Walk Into the Future

Category: Half Marathon

  • Chicago Marathon: Time for some action!

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    “A marathon is hundreds of miles. The finish is the last 26.2”.

    (Running Quotes)

    This quote identifies my current Walk into the Future.  I started the Chicago Marathon training cycle on 6/10/2024 and have logged 561.89 miles to date.  I’m flying to Chicago tomorrow morning, so I have completed all the prescribed miles on my training plan.

    There have been a lot of early mornings to beat the Florida heat and humidity but I’m feeling good about the work I have put in this year.  I used lessons learned from previous training cycles to improve my mental and physical preparation to ensure I get to Chicago in great shape to compete with my fellow runners.

    I started this training cycle at 207 pounds and have been as light as 192 pounds.  I tipped the scale this morning at 194 pounds right before I start the carb loading process.  I will toe the line at the Chicago Marathon lighter than my last marathon and this should translate to my performance.  Again, I decided not to take any short cuts this time around and made sure I put in the work mentally, physically and with my diet.  Feeling good!  My friend Lynn keeps saying that I’m skinny now—not sure I buy that but have lost three inches on my waist and none of my pants fit me now.  Will have to see if I maintain this weight before I invest in a new wardrobe. 😊

    I touted being 32 – 0 during my last Chicago Marathon update.  I never thought I would remain undefeated throughout the entire training cycle, but I wanted to maximize each run to ensure I performed well at the Chicago Marathon.  Well, let’s cut to the chase—I missed a few sessions either due to travel or illness.  I missed an entire week of training when I returned from the Virginia Beach 10-miler.  This may also explain why my time in the race was slower than last year.  Imagine that I completed a 10-mile race while I was sick.  😊

    Here’s my weekly miles update:

    Week 937.39
    Week 1034.49
    Week 1126.03
    Week 1234.58
    Week 132.03 (Sick this week)
    Week 1442.7
    Week 1530.85
    Week 1633.77
    Week 1727.11
    Week 185
    Total273.95

    I’m flying up to Chicago tomorrow to get acclimated to the city and weather.  I’m excited to go to the race EXPO for the opportunity to meet some of the elite runners scheduled to be there.  I’m sure I will not see them much on race day so will enjoy the opportunity to share the same venue with them.  There are a few Orlando Track Shack runners coming up to Chicago and I want to catch up with them at the EXPO as well.  Friday will be my day to get some sightseeing in and deep-dish pizza.  I will stay off my feet as much as possible on Saturday to conserve energy and keep my legs fresh.  There will be an organized shakeout run on Saturday morning, but I have not decided if I want to participate.  I’m sure it will be exciting and a great opportunity to meet runners who have gone through the same experience as me to get ready for the Chicago Marathon.

    The weather is projected to be in the mid-40’s and warming up into the low-60’s.  This will be a welcomed change from the Florida heat and humidity. Really looking forward to see how my body adapts to running in cooler weather without humidity. 

    Well, the training is done!  It’s time to put all this effort into action on race day to see how well I perform.

    Thanks for coming along on this journey with me!  Will see you on the other side of the 2024 Chicago Marathon finish line! 😊

    Irie!

  • 2024 Celebration of Running 5k

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    “Run often.  Run long. But never outrun your joy of running”.

    (Julie Isphording)

    The Walk into the Future running season always starts with the Orlando Track Shack Celebration of Running 5k in Winter Park, Florida.

    I started running with Track Shack back in 2010 and leverage training plans they have for multiple distances.  The Track Shack team identifies the start of the 2024 – 2025 running season with this race and turns it into a celebration for the Orlando running community.

    The 2024 Celebration of Running 5k marked my 10th time running this race and I enjoy it more each time I return.  The course is the same and the August humidity is always thick, but this is a great race to reengage with competitive running and socialize with a great running community.

    My last race was the 2024 Rhode Island Half Marathon back in May.  The months of May, June and July were dedicated to training in the Florida heat and humidity, but racing was an after thought during the dog days of summer.  There are several 4th of July races to pick from but I normally travel and running on the holiday is not attractive to me—I may take on this challenge in the future but signing up for a race on the 4th of July has not materialized for me yet. 😊

    I find myself starting to get anxious to race again in early August.  I started my marathon training cycle on 6/10/2024 but running races with other competitors is more exciting than training miles.  I also leverage the Celebration of Running 5k to gauge my fitness levels to determine adjustments needed in my larger training program.  I’m down about 7 pounds and 2 inches so far during this training cycle so entered the racing season feeling fresh and of course lighter than last year.

