I’ve often told my children that a nickname is something that is usually bestowed upon you; sometimes for very disconcerting reasons. I’ve told them is very difficult to fight off a nickname, so the best thing to do is to embrace it. Although I consider my nickname to be “Jbone,” another nickname has surfaced and is gaining even more popularity, especially among the running community.

It started on April 3, 2010, which was the day I ran my first (and only) Ultra marathon (read my post “Ultra Marathon, Ultra Disaster”). Because of the dehydration I suffered during the race, I crossed the finish line with my shirt covered in salt. Thanks to Elaine and Pam, “Mr. Salty” was officially conceived.

Although this salt episode was an isolated incident, the nickname has grown in popularity to the point of my friend Jen calling me “Salty,” her husband Dan creating lyrics for me (“I’m Salty and I Know It”), as well as the entire Turtle Running Club of Ocala affectionately referring to me as “Mr. Salty.” I have really learned to embrace the nickname, and try to use it as much as possible. My usual 13.1 mile run on Saturday mornings is now officially known as the “Mr. Salty Half Marathon.”

It was time to get my spring fix of Gators football by going up to Gainesville to watch the Orange & Blue Debut. This is the spring practice game the University of Florida plays where the first team offense goes against the first team defense. The game takes place in the Swamp and is open to the public. Most major universities put on an event like this, which hopefully fills you with optimism for the upcoming college football season. Jen and her husband Dan graciously offered to let us stay with them, and we planned to do a run on Sunday morning with Pam, Elaine and any of the other Turtles that would be willing to come out. This would not be any ordinary run; this would be the inaugural “Ocala Mr. Salty Invitational.”

Glenda, Rachel and I drove up to Gainesville über early Saturday morning. The game was scheduled for 1 pm, but Friday night was the first night of Passover, and you know how that goes. We got to Gainesville around 9:30 am, did some shopping, and met up with Lindsey before going into the stadium. Our close friends Paula and Bill always get us tickets in the Champions Club, which means food and air conditioning. The game itself was mildly entertaining, but it’s the tradition and the company that makes it exciting.

After the game was over (an even more shopping), we said our goodbyes to Lindsey and made our way down south to Jen’s house (which is about an hour away from Gainesville). We decided to have dinner at The Villages, since Glenda had never been there before. Pam and her husband Joe would join us, but Elaine and her husband Joe could not make it. We had dinner at Lighthouse Point Bar & Grille, walked around for a bit, and then drove back to Jen & Dan’s house. We made the executive decision to start our run at 6 am instead of 5 am, based on the amount of alcohol consumed at dinner that evening. Pam had earlier suggested that we run in her development, since Elaine lived there as well. Pam kind of lives out in the boondocks, but I was just happy to be running with my friends, and was looking forward to the new scenery.

Since Jen lives almost 30 minutes from Pam’s house, we left around 5:30 am. It was way cooler than I expected, with the temperature around 60 degrees. In true tradition, I was not prepared for the colder weather, and I was underdressed compared to everyone else. Besides Jen, Pam and Elaine, Joe (Elaine’s husband) and their friend Danielle joined us for the inaugural “Ocala Mr. Salty Invitational.” As chilly as it might have been, I was not cold at all, and was really pumped to run with my friends. As is always the case when we all run together, our pace is typically very slow. This is due in part to excessive talking, laughing and urinating. We took a very extensive guided tour of the neighborhood, complete with commentary from Elaine and Pam. Danielle left us at the four mile mark, and Jen took a different route at that point as well (she wasn’t sure if she wanted to run the full 12 miles as planned). After eight miles, we decided to cut the run down to ten miles, since we all agreed that it felt as if we were running all morning long.

Jen met us back at Pam’s house, where Joe (Pam’s husband) gave me a crash course on cleaning my Keurig coffee maker. We then headed back down to Jen’s house where we met up with Glenda and Rachel. After a quick breakfast and shower, we made our way back home to South Florida.

This may have been the first of the “Mr. Salty Invitational” runs, but I’m certain it won’t be the last.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

It’s over…it’s all over!

After months and months of anticipation, speculation, and apprehension (not on my part), it was now time for what will probably be my last marathon of this year’s racing season. The 5 Points of Life Marathon isn’t one of the biggest or even one of the best marathons out there, but it does offer something that will forever be near and dear to my heart…it is in Gainesville. This would be the fourth year in a row I have entered the 5 Points of Life Marathon, and it is the scene of both my best finishing time and my worst finishing time. Gainesville is my home away from home; running through the streets gives me an adrenaline rush that no other race provides. I would need all the adrenaline I could get, as I was determined to set a PR (personal record) during this race.

