“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink wild air”.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Took my Walk into the Future on another road trip to my favorite beach location, the Crowne Plaza in Melbourne, Florida. Yes, I make a point to visit this beach location multiple times throughout the year but there was added emphasis for this trip.
September 11th continues to be a day remembered in America due to the events that happened on 9/11/2001. I will not document the things from that day, but it provides an opportunity for remembrance in this country.
I was stationed at Kadena Air Base, on the island of Okinawa on 9/11/2001. I viewed the second plane hit the World Trade Center tower live on TV while on the phone with my mom. At the time we thought the first was an accident but fully understood the impact once the second plane crashed.
I was on the phone with my mom halfway around the world because September 11th is my birthday. She called to wish me a happy birthday and we witnessed the world change at the same time.
Fast forward to 2022 and I ventured up to Melbourne to celebrate my birthday in a favorite spot and get a beach day in at the same time.
Started my adventure by heading to Costco to do some bulk shopping and get a few samples. I love a good deal and always find things I need there. I stock up on vitamins, Bio Freeze and Salonpas patches which really come in handy with my marathon training program. Need these things to help with my recovery and get me back out running.
Next stop was the Patrick Space Force Base Exchange for some tax-free shopping. Decided it was time to invest in another pair of Brooks GTS Adrenaline 22 running shoes. I’m routinely clocking 90+ monthly miles now so like to have another pair of running shoes to rotate into my training program. These shoes come at a reduced price on the base and there is no tax for the purchase. 😊
Left the base and headed to one of my favorite spots, Squid Lips for lunch. It is a laid-back spot overlooking the Indian River with great food and daily live music. Great spot for seafood, cold beer, music, and people watching:
Made my way over to the Crowne Plaza next to relax on the beach and listen to the live band. Turns out Sunday is the day for reggae so this put a huge smile on my face since I love reggae. The band and DJ were good and put out an authentic Irie vibe. The folks under the tiki hut were vibing and enjoying the sounds.
It was exciting to see the sky divers make their way down towards the beach. Had to relocate my beach towel to get out of their landing zone. 😊 It was an impressive display and the crowds on the beach enjoyed cheering the sky divers once they all were down safely.
Finished my beach day off with wings, fries, and beer under the tiki hut with reggae coming from the band. Sounds like a perfect day, huh? 😊
Great way to spend a birthday!
Irie!
Where will you spend your next birthday?
“To escape and sit quietly at the beach—that’s my idea of paradise”.
“Of all the races, there is not better stage for heroism than a marathon”.
(George Sheehan)
The Walk into the Future blog is based on exploring opportunities, adventures and then sharing them with my readers.
I have tapped danced around the concept to run a full marathon for a few years now. Well, no more tap dancing, I am fully engaged in the marathon training process and just completed Week 5 of an 18-week training program.
My targeted race is the 2022 Palm Beaches Garden of Life Marathon in West Palm Beach, Florida. Wanted to pick a race that was close to home and with a flat course—check and check. I have friends who have run this marathon and they say it provides the perfect course, backdrop, and time of the year to tackle the 26.2 miles. Excited and terrified at the same time but my training program will get me to the start line and beyond. 😊
I selected the 18-week training program to allow myself time to prepare for this major life event mentally and physically. There are multiple training plans available (12-weeks, 16-weeks, etc.) but I went for the longer plan to ensure I had time to train with a buffer.
This training plan starts out with lower mileage than most people would think of considering this is preparation for a marathon. The following are the total weekly miles in the plan:
Week #1: 19 miles
Week #2: 20 miles
Week #3: 17 miles
Week #4: 23 miles
Week #5: 24 miles
Again, the training plan is building up base mileage, but I exceeded the prescribed miles each week so far since I have been training for half-marathons throughout 2022. I did not go over the prescribed miles by much but wanted to ensure I put in the work to lead to a successful and enjoyable marathon in December.
My plan calls for incremental mileage increases as I prepare my mind and body for the challenge of completing a 26.2-mile race in December. I complete my long runs on Saturdays with my longest run of 20-miles coming in Week #15. I complete my long runs in Fort Pierce on Hutchinson Island where I do not have an issue of crossing traffic. It’s the same route I run to prepare for my half marathons, but I am discovering unique points of interests on the route as I run out further due to my increased mileage. My long runs are completed at a slower pace to ensure I can start and finish—this is recommended for all long runs.