    I approached the 5k as another training session with an opportunity to work on my speed and endurance.  I did not have a set finish time in mind but wanted to run as fast as possible and still have fun with the process—mission accomplished on both parts of this equation. 😊

    I lined up in my usual spot with the 9-minute per mile group.  This is always a safe place to line up to avoid crashing into other runners. It still amazes me that runners who know they will run slower splits make their way to the front of the starting corrals.  This creates numerous problems at the start of the race because other runners must expend energy to avoid crashing into these folks—my strategy is to hang back a bit to let this churn clear a bit and then hit my desired pace.  It takes about a half mile before the crowds start to thin out a bit to move forward.

    I finished the Celebration of Running 5k with a time of 29:05—9:16 per mile pace.  Not bad for me even after holding back for the first half mile.  I completed the 5k with a nice sprint and a smile on my face.  The smile came out because I saw one of my running friends and her husband in front of me and I decided I was going to pass them before the finish line.  It was working until she spotted me and decided to kick before I caught them.  She beat me by 3 seconds, and we had a huge laugh at the games adults play when racing.  It was all fun and made the experience even better. 😊

    Got my normal after race pictures in the race village and made my way to get my beer and donuts.  Always enjoy the opportunity to catch up with folks I know in the Orlando running community but couldn’t stay too long.  This was a 17-mile training day, so I needed to head over to the Cross Seminole Trail to complete my training.

    Love the Cross Seminole Trail because it provides a flat and shady surface to get extra miles in.  You get to interact with walkers, runners, roller bladers and cyclists all on the same trail.  It’s great for people watching and training.  A local cycle club places coolers with free water on the trail to help keep folks hydrated while on the trail—this was a bonus and much appreciated. 

    I completed my 14-mile training run and headed back to my hotel to cool off and relax.  Of course, a nap was in my immediate future after racing and training.

    My racing season started out exactly how I scripted it and I’m happy with my physical and mental preparation so far.  Excited to see how the rest of the season progresses.

    Irie!

    “Train smart. Train hard. Have fun”!

    (Matt Wilpers)

  • IRSC River Talk

    River Talk

    “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else”.

    (Booker T. Washington)

    My Walk into the Future continues to provide me with opportunities for growth. These growth opportunities are leveraged to create additional tree branches (mentees).

    My latest adventure was a partnership to return to the IRSC River Talk show to share information about my areas of responsibility and to answer questions posed by the host.  I did a spot on River Talk maybe a year and a half ago.  It was still a new show on the IRSC Radio Network, and we covered a lot of ground for that show.

    River Talk has a new host, and she reached out to ask if I wanted to come back on the show to provide an update on my departments for her listeners.  I rarely say no to an opportunity to share information, so I agreed to a return engagement.

    Met the host in the radio studio a few minutes before we started recording.  She identified she had done some extensive research on me (LinkedIn, Blog, Leadership training) and was excited to learn more about me during the interview.  I thought this was going to be a standard interview about my work at IRSC, but it turned out to be that and a lot more.

    The format provided a platform for me to share information about my current role, leadership pursuits, training program, what brought me to IRSC and why I got into higher education.  The interview allowed me to reflect on my WHY and share this information with listeners.

    Areas covered:

    • My current role as Associate Vice President, Advising and Career Services
    • What brought me to IRSC and the Treasure Coast
    • My Air Force background
    • Authentic Leadership
    • Why I joined the Air Force
      • What did I learn about leadership?

    I’m sure I missed a few other topics from the interview. 😊

    Give the full interview a run here:  https://www.wqcs.org/rivertalk-at-indian-river-state-college/2024-08-08/dr-calvin-williams-associate-vice-president-of-advising-career-services-and-chief-retention-officer-at-indian-river-state-college

    Let me know your thoughts!

    Irie!

    “If everyone is moving forward together, then success will take care of itself”.

    (Henry Ford)

  • 2024 Marathon Training (32 – 0)

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    “You don’t stay undefeated without being a little stubborn”.

    (Andre Ward)

    32 – 0!  Yes, I’m going to claim an undefeated marathon training record at this point of the cycle.