After a week of light running and recovery from 26.2 With Donna last weekend, I left Saturday morning around 9:30 am. I would be staying with Lindsey and her roommates (Marisa and Mallory) this year instead of my friends Paula and Bill. I picked up Lindsey at 2:30 pm and we made our way to the race expo. With only 861 participants (168 running the full; 693 running the half), the expo was once again very small. However, I was able to score a pretty nice “I Run Gainesville” running shirt, which I decided to wear for the race. We had lunch at BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, and did some shopping at the Oakes Mall. It was there that we ran into “Awesome” Amy, who is a member of the Turtle Running Club of Ocala. We had discussed running together for the race, but she was obligated to run with some of her friends who would probably be running a slower pace than I had planned. After shopping, we went back to Lindsey’s apartment, watched the Gators basketball game against Arkansas, and then went to dinner at Blue Highway Pizza. I went to bed around 11:30 pm, as the ladies embarked on a marathon of their own…nonstop episodes of Dawson’s Creek.

I woke up at 5:00 am, which was like sleeping in. The race started at 7:00 am, and I was only ten minutes away. The temperature was 70 degrees, which was 40 degrees warmer than last week in Jacksonville. There was a 70 percent chance of rain, but it was just warm and humid when I left Lindsey’s apartment. I met up with Amy and her friends, took some photos, and made my way to the start line. It was strange running a marathon without either Elaine, Jen or Pam, but I just used this as motivation to make them proud of my finishing time.

This marathon has more hills than any other race I compete in, including Ocala. After three miles (and one potty stop), I was already soaking wet from the humidity. The first part of the race takes you west on Newberry Road, then a right turn on 43rd Street, and another right at Milhopper Plaza back towards downtown Gainesville. Mile ten puts you on the campus of the University of Florida, where you get to run through “The Swamp,” down Fraternity Row and past Lake Alice. This is the point where the half ends and the real adventure continues.

For the next two miles, I literally saw one other runner. This is one of the disadvantages of running in such a small race, as you sometimes wonder if you are the only one running. Fortunately, I know the course pretty well, and they have made significant improvements over the years to have more volunteers directing the runners. I would be passing Lindsey’s apartment at mile 15, so I called ahead on my iPhone and asked her to bring me a soda, a bag of M & M’s and the camera for an action shot of me. When I got to her, I was greeted with a can of Diet Mountain Dew Code Red, but no chocolate or camera. Lindsey offered to run back to her apartment and get the other two items, but I couldn’t afford to wait that long. Besides, I was grateful that she rolled out of bed as early as she did (9:30 am) to accommodate me.

I was pretty beat at this point, but I was keeping a steady pace going. I still didn’t see any other runners, but lots of encouragement from the police officers directing traffic. I was now entering what I consider the worst part of the race. From mile marker 17 to mile marker 22, you run west on Williston Road, which is best described as a highway. This five mile stretch from hell is as boring as it gets. To make matters worse, there was a 30 mph headwind to add to the misery. It was so gusty at points that you had to walk until the wind died down. I did pass several runners along the way, as they were struggling as much as I was. The wind really took its’ toll on me, and it was apparent that today would not be the day for the PR I was hoping for.

Once I made the right turn on NW 34th Street, the wind was now at my back. I did have to endure a brief shower, which actually cooled me down a bit. I was able to pass a few more runners during the last four miles, but I was pretty spent when I crossed the finish line (despite how happy I look in the photo). I missed my PR by only seven minutes, which was also the third best time for me in a marathon.

After a shower and then lunch with Lindsey, I made the drive back to Coral Springs. I had never been so tired driving home after a race, and actually considered staying at Lindsey’s apartment one more night. I downed a Rockstar on the drive (250 mg of caffeine) and eventually caught a second wind. When I got home, I saw that my Facebook page was blown up with congratulations and people telling me what an inspiration I was for completing four marathons in five weeks. I actually get very humbled when I get complemented like that. I do realize that not everybody could accomplish what I have, but in my mind, it’s what I do. That being said, I was verklempt when Pam posted on my Facebook wall: “So proud of you. It’s an honor to say I run with you!”

I’m grateful that I held up as well as I did physically, and I want to thank everyone who has supported me from the time I announced my intentions, until this last race.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

Three down, one more to go!

After a much needed week off from the marathon circuit, it was now time for 26.2 With Donna in Jacksonville. Unfortunately, I actually had a cause for this year’s race. My first cousin Ricki was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and I planned to run in her honor. Lots of folks have told me how touched they were by this gesture on my part, but I’m thinking it was the least I could do. I was running with Jen and Pam, and this would be Pam’s first full marathon since knee surgery last year.

I left early Friday morning and made a pit stop to pick up Jen at her house in Belleview. From there, up to Jacksonville. Pam would take her own car, since she planned on staying over Sunday night, and we would head home after the race. We met up around 3:30 at the Palms Retro Hotel. Pam’s running friends from the Marathon Maniacs and the Running of the Ears (ROTE) were staying there as well. With only ten rooms in total, you could say that we had taken over the place. At this point, the forecast for the race was lows in the mid-forties and highs in mid-sixties. Little did we know how quickly and how drastically that was going to change.

