Walk Into the Future

Category: Half Marathon

  • Why do I run?

    VB 10 Miler

    “Running is my private time, my therapy, my religion”.

    (Gail W. Kislevitz)

    The Walk into the Future blog continues to roll along and provides me space to share a small portion of my world with readers.  Yes, this is a simple concept but one I take seriously to find new content to share with others.

    Running is a huge part of my life and I am happy to be at this point of the journey.  I started running as a small hobby to get in more cardio, but it has morphed into a lifestyle that energizes me daily.  Who knew I would enjoy going to bed early so I could wake up before the sun comes up for a run?  Well, that’s what I do now, and love every minute of it—even in the south Florida humidity. 

    So, why do I run?  That’s a great question and I will provide some context to why with this post.

    Solitude

    The ability to go out for a run without having to coordinate or schedule the activity is appealing to me.  There is a level of peace for me when I’m out for a run.  I lace up my running shoes and just put one foot in front of the other until I hit my mileage goal for the session.  The solitude comes in handy on days where I don’t feel like running faster—I can just move forward at my own pace without worrying about slowing someone else down.  Also, I can enjoy my music and sing out loud when I want to.  Not many folks come out at 5 am to hear my bad singing but it helps me when the miles get tough.  The solitude of my run is a highlight for me and one of the main reasons I’m still out putting in the work.

    Time to think

    The solitude of my runs is great, and it provides me with a lot of free time to think and change the world—hyperbole here!  LOL.  The space and time to think are enjoyable aspects while I’m out training.  This time has helped me come up with solutions to work problems, generate new ideas for the Walk into the Future blog and new topics for my leadership consulting side hustle.  There are times when I just run without thinking about ways to change the world but running provides me with a platform to simply think and be me.  Sounds simple but this keeps me lacing up my running shoes and logging the weekly miles.  Who knows, there may be another blog article coming from my next running session. 

    Physical wellbeing

    An obvious outcome of my running program is the physical wellbeing it brings.  I leverage running to help me maintain my weight without having to count calories.  I practice intermittent fasting daily but can eat whatever I want because of my running program.  Running is also a great way to build up leg strength and muscles.  The development I have in my legs rivals muscle growth I saw when I was more active lifting weights (squats, leg presses, etc.).  Again, the physical aspects of running leads to a better mental outlook as well.

    So, there you have it—I run for solitude, time to think and physical wellbeing.

    Why do you run?

    Irie

  • My Reading Progress

    “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies…The man who never reads lives only one”.

    (George R. R. Martin)

    My Walk into the Future provides me with the flexibility to add new adventures daily.  I continue to view this life I lead to engage my mind, body, and soul.  This blog gives me a space to highlight what I am doing, thinking, or getting ready to accomplish. 

    Goal setting remains a huge part of my success in life, and I look for ways to leverage my goals to help me continue to move forward.  I review my goals daily to ensure my energy and focus are consistent to meet or exceed them.

    I set reading goals each year in January with intent to read something daily.  My daily readings center around Proverbs and a few companion books by Joel Osteen.  I started reading Proverbs daily when I lived in Warner Robins, Georgia and this Atomic Habit remains strong.  Joel Osteen created a 31-day Proverbs companion book which I utilize when completing my daily Proverbs readings.  This little book has helped me understand more and brings Proverbs to life with language for my current Walk into the Future.

    My larger reading goal is to read 1 book monthly.  There were years where I would be super aggressive with this goal but decided to create a reading goal that provides me an opportunity to stay on track.  Please note, just because it says 1 book monthly does not mean I can’t read more, and I do.  I am an avid reader and love to sit on the beach with a good book and cold beer to practice this hobby.  My love for reading started in middle school and it has not slowed down except when my schedule gets in the way. 

    The books I select range from leadership, communication, and inspiration topics.  These are topics of interest for me so stick to areas I seek growth.  I have a couple friends who inquire about my reading selections and have started to read the same books—you can say we have an informal book club going.  We discuss the books after everyone has completed them and look for ways to incorporate the content into life and the work environment. This little book club motivates me to stay on track and focus on my reading.  It has also provided me with access to books I may have missed on my own.  I tend to stick to authors I know but the book club expands my focus and challenges me to explore other authors to enhance my Walk into the Future.