I just invested in a running hydration vest so I can carry water with me as I extend my runs. Hydration is vitally important considering I am running in the August heat and humidity in Florida.
(Hydration vest)
Looking forward to seeing how the hydration vest enhances my training as I continue to prep for the 2022 Palm Beaches Garden of Life Marathon.
FYI—the next update will come in Week #10 of the training program.
Irie
“When you run a marathon, you run against the distance, not against the other runners and not against the time”.
“Running teaches us that we are capable of so much more than we ever imagined”.
(Patti Sue Plumer)
The 2022 running season started for me with the 2022 Track Shack Celebration of Running 5k in August. I have run this event multiple times and view it as a great way to launch my running season and test my fitness levels prior to the half marathon schedule. An added angle for me this year is this event allows me to combine the 5k miles within my long run for the weekend.
I officially started my training program two weeks ago to prepare for my first full marathon on 12/11/2022. My program calls for a long run on Saturdays so used these 5k miles as a warmup and then got down to the longer portion of my run while I was in the Orlando area.
Traveled to Orlando on Friday after work this year with designs to pick up my race bib and t-shirt prior to the race on Saturday morning. I had enough Marriott Bonvoy points for a free night so took advantage of this and stayed at my favorite Marriott property in Oviedo, Florida. There were locations a bit closer to the race sight, but I planned to leverage the trails in Oviedo so decided to just stay there and drive a bit for race day.
August in Florida is hot and humid, but the weather was a bit cooler this year. I was not ready for the humidity in 2021 but my new training focus has me running several days per week and acclimating to the heat a lot better than last year.
Made my way to the Orlando Science Center on race day to get my bib and allow time to warmup before the race. There were a lot more runners this year as people are starting to come back and enjoy the running communities again. I got a chance to catch up with a few runners I have known for years and made sure my legs were ready to move me around the course. I completed several rounds of stretches, lunges, and hip swings to bring everything into alignment to avoid injuries while running.
Track Shack allows runners to self-identify their projected pace at the start line, so this makes the start of races interesting to say the least. I say interesting because you will have people who plan to walk the 5k at the very front and this creates traffic faster runners must maneuver through. It also causes folks to bump into each other, but no one got hurt this year, but it is a weird dynamic. I always line up in the 8 minute per mile group with the intention of using that pace as a guide for my race plans—sometimes it works. 😊
My marathon training so far has focused on building up my base miles, so I have not done much speed work. I race at a faster pace than I train so know I can speed up on race day—it’s just a matter of determining how fast I can go based on how my body feels and the conditions.
Decided not to focus on a specific time but to run as fast and safely as possible. Wanted to enjoy the course, the process and just being back around the Orlando running community. There were several folks I followed as pacers and this race was a lot of fun for me this year.
My time was 29:35 which is a 9:31 per minute pace—not superfast or slow, just steady for me.
Mile 1 = 9:17
Mile 2 = 9:45
Mile 3 = 9:37
Mile .1 = :58
I was able to finish the final portion of the race with a sprint to the finish line and felt good—I had another gear but did not fully engage for the race. I collected my medal, got water, fruit and my complimentary beer—yes, we drink beer at 8 am. I got a few pictures in the race village to document the day and prepared for the next phase of my training program.
I left the Orlando Science Center and drove over to Oviedo to take advantage of the Cross Seminole Trail again.
The trail provided a great and shaded place to complete the next 6 miles of my weekend training plan. I parked in downtown Oviedo and walked over to the trail to begin the journey towards 9 total miles for the day.
The Cross Seminole Trail is professionally maintained and is used by walkers, runners, bicyclist, and skaters. The people I encountered all had smiles on their faces and greeted me. It was great being back on a trail with folks again. My runs in Fort Pierce are done mostly on sidewalks and there is not a lot of folks to interact with—not complaining just stating facts.