After we checked in, we decided to go to the expo. It wasn’t very crowded, since most of the runners typically go on Saturday. I picked up a pink running shirt to wear for the race, and reacquainted myself with my friend from the iFitness booth.

From there, we met up with the Marathon Maniacs and ROTE at Taps Bar and Grill for dinner. It was at this point where we saw that it may be just a wee bit colder than expected for the race. Make that MUCH colder! It was now expected to dip into the mid-twenties on Saturday night, with a race time start of around thirty degrees. Clearly, I needed to do some last minute shopping.

After breakfast Saturday morning, we took a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Factory. It was interesting, and the beer didn’t suck either. From there, we took a short trip to the Premium Outlet Mall in St. Augustine. I picked up a pair of throwaway sweat pants for seven dollars (thank you Bealls), and even found something to give Glenda for Valentine’s Day in the Nike Outlet store. We ate an early dinner at Al’s Pizza, sang happy birthday to one of our running buddies staying at the hotel, and then off to bed.

I woke up at 3 am on Sunday morning determined not to let the cold weather get the best of me. I put on a short sleeve compression shirt, followed by a long sleeve compression shirt, followed by the pink running shirt I picked up at the expo, topped off with a throwaway sweatshirt. On the bottom half, I was rocking my compression sleeves on the calves and thighs, shorts and sweatpants. I took one step outside and…BA-BAM!!! It was freaking cold! We left the hotel at 4:45 and caught the shuttle bus to the race village. We had close to a 90 minute wait until the race started, and everyone tried to huddle up around the portable gas generators to keep warm. Pam hooked me up with a pair of throwaway gloves and even had hand warmers to put inside the gloves.

It was finally time for the race to begin. There would be a total of 6,356 finishers, with 1,793 competing in the full marathon (4,563 would complete the half). This was clearly the coldest race I have ever participated in, but it wasn’t too bad once we started running. I of course had to take my traditional bathroom breaks early and often, but no issues like those encountered in the Miami Marathon (thank goodness). I was wearing the hoodie from my sweatshirt over my hat, and didn’t take it off until we were a good 15 miles into the race. If you’ve read my post from last year’s race, you know that we run on the beach from mile marker five to mile marker eight. It was magnificent last year; it was torture this year. Just picture a scenic beach run…not a cloud in the sky…30 degree temperature…and wind gusts up to 20 miles per hour blowing in your face (not to mention sand). Pam’s hat kept blowing off her head, and she collected an eyeful of sand for her troubles. Once off the beach, it was a little easier to run, but it was still cold. This is a beautiful race, with fantastic crowd support. Around the 14 mile mark, we ran past a house where the owners created their personal version of a winter wonderland.

This was where the race really became interesting. We caught up with an older guy who was running the race in a pink skirt. This was not as unusual as it sounds, since it is a race where all of the proceeds are used to help cure breast cancer. What was unusual was that the guy was running with a beer in his hand! Now Pam and I have been known to take a few sips of a brewsky during a race, but running with a longneck in hand? Not only that, the dude was picking up brews from spectators along the way (I saw him drink seven, not counting how many he may have consumed during the first 14 miles of the race). He told us that he had been in a nasty car accident and this was his first race back. I chalked up the beer drinking during the race to a possible celebration of life, sine he told us how happy he was to be looking down at the pavement, rather than being flat on his back looking up at the sky. Then out of nowhere, he proceeded to tell us a story about a three-way he once had with his best friend and his girlfriend. TMI!!! He now officially transformed himself from running/drinking buddy to running/creepy guy! It was pretty awkward after that, but I must admit he was very entertaining. We tried our best to lose him, but he wanted to stay with us and tell more creepy stories. It was around the 19 mile mark that I finally felt comfortable taking off my sweatshirt. The temperature was still in the thirties, but the sun was out and we now had the wind at our backs. I felt great physically, but was very happy to finally cross the finish line and put this race behind me.

The final stop in the quartet takes me to Gainesville next week for the 5 Points of Life Marathon.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

Two down, two to go!

This was the weekend of the most highly anticipated marathon of my career. First and foremost, not only were my Ocala running buddies coming down and staying with me for the weekend, but this would also mark the first time my good friend Pam would be running a race with me in South Florida. In addition, the ING Miami Marathon would be the largest race I’ve ever participated in. In total, there would be 19,986 runners, 3,945 competing in the full and 16,041 running the half. After the Ocala Marathon last weekend, I had a good seven mile recovery run on Wednesday. It was now time for the ladies to make their way down to hot and humid Coral Springs.