    The following books were referred by book club members:

    • Disruptive Thinking / TD Jakes
    • Wisdom of the Bullfrog / Admiral William H. McRaven
    • 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication:  Apply Them and Make the Most of your Message / John C. Maxwell

    FYI—this was my first TD Jakes book, and I was pleasantly surprised by the content and enjoyed reading his thoughts on Disruptive Thinking.  It is something we can all practice daily, but it was great gaining new insights on how to move forward in life daily. 

    I have read multiple books by Admiral McRaven and his wisdom comes through within the context of leadership and helping teams get better.

    Lastly, John Maxwell communication strategies can be leveraged in most work settings and enhance overall operations for the team.

    I am on pace to meet my stated reading goals and continue to seek additional books to add to my library.  This will continue and help me to Walk into the Future.

    How are you doing on meeting your goals?  What books are you reading in 2023?

    Irie!

  • Marathon training

    Marathon training

    (Image by CoupleStyle from Pixabay)

    My marathon training program begins again next week.  Decided to stick with the 18-week training program I used last year.  This program provides a gradual mileage build-up and allows me flexibility to train and still get normal life activities completed.

    The 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon will provide another mental and physical test for me to continue to challenge myself to get better daily.  I feel like a veteran this time around since I got my initial marathon under my belt last year.  I’m excited for the opportunity to train and improve my race outcome this year.  There were several lessons from 2022 that will help me with my journey this year.

    Exercise bike

    I mistakenly believed I could replace running miles with miles on my exercise bike.  Numerically the miles are equal but there is a difference between hard work on an exercise bike and outside miles in Florida.  There is a time and place for the exercise bike, but I will not lean on this form of training as much as I did in 2022.

    Speed work

    I concentrated on building up my mileage base in 2022 but not as much on speed work.  I did several sessions on the local track to work on tempo and speed but know I will need to work pace runs in more this year.  My training plan has several tempo runs inserted and I will do a better job of following the pace days as outlined.  The tempo runs will help me convert my physical fitness into a better race day pace.

    Heat and humidity

    My weekday training runs were completed with 5 am training sessions.  I started my runs at 5 am to beat the heat and completed them prior to my workday during the week.  My weekend runs started around 7:30 am to get out and back before the south Florida heat kicked in.  This was a solid plan, but I did not log many miles in the heat of the day.  Sounds like a smart training plan but the second half of the Palm Beaches Marathon is run in direct sunlight with minimal shade.  It was not overly hot in December, but the sun was on me from the 18-mile marker until the end of the marathon.  I did not handle this part of the race well since I avoided running in/with the sun during my training phase.  I will SMARTLY look for ways to incorporate more training to leverage the south Florida heat and humidity to enhance my training program.

    Here’s the 18-week training program I will launch next week:

    Marathon Training

    I will document my training progress again this year with updates on how I’m doing with mileage, nutrition, and thoughts.  Excited to Walk into the Future again and tackle the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon.  Looking to run substantially faster than 2022 and cross the finish line again with a smile on my face.

    Irie!

  • 2023 – 2024 Running Season

    My 2022 running season was an aggressive approach for me.  Wanted to continue to test myself and see how much I could improve my running performance.

    I did not see any personal records (PRs) in 2022 but my conditioning and endurance were on display with each race.

    The ultimate challenge was stepping up and competing in my first full marathon.  I have been back and forth for years on running one but finally got the courage to sign up, show up and finish one.  Super proud of this fact.

    Now, I find myself signing up for half marathons as a normal part of my training program.  My training focus used to be getting ready for my next half marathon.  I’m at the point where I can run one on short notice and still compete well.  That’s well and fine but looking for a few PRs in the 2023 – 2024 racing season.  LOL.

    I want to PR a 5k, 10k, half marathon and the full marathon this season.  Aggressive I know but, that’s why we make goals.

