Walk Into the Future

Tag: Town of Celebration Marathon

  • The return to New Hampshire

    “Dream as if you’ll live forever.  Live as if you’ll die today.”

    (James Dean)

    The Walk into the Future blog continues to find new ways to explore and live life in 2026.  Not the largest revelation I have put on this blog, but it is something that I remain proud of.

    I have made a concerted effort to write more about leadership and consulting this year, but I am still out here putting in the miles and living this running tourist life.  Yes, Alisa, I’m still using running tourist to describe this life I’m living. 😊

    I made my way to Hampton, New Hampshire last year for the 2025 Smuttynose Half Marathon.  This was my first time up there and I was able to cross two states off my visit list: New Hampshire and Maine.  I wanted to get over to Vermont last year but ran out of time and want to get there to explore without having to rush. 

    Fun fact, Breeze Airways just started a non-stop flight from Vero Beach to Burlington, Vermont.  I will book a trip to Vermont in 2027 so I can cross that state off my list as well.  Not sure I’m going to run there considering the mountains in the state.  This may be another hiking trip for me. 😊

    I enjoyed my 2025 Smuttynose Half Marathon experience so much that I signed up for the 2026 race before I left New Hampshire last year.  The weather, people, course and after party were great and I decided to run it back again in 2026.

    The experience this year was just as great as last year.  I set my half marathon personal record (PR) at this race last year but did not enter with a goal this year.  My training has been consistent, but my training paces have been off for a good portion of the training cycle.  I can make and/or share excuses, but I continue to toe the line and show up daily.

    I flew out of Orlando again this year and headed to Manchester, New Hampshire.  This provided a direct flight, and I had a 30-minute ride through the fall foliage from Manchester to Hampton.  I went straight to the race EXPO to pick up my race packet and browse.  The EXPO was in the same spot as last year, but it was smaller than I thought it would be.  There were only two vendors this year so my time at the EXPO was just picking up my race packet and taking a couple pictures before heading to my hotel.

    I remain a creature of habit and booked the same Marriott hotel as last year which was close to everything in the area.  I made my way to the same sports bar to carb load and get off my feet.  Wings, fries and Bud Light is still my go to meal when I’m in Hampton, New Hampshire. 😊

    I leveraged Saturday for some sightseeing this year.  I researched lighthouses in the area and decided this would be my focus—explore as many lighthouses as possible while back in the northeast.  Here are a few pictures from my lighthouse adventures:

    I made sure to get to bed early so I would be ready for the 13.1-mile journey on Sunday.  I was able to secure race day parking close to the start/finish line again this year.  I took the five-minute walk over to the race village and got in some stretching and a light jog.  The temperatures were in the low 40’s this year so I kept my throw away sweatshirt on until I got into the race corral.

    I was assigned to start Corral C which put me close to the front based on my time from last year.  I like to be close to the front so I can avoid the pushing and shoving that happens further back in the pack.  Fast forward and my race strategy was simply having fun and enjoying the course.  I went out with a controlled pace and was able to maintain this throughout the race.  I crossed the finish line with another smile on my face and enjoyed hearing the crowds cheering for random strangers on a Sunday morning.

    I got my medal and made my way to the food tents.  The Smuttynose Half Marathon is known for providing a lobster roll to everyone who crosses the finish line.  I tried one last year and was not impressed.  I gave it another run this year and I’m still not impressed. 😊  I love lobster but the texture does not go well with a simple white roll—my opinion.  I think it would be great on a toasted roll but that’s not what they offered.  I made my way to the beer line and got two beers to go with my bag of chips. 

    They had the same band from last year and everyone was singing along and some folks were dancing to the tunes.  It was another great post-race environment, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  I found a great spot across the street for breakfast and posted up to continue to enjoy the morning.

    I highly recommend this race if you are looking for a New Hampshire adventure.