    You may be wondering what the heck I’m talking about—happy to explain! 😊

    I just completed Week #8 of my 2024 Chicago Marathon training cycle:  https://www.instagram.com/chimarathon/?hl=en.  The training schedule has me running multiple distances Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.  8 weeks times 4 days per week = 32 training sessions so far.  32 – 0.

    I am showcasing the 32 – 0 record because I have not missed a training session, projected mileage or hit the snooze button once so far in this training cycle.  I’ve trained for 2 other marathons over the past few seasons but have never displayed this level of consistency and commitment to the process.  I want to see a ton of improvement in how I perform on race day in Chicago and dedicating the proper energy into my training program is my way to build towards the big day.

    Will I remain undefeated?  No idea but I plan to continue to put the effort into this training cycle to build physical and mental strength to guide me in Chicago.  Training is going well as I hit my mileage markers daily but need to incorporate more speed work into the program.  My future Wednesday morning runs are designed to run at 2024 Chicago Marathon pace so this will force me to begin to work on my stride to generate speed.  Excited to start targeting marathon goal paces to mentally prepare for the full grind of 26.2 miles.  I know I can complete the distance, but this year is all about going a bit faster than before.  I’m projecting to have a finish time with a ‘4’ in front of it (4:35, 4:41, 4:59)—I will share my goal time the week of the Chicago Marathon.  Yes, I have a projected goal time I’m targeting.  Melissa—can you guess the time? 😊

    Here’s my weekly progress so far:

    Week 541.67
    Week 633.61
    Week 734.11
    Week 850.26
    Total159.65

    The weekly mileage has gone up from the previous updates.  This will continue through Week #15 before the mileage starts to taper down.  The full marathon taper process will start in Week #17 and continue until marathon race day.  My previous marathon training cycle had me competing in the OUC Half Marathon the week prior.  Not sure if this helped or hurt my race day performance but I will not repeat this process again for the Chicago Marathon.

    Can I stay undefeated and make it to 72 – 0?  Great question!

    Thanks for joining me on this training cycle!

    Irie!

    “I don’t think being undefeated is going to determine my greatness”.

    (Mikey Garcia)

  • Five Minute Thursday: Travel

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    “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page”.

    (Saint Augustine)

    Shout out to the Walk into the Future blog readers and subscribers.  Appreciate everyone joining me on this journey!

    Let’s give the Five-Minute Thursday writing prompt another run.  I’m enjoying this writing prompt as a challenge to create new content based on a word or phrase.  FYI—this writing prompt will be around for a while so buckle up. 😊

    My fifth prompt for Five Minute Thursday is:  Travel.

    I could take this prompt in multiple directions but will focus on my willingness to explore travel solo.  I write about my annual visits to the Smoky Mountains, Nashville and Negril as regular topics for the Walk into the Future blog.  I will continue to travel to these spots as long as I’m able—all three locations provide me with a different level of peace and allow me to add new chapters into my personal ‘travel book’ (pun intended).

    The Smoky Mountains getaway provides a level of solitude I can’t find anywhere else.  Yes, there are other people walking around in the mountains but the level of peace I find there is unmatched.  Simple trail walks and just being out in nature is captivating and helps me refocus.

    Not sure I would categorize Nashville as peaceful, but I get a different energy vibe when in Nash Vegas.  I love live music and there’s not a better place to hear great live music.  I have regular spots I visit in Nashville (The Stage, Lucky Bastards, Dierks Bently Whiskey Row and Tequila Cowboys) because they have great sound systems, and the regular bands are all outstanding.  Each of these spots are larger venues and I can always find a corner to post up to enjoy the music and watch the crowds.  I normally just go back and forth between these spots until I get my fill of music and then head back to my hotel to do it again the next day.  The Wild Horse Saloon was on my regular rotation, but it closed late last year.  Luke Combs has a new venue in the same spot, and I plan to visit when I return to Nashville in April. 

    Negril, Jamaica is my happy spot!  I’ve written this multiple times, and nothing has changed.  Love flying down and spending time on the water and enjoying great food.  I go down there so much my resort lets me check myself in when I arrive.  The folks are friendly and take care of me like I’m a member of the family.  Will look to get down to Negril multiple times each year moving forward—may need to buy property down there so I have my own spot.  Can always rent out space when I’m not down there enjoying myself. 😊

    So, my five minutes are up.  How would you complete a five-minute prompt on travel?