Pam, Jen, Terri and Toni arrived at my house around 6 pm Friday afternoon. After a quick tour of Stately Wayne Manor, we headed down to Las Olas Blvd. for dinner and sightseeing. Glenda’s business partner Gary has a condo right on the intercostal on the 28th floor, which provided several picture taking opportunities for the ladies. We woke up pretty early Saturday morning and headed down to the expo, which was held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The expo was huge, and the race shirts were excellent! I purchased two add-on water bottles from the iFitness booth, but did not ask the salesperson for a demonstration to make sure the bottles would be the only thing not bouncing up and down. After a couple of hours of shopping, we took a trip to FIU so my guests could see where I work. We grabbed an early dinner at Sweet Tomatoes, and went to bed around 8:30 pm.

I woke up on Sunday morning at 2 am. No…you did not read that wrong. The start time for the race was 6:15 am and I didn’t want to take any chances of getting caught in traffic. We left my house at 3:15 am and parked at Bayside around 4:10 am (it’s amazing how little traffic there is when you get to a race two hours before it begins). Bayside is right next door to the American Airlines Arena (home of the Miami Heat), which put us as close to the starting line as you can possibly get. We walked through Bayside for a little while, and of course hit the bathroom several times. We made our way over to the American Airlines Arena around 5 am, and met up with the Marathon Maniacs, Half-Fanatics and Running of the Ears for a quick photo session.

We decided to make our way to our corral at 5:30 am. By this time, the streets were packed, and the excitement of the race was starting to kick in. To see so many people in one place out in the street ready to run was quite an adrenaline rush. When the gun sounded for the start of the race, it took us close to 30 minutes before we crossed the starting line.

While in line, there was only one thing both Pam and I could think about…just how bad we had to pee! I can literally drive four hours from my house to Ocala and not stop once, but I can’t run three miles without having to water the lilies. Less than one half mile into the race, I told Jen and Pam I needed to find a bush and take care of business. After a very satisfying drainage, I was back on the road again. I did not see the ladies, so I figured they just started walking (the rule here is to walk and stay to the right). After about five minutes, Jen called me and asked where I was. Apparently, they were still waiting for me, not knowing that I had run ahead. I waited for them to catch up to me, but this debacle probably cost us close to 15 minutes. Pam still had to go, but the Porta-Potty line at the first water station was pretty long. When we got to the second water station, Pam could not hold it any longer, and told us to keep running without her. Since she was only doing the half marathon, we reluctantly ran ahead. Less than a mile later, I of course had to duck into the bushes once again, and now Jen had to go to the bathroom. The next water station (around four miles into the race) had no wait at all, so Jen checked into the Hotel Port-O-Let. This gave Pam an opportunity to catch up to us, and we were ready to run together again.

We had now run over 3-95 (MacArthur Causeway) and were heading towards South Beach. This part of the race was similar the Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon, but it changed once we headed away from the ocean. We were running past a golf course with “real” bathrooms, and I once again had to visit Uncle John. This time, something took place I’ve never experienced in a race before…I had to “drop a deuce.” Under the category of “more information than you need to know,” I had more paper work than a traveling salesman! This delay probably set us back yet another ten minutes or so, and quite frankly, it was starting to get a little frustrating. I had so much more energy than I did last week in Ocala, but I could not take advantage of it.

After running on Miami Beach for a few more miles, we made our way towards downtown Miami. It was at the 12 mile mark that we separated from Pam. At that point, Jen and I tried to formulate a game plan to make up for all of our delays. How’s this for a plan…RUN FASTER!!! The race took us through Coconut Grove and past Cocowalk. It was here that we caught up with Chuck and Terri. We were also now running with a woman who was entertaining us with her stylized rendition of “Borderline” by Madonna. Of course, I joined in with the chorus, and changed the name of the song to “Finish-Line,” complete with my own original lyrics. She then broke into Pitbull, which brought back memories from the Miami Beach Latin Music Half Marathon.

As we made our way down Brickell Avenue and towards the finish line, it started to sprinkle a little bit. We were very fortunate during the race, as the sun really never came out. Jen, Terri and I crossed the finish line holding hands, and I had never felt as good physically after a marathon (despite our miserable finishing time).

We met Pam and Toni back at the Bayside parking garage, only to find the battery had died in Glenda’s car. AAA came to the rescue, and we were on the road and back to my house. After a quick pizza lunch (thanks to Glenda), the ladies showered and hit the road back to Ocala around 4 pm. The weekend lived up to all expectations, and we all signed up for the race again next year (including a few more of the Turtles). I guess we’ll have to build an additional wing to the house!

Next up, 26.2 With Donna in two weeks.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

I didn’t plan for it to happen this way. Heck, I didn’t even check the calendar. I just picked these four races because I’ve run them before, and I knew I’d be running with friends. It just so happens that all four marathons take place in the span of five weeks. As intimidating as it sounds, I was actually excited about the challenge. Last year, I ran Donna and Gainesville back-to-back. I know I’ve trained harder this past year (535 more miles in 2011 than in 2012), but will my body hold out? Apparently, I’m the only one not really concerned about it.