My goal on the Cross Seminole Trail was to run out for 3 miles, regroup and then come back for a total of 6 miles on the trail. Mission complete. Most of the trail run was uneventful but at one point there was a truck parked in the street blocking a portion of the trail. I did not understand why the truck was there but quickly discovered the driver’s pit-bull got out of the truck somehow and was roaming the trail. The driver was trying to get his dog back into the vehicle, but the dog was not ready to go yet. This caused a bit of a scare to folks on the trail, but the dog was just excited and happy to be out and about. It started to run with me on the trail, so I stopped and turned around to lead it back to the owner. Never imagined my long run would include me directing a dog back to an owner—fun day! 😊
Completed my run with no problems and made my way back to my vehicle so I could get out of my sweaty clothing. Made my way back to the hotel and then got lunch at Bahama Breeze which is one of my favorite places to eat. Got some quick shopping in at Dick’s Sporting Goods and then got on the road to head back to Fort Pierce.
This was a quick trip over to Orlando for the 5k but eventful. I will leverage my 5k efforts into my training program to continue to get faster and mentally ready for my full marathon in December.
Dictionary.com defines adventure as an unusual and exciting, experience or activity.
Well, my Walk into the Future provides plenty of opportunities for me to live out adventures.
I wrote about my journey to Atlantic City, New Jersey for the 2022 Atlantic City Rock N Roll Half Marathon and time spent with my friend Lauren Apgar.
I also wrote in an earlier post about my refrigerator magnet collection and how I make sure to get one from new locations. My time in the Air Force gave me the travel bug and I have visited 37 states so far. I review my list yearly to identify how/when I can visit a state I have never been to so I can cross it off my list.
Where I’m I headed with this? Great question!
Delaware is about 85 miles from Atlantic City, and you are correct, I had never been to Delaware. I did not know if I would ever be back in this area so decided to venture over to Delaware to explore a bit and then get my refrigerator magnet. My original reason for being in this area was to run another half marathon but decided to take advantage of the proximity to Delaware and get a visit in so I could cross the state off my list.
Made my way back to the hotel after all the half marathon activities and breakfast with Lauren and Reese. Needed to get some rest and get off my feet for a little bit and recharge myself for the next adventure.
I double checked the distance to Wilmington, Delaware one more time to determine if this was an adventure I really wanted to take on. I needed to visit Delaware to add to my states visited list so did some leg stretches, grabbed some water, and got in my rental car to head west towards Delaware—my magnet and adventure awaited. 😊
The route from Atlantic City to Wilmington was a straight shot but needed to drive through Philadelphia to get to Wilmington. Took the Atlantic City Expressway West from Egg Harbour, New Jersey. This route took me directly through Philadelphia and I got a chance to see downtown Philly from a fantastic vantage point.
The Walt Whitman Bridge is a suspension bridge across the Delaware River and leads directly across the state line. The views of downtown Philly while driving on the bridge were great. Wished I had the ability to get a few pictures from this vantage point, but I was driving. You will have to take my word for how spectacular the views are OR visit Philly yourself and drive across the Walt Whitman Bridge. 😊
Traffic was not too bad as I made my way through Philly and then ventured a bit south towards Delaware. I leveraged Google Maps to get me to my destination and had no trouble getting into Wilmington.
I did not have a set adventure in mind but wanted to explore a bit since I made the drive over. Followed Google map directions towards downtown Wilmington to get a better view of the city. The only thing I knew about Wilmington is Joe Biden has a residence there but had no interest in finding this. Drove around downtown a bit and discovered some pretty rough neighborhoods in the city. Never thought of Wilmington having an inner city look/feel but it does—lesson learned.
Decided to find a spot where I could collect my refrigerator magnet and then head back to meet Lauren and Reese for dinner. Found a shopping plaza with multiple stores and ventured into a Hallmark store to search for Delaware souvenirs. Told the salesperson what I was looking for and she directed me to the rack with Delaware swag. She asked if I was interested in the Biden residence and seemed shocked when I said no. Guess visiting the residence is a big thing when people visit Wilmington—magnets are a bigger deal for me! 😊
Got my magnets and headed back towards Atlantic City. Made good time and was able to meet Lauren and Reese for dinner on our last night in the area.
Happy I could get over to Delaware to add to my list of states visited and collect my magnet. I have already signed up for the 2023 Atlantic City Rock N Roll Half Marathon so I will be back in the area next year. I have no need to visit Wilmington again. 😊
What adventures do you have lined up for the rest of 2022?
Irie!
“Do more than just exist”.
(Pinterest)
FYI—the 2023 Atlantic City Rock N Roll Half Marathon has been cancelled. The Rock N Roll folks decided not to continue to host the race. Luckily, I made it to Atlantic City in 2022.