    Fun fact, I visited three states on this trip:  New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts.  I’ve been to them all, but it was fun to hit three states in one weekend.  It’s the little things that make me smile. 😊

    Yes, I’m still traveling, running and writing.  I call this Walking into the Future! What do you think, Cathy? 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

    (Oscar Wilde)

  • 2026 Town of Celebration Half Marathon

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

    (Unknown)

    The Walk into the Future blog returned to Central Florida for the 2026 Town of Celebration Half Marathon.  This was my fourth time running this race and I enjoy it more each year. 

    The Town of Celebration looks and feels like a movie set but it’s a real town and the people are super friendly.  They come out of their houses and cheer on strangers who are blocking their streets and daily activities.  I’m sure the runners provide a boost to the local economy so maybe that’s why the folks are so friendly. 😊  I’m already looking forward to the 2027 Town of Celebration Half Marathon.

    What’s so great about this race and location?  Outstanding questions by all my tree branches.  The race EXPO, start line, finish line and race village are all within a block of each other in downtown Celebration.  They shut the town down to allow runners, walkers, spectators and vendors to take over the streets. 

    The EXPO is probably the smallest one for any race I run across the country.  The EXPO is held in a little park by the lake in downtown Celebration.  There are eight tables total with no vendors selling anything.  You walk up, give them your name, collect your race bib, get your T-shirt, get a commemorative blanket and then leave.  This is the only race that I know of that gives runners custom designed blankets.  Yes, I’ve kept every blanket that I received so far—four and counting.

    I left the EXPO and took a little stroll in downtown Celebration.  There are a ton of little shops and restaurants in the area.  I was mostly taking in the sights, but I did make my way into the Celebration Town Tavern to drink beer.  This is a lively spot and seems to be the place the locals enjoy the most.  There were a few other runners at the bar, but the crowd was made up of Celebration residents.  I left the Celebration Town Tavern and made my way to my go to pasta spot, Buca di Beppo.  This restaurant is not in the downtown area, but nothing is far in Celebration.  I made my way to the bar and worked on my carb loading process.  Buca di Beppo is known for large portions, so I made sure to downsize my Chicken Parm order to ensure I didn’t waste food.  Great food as always!

    I made my way back to my hotel after a little shopping at the local Nike discount store.  I never need anything but found a pair of running shorts in a color I don’t already own.  Yes, I bought them! 😊 I got my race outfit together and then watched a little TV to relax before going to bed.

    I rolled out of bed at 5:15 am to mentally and physically prepare for the half marathon.  I like to get in some stretching while at the hotel to limber up my body before driving to the race sight.  My hotel was only 10 minutes from downtown, so I didn’t have to rush or worry about not making it to the start line on time.  I parked in the same location as I did last year and walked towards the start line—it took me about 5 minutes to get there.  I used my time to stretch a little bit more and then got in some light jogging to loosen up my legs before tackling the 13.1-mile course.

    The race organizers adjusted the start area this year and had runners line up in assigned start corrals.  This was a nice adjustment since the corral start process helps thin out runners at the beginning of the race and eliminates folks from running each other over.  I found my spot at the front of Corral #2 and prepared for the race in front of me.

    I have run fast at this race in the past, but the weather was a bit warmer than normal.  Nothing crazy but it wasn’t cold like I prefer.  I decided to run hard for the first portion of the race and then see what I had left to pursue the remainder of the race.

    This strategy worked well for me as I felt good throughout the race.  I made a point to hit every water stop to take on fluids.  I always drink Gatorade and pour water on my head to keep my body as cool as possible during races.  I ran consistent splits within the 9:30 – 10:30 range through the first 10 miles of the race.  I never found another gear or the energy to push the pace, so I stayed within this range and crossed the finish line with a nice kick and a smile on my face.  The crowd at the finish line was loud and they helped the runners finish strong.

    I collected my medal, got some finish line photos and my post-race restaurant punch card that allowed me access to eat and drink my way around town. 😊

    The race village had complimentary massage and chiropractor tables this year. This was a welcome addition, and I signed up for a physical therapy session on my legs—felt great!  I left the physical therapy table and headed over to sample food and drink from the restaurants present. 