    Irie!

    “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind”.

    (Seneca)

  • Chicago Marathon Training Week #4

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    “Marathoning.  The triumph of desire over reason”.

    (New Balance, athletic apparel company)

    I will be the first to admit that I’m not a New Balance athlete.  My primary running apparel company is Nike, and my running shoes are Brooks GTS 23s.  Hoping the Brooks GTS 24s drop before my racing season kicks off, but the GTS 23s have been good for me.  The New Balance quote is prophetic for the marathon journey I’m currently experiencing.

    Marathon training can be taxing physically, mentally and emotionally.  The desire to compete and get better is stronger for me this year.  I’ve trained for two marathons and seen minimal improvement but that is because the desire was not as strong in the past.  I’ve rededicated myself to this process and vowed to give maximum effort weekly.  Yes, I trained for the marathon in the past but took a few short cuts that I’m not willing to repeat.

    I just completed Week #4 of this training cycle and I am proud to say I have not missed a training session or mileage goal so far.  It sounds like a simple thing but there are times when it’s easier to hit the snooze button in the morning and not get up and train.  The snooze button has not been a problem this training cycle—I’ve established a set bedtime and have not adjusted it for any reason.  I’m getting prepared for lights out at 8:30 pm with a consistent wake up at 4:44 am—I like odd times. Melissa, that’s for YOU! 😊

    I am following the Hal Higdon marathon training plan again with an eye towards the details of the plan and no missed training sessions.  I ran into issues with the heat and humidity last year because I didn’t get out early for my long runs.  I’ve adjusted my Friday night bedtime to provide a consistent sleep pattern.  I’m getting out for my long Saturday runs by 5:30 am to beat the sun, heat and humidity.  It’s still humid out but it’s easier to handle at this time of the day.  I’ve also adjusted my hydration plan and ensure I have water, Gatorade and coconut water available for each long run.  I hydrate better during my weekday runs too—a very simple concept but it is helping me get stronger mentally and physically.

    My weight training program remains consistent with 3 days in the gym each week.  I adjust the workouts but make sure to incorporate leg days into the routine.  I’m not a heavy lifter anymore but concentrate on compound exercises with high rep levels.  My yoga program consists of one weekly session to help my muscles stretch and recover.  I will increase my yoga routines but one time per week is good for now.  This will increase by Week #10 to match the miles I will be completing.

    Here’s my weekly progress so far:

    Week 132.11
    Week 236.17
    Week 318.78
    Week 435.98
    Total123.04

    The mileage will start to ramp up Week #5 through Week #15.  The first four weeks helped build the running base needed for the increased mileage.

    Excited to see how my training program has matured over the past two years.  The Chicago Marathon is calling and I’m answering the bell. 😊

    Here’s my projected racing schedule—I’m still looking for races.

    8/17/20242024 Celebration of Running 5kWinter Park
    9/1/20242024 Virginia Beach 10-MilerVirginia Beach, VA
    9/21/20242024 Race for Recovery 5kPort St Lucie
    10/13/20242024 Chicago MarathonChicago, IL
    12/7/20242024 OUC Half MarathonOrlando
    12/15/20242024 Garden of Life Half MarathonWest Palm Beach
    1/19/20242025 Vero Beach Half MarathonVero Beach
    1/26/20252025 Town of Celebration Half MarathonCelebration, FL
    2/8/20252025 Fleet Feet Run for your Heart 10kJensen Beach, FL
    3/2/20252025 Game On Marathon of The Treasure CoastStuart, FL
    4/25/20252025 Nashville Rock N Roll Half MarathonNashville, TN
    6/1/20252025 San Diego Rock N Roll Half MarathonSan Diego

    Thanks for joining me on the training process—Irie!

  • 2024 Chicago Marathon Training Week #1

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    “A marathon is hundreds of miles.  The finish is the last 26.2”.

    (Running Quotes)

    The quote above speaks volumes.  Marathon training is a critical part of the overall process, but most people only see or talk about the actual 26.2-mile race.

    Completing a marathon is a major life/personal/physical milestone and I’m happy to say I am a two-time marathoner. 