The 2022 Atlantic City Rock N Roll Half Marathon has been in focus for me for the entire year. I targeted this race since I have never run there before, and the course was described as completely flat. I wanted to visit the famed boardwalk and see how my training translated to the course.
Another exciting aspect of running this race was the opportunity to see my tree branch, Lauren Apgar again. Lauren has been a tree branch since our time in the Florida State University’s Career Center. We were able to connect during the 2019 Philadelphia Rock N Roll Half Marathon and I have not seen her since due to COVID-19. Atlantic City provided an opportunity for us to reconnect and for me to finally meet Reese, her boyfriend.
I signed up for the 2022 Atlantic City Rock N Roll Half Marathon back in June 2021 so had this destination on the running tourist calendar for a while.
I normally fly on Southwest Airlines, but they do not have flights directly into Atlantic City. Flying Southwest Airlines required me to fly into Philadelphia and then drive an hour plus over to Atlantic City. Took a chance and viewed flight options on Expedia and discovered direct flights on Spirit Airlines to Atlantic City from Orlando. The price point for the roundtrip flight was less than a one-way ticket to Philly on Southwest Airlines so Spirit became my airline of choice for this trip. I did not know much about Spirit, but the experience was great for me start to finish.
I flew into Atlantic City on Friday with designs to get use to the area and catch up with Lauren prior to the race on Sunday. My hotel was in Egg Harbor Township which is only 8 miles away from the famed Atlantic City board walk and race start line. Note: I will stay much closer in 2023.
Met Lauren and Reese at Chickie’s and Pete’s which is a local sports bar in the area. Lauren picked this location for us to help with the carb loading process and catch up for missed time. It was great to sit with her and talk about family, friends, and professional growth. The three of us were able to enjoy some good food, beer, and the reunion.
This was Lauren’s first Rock N Roll race experience so wanted to make sure she got the most out of the experience. We agreed to meet at the Atlantic City Convention Center for the EXPO the next morning. I was surprised to see outlet stores downtown as I drove into the heart of the city. I knew there would be casinos, but the outlet stores put a smile on my face since I love shopping outlets.
Lauren, Reese, and I entered the EXPO to check in for the race and visit with the vendors. We were able to navigate the check-in process and make our way to the vendors to check out new equipment, gadgets, and nutritional products.
The first vendor we encountered provided free sessions using the NORMATEK leg compression sleeves. We were able to plug in and enjoy the technology to increase blood flow and relax before race day. The 20-minute session was a highlight of the EXPO—I will have to research these sleeves more and invest in a set soon since my running program is ramping up for the Fall 2022 race season.
We made our way through the EXPO, and I got additional CEP leg compression sleeves. Decided this new color pattern would be a good addition to my collection.
A new feature for this EXPO was gaming tables that were setup to allow participants to try blackjack, roulette, and craps games. Race participants received a $100 coupon to play during the EXPO and we made our way to the roulette table. My favorite number is 15 so played that continually while at the roulette table. I was able to hit 15 once which pays 36 to 1 odds. I was excited to add chips to my growing stack. A few others won as well, and this is where it got interesting. We all assumed we were playing for prizes (water bottle, towel, etc.) but the dealer let us know we were just playing for fun. Most of us went all in with our chips after discovering we were playing just to say we were playing—no money, no prizes, and no glory. 😊
Left the roulette table and got some energy gels before heading out for lunch.
Got the customary EXPO shots most of you expect:
Made our way to Wingcraft Kitchen and Beer Bar for lunch. This restaurant was conveniently across the street from the Convention Center. They have a very nice menu but settled on wings, fries, and beer to continue the carb loading process. Hit the Nike and Gap outlet stores after lunch to pick up some sales before heading back to the hotel for a quick nap.
Had a pasta dinner at Jerry Longo’s which is inside Bally’s casino. Headed back to the hotel to rest up for the big race.
The forecast called for rain and fog most of the weekend and it was spot on. Woke up on race day to thick fog which equals a certain level of humidity. The temperature was in the mid-50s when I woke up, but the fog made it feels a bit warmer—not Florida warm but not exactly what I envisioned for New Jersey in April.
I was able to park and catch the shuttle bus to the start line with minimal issues and met Lauren at the start line prior. Lauren told me on Friday she planned to run with me, and we began to work on our race strategy. I told her my normal routine of running water stop to water stop and to take on fuel throughout the race. This also helps mentally break the half marathon distance into chunks instead of viewing it as one long race.