    I started with a beans and white rice dish from a Columbian restaurant.  I left this table and headed straight for the beer.  Every runner gets two Michelob Ultra beers.  I didn’t want to get back into the beer line, so I got both of my beers and walked around double-fisted for a bit.  I hit the pancake table right after finishing my beers and had to sit down to enjoy this treat—pancakes with chocolate chips and syrup.  The mimosa table was next, and I went two fisted again with these drinks.  I found a chair in the race village and enjoyed my drinks and watched runners cross the finish line.  I was not in a rush, so I just enjoyed the atmosphere and the happy people around me.  It was a good day! 😊

    I took the short stroll back to my vehicle and headed back to the hotel to get out of my race outfit and relax a bit. I took a 40-minute nap after showering and then got on the road to head back to Fort Pierce.

    This is a hell of a life I lead, huh?  Celebrating daily! 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “The obsession with running is really an obsession with potential for more and more life.”

    (George Sheehan)

  • Fargo in pictures

    My Walk into the Future allowed me to venture to Fargo, North Dakota to tackle another half marathon and live that running tourism life.

    Here are a few shots from my trip:

    Fargo Dome

    Downtown Fargo

    More of downtown Fargo

    Fargo alley art and a meal at the Jasper Hotel (I’m from Jasper, Florida) 🙂

    (Meal at the Pizza Ranch)

    (Pre-race views)

    (Victory!) 🙂

    Running season is here!

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

  • Going alone with EmpowerMEnt

    “Solitude is independence”.

    (Herman Hesse)

    The Walk into the Future blog is ready to give a guest content creator shoutout to my friend Melissa Forges.  My first run at a topic suggested by Melissa was Make Every Second Count back in April.  She gave me a total of three topics to generate content and I’m ready to give topic #2 a run: Going Alone with EmpowerMEnt.

    We had a great chat while I drove over for the 2025 Town of Celebration Half Marathon.  I promised her I would put effort into bringing her topics to life.  There are days when I don’t know if I can pull off some of my articles, but I gladly take on this challenge Melissa! 😊

    Our discussion centered around the concept of ME in empowerment.  This play on the word was done on purpose to highlight that it is okay to do things for yourself.  We spend a lot of time taking care of the needs of others and forget to take care of ME (you) sometimes.

    When was the last time you took a walk on the beach by yourself?  It’s okay, I’ll wait for you to think of that time. 😊

    EmpowerMEnt allows you to see it’s okay to do things for yourself without feeling guilt.  We spend so much time doing things for others and this becomes embedded in our psyche, and it becomes the norm.  Please know that I’m not saying drop everything and forget the folks in your life.

    Really, I’m saying the opposite.  The time you spend by yourself to recharge CAN allow you to come back to your normal routines energized.  Yes, taking time for yourself can help you recharge.

    Sitting on the beach is one of my favorite activities.  I just need my beach towel, a good book and beer to entertain myself for hours.  A quick nap is always a possibility when I’m getting ME time on the beach.  I’m able to get a lot of uninterrupted thinking time when I’m on the beach too.  This is a place and mindset that allows me to generate content for the Walk into the Future blog.  Yes, I jot down ideas to come back to for blog article development.

    Running is another opportunity for empowerMEnt in my world. I write about my running tourism experiences in this blog format but running allows me to clear my mind daily.  I’m able to get lost in my run and this provides a different level of comfort and relaxation for me.  I’m empowered to tackle running distances and races to continue my personal development.  I’ve thought about joining run clubs but can’t bring myself to do it since this would eliminate the solitude I desire when I’m out for a run.  Yes, there are thousands of people who run half and full marathons, but I don’t engage with them until the finish line with beers in my hand.  Running may be the best place for me to gain empowerMEnt.

    Researching and generating content for the Walk into the Future blog is my happy place.  I love getting immersed in the writing process as I develop new projects.  I have to avoid writing too late in the evenings because I find myself up past my bedtime trying to complete an article.  The Walk into the Future blog is my major empowerMEnt flex where I get to discover new things about myself while writing.