    Here’s my tentative schedule so far:

    8/19/20232023 Celebration of Running 5kWinter Park
    9/3/20232023 Virginia Beach 10-milerVirginia Beach, VA
    9/16/20232023 Out Run Hunger 5kFort Pierce
    10/8/20232023 Hutchinson Island Half MarathonFort Pierce
    10/22/20232023 Cocoa Beach Half MarathonCocoa Beach
    11/4/20232023 Hollywood Half MarathonHollywood, FL
    12/2/20232023 OUC Half MarathonOrlando
    12/10/20232023 Garden of Life MarathonWest Palm Beach
    1/21/20242024 Vero Beach Half MarathonVero Beach
    1/28/20242024 Town of Celebration Half MarathonCelebration, FL
    2/10/20242024 Fleet Feet Run for your Heart 10kStuart, FL
    4/27/20242024 Nashville Rock N Roll Half MarathonNashville, TN
    6/1/20242024 San Diego Rock N Roll Half MarathonSan Diego

    May add a few additional races to this list but this should keep me training and competing this fall and next spring.

    What challenges are you tackling this year?

    Irie!

  • 2023 Marathon Decision

    “There is magic in misery.  Just ask any runner”.

    (Dean Karnazes)

    I ran the 2022 Palm Beaches Marathon with the intent of being one and done.  The training and pain I felt during the marathon was one of the toughest things I’ve ever experienced.  The joy I felt when finishing was also a joyous time—I know that sounds weird but finishing the marathon was the culmination of a massive undertaking.

    The quote above speaks volumes for what I experienced during the marathon and highlights the mindset of most runners.  Yes, it hurts but I need to run this again.  May not make sense to most people but runners live this life daily.

    The day of the marathon my body hurt—same for the day after and the next five days.  I started to feel normal again the week after the race but running this distance again was not a priority for me.  I began to deconstruct the race, my training and nutrition the following week to determine if I could do better.  The answer came back as yes, but I did not know if I wanted to experience this level of pain again. 

    I forgot about the marathon and embarked on multiple half marathons (Vero Beach, Town of Celebration, Nashville) and got faster with each race.  I attribute this to my marathon training and the ability to manage the pain a lot better.  The marathon taught me how to continue to move forward even when the body wanted to slow down or stop.  Leveraged this newfound knowledge and fitness to get better when running half marathons. 

    Spoke with my friend Lauren Apgar about possibly running the marathon again.  Casual conversations all the way up to the 2023 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon.  I was able to handle the Nashville hills and warm weather much better than I did last year.  Again, this was because of the amount of training I put into the marathon process.

    The concept of running another marathon kept coming back up so decided to explore what it would take for me to toe the 26.2 start line again.

    The course needs to be flat.  I prefer the race to be close to me so I would not have a huge travel commitment.  The race needed to provide a fun environment and an opportunity to become a running tourist again.  The Palm Beaches Marathon checked all these parameters, and I am familiar with the race.  It does not have the greatest EXPO experience, but the course support was great, and it allows me to redeem myself and improve on my 2022 race time.

    I’m not trying to qualify for Boston or the New York City marathons.  Just want to get back to my training program and improve my marathon time.  My competitive nature drives the need for improvement, and I know areas I can improve my training.  I leveraged my exercise bike a bit too much during training and know these miles are great for cardio but do not translate to the road work needed to run the best marathon time.  I will use the exercise bike only when the weather is bad and running outside is not an option.  I make a point to train at different times of the day—this allows me to acclimate to the South Florida heat.  The heat at mile marker 20 got the best of me so will not let this happen again this year. 

    I plan to leverage the 18-week training plan again this year with emphasis on building my mileage base slowly and mastering the long weekend runs. 

    Excited to embark on this marathon journey again.  I’m sure I will generate training articles again to allow my readers to follow my pain!  😊

    Irie!

  • Nashville 2023

    Nashville, Tennessee is one of my favorite places to visit.  The culture, music, food, and activities around the Lower Broadway area keep bringing me back year after year.

    The 2023 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon was the draw that got me back up there in April.  The race organizers do a fantastic job with the race and really take care of the runners.

    Made my way to Nashville on Friday and wanted to ensure I had time to explore the race EXPO.  My friend Lauren and boyfriend Reese came down from Philly and we met at the EXPO.  This was the first time seeing them since last year for the Atlantic City Half Marathon.  Lauren had never run in Nashville and wanted to experience the sights, sounds and music I’m always talking about.