    I targeted the Palm Beaches Marathon (2022 and 2023) because it was close, and the course was completely flat.  This marathon is in South Florida so that means the weather is unpredictable to include humidity even in December.  I’m happy to have started and completed this race twice but decided I would not attempt this race again because of the South Florida heat and humidity.  FYI—I will run the half marathon this year. 😊

    I leveraged a Hal Higdon marathon training plan to get me ready for my marathon attempts.  This plan provides an 18-week format to prepare for the full marathon process.  I decided to use this same training plan for my 2024 Chicago Marathon preparation.

    I made some weekly modifications for my previous marathon training programs but decided to follow the Hal Higdon plan completely this year.  I want to see improvement in my marathon finish time this year and committing to my training will be a vital part of hitting my race time goals.  I’m not competing to win the 2024 Chicago Marathon, but I need to beat my previous times, enjoy the race and feel good when I cross the finish line.

    My marathon training began in earnest last week (6/10/2024 – 6/16/2024).  I was excited to start my training program, so I added an extra run day to get me up and motivated to start this process.  Proverbs 6:6 states:  Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise.  My 2024 Chicago Marathon training program allows me to work like an ant—one mile, one training session, one week at a time.  Each session is designed to get me closer to my physical and mental peak for race day.  The marathon is a celebration of the months of training and sacrifice needed to complete a marathon.  I’ve made a point to let folks know that I will follow my plan as outlined—no shortcuts will be applied this year.  I will have to miss a few happy hours and Friday night hangouts since my long runs will occur on Saturday mornings.  A missed run is a missed opportunity to get better so I will minimize this process to emergencies only.

    Happy to report I hit all my training days and milestones for Week #1.  I added an extra session on Monday to energize my training and provide a buffer in case I needed it later in the week.  Rain was forecasted all week, and I completed several miles in a slight rain during two training sessions.  I would have skipped these training sessions in the past but would not allow myself to miss a training opportunity.

    I’m prioritizing weight training sessions this year as well.  Want to ensure I provide myself with the best training foundation possible to improve my performance leading up to the 2024 Chicago Marathon.

    I completed 32.11 training miles last week:

    6/10/20243.134:2511:06mRun
    6/11/20243.3937:5311:11mRun
    6/12/20245.3457:1710:44mRun
    6/13/20242.4225:4910:41mRun
    6/14/20245.82  Planet Fitness bike / rope
    6/15/20243.75  Planet Fitness bike
    6/15/20248.291:36:0011:35mLong run

    I added 4 days of weight training to include full body workouts on 6/14/2024 and 6/15/2024 to help prepare my body for the 18-week training grind.

    The Week #2 training plan is like Week #1 (3, 5, 3, 9) with a slight increase for the long run.  I’m excited to see how my body and mind respond to following the overall training plan for this marathon attempt.  I’m committed to ensuring I do everything necessary to finish faster in Chicago than I did in Palm Beach.  The cooler weather, flat course, cheering crowds and better preparation should help generate a positive outcome.

    Thanks for joining me on the training process—Irie!

    Note:  Most of my long run miles will be done in the George LeStrange Preserve. This allows for consistent miles and a hydration station. 

    https://www.stlucieco.gov/departments-and-services/environmental-resources/county-preserves/george-lestrange-preserve

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  • Five Minute Thursday: Inspiration

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    Photo by Bich Tran on Pexels.com

    “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today”.

    (H. Jackson Brown)

    The Walk into the Future blog is back to give a run to the Five-Minute Thursday writing prompt.

    I am enjoying the freedom this writing prompt brings to me and let’s me explore topics to help continue to move forward.  I’ve also received good feedback on the writing prompt so I’m lining up additional topics to explore over the summer.

    My third prompt for Five Minute Thursday is:  Inspiration.

    My overall inspiration comes from leveraging my WHY statement:  To leave people better than when I found them.  Simple concept but it helps me Walk into the Future daily with purpose.

    I developed this WHY statement with intent to use it to help move forward in life.  It also provides me with an inspiration foundation to help others. 

    I had a high school guidance counselor who did not provide me with any advice for life after high school.  I’m sure I’m not the only person who got the short end of this counseling session, but I made a promise that I would help everyone that needed assistance based on the lack of help I received almost 40 years ago.

    My inspiration for this mindset is everyone deserves a path to meet their life and career goals. 