Ocala was first up on the list. If you’ve read my past blogs about this race, you know that there are typically less than 500 participants that do both the full and the half combined. This year was no different, with a total of 494 runners (175 competing in the full). It is a beautiful race, taking you through the scenic horse country of Ocala. Elaine and her husband Joe entered the full, along with one of my new Turtle friends, Toni. Pam was going to do the half, as she does still not want to push too hard after her knee operation last year. Jen had volunteered to work the water station with the Ocala Turtles at mile marker 11, but would jump in and run with us the rest of the way when we got to her station.

I drove up early Saturday morning and met Jen at the Paddock Mall in Ocala. This was the location that the marathon would begin, and also where we went to pick up our race packets. There was no real “expo” to speak of, with just one vendor selling his wares (with no men’s clothes to be found). The race shirt was a long sleeve blue tech shirt, which I gave two thumbs up. I tried on the large, but it was too short. I asked to exchange it, but they told me that they had just enough shirts for the participants, and I would have to wait for tomorrow after the race for a potential exchange. I asked Toni (who was working the packet pickup table) to do the old switcheroo for me when the woman turned her head. Five minutes later, it was all good.

From there, it was a short trip to Gainesville and an enjoyable afternoon with Lindsey. I made my way back to Ocala to spend the night with Pam and her husband Joe. Elaine was making a nice pasta dinner for us, along with Jen and her husband Dan. Elaine lives in the same complex as Pam, so we made our way over via Joe’s golf cart. Elaine and her husband Joe had invited some other friends to join us, and it was a great evening, capped off by a marshmallow roast outside. We got back to Pam’s house around 10:15, and I went straight to bed. The race was starting at 7, and my plan was to get up around 4:45.

Unlike the past two years where the temperature was in the forties during the race, the high this year was going to be 79 degrees. When we got to the starting line, the temperature was 48 degrees. Knowing full well that it was going to heat up quickly, I opted not to wear my jacket. I had on compression sleeves under my short sleeve shirt, and would take them off once it warmed up. For some unknown reason, they start the half marathon 15 minutes after the full, so Pam would not be running with us. The course had changed a bit from last year, and it now entailed making two loops around the same areas. After I made my customary potty break in the beginning of the race, Elaine’s husband Joe and Toni decided to run ahead. I felt unusually sluggish for the first ten miles, but running alongside of Elaine certainly helped. By that time, the sun was now out in full force, and I was shvizing like a pig.

As we approached mile marker eleven, we could see the Ocala Turtles at the water station. To my total surprise, they had made signs for me and posted them on a tree. That made me feel special (not stop eating the paste special), since no one had done that for me before. Lisa, Robin, Terri, Sharon and Chuck were all there cheering us on, and Jen was now ready to join in on the run. Maybe it was the excitement of my friends going out of their way to make the signs for me, but I got a real energy rush, which would carry me for about the next 13 miles.

When I run with Elaine, we tend to stop to take pictures more often than usual, but that is what makes it so much fun to run with her. We saw a guy who was really laboring from a cramp in his leg, so I hooked him up with a packet of Biofreeze.

We passed the Turtles again at mile marker 19 during our second loop, and Jen decided to stop at this point. Her car was parked there, and it would just be an easier deal for her to get home. Joe met us at mile marker 23 (after already completing the race), and ran the rest of the way in with us. I really got tired during the last two miles, but finished as strong as I could. Our finishing time was not our best, but I did get some really great pictures.

I went back to Pam’s house after the race, took a shower, and joined her and Joe for lunch at Horse & Hounds Restaurant & Pub. I hit the road after that, and made it home around 9. It was another great weekend of running with great friends.

One down, three to go. Next up, the Miami ING Marathon.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

For me, to say that this was the most highly anticipated race of the year would be a major understatement. Not because it was part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, or that it was taking place on Miami Beach. Not even because Pitbull would be putting on a concert after the race. This event would signify the first time that my running buddies from Ocala would be making their way to South Florida to run in my backyard (figuratively speaking).

Jen, Elaine and Tasha (Jen’s friend) had signed up for the Latin Music Miami Beach Half Marathon with me, and would be staying at Stately Wayne Manor for the weekend. It seemed like ages that we entered this run, but after the debacle last week (better known as the Palm Beach Marathon), the weekend had finally arrived. The ladies drove down on Friday afternoon, and arrived at my house around 4:30. Glenda and Rachel had gone to Orlando for a band trip, but would be back Saturday night. I gave them the guided tour of the Sawgrass Mills Mall, and later dined at P.F. Chang’s.

