Vero Beach – Walk Into the Future

My Tree Tattoo

“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers”.

(Psalms 1:3)

My favorite part of the bible is Proverbs. I have been reading Proverbs daily for 15+ years to continue to gain insight and wisdom to help me daily. I share this process with anyone who will sit still and listen to me and have convinced a few others to join me on this journey.

One of my 2022 goals was to read more and expand my readings beyond Proverbs. Psalms was recommended and I decided to accept to gain new insight and understanding. This concept fits directly into the Walk into the Future concept that started this blog.

I have referred to my tree branches—people I mentor or share knowledge with daily. We have been on this journey together and I view my role in their development as an important part of my daily mission.

The tree concept has been with me for a while now and I continue to add branches as my Walk into the Future grows and gains momentum into a platform to help others move forward in life. I view everyone who reads and/or follows this blog as tree branches now and my role is to bring new insight, knowledge, and entertainment to you. Thanks for joining me on this journey!

What does all this have to do with a tattoo? Great question tree branches!

I have been talking and writing about being a tree and began looking for something that was unique to me and would represent a true meaning visually. There are a ton of tree images available, but I wanted something that reflects me and my journey.

I have taken and seen a ton of tree photos, but nothing really jumped out or had the image that would represent me and my tree branches.

I ventured to Southern Shore, North Carolina back in October 2021 to spend some time exploring the North Carolina Outer Bank with a friend who lives up there. Always heard great things about this part of the country and was happy to accept the invitation to come up for a long weekend and explore. I was not a running tourist for this trip so had plenty of time to see the sights, sit on the beach and discover great food spots.

My friend and I made a trip to Aqua Restaurant to sit on the deck, enjoy some great food and catch a fantastic sunset. https://aquarestaurantobx.com/

We ventured down to the waterfront after dinner to get some pictures of the sun setting over the sound. We were able to capture this photo while chasing the sunset.

I understood this was a magnificent photo and shared it with several friends and included it in the blog article I wrote about my trip to North Carolina. Never viewed the photo as unique but the more I looked for images to signify my tree and branches I kept coming back to this image.

Ventured into the Scared Dagger tattoo shop in Vero Beach to discuss the image and possibility of getting some artwork done by them. A local friend and her daughter got work done at this shop and highly recommended the artist who worked on them. I showed him the image and we discussed the size of the tattoo and location I wanted to have it done.

We agreed on the details, and I made an appointment to have him complete the work. Fast forward and he did an amazing job capturing the image and replicating it on my leg. I was amazed how well he translated the details from the photo into my tree tattoo.

The tree branches are very distinct and provide the tree with power to grow, provide shade, comfort, and a level of peace (my thoughts).

Reflect on Psalms 1:3—the tree helps us prosper! 😊

May have to make my way back up to Duck, North Carolina for more tree inspirations!

How impactful is YOUR tree? How many tree branches do you have?

Irie!

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)

2022 Vero Beach Half Marathon

Vero Beach

“Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough”.

(Og Mandino)

I ran the 2022 Vero Beach Half Marathon for the first time and happy to report this was my best tactical race ever.

I completed the race in 2:11:05 (two hours, eleven minutes, and 5 seconds) which is 7 minutes faster than my 2021 OUC Half Marathon time in December. It is not my fastest time, but I am extremely happy with my ability to run faster and maintain a consistent pace during this race.

My prerace goal was to run faster than I did in Orlando and I felt good throughout the race. I consider this my best tactical race because I hit every marker I set out for during each phase of the race.

I am not familiar with Vero Beach so had no idea what type of course I would experience. I looked at the course map online, but this provided no intel on elevation or type of environment I would have to run through.

The one aspect I came into the race dreading was the fact all runners would have to tackle an over and back bridge crossing within the first 5 miles of the race. My experience with bridges during a race have never been that great so I viewed the second crossing of the bridge as something that would be unpleasant. This was my mental picture even before I toed the line to start the race, luckily, I did not let my preconceived ideas get in the way of an opportunity to run this race and overcome my fear of bridge running.

