Walk Into the Future

Tag: Stuart

  • Double Duty (Race Weekend)

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

    (Dean Karnazes)

    The 2026 running season continues to drive me forward.  I set an aggressive race schedule for the year and decided to create a new endurance test for myself.

    Why?  I’m always looking for a new challenge that helps me celebrate life. 😊

    My training program is comprised of weekly runs that gradually build up to my weekend long runs.  Example: Tuesday 4 miles, Wednesday 6 miles, Thursday 5 miles and Saturday 10 miles.  This is an example of a typical training week before I enter marathon training.

    So, as you can see, my weekend runs are normally in the double-digit range, so this is no surprise to anyone following my running journey. 

    The title of this blog article is Double Duty.  Why?  Great question as always, Melissa. 😊

    I found a local 5k in Port St. Lucie on a Saturday morning (2/28/26) and a half marathon in Stuart, Florida on Sunday (3/1/26).  Both races are local to me on the Treasure Coast, and I decided running two races over the same weekend sounded fun and was a challenge I have never tried before. 

    The total mileage was not something that bothered me since I consistently run over 15 miles during a training session when I’m marathon training.  I didn’t know how my legs would recover from the 5k in time for the half marathon but I’m not afraid of trying something new.

    The Riverland 5k is new in the local running rotation.  This was the 3rd Annual running of this race and my first time giving it a run.  Riverland is a new development in the Port St. Lucie Traditions area—really nice place.

    I didn’t have a preset idea of how fast I wanted to run but I saw this as a test to my fitness levels as I prepare for my running tourist trips (Louisville, Nashville, Lincoln, Indianapolis, etc.).  There was a small group of runners at the start line, but everyone seemed to be excited to run.  I got a 2-mile warmup in before making my way to the start line.  I posted up in the back of the start corral and decided to let the race come to me.

    The 5k was on a paved running path that cuts through the Riverland community.  It was a simple out and back on the paved path with a few shaded areas.  Fast forward and I finished second in my age group with a time of 28:45 which was a 9:14 per minute pace.  I felt good throughout the race and was happy with my time, pace and fitness levels.  I knew I could have gone a bit faster but didn’t want to sacrifice anything before the half marathon the next day.

    I left the Riverland area and drove down to Stuart to pick up my race packet for the 2026 Game On Marathon of the Treasure Coast Half Marathon the next morning.  I ran this race back in 2022 but never signed up for it again.  It has a double bridge crossing, and I didn’t enjoy that aspect back in 2022.  I have a better mental and physical preparation process for bridge runs now so decided to give it another run this year.  The EXPO was in Veterans Memorial Park which is in downtown Stuart.  This was a no-frills EXPO, so I got my race packet and a few pictures before heading back home to prepare for the half marathon the next morning.

    I made my way to 2nd Street Bistro in downtown Fort Pierce to get some carbs in my system.  I went with my tried-and-true Chicken Parm dish with extra pasta and Bud Lights.  Running is a great way to not have to count calories, so I enjoy this aspect of the running process. 😊

    I picked out my race outfit when I got home and then got off my feet to rest up.  My bedtime was a bit earlier than usual since I needed to get up and drive back down to Stuart the next morning.  It’s about a 35-minute drive so I got on the road in plenty of time to find parking, warm up and stretch before race time.

    My legs felt good even though I ran the 5k the previous morning.  I didn’t formulate a race strategy while waiting in the start corral.  I wanted to run and finish strong and not put too much thought into a specific time—I know that sounds like an excuse but getting to my second start line of the weekend was already a win in my book.

    I posted up towards the middle of the race pack and waited for the gun to launch us on our 13.1-mile journey.  There was a lot of traffic as we crossed the start line, so I decided to relax at the start and let the race come to me.  It always thins out after the first few miles so there was no need for me to be in a hurry at this point.

    I was able to run consistent mile splits throughout the first half of the race and felt great at Mile 5 which was the first bridge crossing.  The course goes through a local neighborhood after the bridge crossing and there were a few spectators out on their lawns cheering for the runners.  The second bridge crossing was at Mile 10, and this is where I struggled a bit.  The wind and sun at this point were the elements we had to fight going over the bridge the second time.  I slowed a bit here, but I kept battling towards the finish line.  Side note—I need to get more incline and bridge work in before Nashville at the end of April.  I’m not ready yet! ☹

    The last 3 miles were all flat and I was able to make up some time in this portion of the race.  I crossed the finish line with a little kick and a large smile on my face.  I was smiling because I created a running challenge for myself and I was able to accomplish my task.  I made my way into the running village and grabbed food and Gatorade.  They didn’t have beer this year so I was disappointed I couldn’t drink at 9 am on a Saturday morning. 😊

    No worries, the double duty was complete, and I had a smile on my face.  I learned my training needs to improve prior to heading to Nashville but I’m not far off from peak running form.  I will get back in the running lab and work on my fitness to ensure my legs are ready for the hills in Nashville and I can enjoy the process.

    Double duty was fun—now back to your regularly scheduled program. 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “Running is the answer.  The question is irrelevant.”

    (Unknown)

  • 2022 Treasure Coast Half Marathon

    TCHM1

    “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”.

    (Milton Berle)