    Well Melissa, this is article #2! 

    How do you leverage empowerMEnt in your daily life?

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “One can be instructed in society; one is inspired only by solitude”.

    (Goethe)

  • 2025 Town of Celebration Half Marathon

    “When your legs get tired, run with your heart”.

    (Unknown)

    The Walk into the Future blog made a return trip to Celebration, Florida to give the 2025 Town of Celebration Half Marathon a run.  This race has become one of my favorite races on my calendar.  I love the town of Celebration, and the people there put on a great race and after party.  Yes, I call it an after party because the entire town comes out to celebrate (pun intended) with race participants. 😊

    I doubled up on my races in January with the Vero Beach half marathon on the weekend prior to the Town of Celebration race.  The weather is milder in January, and I don’t have to worry about heat and humidity early in the race year. The Vero Beach half marathon has two bridge crossings within the first 5 miles of the race, and this can hamper runners for the rest of the race.  This will be my last year running the Vero race.  I want to explore additional race options in January and may give the 2026 Houston Marathon a run next year instead of the local race.

    The Town of Celebration racecourse is completely flat, and I love this aspect. This is a great component of the race regardless of the temperature.  We had cool weather this year and I had to decide if I was running with layers on or go with my traditional running tank top.  It was 47 degrees at the start of the race, so I decided to dress warmly with multiple layers.  This was a great choice since the temperatures never got much higher than 51 degrees.  Great for running but not for standing around waiting to start the race.

    I lined up at the start line with the intent to leverage the cool weather and improve my time from last year.  My goal was to hit the 2:08 mark for the half marathon with the cool weather and wanted to see how fast I could go.  My fastest time for this race was 2:09:16 back in 2023 and I wanted to see if I could go this fast again.  Well, the short answer for this year is no. I ran 2:14:27 which was a full four minutes faster than my 2024 time.  I’m always happy to go faster in a race than the previous time out and I will take the results from this year.  I struggled a bit in the middle of the race with my legs and had to stretch them out around the 8-mile marker.  This helped me continue to push forward and I got a bit faster in the final 3 miles of the race.  I’m happy with my final kick and completed mile 13 at 10:08 and a huge smile on my face.  The crowd at the finish line was very inspiring and helped me enjoy the final stages of the race.  I grabbed my race medal and took a few finish line photos to document my time in Celebration, Florida.

    The after party was relocated closer to the finish line this year and I headed over to take my eating and drinking tour of the town.  The race participants receive a food card that highlights each of the restaurants present for the event.  You take your food card to each vendor, and they provide a food sample from their restaurant and mark your food card to signify you have been served.  My first stop was at the Michelob Ultra table to get my two beers to get things started.  I ventured to the Mimosa table next to get a sample before hitting the food tables.  Fast forward and I made my way to every table available this year.  The samples were a bit smaller than last year, but the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was outstanding.  I hung around the after party a bit longer this year to soak up the atmosphere and chat with Orlando runners.  I’m thinking I will spend an additional night in Celebration next year so I can just chill after the race and socialize a bit longer.

    My next big race is the 2025 Nashville Half Marathon in April.  I am looking forward to getting back to Nashville and enjoying great live music.  Who’s going to join me in Nash Vegas?

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “The person who starts the race is not the same person who finishes the race”.

    (Spectator sign)

  • Five-Minute Thursday: The Road to 1,500 (miles)

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    “I think goals should never be easy; they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time”.

    (Michael Phelps)

    Maria, I agree, this Five-Minute Thursday writing prompt is here for the long run! 😊 This process continues to provide the Walk into the Future blog with additional outlets and enhances my ability to leverage topics quickly.

    Let’s give the Five-Minute Thursday prompt another run. 

    I shared that I create yearly goals for myself in early January to help guide me through the New Year.  My goals are broken up into different categories: reading, writing, travel, exercise, family, etc.  My 2024 running goal was to run 4 days a week with a target of 30 – 40 miles per week.