The day started with temperatures in the low 50s which is deathly cold for most Floridians. 😊

I left the house dressed in layers to keep me warm prior to race time. This was not a repeat of my time in Savannah since there was no sign of rain or bad weather, just cold temperatures which I viewed as a positive since I did not have to fight the Florida humidity. Excited with the possibility of being able to breath throughout the race.

I arrived at River Side Park in Vero Beach at 6 am for the 6:45 am start time. Again, I was not familiar with this area so made sure I got there early enough to warm up, stretch and get acclimated to the weather. Most of the runners were dressed in hoodies and long pants but I decided to run in my normal gear: running tank top, shorts, and compression sleeves. Figured I would warm up once I got into full race pace and I did.

I was assigned to Corral C for the race start and I made my way into the correct spot to mentally prepare for the 13.1 miles that were in my immediate future.

The race started without much of a hassle as there were 400+ runners which is pretty small compared to the Rock N Roll races I normally run. Decided to not go out too fast and ease my way into a comfortable pace. There were a few fast runners who decided to set a faster pace and it was great watching them head out towards the first bridge crossing.

I settled into a pace that would keep me competitive but not too fast. The first bridge crossing started at the .50 (half mile) point and the course was up a steep bridge for the next half mile. I was surprised to see so many folks pushing the pace at this point considering we still needed to make it to the top. I was comfortable with my pace and did not worry about the other runners. I picked up my pace once I made it to the top of the bridge and started to lock into my race.

My Mile 1 was run at a 9:20 pace and this was with the bridge incline. I maintained a 9:20 pace throughout the first 4 miles of the race and slowed to a 10:18 pace for Mile 5 which included my second crossing of the same bridge. I am proud of myself for this portion of the race because I contemplated walking the second bridge ascent. Decided to take a measured pace to get back over the bridge and then run faster on the descent.

Miles 6 – 10 were run at a 9:35 pace and I was able to manage my lactic acid threshold by shortening my strides to eliminate overextending myself. This was a new approach for me since I normally try to power through but discovered a new way to manage my race form and control the pain in my legs.

Miles 11 – 13.1 were run at a 9:52 pace which is good for me closing out a race. My 9:47 pace for Mile 13 was my celebration as I decided to make a huge kick to finish the race strong. I wanted to come across the finish line fast and with a smile on my face. Mission accomplished.

The secret weapon during this race was the song Motivation by T.I. I put this song on repeat at the 11-mile marker and it got me across the finish line with a big smile on my face. This song normally provides a boost for me while training, so I leveraged this same boost during the half marathon.

There were only 4 water stops on this course so had to ensure I got Gatorade and water at each one of them. I doubled up a few times to help keep me fueled and moving forward.

The only aspect of this race I did not enjoy was traffic was not eliminated from the course. We had volunteers and police available on the course, but cars were allowed to turn in front of runners which normally does not happen with larger races. I will have to assess this fact when it comes time to register for the 2023 Vero Beach Half Marathon.

Made my way over to Mulligan’s on the beach for a very large breakfast and then a Bud Light to celebrate my race. Yes, I had a Bud Light at 9:30 am—it was fantastic! 😊

Great way to start a day and continue to run into the future!

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars”.

(Kahlil Gibran)

Intellectual curiosity

Creative picture

(Image by fancycrave1 from Pixabay)

“There is no magic formula for great company culture. The key is just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated”.

(Richard Branson)

Psychology Today identifies intellectual curiosity as a deep and persistent desire to know.

Betterup.com dives deeper by defining intellectual curiosity as curiosity that leads to an acquisition of general knowledge.

At this point I am sure you are wondering where I am headed with intellectual curiosity. Glad you asked! 😊

This has become a major characteristic I look for when working with others. I was never able to find the exact term until recently but intellectual curiosity in the workplace provides a foundation for success.

Interestingly, this is not something everyone is able to display easily. I see people who practice this trait when something is near and dear to them on a personal or professional level. The key for me is for everyone to translate intellectual curiosity daily in the workplace.

Why you ask? Great question!

People who display intellectual curiosity can find new ways to get things done. There are multiple work environments where the mindset is we have always done it that way. This may be true but organizations and people who cannot evolve are doomed to fail. It may take time for the demise, but it will happen.