My plan was to run a smart tactical race and get us to the finish line while enjoying the process of racing. Mission accomplished!
Lauren and I ran the entire race together. I am extremely proud of her effort and perseverance during the race. She was able to set a Personal Record (PR) and took two full minutes off her best time. We crossed the finish line together, but she officially beat me by three seconds based on official times—congrats my friend!
We celebrated with pictures, beer, and breakfast on the board walk! This was a great course, EXPO, and race experience—so good, I have already signed up for the 2023 race.
I plan to stay closer to the boardwalk next year so I can enjoy the entertainment and shopping more. Looks like Lauren will be coming back as well so we can get her another PR! 😊
Well done, Lauren!
Irie!
“The man who moves mountains begins by carrying small stones”.
“A half marathon is just a 5k with a 10-mile warmup”.
(Pinterest)
My Walk into the Future led me back to Nashville for the 2022 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon. I have run this race 4 times prior but did not get a chance to run in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19.
My original race registration from 2020 rolled over twice to this year and I was thrilled to return to one of my favorite cities to run, explore and enjoy live music again.
Nashville did not disappoint!
The weather was projected to be hot this year and it was. Nashville normally is still cool in April but this year the high on race day was 85 degrees which is 20 degrees higher than normal. This impacts all runners, so the race organizers sent out messaging for runners to take extra precautions (dress with light clothing, drink plenty water, consider slowing the pace, etc.). The weather was like the 2017 race and most runners felt the difference with the heat and the hilly course that Nashville is famous for.
I did not enter this race with a projected finish time in mind due to the weather and the hills. I have run one of my fastest half marathons on this course in 2019 when the weather was much cooler–the weather was not favorable for this year. Training on the hills in Tallahassee helped as well. 😊
Decided to capture my time in Nashville with pictures instead of giving you a complete recap of the race—most of my readers are used to a full recap.
Here is the cliff notes version for the race: I ran 13.2 miles, there were hills, it was hot, I earned a medal, and they gave me beer at the end. Yep, it was worth every second.
EXPO
(Got my race bib and packet)
(Scenes from the EXPO at Music Center)
Wild Horse Saloon
(Time at the Wild Horse Saloon / Line Dancing)
Race Day
(New compression sleeves for the 2022 Nashville Half Marathon)
(2022 Nashville Half Marathon start line)
(Scenes before the start of the race, downtown Nashville)
Broadway
(Rooftop bars on Broadway)
After race
(Ice for my legs after running the Nashville hills)
Saturday
(Venues = Luke Bryan’s, Whiskey Row, The Stage, Tequila Cowboy, Lucky Bastard)
Sunday
(Last day in Nashville! Broadway, Union Station Hotel, The Stage (again), Wild Horse Saloon (again), Lucky Bastard and The Parthenon)
Two new restaurants I recommend on the West End of Nashville are the Midtown Café and The Row Kitchen and Pub. The Midtown Café is a great place to get a hearty breakfast. The Row Kitchen and Pub has a large menu but recommend getting the catfish dinner if you are ever in Nashville—it is worth the wait!
The weather and hills did not stop me from enjoying my time in Nashville. I am already planning my return next year for the 2023 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon—I registered for the event as soon as I returned home. 😊
Who is joining me in Nashville?
Irie!
“Congratulations on finishing your half marathon! Good luck walking tomorrow!
I start each year with a measured set of goals. Reading and writing are two areas I focus on for my goals.
These are the areas where I find a ton of joy daily along with my running program. My 2022 reading and writing goals are below:
Read bible daily / Proverbs, Matthew, and other areas for better understanding
Read 2 books monthly
Write daily (poems, journal, BLOG articles, LinkedIn posts monthly)
Publish Authentic Leadership eBook (April 2022)
So, this is where I update you on my progress.
I discovered the book The Richest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven K. Scott 15 years ago and adopted an aspect from the book into my daily life. The book highlights the benefits of Proverbs and how King Solomon identified secrets to success, wealth, and happiness. I originally read the book thinking it would TELL me how to become rich financially which did not happen.
I read the book and did not understand the lessons the author was trying to relay to the readers. I dismissed it as an attempt to get people to read the book because of the catchy title. Luckily for me I decided to go back and read the book multiple times and followed the directions provided to see where they would lead.