    The seventh prompt for Five-Minute Thursday is: 2024 Running Goals.

    My running focus was to get myself in great physical shape so I could improve my full marathon time.  I was able to train and complete multiple full marathons, but I knew there was another leverage of training I needed to reach. I didn’t just decide to increase my mileage but wanted to break down the process and ensure I could enjoy the training without injuring myself.

    The 4 day a week concept comes directly from my full marathon training program.  I ramped up my training once I entered the 18-week marathon training program in the past but decided to keep this volume for the entire year.  Seems simple but I didn’t want to leave anything to chance this year when it came to fitness and being ready for the 2024 Chicago Marathon.

    So, where does 1,500 in the article title come from?  Great question, Melissa! 😊

    I’m currently sitting at 1,548 training miles for 2024.  This is the highest amount of training miles I have completed since I started tracking my run progress.  I mixed in a few exercise bike miles in this total but 95% of my training was pounding the pavement or treadmill when the weather did not cooperate.  This additional mileage total correlates to my 2024 weight goal to get to and maintain 198 pounds.

    FYI—I did not write 1,500 down as a mileage goal but got to this number by meeting my goal to run 4 days weekly.  Incremental steps and going to bed at 8:30 pm nightly allowed me to get up and grind on my run days.

    Not sure how many miles I will log in 2025, but I have a great blueprint on the correct way to increase mileage without injuring myself.

    Let’s thrive in 25! 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time”.

    (Unknown)

  • Chicago Marathon: Time for some action!

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

    (Running Quotes)

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

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

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

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

    Here’s my weekly miles update:

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

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

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

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

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

    Irie!

  • 2024 Chicago Marathon Training Week #1

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

    (Running Quotes)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    I completed 32.11 training miles last week:

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

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

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

    Thanks for joining me on the training process—Irie!

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

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

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  • 2024 Town of Celebration Half Marathon

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    “No matter how slow you go you are still lapping everyone on the couch”.

    (Unknown)

    The Walk into the Future blog made it back over to Celebration, Florida for the 2024 Town of Celebration Half Marathon.  I ran this race for the first time in 2023 and vowed to make this an annual visit because of the course, community involvement and the outstanding post-race party.

    Celebration, Florida may be the friendliest place I have ever visited for a race weekend.  The downtown area reminds me of a movie set but it’s 100% real.  The town rolls out the red carpet for runners over multiple days and it feels like returning home.  Most races put on a good face to attract runners but don’t have a welcoming vibe.  Well, Celebration, Florida welcomes runners with open arms and then invites us to hang out with them at the post-race party.

    I was able to clock a surprising 2:09:16 in 2023 because of the flat course and cool weather.  Didn’t think I would break 2:10 again a month after running my first full marathon but I felt great the entire race and kept moving forward.  Told my friend Lauren my goal time was 2:08 but didn’t fully believe I could get close to that time.  Funny what happens with a great course and weather conditions. 😊

    I entered the 2024 half marathon coming off a 2:15 finish during the 2024 Vero Beach Half Marathon.  Not my fastest or slowest time but a steady effort to get up and over the bridges twice.  Viewed the Vero Beach Half as a good barometer of fitness and my overall training program.  Wanted it to be a springboard for a fast 2024.

    The weather at the 2024 Town of Celebration Half Marathon was surprisingly warmer this year.  I watched the weather the entire week and race day was projected to be the warmest day of the week with humidity.  Most folks know how I feel about humidity on race day but trusted my training would carry me on the course and it did.

    I arrived at the race start line about 40 minutes before the race started.  This gave me enough time to stretch, get a quick run in and visit the bathroom before toeing the line.

    Found a spot towards the middle of the pack with intent to let the fast runners get out.  I should have made my way closer to the start line since there were a ton of walkers in front of me.  Never understand why walkers and/or slower runners make it to the front for race starts.  It is dangerous for them and other runners who must maneuver around them to avoid a crash.  This extra traffic takes a lot of energy to get around, but we all have to run our own race.

    The course is completely flat, which makes this an ideal place to run a half marathon.