Intellectually curious people understand how things are done and continue to look for ways to improve the process daily. I love being surrounded by these type people because they understand the concept of moving forward. Processes and techniques change daily, and organizations need to be able to pivot. Pivots and adjustments are needed quicker as we introduce more technology into the workplace.

COVID-19 allowed intellectually curious people and organizations to make the necessary adjustments to ensure services were provided. Most of my work colleagues had never heard of Zoom prior to the pandemic. Turns out the Zoom platform in the hands of intellectually curious organizations increased the ability to provide services and made meetings more efficient. Staff did not lose time driving or walking to meetings anymore—they simply logged into their computers and joined the meetings via their laptops.

I never imagined university career fairs could be done completely online. Intellectual curiosity has allowed people in my career field to find more efficient ways to connect students and employers. There are some organizations that have been slow to adapt to the changing world and they are rapidly being left behind.

I challenge staff to become intellectually curious daily. This is the only way to ensure an organization has a growth mindset. The way we did business two years ago is not coming back so organizations need the ability to adapt, grow and move forward.

I propose organizations staffed with people with intellectual curiosity will thrive—those without will slowly fade away.

How do you display intellectual curiosity? I welcome your thoughts!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ethics-everyone/201404/intellectual-curiosity

https://www.betterup.com/blog/intellectual-curiosity

“Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding an answer”.

(Denis Waitley)

Walking and enjoying Mulligans Beach House (Vero Beach)

Mulligans

“An ocean breeze puts the mind at ease”.

(Anonymous)

My Walk into the Future allows me to continue to seek out new adventures and venues. The COVID-19 pandemic has rightfully slowed down unnecessary travel and interactions, but the beach still has wide open spaces to explore.

My relocation to the Treasure Coast provides access to some great beaches with amazing views to take in. Several of my work colleagues provide me with places where the locals hang out and guided me towards Mulligan’s Beach House in Vero Beach. The biggest reason they wanted me to visit Mulligan’s is because it has a huge outdoor seating area that sits right on the world-famous Vero Beach. I have visited Vero Beach (city) multiple times for the outlet mall and other retail shopping but have not been on the beach side of the city in years.

Turns out I visited Mulligan’s Beach House back in August 2014 prior to relocating from Oviedo, Florida to Tallahassee, Florida for my job at Florida State University. Always heard how beautiful Vero Beach was so took a road trip back in 2014 to get a feel for the area and take in the beach scene. Mulligan’s was close to the hotel I booked back in the day, so it was an easy choice for some great food.

Fast forward to 2020 and I immediately recognized I had been there before as soon as I hit the parking lot. Seeing the familiar outside seating area and extra-large deck chair put a smile on my face. I instantly reflected to my 2014 visit and the great memories made during my visit back in the day. Also highlights the concept of small world because my original visit was made because I never thought I would make it back down to visit Vero Beach. Now I live 20 minutes from the famous beach and local attractions on the board walk.

My most recent trip to Mulligan’s Beach House was made on a Sunday afternoon. Figured this would be a good day and timeframe to visit to avoid the potential of large crowds. The overcast weather also contributed to a smaller crowd when I got there. The outside seating areas provided a great place to sit on the beach, people watch and listen to some good music. I was able to find a nice corner spot and continue to physical distance. Did not have a taste for anything specific but wanted to explore the menu a bit. I am not an adventurous eater so settled on chicken wings and draft beer—which was two for one during happy hour. The wings were surprisingly good and went great with the atmosphere of Mulligan’s. A nice, chill place where the locals eat.

Mulligan’s has indoor seating at the bar and tables—some of the locals were comfortable seating inside but I do not know when/if I will be that comfortable again. The governor just announced restaurants and bars are no longer restricted to 50% capacity so I am sure more people will be dining and drinking inside again without proper physical distancing. Scary thought but eliminating these restrictions will expand our time trying to combat COVID-19 in the state of Florida. Hate to see the gains we have made with COVID-19 get sidetracked as our governor tries to help political gains for the presidential election.