    I’ve joked about being Inspiration Man, but I take this moniker seriously.  I write this blog to inspire my readers.  I develop leadership workshops to inspire individuals and organizations.  I mentor a ton of people to inspire them to set and achieve goals.  I am an active member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) to inspire current and former team mates to do more within the organization.  I run to inspire myself to reach physical fitness goals.  I text Happy Monday and Happy Friday to my folks to inspire them to have a great day.  I also do this to let my folks know I’m thinking about them.  This has inspired several to return the favor to me and this makes me smile.

    Inspiration comes in multiple forms. What can YOU add to the Five-Minute Thursday inspiration conversation?

    Irie!

    “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world”.

    (Robin Williams)

  • 2024 Rhode Island Half Marathon

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    “Rhode Island is the smallest state, but it has the biggest heart”.

    (Gina Raimondo)

    My Walk into the Future took me back to Providence, Rhode Island for the 2024 Rhode Island Half Marathon.  This was the inaugural running of this race and was advertised as a scenic route through East Providence neighborhoods.  The race was also advertised as completely flat—I’m guessing folks in Rhode Island do not comprehend the term ‘flat’ like we do in Florida. 😊

    I ventured over to Providence when I visited New England back in October 2023.  I flew up on Breeze Airways to explore Hartford, Connecticut and made stops in Springfield, Massachusetts and Providence.  Providence seemed to have a lot to offer so decided to head back there directly since Breeze Airways added direct flights from Vero Beach to Providence/Boston.

    I wanted to explore as a running tourist so looked for half marathons in the local area.  I booked flight and hotel accommodations once I discovered the 2024 Rhode Island Half marathon.  I’ve never run in New England but felt the weather would be good in mid-May and would get me out of the Florida humidity.  Most of my training and road races are in the south and I’m always trying to balance weather, humidity and course conditions.  Rhode Island seemed the perfect getaway to explore and experience good weather.  Check and check on both items.

    Flew out of Vero Beach on a Friday morning so I would not have to rush to attend packet pickup.  Arriving on a Friday also provided additional time to explore the local area and find local food spots.  My hotel was only 9 miles from the airport and in the heart of downtown Providence.  Decided to walk and explore a bit after I checked into the hotel.  The folks at the valet stand were very helpful identifying local eateries they recommended.  Set out for The District because of the variety on the menu and it was less than two blocks away.

    Made my way over with designs to sit at the bar and watch NBA playoff basketball.  The District is a smaller venue and every sit at the bar was taken by locals—guess this is their Friday night hangout spot.  No worries—got a seat at a high top in the bar area and tried one of the local light beers.  Turns out my waitress was running her first half marathon (Rhode Island) on Sunday, and we bonded over talking about training and projected times.  Didn’t feel too adventurous on my food selection so went with wings, fries and multiple beers to help with my carb loading process. 

    Packet pickup was scheduled for Saturday at the local run shop, Marathon Sports.  This shop is in Providence Place, which is a fancy name for a multi-level mall.  Marathon Sports was a short walk from my hotel so decided to use the walk on Saturday to stretch my legs.  Also, wanted to get acclimated to the weather since the temperature was in the low 50s.  Race day weather was projected to be just as cool so wanted to experience the cooler temperatures to ensure I knew how to dress on race day.  Packet pickup was uneventful—wanted to buy some new gear but Marathon Sports did not offer many things I would buy and/or wear.  Got my customary photo during packet pickup and headed off to find more carbs.

    https://www.marathonsports.com/

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    Harvard

    My next adventure was to head north to Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Always wanted to walk around Harvard and this was my opportunity to visit the famed campus and do a walk-about.  Cambridge was an hour drive from Providence so headed that way once I got back from Marathon Sports. The weather was still cool, and it started to rain a bit but not enough to keep me from making my way to Harvard.  The drive up was not bad—no big traffic issues on the way up.

    Traffic around Harvard was thick with cars and pedestrians—looked like others had the same idea as me to visit and explore the campus.  Found parking about two blocks from campus and made my way over to Harvard.  Made a trip to the famed bookstore to pick up some mementos and then did a walking tour to soak in the history of the campus.  Felt great being there and experiencing the atmosphere of the Harvard campus and local community.  Felt like I was in a movie. 😊

    Race

    Got to bed early so I could make my way to the race start line with plenty of time to warm up.  The race start and finish lines were both at Pierce Memorial Stadium.  Not use to starting or finishing a half marathon in a high school football stadium but there was plenty parking so that helped.