We woke up Saturday morning and made our way down to South Beach. The expo was held at Lummus Park, which is located off Ocean Drive between 5th and 10th Street. It was cute how Elaine, Jen and Tasha were acting like they had left Mayberry for the first time on a road trip to Raleigh. It took a while to park, but it was good that we scouted out the parking situation the day before the race. The expo took place right on the beach! How cool is that? The race shirt was amazingly nice (not cotton) and the merchandise store had some great gear. The ladies bought me a shirt in appreciation of my southern hospitality for the weekend. Vendors were out in full force, with plenty of protein bars, coconut water and gels for the taking. After lunch, dinner, and yes…even more shopping, Jen and Tasha stayed up late catching up with Glenda and Rachel.

My alarm ran at 3:15, and it was finally race day. We left the house at 4:30 and got to the parking garage around 5:30. There were 3,680 participants entered in this race, and it was exciting to see just how many of them were there as early as we were. We took our obligatory pictures before the race, and made our way to the starting corral. The gun sounded exactly at 7, and it was interesting how they controlled the flow of the race. You are put into a corral based on the time you expect to finish. Corral 1 went first, and they waited a few minutes before they let the second corral start. We were in the fourth corral, so we didn’t really wait that long to get going.

The course took us down Ocean Drive and Alton Road. We eventually made our way to 1-95 (Julia Tuttle Causeway), which goes over Biscayne Bay. Elaine stopped several times to take pictures, and I had a camera in my running belt as well. After we got off the Julia Tuttle Causeway, we ran a bit through some unsavory neighborhoods, but plenty of water, gels and fan support. We came full circle, as we made our way back by running on 3-95 (MacArthur Causeway) to the finish line at Lummus Park. What is cool about running on the MacArthur Causeway is that you can see all of the cruise ships in the Port of Miami, as well as the Miami skyline.

Elaine and I finished a few minutes ahead of Jen and Tasha. This was Tasha’s first half marathon, and she was pretty sore when it was over. Elaine and I ran a strong race, but Jen was a little bothered by the heat. I was pleased with my time, and felt great after it was over. They gave the runners towels soaked in ice water as they crossed the finish line, and even had ice baths for those in dire need. The medals were really nice, and they even had enough for all of the finishers (imagine that). All the vendors from the expo were there again on race day, and we grabbed even more SWAG.

It was now time to be entertained by the musical styling of Pitbull. Even if you are not a fan, you have to be impressed that such a high profile musical artist was signed to give a concert on the beach for a crowd of around 2,000 runners, family and friends. Pitbull performed for about 45 minutes, and we made our way back home after that. Elaine saw the boutique “Dash,” and made me turn the car around so she could get out and take a picture. Such a tourist!

When we got home, the ladies showered and made the drive back to Ocala. The race itself was first class, but the memories from the weekend were priceless!

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

How can a race be so much fun and enjoyable, yet suck at the same time? The answer is to surround yourself with good friends (and food) while you are trudging through the tsouris.

The Palm Beach Marathon is a race that has been on my radar for a few years now. Living in South Florida, you are pretty much limited to this race, the Miami Marathon and the A1A Marathon. I decided that this would be the year that I would enter, especially since I’m totally over doing the A1A Marathon. I was hoping that between Elaine, Jen and Pam, I would have a running partner. Despite my constant nagging and begging, all three of them decided to take a pass. I wasn’t going to bail out, but I really didn’t want to run another marathon “lone wolf” style. Pam told me that Chuck, one of the members of the Turtle Running Club of Ocala, was entering the race. This would be the 300th marathon of his career, and some of the Turtles would be running as well to help him celebrate. I put a posting up on the Turtle’s Facebook page to see if I could run with them; Lisa and Terri entered the full, with Robin and Toni taking on the half.

During my run with the Turtles (in Ocala) the week before the race, Terri decided that she was okay with my pace and agreed to run with me. Later that week, she told me that Chuck was having a dinner celebration the night before the race, and invited me to attend. Since I was planning on being in West Palm Beach to pick up my race packet at the expo, it was a no brainer (not that I needed an excuse).

I started out the weekend by running the Jingle Bell Jog 5K with Rachel on Saturday morning. It was a good last minute warm-up for the marathon on Sunday, and it’s one of the few 5K races that Rachel and I run together. After about a three hour power nap, we got dressed and made our way up to West Palm Beach. The packet pickup and expo was at The Harriet Himmel Theatre at CityPlace. This is a really beautiful area, with lots of amazing shopping (if you’re into that kind of thing).

The excitement quickly turned to disappointment as I picked up my packet. The race shirt was made out of cotton. REALLY??? REALLY??? A cotton t-shirt for a full marathon? REALLY??? Fortunately, they were selling commemorative tech shirts for the race, which actually had the course map on the back of the shirt. Sadly, joy turned to despair, as I needed a shoe horn to squeeze into a double-XL. The expo itself was pathetic, but I did have a nice conversation with the iFiteness girl (see my previous post “26.2 With Donna – 2/13/2011”).