I adopted the practice of reading Proverbs daily because of the wisdom (secrets to success, wealth, and happiness) this book provides to readers. I have been a daily Proverbs reader for over 15 years now and continue to discover new wisdom insights. Decided to add other books in the bible to my daily reading program in 2022. This is the reading goal I continue to meet and/or exceed so far this year.
Now, let’s talk about my goal to read 2 books each month. I started the year off with a bang and was able to handle my book goal in January and February. I started to go downhill with my reading program in March. I added more racing and training to my routine to get prepared for multiple half marathons but that’s not the real reason my reading has been slacking.
I have not done a great job of identifying book topics/titles that keep my attention. I big part of reading for me is an interest in the topic/title and the author. I started grabbing books off Amazon based on recommendations but some of the books did not have a true flow and caused me to become a slower reader than normal. No excuses but it is taking me longer to digest and get through the books I have selected. I’m averaging a book a month but need to increase my pace or make the time to read these books. There is still a lot of 2022 left to get more books read but I may not average 2 books each month.
My writing program remains strong, and I am happy with my progress in 2022. The blog articles keep me searching for new adventures and ideas, but I am happy with my ability to create content. It helps that a lot of my life revolves around traveling, running and the beach. I am sure I will continue to have content to turn into another Walk into the Future blog article. 😊
I have published multiple articles and posts on LinkedIn so that is another goal win. I continue to look for ways to network and connect with a larger audience. LinkedIn has allowed me to attract readers to my blog and share my adventures and leadership thoughts. I will use LinkedIn to build my leadership audience so I can get back to conducting Authentic Leadership workshops for organizations looking to improve/grow.
I have rolled my publishing a leadership eBook into 2022. I have the content for the eBook but need to get busy with cover art and putting the content into publication. I will use the summer months to finalize the content and work to get cover art so I can get the eBook to market. It’s coming—I promise! 😊
Still got work to do but I am making progress towards my 2022 reading and writing goals.
How are you doing with your 2022 goals! I welcome your thoughts—thanks!
Irie!
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body”.
I am always searching for new adventures and ways to leverage my Walk into the Future journey.
Most of my Florida exploits are centered around me heading north to familiar locations: Jasper, Jacksonville, Orlando, Melbourne, and Tallahassee. I have never been a huge south Florida fan, so it never crosses my mind to explore locations down there except when outlet malls are involved. I love outlet malls! 😊
Decided to get out of my travel comfort zone and venture south to explore Jupiter, Florida last weekend. I always heard great things about Jupiter but never made a true effort to visit the area to see what it truly had to offer. The reports about this area are all true; the city of Jupiter and the beaches are well worth a trip down there.
Google maps identified Jupiter was only a 58-minute drive down I-95 from Fort Pierce, so it is extremely close to me so no real excuses for never going there. Got up early on Saturday morning with the intent of driving down and enjoying a day of dining, sightseeing, and walking on the beach. Mission accomplished on all phases of my plan.
1000 North
A good friend in south Florida recommended the 1000 North restaurant as a place to get some great food, people watch and catch nice water views. I never heard about this place, but it turns out to be a very popular spot in Jupiter. It has a diverse ownership group that includes Michael Jordan and several other well-known professional athletes. Did not know this fact until I got there and saw the setup. Nothing over the top but they only have complimentary valet parking—a nice feature but not something I am used to.
There are multiple dining areas to include a members only private dining room. I stayed downstairs with the regular folks and got a seat outside with a great view of the marina. The atmosphere was fantastic and got an opportunity to people watch. There were several large groups outside and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and the great location.
The menu provided an eclectic selection, but I decided to get the grilled chicken club with sweet potato fries. Never had a fried egg on a club sandwich but it was a very good addition to the sandwich. I would get this again on a return trip to 1000 North.
Left 1000 North with the intent to explore the famed Jupiter beaches. Made a quick 5-minute drive east from the restaurant and I was at the beach. It was cool by Florida weather standards, but the beach was crowded with folks. Got a chance to walk the beach for a bit and get some great pictures to document my exploration for the day. I did not bring my beach chair or towel, so my walk was the activity for the day. I will make my way back to Jupiter beach so I can enjoy a full day at the beach and relax.
