GASPARILLA DISTANCE CLASSIC – May 8 & 9, 2021

 

 

When is a virtual race not a virtual race?  When it is put on by the Gasparilla Distance Classic.

I would say that this race weekend is my favorite, but at this point, any race weekend would be my favorite.  I’ve been doing at least one virtual race per month to get to my goal of 100 (just finished #74), but they are really getting torturous and boring.  I was fortunate to do Mount Dora in person back in December, but Miami was switched to virtual.  Gasparilla was originally scheduled for the end of February, but was postponed until Mother’s Day weekend.  Ah…a glimmer of hope.  Sadly, Susan broke the news that the race weekend would be virtual.  She and her staff didn’t think it would be fair to keep stringing everyone along, as the Covid numbers had not dropped enough to make the race safe for all parties concerned.  On the bright side, she announced that they would be closing Bayshore Blvd. down for a few hours on both Saturday and Sunday for runners to do the race “virtually.”  Since the Sandhouse Running Club is fully vaccinated, we decided to make it our first vacation in what seems like an eternity.  Glenda and Rachel would make the trip with me, and Lindsey and Elaine would have to take a pass this year.

Susan sent me an email earlier in the week that Lindsey had won a contest to have dinner with Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi on Friday night.  Since Lindsey would not be able to attend, Susan graciously offered the prize to us.  Meb and I have literally run into each other in the elevator of our hotel for the last six years; I was looking forward to having conversation with him in some not so confined quarters.

 

After an easy non-eventful drive (see previous posts about Gasparilla), we went straight to the expo.  The shirts and medals were outstanding, but the lack of vendors was heartbreaking.  It’s understandable under the circumstances, but to see the hall so empty was very sad.  With nothing to purchase, we went back to the hotel to get ready for our evening with Meb.

 

 

 

The dinner was at the Columbia Restaurant, but the Ybor City location.  To our surprise and delight, we learned that there is a trolly that goes from downtown Tampa to Ybor City…and it’s free!  That would have been good to know about seven years ago.  We had a private room with the nine other lucky winners of the contest, and got to speak with Susan in a more relaxed setting.  The food selections were a limited version of their full menu, so of course there was nothing for me to eat.  Now I had to be “that guy” and ask Susan for an alternative option.  Susan asked one of her staff members to sit at our table, and what a delight she was.  Ashley was very engaging, and has quite the educational background.  She explained how easy the course would be to navigate, and that there would be plenty of volunteers directing traffic as well.  Meb joined us for the first course and he recognized me right away from our previous elevator rendezvous.  I picked his brain about some helpful running tips, and did get to ask him the big question…Do you every have to pee when you are running (he said no…lucky guy).  The weather was supposed to be unseasonably cool on Saturday morning, so Ashley recommended that I do the half marathon instead of the 15K.  She was going to be out on the course, so I was looking forward to seeing her again.  I thanked Susan for the evening, and apologized for being such a picky eater.

The course opened up at 5am, and I took full advantage of the early start.  It was 63° when I crossed the starting line, with only about ten other runners.  We would stay on Bayshore Blvd. the entire time, with strategic turns that were clearly marked.  I must say that you would never know this was a virtual race by the amount of volunteers, police, water stations, and Port-O-Potties on the course (with no lines, you know I took full advantage).  I saw Ashley a few times, and stopped to speak to her for a few moments.  The wind on the way out was at my back, but was really working against me in the opposite direction.  As time went on, there were a lot more runners; it truly felt like an in-person race.  I felt great the entire time, and the temperature was still under 70° when I finished.

 

We grabbed breakfast at the hotel, and decided to go back to Ybor City for the day.  Ashley told us during dinner that there are a lot of chickens and roosters roaming the streets, so that was all Rachel needed to hear.  We took the trolly to Ybor City Saturday Market in Centennial Park.  Operating since 2000, the Ybor City Saturday Market is the largest continually operating outdoor market in the Tampa Bay Area. Centered in Tampa’s Historic District, the market is one of the most popular shopping destinations for locally produced items unique to the Tampa Bay Area.  As soon as we arrived, there were almost as many chickens and roosters as there were shoppers. We spent a good amount of time taking photos, but sadly not purchases.  We walked around for a long time, and stopped for lunch at the Tampa Bay Brewing Company (and by lunch, I mean beer and nachos).  We sat outdoors, but it did seem strange taking off our masks around other people.  We took the trolly back to the hotel, and proceeded to take a four-hour power nap.  None of us were really in the mood to go out for supper, so we took a stroll to Publix for some “Pub-Subs” and other goodies.