    We got our race packets and made our way to visit the vendors and see what new products are out.  Tested a few of the new hydration drinks available but didn’t buy anything.  Decided I wanted to get new leg compression sleeves and got a Rock N Roll custom designed pair.  They matched my running outfit and provided me with a new look for the race.  We got EXPO photos together and listened to the music for a bit. 

    The Rock N Roll folks moved the EXPO from the Music City Convention Center to the Musicians Hall of Fame.  Sounds similar but the new location was a lot smaller, and the vendors were cramped into a hallway.  I hope we move back to our regular location next year—plus it would put us closer to Broadway and all the music venues.

    Left the EXPO and made my way back over to Lower Broadway to continue to carb load and find some music.  Found an open seat at the Wildhorse Saloon and got food and beer while watching the line dancers.  Love the Wildhorse and the band playing was great, and the line dancers were having a ball.  Decided to forego line dancing since I had a half marathon the next day.  Left the Wildhorse and hit a couple other music spots before making my way back to the hotel to get some rest.

    Met Lauren on race day close to the start line so we could stretch and mentally prepare for the Nashville hills.  I texted her during my training sessions to let her know I was running hill repeats over bridges.  She didn’t fully understand why until we got to Nashville.  😊

    Shoutout to my friends at the First Baptist Church in Nashville!  They open the church property and allow runners to relax inside while waiting for the race to start.  This really comes in handy when the weather is cool and helps runners get off their feet prior to the race start.

    We made our way to the start line and settled into Corral #5.  Surprisingly ran into an Orlando runner I met last year at this race, and he remembered me.  Turns out he came back for the race because he did not like his 2022 race time and wanted to improve.  I met another runner who lives in Buffalo but moved there from Orlando.  They saw my Track Shack running shirt and it was a family reunion prior to the race start.  I highlight these encounters because I tried to prepare them for the hills they were about to run.  They did not seem to think I was serious and could not imagine the hills were going to be as extreme as I described.  I tried to help them, but they had to learn on their own.

    Fast forward—Lauren and I started the race together and ran down the Lower Broadway hill with a smile on our faces.  The first half mile in Nashville is downhill and the rest appears to be up a different hill for the next 8 miles.  Wish this was an exaggeration but check the race elevation—the hills are steep in Nashville.

    We split up after the third hill and ran our individual races.  The weather was a lot cooler this year and this made running the hills a lot more pleasant. 

    Ran most of the race with a smile on my face and enjoyed the great music and spectators that lined the course and cheered for runners.  This may be my favorite race for spectators on the course and the music is fantastic.

    My race splits were:

    Mile 1:  9:57/ Mile 2:  10:40 / Mile 3:  10:47 / Mile 4:  9:48 / Mile 5: 9:58 / Mile 6:  10:02 / Mile 7: 10:10 / Mile 8:  10:04 / Mile 9:  9:54 / Mile 10:  9:28 / Mile 11:  9:54 / Mile 12:  10:05 / Mile 13:  10:04 / Mile .1 / 2:48   (2:13:34 Half Marathon)

    ***Super proud of that Mile 10 split!*** 😊

    Lauren and I spent time at the after-race party recovering from the hilly half marathon, drinking beers, and getting some pictures together to commemorate the race and great atmosphere.

    ACME and Wildhorse Saloon

    Made our way across the bridge over the Cumberland River and met Reese at ACME for brunch.  This is a multi-level building with great views, food, and cold beer:  https://www.acmefeedandseed.com/.

    The Wildhorse Saloon was next for some line dancing lessons and more cold beer.  We decided to get in as much Lower Broadway as possible before leg soreness kicked in from the race.  This was Lauren first line dancing rodeo, so we made our way onto the dance floor to learn a nice dance and then they turned us loose with two songs to showcase our line dancing moves.  We were great students and danced without stepping on any toes or hurting our dance neighbors.  Great experience and a lot of fun to introduce my Philly friend to Nashville line dancing.

    We hit a few other music spots on Lower Broadway to get the full country music experience.  Decided to call it a day once the leg soreness kicked in.  Made my way back to my hotel to begin the recovery process and find more Nashville music.