Outlets
My trip to Jupiter put me about 20 minutes away from the Palm Beach Outlet mall. I could not miss an opportunity for outlet shopping so made my way south. I did not need anything but that’s not the point—there are always good deals at the outlets, so it is never a wasted trip.
Hit the Nike store first looking for new running gear. The Nike store is extremely small, so the selection was limited I did not pick up anything during this visit. Visited the Columbia store and added to my t-shirt collection here. Walked around a bit more and visited a few more shops before calling it a day and heading back to Fort Pierce.
Nice little day trip for me to add to my Walk into the Future journal. I look forward to heading back down soon for a longer beach adventure.
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you”.
(Fred DeVito)
Dictionary.com defines aggressive as making an all-out effort to win or succeed; competitive.
You could characterize my 2022 running schedule as aggressive. I decided to test myself and get back to racing like how I ran prior to COVID-19. My 2019 training was focused on getting faster each time I toed the line and resulted in my fastest time at the 2019 OUC Half Marathon in Orlando (2:05:51). I was able to maintain my race form over the Christmas break and ran my second faster time at the 2020 New Orleans Rock N Roll Half Marathon in February 2020. Races and the country came to a standstill in April 2020 due to the pandemic.
Fast forward to 2022 and I made a concerted effort to find more races and stay active with my race schedule. I identified 9 half marathons I wanted to run throughout the year and targeted races to help with my quest to go faster. I don’t run a lot of 5ks but added a challenging one to my race calendar to help me push myself.
My most aggressive move for 2022 was to tackle the Winter Park 10k less than a week after running the Treasure Coast Half Marathon. This concept made a lot of sense when I signed up but proved to be a bit more difficult than I thought.
The goal for the Winter Park 10k was to set another 10k Personal Record (PR) since I was able to lower my PR in this same race in 2021. I did not think the limited time between races would impact me so toed the line with the confidence of someone who would be able to dictate pace and adjust when needed.
Turns out, this person did not exist for the Winter Park 10k. LOL.
The weather forecast in the Orlando area called for severe weather and it was hot, humid, and overcast as race time drew closer. A lot of runners were checking the weather apps to determine how much time we had before the skies opened and we were going to get wet.
Luckily, the rain held off long enough for us to run the 10k and get some time to spend in the race village before getting soaked. FYI—this was unusual weather for Orlando in March—temperatures are normally cooler and no threats of rain.
Track Shack does not use corral starts for the smaller races so everyone can line up as close to the start line as they want. This brings runners with different race expectations together and creates a unique environment where you must be careful not to run over or bump into people.
The first mile of this race is always interesting since you have elite athletes mixed in with weekend warriors. I like to hang back during the first mile to avoid collisions and the possibility of tripping while trying to get my pace up.
I entered the race with a goal to run sub 55 minutes and I got off to a better-than-expected start in Mile 1 (9:00), Mile 2 (9:14), Mile 3 (9:57). I was happy with this pace considering the amount of bumping we had just to clear people during the first mile of the race. I did not realize how much I slowed down during Mile 3 while running the race but felt myself slowing down. I chalked it up to the energy expended during Mile 1 and figured I would level my pace out and kick it into gear to move faster. Well, I kicked it in gear, but it appears the gear kicked me back. 😊
Have you ever pressed your gas pedal in your vehicle, and nothing happens? That’s exactly what happened to me during this race. I put the pedal down ‘in my mind’ but my body did not react in the way I wanted it to. Mile 4 (10:09), Mile 5 (10:46), Mile 6 (11:00) did not go as planned, I had no extra gear or legs to carry me much faster than what I just threw down. I was able to muster up a kick to finish the race that allowed me to cross the finish line with a smile on my face. The crowd along Park Avenue was great as they cheered for all runners—I appreciate them being out so early to cheer for strangers. I finished in 1:02:17 which is a 10:01 per mile pace.
I pouted about my results for about 3 minutes after the race. I spoke with several elite runners who described their race like what I just experienced. The heat and humidity got to them too so hearing that made me feel a lot better about my race. Several mentioned they thought about quitting during the race because the conditions were so tough. It’s funny how hearing about the misery other runners felt made me feel good about myself again. 😊 We are a funny group of people.
I originally thought running a 10k less than a week after a half marathon may have been the reason I did not have an extra gear. It may have been a factor, but the heat and humidity also contributed to my results. I plan to space my races out a bit more but will continue to be aggressive with my selection.