With half marathon #74 in the books, I decided to see how I felt Sunday morning as to whether or not I would run the 15K.  Since it’s technically a virtual race, I could always run at home the following weekend.  I set the alarm for 4am, and felt surprisingly good.  I was back out on the course at 5am, with a small group of my closest friends.  The temperature was a little warmer, and the wind was not quite as stiff.  Knowing that I was only doing 9.3 miles was also good psychologically.  I know there is probably a good reason that the longer race is always the second day (same with Disney), but I enjoyed this in “reverse order” much more.  I saw Ashley again, and this race was just as enjoyable as the half marathon.  I don’t think there were as many runners on Sunday as there were on Saturday, but you couldn’t deny the “real-race” feeling.  We had breakfast once again at the hotel, and made our way back to the 9-5-4.

 

 

 

Staring in the face of adversity, Susan and her staff once again delivered a first-class event.  It is a credit to their hard work and determination that this weekend was as memorable as any other year.

MOUNT DORA HALF MARATHON - December 20, 2020

 

 

It's "virtually" been a minute since I ran a race in person.  Actually, it's been spring, summer and fall.

2020 has been rough on everyone, and a running blog is not the place to hash out the gory details.  I am thankful that we are all healthy, and I’ve been teaching remotely.  We have literally been on lock-down, and have not stepped foot into Publix since March (thank you Instacart).  We have ventured out when necessary, but for the most part, we are doing our part to put an end to this pandemic. 

Gratefully, it has not restricted my running, as there are not really any marathons or half marathons taking place from March to September.  With many upcoming races being cancelled, the virtual race has really taken off...a new trend in the running community. Runners who sign up for a virtual race register online and simply choose their own starting line, whether it's a treadmill or a neighborhood street. They run the race distance, upload their finishing time and a few days later are mailed a medal (and race shirt).  It may seem strange to traditional runners, but race organizers say the virtual race is a great option for those who want convenience.  I have participated in virtual races in the past (specifically during the summer months), but now they are really popping up all over the place.  My students even produced a news report about this latest craze.   

In addition, most of the scheduled “in person” races have been forced to offer the virtual alternative.  One of these events was the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, originally scheduled for November 5-8.  Lindsey and I signed up for the Two-Course Challenge (10K & Half Marathon), and were given the following options:

·       Full refund

·       Roll over entry until next year

·       Run virtually (at a discounted price)

We settled on the virtual option and received our race shirts and medals last week.  I also ran the Stay At Home and the Bridges of London Half Marathons, which were both virtual-only races.

 

 

Up to this point, the Disney Wine and Dine was the only in-person race I had signed up for had been switched to virtual.  As the pandemic dragged on, and the “finish line” nowhere in sight, it was just a matter of time until they were all switched.  Sure enough, the Miami Marathon and Half Marathon went virtual.  Gasparilla was still hanging on but had to postpone from late February until Mother’s Day weekend in May.

The one race that had not gone virtual was the Mount Dora Half Marathon.  If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know that it’s not only one of my favorite races, but I’m also a Race Ambassador this year as well.  With usually less than 1,000 participants, they were in a position to pull this off with all the safety precautions in place.  I was both excited and nervous, since I have not really ventured out much.  My fellow Race Ambassadors really put me at ease, so I booked our usual cottage at the Mount Dora Historic Inn.  The only difference would be that we would drive up on Saturday, instead of Friday.  Glenda has been even more fanatical than me in terms of staying safe; I was pleased that she was on-board with our plan.  Our fearless leader Kelly really kept us on point, and the promotion for this race was comparable to races much larger and more prestigious.

We arrived in Mount Dora around 1:30pm and made our way to the expo to pick up my race packet.  Kelly was sitting outside, and we talked about how badly the Gators were going to lose to Alabama (thankfully, that was not the case).  The race shirts were really nice, and I loved the color (green).  We walked around for a little bit but were disheartened to see that only half of the people were wearing masks.  As this was freaking out Glenda, we went back to the cottage and watched college football for the rest of the day (we did take a quick trip out to look at the tree, once it got dark).