    Fantastic race, trip, and time with my tree branches!

    Yes, I’m already signed up to return in 2024.  Who is joining the Nashville party?

    Irie!

  • 2023 Winter Park 10k

    WP 1

    “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you”.

    (Fred Devito)

    Ventured back to the Orlando area for the Track Shack 2023 Winter Park 10k.

    This was my 5th time toeing the start line for the race but the first time I did not enter with a set finish time in mind.  I spent the past 4 weeks recovering from Piriformis Syndrome and my training was limited prior to the race.  Yes, this sounds like an excuse, but I was excited to race pain free again.  Decided this race would be my test to determine how well I recovered and make a final decision on the 2023 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon in April.  Pain in this race would have eliminated me from traveling to Nashville to tackle the hills up there.

    Made my way to Track Shack on Friday before the 10k to pick up my race packet and do some shopping.  I’m always looking to get new Track Shack gear and wanted to make sure I had time to check out the new selections and colors.  It appears a lot of runners had the same idea—the line was out the door when I arrived.  This is the first time I’ve experienced a long line at Track Shack, but this was an indication race capacity was full this year.

    I didn’t do a major carb load process for the 10k but made my way to the UCF Buffalo Wild Wings to indulge in wings, potato wedges and beer.  This is the meal I leveraged to launch me into the 10k.  Made sure to get to bed early so I could make my way over to Winter Park with enough time to warm up, stretch and test out my legs prior to race time.  I wanted to get a two-mile warm up before the race to ensure I was ready to complete the 6.2 miles with minimum leg issues.  There’s a lot of activity around the Winter Park race village—vendors, runners and the Saturday Farmers Market are all in the same area.  Great place to watch people.

    Made my way to the 10-minute per mile section of the starting corral.  I didn’t want to be too close to the front because my competitive nature would have taken over and I would have pressed the pace.  Figured limiting my starting position would keep me from going out too fast and possibly aggravating my leg again. 

    The race was crowded, and the first mile was slow not necessarily by choice but because there were so many runners.  This worked in my favor since I couldn’t go fast even if I wanted too at this point of the race.

    The runners started to thin out a bit around mile 2 and again after mile 3.  I did not experience any pain through this point of the race and settled into a nice clip and started to enjoy the process of racing again.  I leveraged a couple of runners for pacing to help me keep a consistent pace through the middle portion of the race.  Mentally processed the concept of speeding up but decided to just enjoy the course, great weather and being around other runners.  There was no need to push the pace or myself at this point and didn’t want to create a situation where the piriformis became irritated.

    I increased my cadence at mile 6 when we made our way back onto Park Avenue.  There were a ton of spectators at this juncture, and I pressed the pace a bit to see what I had available for the end of the race.  I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face and no pain in my legs.

    Finished in 1:02:39 and made my way over to the race village to get my beer and take a few pictures while there.  Got a chance to catch up with a few runners I know from the Track Shack circuit and did some light shopping at the Farmers Market.

    Happy with my performance and not aggravating my running injury.  Looks like I’m clear to travel to Nashville and tackle the Music City hills.

    Of course, I will get in some line dancing and country music while I’m there.  😊

    Irie!

  • 2023 adjustments

    10k

    My 2022 running season allowed me to meet every running goal I set for myself.  I have been lucky and fortunate to avoid injuries or other physical setbacks.

    2023 has not been so fortunate for me.  No major injury this year but an old friend decided to check back in during the 2023 Run for your Heart 10k back in February.  This was a new race for me, and it appeared I would be able to run a fast time since this course was completely flat and my training program was geared to keep me running fast in 2023.

    Penn Medical Center defines sciatica as pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg caused by injury to or pressure on the sciatic nerve.  Piriformis syndrome is one of the common causes of sciatica and develops when the piriformis muscle becomes tight or spasms (Cleveland Clinic).  The Cleveland Clinic identified about 40% of people in U.S. experience sciatica sometimes during their life.  My bout occurred during a race!  LOL.

    I’ve had bouts in the past but was able to shake off in a couple weeks. 