Currently prepping for the 2022 Nashville Rock N Roll(April) and Atlantic City Rock N Roll (May) Half Marathons. No races scheduled for the summer. I start the new racing season in October with the 2022 Clearwater Rock N Roll Half Marathon and a couple local races throughout the fall. The running tourist will stay active with races if it remains safe to travel.
“Running a marathon takes balls, other sports just play with them”.
(Anonymous)
I created an aggressive (for me) 2022 running schedule to make up for lost races in 2020 and 2021. Not trying to recapture those miles but wanted to get back to running races in multiple locations and get this running tourist thing going again.
Targeted a monthly half marathon for the first 5 months of 2022 with the intent to get better mentally and physically with each passing race. The full goal is to run as fast as possible when I get to Atlantic City for the 2022 Atlantic City Rock N Roll Half Marathon. I have never been to Atlantic City and thought it would be a great place to visit, run and take a shot at a personal record. I still need to put in the training work for the PR to occur but the flat course there is enticing for me. A bonus is the opportunity to see my friend, Lauren Apgar while in town. 😊
The 2022 Treasure Coast Half Marathon is a local race for me in Stuart, Florida. The race location is only a quick 30-minute drive down the Florida Turnpike and I thought this would be a great race to test myself and see a new city in the process.
The EXPO was held in a local middle school gymnasium and had several interesting vendors selling gear. My focus for the EXPO was to pick up my race packet and then get a sneak peek at the course I would be running the following day. Got my customary photo op at the EXPO and tried a few of the energy drinks the vendors made available to runners. Did not spend a lot of time at the EXPO since I was interested in getting a view of the bridge, I would have to cross during the half marathon. There are multiple bridges in Stuart, but I was happy to discover the bridge half marathoners had to cross was not one of the steep one. Left with the knowledge this bridge crossing and location would not be as diabolical as what I experienced during the 2022 Florida Marathon in Melbourne.
Went to bed early with the knowledge I would face a challenging course but one that was manageable with good effort.
Drove back to Stuart at 5 am the next morning to ensure I got parking and could warm up before the 6:15 am race start time. There was plenty of parking near the start/finish line and I made my way over to the race village to get prepared for the race. Got some stretching in and made one last bathroom stop before heading to the start line.
This was not a large race so there were no corral assignments for the runners. I settled into the middle of the half marathon pack to ensure there was separation between myself and the other runners.
We were still bunched tight, so I decided to hold back a bit, so I did not get caught up in traffic and possibly bump into anyone.
Surprisingly, I clocked 9:18 for Mile 1 and felt good doing it considering the amount of traffic I had to avoid. Miles 1 – 4 all were run with a 9 out front (9:18, 9:38, 9:39, 9:45). Mile 5 is where we crossed over the bridge for the first time, and I still clocked a 10:52 which is not bad for me with a bridge ascent. Miles 5 – 8 all were run with a 10 out front (10:52, 10:46, 10:37, 10:41).
The temperature at race time was 74 degrees and it got progressively warmer as the race unfolded. What’s my point? Happy you asked!
My race pace, strategy, and energy all took a hit once the temperatures climbed into the mid-80s. You could say I fell off a cliff or hit the wall after Mile 8. You pick the race metaphor and it applied after Mile 8.
Most of the course was run in direct sunlight and the higher the temperatures got the more the sun beamed down. I am happy with my efforts during the latter part of the race because I was able to bear down and keep moving forward. My pace slowed but I was making positive progress towards the finish line and found an extra gear to cross the finish line with a smile on my face. This was not my fastest half marathon but that was not the point of signing up for this race. My January, February, and March races are laying the foundation for my April and May races. I have a hard time making myself run fast on my solo training runs so decided to leverage races as my long runs and help me get faster in the process.
My next race is the Winter Park 10k on March 12, 2022. I set a 10k PR last year and look to repeat this feat in 2022. The speed I generate in the 10k will allow me to gauge my fitness levels for the 2022 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon in April and the 2022 Atlantic City Rock N Roll Half Marathon in May. I will use the summer months to build mental and physical fitness to launch into the next running season in October.
Still got goals and races to conquer!
What goals do you have to accomplish in 2022?
“My doctor told me that running could add years to my life. I think he was right. I feel ten years older already”.
Walk Into the Future 