As I approached the starting line on Sunday morning, two things really put a smile on my face:  First, it was around 53°…PERFECT RUNNING WEATHER!  Second, at least 90% of the runners were “masked-up”.  I stood in the back until the race started and tried to keep my distance as much as possible.  668 runners started in staggered waves; I waited until the very end to go.  I kept my neck gaiter on until we made the first turn off Donelly Street, which was about three-tenths of a mile.  Based on the race photos I’ve seen, many of the runners were mask-less before that.  It’s not so much that’s it is hard to breathe with the mask/gaiter on, but my glasses were totally fogged up.  That notwithstanding, it was very easy to social distance the entire race.  The conditions could not be better, and I took my running sleeves off around the two-mile mark.  This is one of the few races that I really concentrate on taking in the sights and sounds of the course.  It’s really pretty, and I soaked up every mile.  I felt really strong and was so happy to be “out-and-about.”  I decided to do intervals around three miles into the race (3 x 1).  There were a few water stations, but it was mostly “self-service.”  I wore my Orange Mud HydraQuiver Double Barrel Hydration Pack, with two 24oz. bottles.  I usually wear a running belt, but that limits me to 16oz. of fluid.  There were a lot of folks sitting outside their homes cheering on the runners, which is always uplifting.  As an extra added bonus, I only had to stop and pee three times!

 

 

With about one-tenth of a mile to go, I heard the voice I’m loved seemingly my entire life.  Glenda was calling out to me to take a photo.  She positioned herself in a place where she would not be around anyone and snapped a few good photos.  This was our 39^th wedding anniversary, and I’ve never known a person I love, admire, and look up to more than her.  She was a good sport to come up for the weekend, although I would tease her for not being at the finish line to take a photo as I crossed.  There were pre-prepared food bags for the runners, and even the medal was “masked-up.” This was certainly one of the most enjoyable races in recent memory.

 

 

 

 

 

I applied to be a Race Ambassador for next year, but I understand if they want to give someone else an opportunity.  I’ve run this race every year since it started, and plan to do so next year as well.

 

 

Happy Anniversary Glenda.  I love you!

 

GASPARILLA DISTANCE CLASSIC – February 22 & 23, 2020

Just when you think your favorite race weekend could not get any better, the bar is raised to a point that would be hard to beat.  I’m getting a little ahead of myself, so let me start from the beginning.

One of the classes I teach at FIU is Multimedia Production I (RTV 3531).  An assignment the students have to do is to record and edit a chroma key segment, also known as a green screen.  I always provide them an example to follow, so I recorded and edited one myself.  My segment was called “I Am a Runner” (catchy title, just like this blog).  I talked about my favorite race weekend, so no script was necessary.  In fact, I actually “nailed” it on the first take.  Once it was edited and posted on YouTube, I sent the link to the race director Susan; I thought she would get a kick out of it.  Boy…was that an understatement.  Susan called me and said the video was AMAZING.  “And when I say amazing, I mean amazing in all caps.”  Not only that…she also asked if she could post the video on the landing page of the race website.  I was thrilled and honored, and told her I would help with any videos she may need in the future.  I sent her the link to this blog, in which she replied: “You continue to amaze me with your lovely words about Gasparilla.”

While Running the Mayberry Half Marathon, I convinced Elaine to enter Gasparilla; it would be her first time.  Lindsey was on the fence for the weekend, mostly because Miami was moved up one week this year.  After twisting her arm for several months (and taking care of her race entry and airfare), she succumbed to my pressure.  Elaine also helped in turning up the heat.  Mary and Doug were all in as well, and we then got word of a special guest appearance by Pam.  THE BAND WAS BACK TOGETHER AGAIN!  This would certainly be a weekend to remember.

Everyone would be arriving around the same time on Friday except Elaine.  Her flight was coming in at 10pm (she could not find a direct flight any earlier 😩).  The host hotel this year was the Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa, which is connected to the convention center where the race expo is held.  This is the first time since I’ve been doing this race weekend that I would be staying here; boy…it did not disappoint!  Lindsey, Mary, Pam and I grabbed lunch, as Doug was still en route.  He met us at the restaurant, and we made our way to the expo.  I called Susan in the hopes of meeting her in person, but obviously she was super-busy (I would continue to pester her throughout the weekend; I’m really sorry for being such a noodge Susan).  I really liked the race shirts this year.  They were very colorful and a departure from previous years.  The challenge jackets were colorful as well, but I miss the windbreaker style from four years ago.  Asics was now providing the official merchandise for the races, replacing Under Armour.  They were selling really snazzy looking compression sleeves, but ran out in the first few hours.  I hope they eventually replenish their supply.  This is a great expo, with lots of good vendors, and plenty of room to walk around (Miami Marathon…please take note). 

