, never got the bread!! Once again, Kenya and maybe Jake should’ve called off!!

We both ordered a Cuban and the Empanada appetizer. WHEN we got our food, it was okay. This was my FIRST Cuban ever and while I wanted to enjoy it all I wanted to do was eat and leave. Which is what we tried to do, but there was a wait for us to get our check!! Only Mom was left at the end of the table, Dad and kids had went to play in the grass along the Riverwalk and left Mom to wait it out. As Jake walked by the table, Mom said ‘Jake thanks for the bread’!! Then she got excited because Kenya had left her a comment card!! Mom did let us know that this was uncommon, they were from the area and had never had service like they had that day.

Okay…back to the races.

Day Two, First Race…Half Marathon

It was early to bed, get the feet up and rest the hip for Day Two!! Like in the be at 5:30p maybe even earlier??!!

The alarm sounded at 4:30a and we were up and moving!! It was the same routine as yesterday, but there was no Pirate at Starbucks??!! We drank our cawfee as we walked to meet RBJ and head to the Platt Street bridge for the 6:00a start.

My concern for this morning was making the cutoff times for the Half Marathon if the hip wasn’t cooperating. I had 1hr 20min to get in the first 5 miles and be at mile 11 by the 3hr mark to make the 8k…let’s do this!!

We came off the bridge and turned down Plant Ave. Now it was dark, but I’m pretty sure we were running on a cobbled street for bit??!! Then we ran the egress bridge to Davis Island and ran the island!! The first 5 miles were on Davis Island and then we were back to run the next 8 miles up and back on Bayshore Blvd!!

Seen on the run…Flame Thrower!

Mile 4 on Davis Island

Crossing the bridge to exit the island.

I was excited that we were off the in less than an hour and that we finished in 2:32!! I don’t think I felt my hip after mile 6!!

Shenanigans!

Wrapping it up…

Why aren’t we done yet??

We crossed the finish, got the BEST medal EVER, posed with said medal, handed medals off to RBJ’s mom, picked up Hannah and headed to the 8k chute.

Day Two, Second Race…8k

We had a 45 minute wait until the start of the 8k!! What do we do while waiting for our last race to start?? I can feel my feet starting to swell in my shoes the longer we stand, I start doing squats and calf raises hoping it will help with the stiffness setting in. We watch runners finishing the Half, we laugh and joke, we pose for selfies and complain about the HEAT that is setting in.

It was a 9:30a start for the 8k and we were ready to finish this challenge!! I was sooooooooooo stiff once we got started that I didn’t even make it .30 of a mile before I had to walk to stretch out!! After that, I pretty much ran .50, then walked .50…everything was so tight and stiff but I was going to finish.

It was funny to watch Ricky G pretty much jog in place next to RBJ and I while we were walking.

AND that was the longest 4.97 miles…

Total miles 30.4!! Ultra Challenge Complete!!

3 Things: 1. The Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic Half Marathon made Runner’s World “Bucket List: 10 Destination Half Marathons” in 2015. 2. The Classsic started in 1978 as a way to raise funds for the Tampa Girls Club, in 2015 $311,215 was given to local charities and dozens of community groups. 3. Hydration and Port-a-Potties galore!!

ARRRGGH… Gasparilla Distance Classic Ultra Challenge Part I

On the road again…This time we are headed to Tampa to run the Gasparilla Distance Classic Ultra Challenge, 2 Days + 4 Races = 30.4 Miles!!!

We left early Friday morning and arrived in Tampa that afternoon. Our first stop was the Expo!! We quickly found a parking spot in a lot across the street from the convention center and headed in. We went directly back to get our bibs and then over to the shirt dispersal area where we picked up 4 shirts, 1 jacket and a race specific reusable shopping bag each !! Now to stroll and try not to fill the bag with ALL the expo goodies!!

We made our way up and down the aisles seeing if there was anything that we couldn’t RUN without!! Amazing, we left with only purchasing GU, a fitletic belt and French fries!! Lastly, we found our names on the banner!! Now it is hotel check-in time and figure out dinner.

We stayed at the Hilton Downtown, about .50 miles from the start line for race weekend…BONUS!!

We walked the riverwalk to Channelside and had dinner at Hablo Taco. We had a friend recommend several restaurants in the area, but we weren’t finding any of them on our walk!! I thought dinner was just right…not too much, not enough!! We both had the Pulled Chicken Tacos; tequila lime marinated chicken, shredded cabbage, queso fresco, tomatoes and cilantro lime cream drizzle!!!! Oh, I can’t forget the guac and chips!!

We were back to the hotel and in the bed around 8:30p in order to be ready for our early morning alarm!! While laying in bed we were looking at our race guide to find out that we had left the Expo while Meb and Shaylene were THERE having a press conference…OH NO!! We left!! Now we have to go back tomorrow at 3p in order for Ricky G. to possibly meet Meb. I had no idea!!

First Day, First Race…15k

The alarm sounds and all I can think is HIP don’t fail me now!! Let me run the 15k and I promise to be nice and walk the 5k, pretty please!! We were up and beginning our pre-race routine; drugs, hydrate, deodorant, hydrate, sunscreen, bodyshield, hydrate, get dressed, bathroom, hydrate and out the door to meet Runner Bud Jen at the start at 6a.

But first cawfee…with a Pirate!

Luckily there was a Starbucks in the hotel lobby that opened at 4:30a just so us runners to get our liquid crack fix! And who knew there would be a pirate running the race so…of course we HAD to take a selfie!

When we picked up our bibs we were talking to the lady about getting to the start, she asked where we were staying, we told her and she said to follow all the other runners after exiting the hotel!! Yep, that’s all that was needed!! Approaching the start with cawfee in hand, I started to doubt being able to find RBJ, there were A LOT of runners. As I was saying that we will never find her, then BAM she was in front of me!! That was too easy. She finished coordinating with her mom and we headed to the corral.

And what do we do…we take SELFIES!! And crowd pictures!!

We started at Brorein and Franklin, ran down Bayshore to Gandy and back up Bayshore (this would happen 3 more times this weekend!) We posed and ran and ran and posed our way back to the finish.

We found RBJ’s mom, handed off our 15k medal, picked up Hannah and headed to the 5k start.

First Day, Second Race…5k

On the way to the 5k start we ran into Meb!! How does this happen??!! And he was nice enough to take selfies with us!! AND now we don’t have to go back to the Expo, Ricky G’s DAY MADE!!

Getting into the corral was a challenge!! A volunteer checked our bibs and moved the barrier to let us in, but no one would budge!! We were jam packed with 14,000 runners. With only a 10 minute wait to start we snapped a pic and waited to hit the streets running!!

This was a rough start!! Even though the seeded runners had there own corral and started before us there was a lot of jocking to get ahead of the person in front of you!! I got pushed, kicked, and karate chopped on the forearm by runners trying to break away from the pack.

Did I say that this race was capped at 14,ooo??!! 14,000!! The largest 5k I have ever been part of.

Once Ricky G. was certain that I was good and could handle myself, off he went. Oh, and we wouldn’t see Hannah until she was headed back down Bayshore to the finish…Go Hannah Go!!

And this route took us down Bayshore, turned around at Rome and back up Bayshore to finish.

RBJ and I managed to find everyone at the finish even though someone decided to come up with there own plan and wasn’t where they were supposed to be…Ricky G!! Now we were off to find the water and bananas and figure out the plan for the rest of the day.

I forgot to mention we were lucky enough to see fellow IG runner Crazy Runner Lady and her Dad in the sea of runners.