    This episode came as a first since my latest sciatica experience came at the 3.5-mile point of the 2023 Run for Your Heart 10k in Port St. Lucie.  Past episodes came about gradually but this one came as I was pushing my pace for a 10k PR.

    Decided at the race start line to go out with a pace I could improve on as the race got deeper.  My plan was to run negative splits each mile and get faster to close out the race.

    This plan worked brilliantly through the first 3 miles, and I felt great physically and mentally.  Started to smile more as I logged good mile splits and knew I was on pace to go below 55 minutes for the 10k.

    I felt a slight twinge in my left hamstring at the 3.5-mile turnaround point on the course.  I didn’t think much about it since leg soreness comes with running.  Kept pushing the pace with designs the hamstring would work itself out so I could continue my quest towards a PR.

    This fallacy soon left my mind and body as the hamstring pain intensified to the point; I thought I was cramping.  Slowed down a bit with hopes the cramp would go away but it didn’t, and pain continued to intensify.  Decided to pull over and stretch it out but that didn’t help either.  This was a first for me during a race but continued moving forward with the hopes the cramp would go away.  The PR was the last thing on my mind at this point.  I just wanted to finish the race upright and I did.

    Finished the race with no distinguishing kick—I eased to the finish line ahead of some of the 5k participants with the crowd cheering me to go faster.  I ignored them completely.  LOL.

    Crossed the finish line with a grimace on my face but upright.  Made my way to get water and refreshments with hopes this would take the cramp away.  Please note, I refer to this as a cramp because that’s what I thought was happening. 

    Finished with a time of 1:02 (one hour, two seconds).

    It took me a couple of days and lack of response to treatment to realize this was not a cramp. I have not had a sciatic episode in years and sometimes forget how it feels.  Also, it has NEVER occurred during physical activity.

    I began treating the sciatica with Epsom salt, ice, heat, and my massage gun.  This all helped but it didn’t go away.  Decided to take a few days off from running to see if that would help.  This was the first forced break from running for me in years.  Felt funny but was necessary since my leg was experiencing nerve pain.

    Hoping the pain subsides in time for the 2023 Calgary Stampede 10k in two weeks.

    Fingers crossed!  Piriformis syndrome sucks!  LOL.

    NOTE1:  I don’t publish articles in the order I write them—just when I’m done with the editing process.

    NOTE2:  I ran the 2023 Calgary Stampede and still had piriformis issues—made it to mile 5 before slowing.  Decided to skip the 2023 Orlando Best Damn Half Marathon and the 2023 Virginia Beach Shamrock Half Marathon.  First time I’ve signed up for races and not go to the race sight.

    NOTE3:  I wrote 90% of this article on my phone with SAMSUNG Notes while flying back from Jamaica over spring break.  This is the first time I used my phone to write a blog article.  This opens me up for additional writing opportunities to capture my thoughts and develop new content.  Exciting times for the Walk into the Future blog!  😊

  • 2023 Town of Celebration Half Marathon

    Celebration c

    “Running is great for your body.  It will increase your energy levels and helps you to clear your mind”.

    (Heidi Klum)

    FYI—I selected the 2023 Town of Celebration Half Marathon because I did not want to do the double bridge crossing which is part of the Melbourne Publix Half Marathon again.  I used the term diabolical to describe that race and did not want to go through that pain again.

    The Town of Celebration race is the week prior, and I scouted this race for over 8 months to see how other runners felt about running in this small little town just south of Walt Disney World.

    Well, let me tell you, this is my new favorite half marathon, and I will be running this one again for many years to come.

    I had never visited Celebration, Florida and barely heard the town’s name in the past.  I think most people just assume anything close to Disney World is part of Orlando.  Celebration is in Osceola County, and it has a small town feel because it is a small town:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration,_Florida

    Made my way over to Celebration the day prior to the race.  I wanted to explore a bit and get a better feel for the town, the race course and the parking situation.  There were several emails that identified parking would be limited and for runners to arrive early on race day.  Did not know what all that meant but I learned a valuable lesson at the 2022 OUC Half Marathon and wanted to make sure I had time to stretch and warm up.