The weather for this weekend was pretty cold, which was great for me, but a bummer for Lindsey.  As we made our way down for supper, the temperature was around 51˚, and extremely windy.  On top of that, our dining experience was extremely unpleasant (I won’t mention the name of the establishment, as that’s not really the purpose of this blog.  I’ll say it was a sports bar, and leave it at that).  Besides waiting 30 minutes to be seated, we also waited one full hour until our food was served.  Our server acted nonchalant (as if it were her first day on the job), and the manager didn’t really seem to care.  He gave us 50% off the bill, but we felt as if he should have not made us pay anything at all.  On a positive note, the food was very good.

Hereis the breakdown for all four races:

5K       12,022

8K         4,723

15K       5,480

Half       5,050

A total of 27,275

As we met in the lobby at 6:30am on Saturday morning, there were two “medical updates.”  First, Mary had deferred her race entries, and would not be running this year.  Second, Lindsey had been having knee pain, due in part to a tight ITband.  Her status for the Michelob Ultra Pure Gold Challenge (15K on Saturday and Half Marathon on Sunday) would just have to unfold.  It was 41˚ at the start of the race, with not very much wind at all.  The running strategy was as follows: Pam would run with me, Elaine would run with Lindsey, and Doug would do intervals.  The gun sounded at 6:45, and we were off.  It was great to do a race with Pam again, as we always have the best conversations when we run.  I had recently purchased a percussion hammer, and worked myself over for about 20 minutes before the race. Wow, did it make a difference!  This race was effortless for me, and I only needed to stop twice to pee.  This may be a PPR (personal piss record).  The wind was at our back for the first part of the race, which was a good thing.  As it became warmer towards the end, it was good to have that cool breeze in our faces.  My time was pretty slow, but extremely enjoyable.  As we met the others at the finish line, Lindsey told me her knee started to hurt after the first mile, and she had to walk the last two miles (sadly, she still finished ahead of me).  I was saddened to hear that she would have to skip the half marathon on Sunday, but I’m sure she was bummed out more than any of us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

We made our way back to the hotel for breakfast…and what a breakfast it was!  You name it; they had it (and it was included in the price).  Jen drove up for the day to spend some time with us, and she got there just in time for a cup of coffee.  Lindsey, Elaine, Doug and I moseyed our way to the after-party for a well-earned beer and live music.  They had really good looking coffee mugs, but you needed to finish in the top ten-percent of your age group to get one (I guess I’m going to have to bug Susan one more time).  Just in case you were wondering, I did see Meb once again in the elevator; this makes six years in a row.  I told him my video was on the website, and I was trying be more Gasparilla famous than him.  Lindsey told me back in the room that I am embarrassing.  After a shower, we went back to the expo, since Elaine had not been able to go on Friday.  Lindsey and I each bought a medical-grade massager (and by “each bought,” I mean I foot the bill for both of them).  It looks like something you would buff your car with, but it really digs deep into your muscles.  We did an early supper at Columbia Café (where else?), and were joined by Jen and Jay (Pam’s sister and brother-in-law).  The food was excellent, and the service was even better.  Back at the hotel, we were in time for happy hour (also included in our stay).  I had a glass of wine for the road, and was in bed by 8:30.

The half marathon was starting at 6:00am, and I woke up around 4:15.  I went to town on the percussion hammer, and met everyone in the lobby at 5:30.  The weather at race time was 52˚, so no jacket was needed.  I wore compression sleeves and a short sleeve shirt.  Pam informed me that she would be running with Elaine today, so I would have to fly solo.  It was probably a good thing, as I didn’t expect my bathroom good fortune from yesterday to hold up again.  True to form, I had to stop and pee after one mile.  Lindsey had told Elaine to look for the iconic saxophone player around the two-mile mark; as anticipated, he was there.  They must have shuttled him ahead, as I saw him jamming out again four miles into the race.  The sun was out in full force after five miles, and I was able to take off the compression sleeves.  I was not sore at all, but I did stop at almost every port-o-potty.  Truthfully, it was more because I was running “lone wolf,” as opposed to really having to go.  I saw Elaine and Pam after their turnaround, so they ran with me for a few steps (what a magnanimous gesture on their part).  My pace was actually quicker than the 15K, and the weather was outstanding.  The course is beautiful, and I truly felt blessed to be there.  I even stopped to take a photo with some of my closest Star Wars friends.  We all met up at the finish line, and the medals were outstanding (as always).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Breakfast back at the hotel, a quick stop to Publix for Pub Subs for the road, and off to Tampa Airport to drop off Elaine and Lindsey.  Elaine loved the weekend, and plans on entering again next year.  I had asked Susan to consider me for race ambassador for next year; she told me I am already an ambassador.

How can you top greatness?  The Gasparilla Distance Classic always seems to know how.