    I had to adjust my race outfit to include a long sleeve dri-fit shirt since the temperature was 51 degrees.  Thought I could get away with just an Orlando Track Shack tank top but needed something more on my arms.  My color coordination was off for this race to accommodate the long sleeve shirt and to keep warm.

    The race had a strict runner limit of 2,000 runners.  Not sure we got to that number but there were a lot of runners ready to toe the line.  There were not enough runners for corrals, so everyone just lined up regardless of projected completion times.  I made my way towards the back of the pack so I could gauge the pace of others and avoid congestion during the first few miles.

    I did not have a set finish time in mind but wanted to run faster than my last half marathon in Nashville back in April 2024—mission accomplished!

    I ran consistent mile splits (9:26 – 10:30) for the first 10 miles and slowed a bit after that.  It was not a hot day, but the non-flat portion of the race jumped up after mile 10 and I slowed a bit making my way up the hill.  Still, I had a bit of a kick at the end and crossed the finish line with a smile on my face and a time of 2:16:42—4 minutes faster than the last go in Nashville.  I’m happy to see an improvement and can use this effort to gauge my training for the Chicago Marathon in October.

    Marathon training starts next month.  Excited to begin the journey again towards another full marathon finish.

    I’m sure I will chronicle my training program throughout the summer.  Who’s ready to follow my training program?  😊

    Irie!

  • 2024 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon

    “Nashville, man. That’s the place to be”.

    (Willie Geist)

    original_e8501a2d-4c72-4c85-b02e-d0535b3e809e_20240426_152232

    This quote really hits home for me!

    My Walk into the Future leads me back to Tennessee multiple times each year.  April is a trip to Nashville for the Rock N Roll Half marathon and November has me hiking in the Smoky Mountains.

    Not sure when I fell in love with Tennessee, but I’ve got it bad.  I looked at moving to Nashville back in 2017 but never pursued the career opportunity.  My first visit to Nashville came back in 2006 when I attended a Florida Gators versus Vanderbilt Commadores football game.  Got my first experience with Broadway and the Wild Horse Saloon and the rest is history.

    I ran my first Nashville Rock N Roll half marathon back in 2017.  I’ve been back yearly since then—I missed 2020 because the race was cancelled due to Covid-19 and 2021 because the race was changed from April to November as a reschedule due to Covid-19 concerns.  I decided to head to the Smoky mountains as planned instead of running in Nashville in November.

    Fast forward to this year and the return to Nashville was an anticipated adventure for me.  I love the city, the food, the music, and the people.  Broadway is an outstanding place to watch people and hear fantastic live music.  Check, check and check.

    I didn’t enter the race this year with a set time goal in mind.  Just wanted to enjoy the environment, the people and after race party.

    I’m a creature of habit so stayed in the same hotel for the past three years.  It is in the West End and a short walk to the Broadway music scene.  I normally eat in the same places (Midtown Café, Rippy’s Honky Tonk and ACME Feed and Seed).  The Wildhorse Saloon closed in January and is under renovation to become Luke Comb’s new venture.  No line dancing this trip since my favorite spot shut down. ☹

    The weather was forecasted to be warmer than normal—the race normally happens earlier in April but was pushed back a week this year.  FYI—it was not Florida warm but not as cool as I would like considering the hilly Nashville course.

    Toed the line with 23,000+ other runners to test my mental and physical fitness while taking in all the site and sounds of Nashville.  Did I mention I love this place?! 😊

    Finished a bit slower than last year but felt good throughout.  The hills were a bit tougher with warmer temperatures but powered through until the finish line.  Proud of my 2:20:34 finish time. 

    Already planning my return trip next April for another run in Nashville.

    Here’s my trip in pictures:

    (EXPO)

    (Broadway)

    (Race day)

     

    original_c2ce83df-fd5a-4a8a-9800-76d1816576df_20240428_08132520240427_171254original_24cc2929-4c1a-4ebc-a171-4b8591b474ee_20240428_113420original_5cdf0dca-b178-42be-adc5-24c9de19b53e_20240428_112825original_9a93dd6e-9704-4356-bac1-48505bfe925d_20240428_152647(Nashville / Broadway)

    Next stop the Rhode Island Half Marathon:  https://runrhody.com/event/rihalfmarathon/

    Irie!