After some power shopping with Glenda and Rachel, it was time to meet the group at the restaurant. Chuck had chosen Il Bellagio at CityPlace for us to dine, which specializes in Italian cuisine. I had never met Chuck before, but recognized him instantly. Then Lisa, Robin, Toni, Terri, and Sharon rolled in with the rest of Chuck’s friends and family. There were eighteen of us in total, and the food and conversation was excellent. We probably could have hung out all night, but we needed to get what little sleep we could squeeze in before the race. Chuck then presented us with t-shirts he have printed up to celebrate this milestone in his running career, which blew away the shirts they gave out for the race. We agreed to put the shirts on before Chuck crossed the finish line, and then take a group photo.

I woke up 3 a.m. and rolled out of the house around 4:15. I got the parking garage at 5:15, and met up with the Turtles shortly after that. There were 2,106 runners entered into the race, with 532 competing in the full marathon. This was down 763 from last year (2,869), probably because of the crappy t-shirt. We took some pre-race photos, and were now ready to get down to business. It was very windy, with the temperature around 73 degrees when the gun sounded.

The first part of the race was really pretty, as we ran on the beach and through some really upscale neighborhoods. I took my one and only potty break at the three mile mark, and Terri decided to walk with Chuck for a little bit. I continued to run with Lisa, who is considerably faster than me. She can probably complete a marathon in four hours, but decided to do a slower pace and keep me company. It was all good for about the first seven miles, but the flaws of the race became glaringly obvious after that. As we approached one of the water stops (which are stationed every 1.5 miles), we were shocked to discover that they had run out of water! REALLY??? REALLY??? With runners depending on hydration to get them through 26.2 miles, how can that happen? Fortunately for me, I always carry a water bottle in my running belt; this would not be the last water station to come up bone dry.

Around mile marker eight, we were now out of West Palm Beach, and running in “crack town” Lantana (no disrespect to any residents of Lantana). Even worse, the police were having a little trouble keeping drivers off the course itself (I guess the cones they put up weren’t a strong enough message). Physically, I felt fine, but I was starting to get a little winded. I was having trouble keeping up with Lisa around the seventeen mile mark, and it was at that point where she took off and left me in the dust. I really appreciated her staying with me for as long as she did.

The last eight miles seemed to take forever, but it was obvious how much the extra training I’ve done this year has paid off. The temperature was now up to 79 degrees, and a lot of the participants were walking it in. As I crossed the finish line, Robin, Sharon, Toni and Lisa (among others) were there cheering me on, and I felt great physically. My time was very respectable, and I was thankful to receive my medal. Why you may ask? As if the bogus t-shirt, lack of water and poor scenery weren’t enough to discourage you from entering this race again, how about the fact that they actually ran out of finisher medals! REALLY??? REALLY??? Our running buddy Chuck was about to complete his 300th marathon at age 73 and get interviewed by the local television station. Oh, by the way…he wasn’t going to receive a medal. REALLY??? REALLY??? On top of that, the medal itself looked more like one you would give a finisher of a 5K race (just like the t-shirt). Toni and I gave one of the race officials the business about it, but they promised to mail the medals out to those who did not receive one within a few weeks.

As Chuck approached the finish line, we quickly threw on the t-shirts he gave us and prepared to take our group picture. Terri finished shortly after that, and she was equally pleased to find out they did not have a medal for her as well. We hung out for a bit after that, but the Turtles had to get back to Ocala, and I had an appointment with an ice bath.

Overall, hanging out with some amazing people totally overshadowed how poorly organized the race was. I was pleased on all levels, but doubtful if I’ll ever enter this race again. That is…unless they up the level of the t-shirts.

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Like the Masters, the Turkey Trot is a tradition like no other.  Okay…That’s probably a pretty big exaggeration, but the Turkey Trot holds a great deal of sentimental value for me.

If you have ever seen the award-winning documentary “I Am a Runner” (and let’s face it, who hasn’t seen it by now), you know that this is the race that spring-boarded my running career.  Although a 5K is for the most part beneath me in terms of distance, I always have a place in my heart (and my racing calendar) for this run.

Since 1996, the routine has been the same:  Doug picks me up at my house; we compete in the race, go back to his house and visit with his family, and make our way back to my house.  As the years have rolled on, we have picked up other runners along the way, most notably Doug’s two daughters Britney and Brooke as well as my daughter Rachel.  This year, my good friend Cyndy from Jacksonville decided to run with us.  Doug has experienced some medical issues over the years, and this is the only race he enters.  It’s a shame, since he was way faster than me, but now he is just a shell of the runner he once was.  Despite his physical issues, his enthusiasm for this race never dampers.