    Packet pickup was conducted at Celebration Lakeside Park and was straightforward.  Arrive, get your race packet, gifts, take a few photos and then move on.  There was not an EXPO for this event as they wanted runners to get in and out to maximize the limited parking downtown.  I was able to explore a bit and get some nice pictures around town.  I wanted to continue my carb loading process and Googled Italian restaurants.  Did not need Google as Reggiano’s of Celebration was directly across the street from packet pickup.    There were other options close by but wanted to experience something unique to Celebration.  There were a lot of runners and family walking around town, but Reggiano’s did not have a large crowd yet.  Made my way to the bar and posted up to get some great food and atmosphere.

    Reggiano’s has a large menu, and they specialize in pizza—multiple varieties available on the menu.  Decided to stay with my tried-and-true selection, chicken parmesan with pasta.  The portions are huge so take that into account if you visit Reggiano’s.  Got my traditional bud light draft, water and extra bed and dug into my meal.  Several runners were in the restaurant enjoying the carbs and great food.

    Left Reggiano’s and did some window shopping to look for a refrigerator magnet to add to my collection.  Had to visit a few stores to get the one I wanted and made my way back to my car to head to the hotel to get off my feet.

    Picked a hotel that was less than two miles from the race start line so felt comfortable with getting back downtown prior to the race with plenty of time to warm up.  Laid out my race outfit, hydrated a bit more and watch some TV before going to bed early to tackle the 13.1 miles coming the next morning.

    My friend, Lauren texted me and asked what my projected time would be the next morning.  I felt good with my race preparation and mentally approach so I replied I planned to run 2:08 (two hours and eight minutes).  Remember, I had just run 2:15:03 in Vero Beach the weekend prior so I came into the race looking to knock off 7 minutes.  The weather in Celebration was a lot cooler than Vero Beach and there were no bridges—the course is completely flat with a few boardwalks to navigate so felt good with my projected time.

    Made my way back downtown the next morning and found parking a few blocks away from the starting line.  The citizens of Celebration embrace the event and didn’t seem to have problems with a bunch of visitors parking in front of their houses. 

    I had plenty of time to stretch and warmup and took advantage of it for this race.  The temperature was in the low 50s and made for a great way to start the race.  I made my way into the start corral and got set in the 9-minute per mile block and waited for the fun to start.

    I was able to speak with and catch up with a few runners I knew from the Orlando area and a couple that came over from Fort Pierce as well—it was great seeing some hometown runners over in Celebration. 

    I felt relaxed, comfortable, and ready to go.

    Fast forward and the winding course hit every major point of interest in Celebration.  There were not a bunch of spectators out but the ones who came out were great and provided a lot of support to runners.  I settled into my pace during the early portions of the race and did not worry about other runners or how fast they started the race.  I had the number 2:08 in my head and wanted to see if I could hit it.  Fun fact, the race time was not my driving force, but this was the most enjoyable half marathon I have ever run.  2:05 is my best half marathon time set at the OUC Half Marathon back in 2019 so I have been faster and will be again.

    My mile splits were:

    Mile 1:  9:20/ Mile 2:  9:29 / Mile 3:  9:31 / Mile 4:  9:28 / Mile 5: 9:44 / Mile 6:  9:38 / Mile 7:  9:52 / Mile 8:  10:19 / Mile 9:  10:03 / Mile 10:  9:47 / Mile 11:  10:20 / Mile 12:  10:06 / Mile 13:  10:10 / Mile .1 / 1:32

    I slowed a bit at the 8-mile markers as we had to navigate a narrow portion of the boardwalk.  It was not conducive to passing other runners and there were multiple twists and turns during this portion.  I didn’t fall off a cliff but believe I could have kept running at the 9-minute clips but I’m extremely happy with my pacing and times throughout the race.

    I finished the race in 2:09:18 so I was only 18 seconds off the time I shared with Lauren.  Not bad, huh?  😊

    I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face and felt great with my effort during this race.  I was able to call my time, put in the work and see the training pay off with a really good time.

    The BEST part of the race is the after party! 

    Most races provide beer and donuts to runners, but the Town of Celebration throws a party.  Every restaurant in town has a booth and each runner gets a food passport to eat their way around town (figuratively).  I hit most of the booths with some being a repeat for me—the beer and mimosa stations at 9 am in the morning were very popular.  I was not in a rush to leave so soaked in all the town of Celebration had to offer.  I decided during the afterparty this would be a race I run every year.  I’m ready to sign up for the 2024 race but registration is not open yet. LOL.