    I couldn’t go out too fast due to the extra traffic in front of me.  Decided to find a comfortable pace and enjoy the experience.

    I was surprisingly consistent throughout the race—each mile split started with a 10.  My fastest mile split was 10:05 (Miles 3, 4, 6) and my slowest mile split was 10:52 (Mile 13).  Never could find another gear during this race because of the humidity but I am proud of the consistent effort throughout.  Crossed the finish line at 2:18 but felt good and smiled as I finished with a kick.

    Made my way to the race after party to get my beer, breakfast, and mimosas.  Yes, runners drink beer at 9 am and we don’t blink an eye.  The local restaurants had tables and gave out food samples to runners and family members.  These were small portions, but you can go back as many times as you like.  Spent two hours sampling food and drinking beer this year.  Already looking forward to the 2025 Town of Celebration Half Marathon.  I’m sure the after-party will be epic again next year.

    “When your legs get tired, run with your heart”.

    (Unknown)

  • 2024 Vero Beach Half Marathon

    “I’m not running half of something; I am crushing the whole 13.1”.

    (Pinterest)

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    I started my half marathon journey back in December 2013 as an agreement with an Orlando friend who was an avid runner.  Our agreement was to run the 2013 OUC Half Marathon together and she was going to help me train and guide me through the process.  Sounded great but that never materialized.

    My friend and her family moved to Dallas, Texas after we both signed up for the OUC Half Marathon.  I thought about backing out but decided to press forward and run the race.  I had no idea how to prepare or even complete a half marathon but toed the line and grimaced my way around the course.  I wanted to quit multiple times but didn’t know the area well enough to walk off the course, so I kept moving forward and completed the half marathon.  Everything on my body hurt because I had no idea what I was doing.

    Fast forward and 2024 is my 11th year competing in long distance races.  I had no idea signing up for a random half marathon with a friend would become an anticipated part of my daily life.  I sign up for half marathons now as part of my training program.  I know how to train, hydrate, and recover, which makes my life a lot better once the race is over. 

    One of my favorite half marathons is the Vero Beach Half Marathon.  I have participated in this race three years in a row and envision I will compete every year I’m on the Treasure Coast.

    This race has two bridge crossings within the first five miles, but it is completely flat once you get over the bridge the second time.  I joke you must survive the first 5 miles of the race and then the course comes back to the runners. 

    The 2024 Vero Beach Half Marathon started with cooler weather this year which makes completing 13.1 miles a lot easier.  This is a smaller race with less than 300 runners in the half marathon.  There is not much spectator interactions during this race either.  It almost feels like most folks in Vero have no idea why the streets are closed, or why people are running around in shorts.  People wave and blow their car horns but no music or cheering spectators to get runners energized—but I still love this race. 😊

    I entered this year without a finish time in mind.  I wanted to keep progressing towards the 2024 Town of Celebration Half marathon which was my goal race.  I took a full 10 days away from running after completing the 2023 Garden of Life Marathon back in December, so this was my first double digit run since the marathon.  My physical fitness was still good so wanted to push hard in the first part of the race and then pull back a bit.  Didn’t know if the weather would heat up or not but didn’t want to struggle in the heat if it got warmer.  Luckily, the weather remained cool throughout the race, and I was able to enjoy the miles on a very nice morning.

    Race recap:  I run sub 10-minute miles over the first 4 miles and 10:15 per mile after that.  My fastest mile was during Mile #6 which was 9:40. I still had a lot left in the tank as I finished in 2:15:04 which was faster than my 2023 time.

    Hit the race after-party and had a good local craft beer and snacks.  One of my favorite parts of the day is meeting my friend Beth at Mulligan Beach House for brunch.  This has become a tradition for us and enjoy spending time catching up and drinking beers at 9 am in the morning.

    Already looking forward to next January so I can tackle this race again and then sit at Mulligan’s Beach House with beers on the famed Vero Beach.

    What are you looking forward to?

    Irie!

    Mulligan’s Beach House