With the Palm Beach Marathon looming on December 4th, this race came at a perfect time.  Since I am tapering off before the marathon, my running schedule had me do seven miles Wednesday, the Turkey Trot on Thursday, five miles on Friday, and an always exciting eleven mile run with the Ocala Turtles on Saturday.  With over 1,500 participants, this race is always well attended.  As the gun sounded, I wasn’t really sure how I was going to attack this run.  Because the race is so short, you have no room for slacking if you want to PR.  I had a pretty good pace in the beginning, but I’ve gone out quicker in previous races.  I did have a negative split, which made me very happy.  As I crossed the finish line, I was 45 seconds off my targeted goal.  This may not seem like much, but it’s an eternity in a 5K.

Doug told me that he was within 30 feet of me in the last mile, but then felt like he was carrying a refrigerator on his back.  It was sad for me to hear that, and reminded me how fortunate I am to not have any serious physical ailments. 

As Cyndy and Rachel crossed the finish line, we grabbed a bagel and bottle of water and make our way to Doug’s house.

Let the festivities begin!

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This is a race that I don’t always have the opportunity to participate in every year. It is typically scheduled right after the Florida/Georgia game (Halloween weekend) or Homecoming weekend. Since the Gators game was a noon kickoff, we drove home after the game with plenty of time to get some good quality sleep before the 6:30 am start time on Sunday.

This race takes place in Spanish River Park, which has been discussed in previous blog posts. It was the end of Daylight Savings Time, so I was able to cop an extra hour of sleep. Of course I had to screw up my alarm clock, but fortunately, I set the alarm on my cell phone as a backup. I parked in my usual spot, only to find out that they moved the check-in table to a new location. In addition, I totally forgot to bring my water bottle. Fortunately, I brought a bottle of Gatorade with me, which fit into my running belt. As I made my way back to the car to put in my contact lenses, it started to pour big-time! Then, I had major issues putting in one of my contacts. Can you tell the morning was shaping up just peachy keen?

With all of the pre-race festivities now out of the way, it was finally time to run. Since this race takes place right on the beach in Boca Raton, you can always count on some extra wind. Today was no exception, especially with the rain coming down intermittently. I got off to a very fast start, and it only rained for the first two miles or so. It had been a while since I’ve entered a race of this length, and it felt great to be back on the circuit.

I could tell I was going to PR this race, but then the bottom dropped out a little bit at the end. I started to get winded during the last three miles of the race, which caused me to lose some time; the wind gusting in my face didn’t help matters either. They had changed the course a bit, so you actually run through the park itself more than in the past. I don’t know if this race was a PR or not, but it was still one of my better times in a half marathon. I was happy to see that all of the extra training I’ve been doing this year is paying off.

The real test will be December 4th…The Palm Beach Marathon.

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Although it is technically not a race, Gator Gallop is without a doubt one of my favorite runs to participate in. Not because of the distance (it’s only two miles) and not because of the course (it goes down University Avenue). The excitement is the kickoff to homecoming weekend at the University of Florida.

The weekend starts on Friday morning with the traditional homecoming parade. The parade starts at 11:30 am, with Gator Gallop leading the way before the floats come through. Later that evening is Gator Growl, which is the largest student produced pep rally. If that weren’t enough, the weekend concludes on Saturday with the football game (although this year is not the best of times).

We typically drive up Thursday night and make our way to our “spot,” which is right in front of Leonardo’s around 10 am. When I got up in the morning, I was surprised to see the temperature was a brisk 43 degrees. No worries; I brought a long sleeve shirt and a jacket to run in. Lindsey’s roommate Marisa and her friend Hannah decided to run with me, so we picked up the whole clan at her apartment.

The race…I mean run (old habits are hard to break) begins in front of Percy Beard Track, which is about one mile from Leonardo’s. As the three of us made our way to the start, the crowd was already out in full force. All the schools in Gainesville close for homecoming, and parents love to bring their kids to the event. We picked up our shirts and bibs, and did some pre-race stretching. There are about 1,500 people who enter the run, including parents pushing strollers, skaters and lots of walkers. There is no real official timing of this run, but they do give a modest cash prize to the person who finishes first (not me). Since I don’t typically run a distance this short, my only measuring stick to set a PR is the Gator Gallops I have run in previous years.

As the run starts, it’s very cool seeing all the ACRs (Alachua County Residents) lined up in the street. They are very enthusiastic in cheering everyone on. I was a little sore at first from my eleven mile run on Wednesday, but there is no time to relax when you’re only running two miles. When I got to Glenda and Lindsey, I had loosened up and was ready to take it home. I had Lindsey shoot some video of me running instead of taking still pictures. I crossed the finish line strong, setting a new PR and ready to sit for two hours as the parade was starting. The only thing missing was my daughter Rachel, who was at a convention this year.

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