Mulligan’s Beach House is a fantastic place to visit if you are in Vero Beach. My next venture in the Vero Beach area will be the Ocean Grille which is right across the parking lot. I have heard great things about the food there and will get back soon to see what they have to offer.

Where have you always wanted to eat but have not made it yet? How have you adjusted your dining plans in a COVID-19 world?

http://www.mulligansbeachhouse.com/vero-beach/

“The waves of the sea help me get back to me”.

(Anonymous)

Mulligans2

Melbourne beach weekend

Melbourne Beach

“To escape and sit quietly on the beach—that’s my idea of paradise”.

(Emily Wiskstead)

My Walk into the Future continues to provide unlimited adventures for me daily.

The beach is a major adventure for me, and some would say my happy place. Love to sit on the beach to relax, read and just enjoy the sound of the waves. My move to Fort Pierce puts me closer to beaches and I try to take advantage of this proximity as much as possible.

One of my favorite places to sit on the beach happens to be Melbourne, Florida. There are multiple beach towns in this area but the one I prefer is Indialantic Beach. Small area but it provides the best beach experience for me.

Made the 55-minute trek north on I-95 last weekend for a day at the beach. Did not realize it has been 3 years since I have been in the Melbourne area. A lot of my beach travel while in Tallahassee was a drive over to Jacksonville or Neptune beaches. Love that area too and it was a shorter drive than venturing all the way down to Melbourne. Decided to take a day trip and get back to an area I love to visit and hangout.

Outlet mall

COVID-19 has caused a lot of life disruptions. One of these for me was not being able to get to outlet malls. I know my outlet mall shopping is not a huge deal considering the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I had to drive by the Vero Beach outlet mall on my way to Melbourne. Many of the stores were still closed when I visited but was able to get some nice deals at the Van Heusen store. Yes, I wore a mask while shopping.

The Van Heusen outlet store had some great mark downs and I may have purchased more than I need. The in-store prices are a lot less than what they were selling for on-line. I have never been a fan of buying clothes on-line since different brands have their own unique cuts. My normal size in one store does not translate all the time to another. Buying pants online is a major headache for me since I need clothes for an athletic body. Also, needed to restock my work wardrobe since I have a day job again. 😊

Patrick AFB

Always make a point to visit Patrick Air Force Base when I am in Melbourne. Did not need anything but it always feels like going home when I am on the base. Spent 20 years in the Air Force and love being back on the base. Ended up just rambling around the Base Exchange and Commissary looking around and enjoying being back around the Air Force family. Got a few things but nothing major at either stop.

Crowne Plaza

The major attraction for me to visit the Indialantic beach is the Crowne Plaza hotel. Yes, I went up for a day trip, but the Crowne Plaza has a huge beach deck with a Tiki vibe and outside bar.

They allow beachgoers to utilize the deck, bar, and restrooms without being a hotel guest. Always thought that was a great feature and it keeps people coming back. I bring my own water and beer but routinely get a cold tropical drink (or two) at the bar. They have a great food menu so really do not need to go anywhere else once you get there.

There is live music most Saturdays and Sundays and that draws a decent crowd too. I normally walk further down the beach to get away from crowds but the music travels well. My day on the beach was spent reading, listening to music, and taking a bunch a naps. Nothing strenuous but wanted to visit the beach and relax—mission accomplished.

https://www.google.com/search?q=crowne+plaza+melbourne+fl+pictures&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS857US857&sxsrf=ALeKk00P5m-KQpG-NeMjKPXrrjOmlJlDWg:1590778740929&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=YVZCzuNcCXbIsM%253A%252C28LbZ-YA3Bc7sM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSIiMzmjPA7dY62D4InWst3DNgkgg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiMiJPO4NnpAhUJT98KHSVwAMgQ9QEwAnoECAoQDg#imgrc=YVZCzuNcCXbIsM:

Took the scenic route back to Fort Pierce on A1A. Normally go I-95 but did not have to rush back so took in the sights and enjoyed the views. Will try to get to Melbourne monthly for a beach getaway—may stay overnight next time since there are a lot of new shopping options in the area. Always looking for a good deal! 😊

What is your favorite beach or place? When will you visit again?

“The waves on the sea help me get back to me”.

(Jill Davis)

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