    I’ve got a few races lined up for the 2023 racing season but I’m sure this will be the highlight race for me.  This little town has set the bar extremely high for others.

    Irie!

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

    (Julie Isphording)

    https://www.celebrationmarathon.com/packet-pickup.html

  • 2023 Vero Beach Half Marathon

    Vero a

    “One run can change your day; many runs can change your life”.

    (Unknown)

    The first half marathon of 2023 was a repeat from 2022.  The 2023 Vero Beach Half Marathon was a late December addition to my race calendar.

    I ran this race for the first time in 2022 and was able to conquer the double bridge crossing and complete one of my fastest half marathons of the racing season.  The weather was unseasonably cool in 2022 but it was about 25 degrees warmer this year. 

    I was still coming off my full marathon high and training program so entered this race with a bit of momentum.  My good time from last year and training program factored into my mental approach to the race.

    There was not a large EXPO for this event.  Packet pickup was conducted outside of a local brewery in Vero Beach.  Not much activity at this event so grabbed my bib, t-shirt, and a couple craft beers while I was there.  The beer selection was pretty good and happy I made a pit stop at the American Icon Brewery:  https://www.americaniconbrewery.com/home/

    Left the American Icon Brewery and headed to Olive Garden to carb load to fuel up for the next morning.  Got my traditional Chicken parmesan and extra bread sticks to ensure my carb tank was on high.  FYI, I started the carb loading process 6 days prior, so this meal was a way to top off the carbs already in my system.

    Headed home to get some rest before the big day.  Did another check of the weather forecast to determine what was in store for the next morning.  It was not projected to be hot at the race start but the temperature was projected to rise quite a bit before the race was complete.

    Made the short 30-minute drive back up to Vero Beach on race day.  Wanted to get there with plenty of time to park and then stretch/warmup before the race got started.  I did not show up with a particular finish time in mind but wanted to match or exceed last year’s 2:11:05 time. 

    This race did not have pace times listed at the start line so decided to line up in the middle of the starting pack so I could gradually build my pace during the race.  Also didn’t want to risk bumping into slower runners/walkers while waiting for the pack to thin out a bit.

    Went out with a controlled pace because we enter the first bridge crossing at the 1-mile marker and the steep incline forces runners to adjust the running pace to get up and over.  I stayed controlled as I made my way up the bridge and then allowed a faster pace on the down slope.  Didn’t want to overextend myself on the up or down slope considering I would have to return and complete this process again within the first 5 miles of the race.

    The race and my pace settled quite a bit once we got off the bridge and headed towards the famed Vero Beach waterfront area.  This is a smaller race and there are only a handful of people out this time of the day to cheer for runners.  Most of the spectators were in this area as they cheered for the runners and enjoyed the early morning walks on the beach.  I experienced a bit of discomfort in my right leg at this point but nothing that would keep me from completing the race—this discomfort went away after another mile, and I was able to press forward.

    Fast forward and the racecourse goes through multiple Vero Beach neighborhoods so it was great to experience this city as a running tourist. 

    I started to pick up my pace once we got 10 miles into the race.  Wanted to finish strong but realized my pace was off from last year’s race.  Decided to finish as strong as possible so I could get snacks and free craft beer at the finish line.  This was my best tactical race in 2022 but I could not match the same level in 2023.

    I crossed the finish line in 2:15:03 with a smile on my face.  The marathon training has made completing half marathons a lot more enjoyable because I don’t get as sore as in the past.  Got my medal, commendable beach towel and photos in the finish line area.  Made my way to the American Icon Brewery stand for my two free beers and stretch a bit.

    Met one of my best friends at Mulligan’s Beach House for breakfast and more beer.  We had a great view as we sat on the beach, had great food and conversation on a Sunday morning.

    What a great way to start my racing season! 😊

    Next stop, the 2023 Town of Celebration Half Marathon—irie!

    “Running is the basis of all training that I do…it’s like an escape”.

    (Ellie Goulding)