“Running is the answer. The question is irrelevant.”
(Unknown)
The Walk into the Future blog returned to Central Florida for the 2026 Town of Celebration Half Marathon. This was my fourth time running this race and I enjoy it more each year.
The Town of Celebration looks and feels like a movie set but it’s a real town and the people are super friendly. They come out of their houses and cheer on strangers who are blocking their streets and daily activities. I’m sure the runners provide a boost to the local economy so maybe that’s why the folks are so friendly. 😊 I’m already looking forward to the 2027 Town of Celebration Half Marathon.
What’s so great about this race and location? Outstanding questions by all my tree branches. The race EXPO, start line, finish line and race village are all within a block of each other in downtown Celebration. They shut the town down to allow runners, walkers, spectators and vendors to take over the streets.
The EXPO is probably the smallest one for any race I run across the country. The EXPO is held in a little park by the lake in downtown Celebration. There are eight tables total with no vendors selling anything. You walk up, give them your name, collect your race bib, get your T-shirt, get a commemorative blanket and then leave. This is the only race that I know of that gives runners custom designed blankets. Yes, I’ve kept every blanket that I received so far—four and counting.
I left the EXPO and took a little stroll in downtown Celebration. There are a ton of little shops and restaurants in the area. I was mostly taking in the sights, but I did make my way into the Celebration Town Tavern to drink beer. This is a lively spot and seems to be the place the locals enjoy the most. There were a few other runners at the bar, but the crowd was made up of Celebration residents. I left the Celebration Town Tavern and made my way to my go to pasta spot, Buca di Beppo. This restaurant is not in the downtown area, but nothing is far in Celebration. I made my way to the bar and worked on my carb loading process. Buca di Beppo is known for large portions, so I made sure to downsize my Chicken Parm order to ensure I didn’t waste food. Great food as always!
I made my way back to my hotel after a little shopping at the local Nike discount store. I never need anything but found a pair of running shorts in a color I don’t already own. Yes, I bought them! 😊 I got my race outfit together and then watched a little TV to relax before going to bed.
I rolled out of bed at 5:15 am to mentally and physically prepare for the half marathon. I like to get in some stretching while at the hotel to limber up my body before driving to the race sight. My hotel was only 10 minutes from downtown, so I didn’t have to rush or worry about not making it to the start line on time. I parked in the same location as I did last year and walked towards the start line—it took me about 5 minutes to get there. I used my time to stretch a little bit more and then got in some light jogging to loosen up my legs before tackling the 13.1-mile course.
The race organizers adjusted the start area this year and had runners line up in assigned start corrals. This was a nice adjustment since the corral start process helps thin out runners at the beginning of the race and eliminates folks from running each other over. I found my spot at the front of Corral #2 and prepared for the race in front of me.
I have run fast at this race in the past, but the weather was a bit warmer than normal. Nothing crazy but it wasn’t cold like I prefer. I decided to run hard for the first portion of the race and then see what I had left to pursue the remainder of the race.
This strategy worked well for me as I felt good throughout the race. I made a point to hit every water stop to take on fluids. I always drink Gatorade and pour water on my head to keep my body as cool as possible during races. I ran consistent splits within the 9:30 – 10:30 range through the first 10 miles of the race. I never found another gear or the energy to push the pace, so I stayed within this range and crossed the finish line with a nice kick and a smile on my face. The crowd at the finish line was loud and they helped the runners finish strong.
I collected my medal, got some finish line photos and my post-race restaurant punch card that allowed me access to eat and drink my way around town. 😊
The race village had complimentary massage and chiropractor tables this year. This was a welcome addition, and I signed up for a physical therapy session on my legs—felt great! I left the physical therapy table and headed over to sample food and drink from the restaurants present.
I started with a beans and white rice dish from a Columbian restaurant. I left this table and headed straight for the beer. Every runner gets two Michelob Ultra beers. I didn’t want to get back into the beer line, so I got both of my beers and walked around double-fisted for a bit. I hit the pancake table right after finishing my beers and had to sit down to enjoy this treat—pancakes with chocolate chips and syrup. The mimosa table was next, and I went two fisted again with these drinks. I found a chair in the race village and enjoyed my drinks and watched runners cross the finish line. I was not in a rush, so I just enjoyed the atmosphere and the happy people around me. It was a good day! 😊
I took the short stroll back to my vehicle and headed back to the hotel to get out of my race outfit and relax a bit. I took a 40-minute nap after showering and then got on the road to head back to Fort Pierce.
This is a hell of a life I lead, huh? Celebrating daily! 😊
Irie!
Calvin Williams
“The obsession with running is really an obsession with potential for more and more life.”
(George Sheehan)
Walk Into the Future 
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