A Pirate's Race for Me! - Gasparilla Distance Classic (Half)

After getting up and dressing for the day (and applying loads of sunscreen!), we checked out and packed up the car, then headed to our super-secret parking spot.

Aw, man! It looked like the local school this lot belongs to realized that they should be capitalizing on their location, and there was a guy there collecting money to park there. It was only $10 (if you didn't have a kid attending that school) and I was okay with that price. We went to the drugstore around the corner and picked up some band-aids for my toes (I could feel hot spots and wanted to avoid any blisters!). We also got cash back and handed it over to the nice guy. I wrapped my toes and tried to stretch - as you can imagine, I was really sore that morning!  My plantar fasciitis - which had been bothering me since the new year - was not happy with me doing this all over again, after doing 20k yesterday... how in the hell am I actually going to finish this?

We made our way to the bridge where I needed to line up for the half-marathon (only 7300 runners today...). Technically, i was supposed to go around, utilizing another bridge, and come in from the top of the bridge, rather than trying to swim upstream, but where's the fun in that!

And this is only the NON-Seeded group of runners!

Over there, where you can't see anything is a whole other group of seeded runners, including Meb!

Looking at the top of the bridge, behind me

Pretty!

Hubby and the Kiddo had already gone over to the starting line, so I was here to chill by myself until it was time to go. As usual - start line selfie!

Wearing purple today to bring the good vibes

In case you are wondering why I wear head boppers for some races but not others; it's because Hubby has said that it makes it easy for him to tell if the runner coming his way is me or not. Many people mnight wear a purple top, but only I have purple head boppers! So, if it's a race for which he's with me, I wear the boppers. Otherwise - unless it's part of a costume - I don't wear them. I'll wear my hat or a BondiBand.

Also, I have to reiterate again, that I'm worried about this race. I've been told by the race staff that I HAVE to make it off of Davis Island by 7:20AM or I will be shunted to the sidewalks (I won't be swept though). I HAVE to make it to Bay to Bay Boulevard by 9AM or I will be shunted to the other side of Bayshore to allow the 8k'ers to run. I don't like being moved to sidewalks or whatever - it makes me feel fat and slow and I hate that!

Well, too late to worry about it now! We're off! First stop, we head to Davis Island. I've never been to Davis Island, so I have no idea what to expect.

Horrible photo of running up the bridge to Davis Island

Apparently Davis Island has a fire twirler!

Hey! What a terrible photo!

They also overlook what I think is the Seddon Channel which is really pretty. 

I sure wouldn't mind seeing that out my bedroom window every morning.

I missed the Mile 1 sign somewhere (or there was no sign; I'm usually eagle-eyed for the signs), but according to the course map, Mile 1 was near the Marjorie Park Yacht Basin. 

It was kind of weird, running this area in the dark. I think because the sun was over the water, it made the land seem that much darker? I don't know how to explain it... I've started other races at this time, but I've never felt this "dark". Really odd. I didn't hate it, but it was different. 

By Mile 2, though, light was creeping in through the trees, and it was more like what I was used to. 
 

Hello, Mile 2

Already at this point, my foot was telling me just how pissed it was at me that I was doing this. All I could feel was "Step... Ow... Step... Ow..."  I was getting ready to take some Tylenol out of my Nathan when I saw that I had little packets of BioFreeze! Yes, maybe that will take the pain away! I bent over a very nice park bench, pulled off my shoe and sock and slopped that goo all over my right foot. I must have looked like I was in pain, because a cop pulled over to make sure that I was okay (I think that's how close to the back of the pack I was!). I told them that I was fine, pulled up my shoe and kept moving.

I actually took a lot of photos of this area - it was really pretty

Oh and ... Spoiler alert...

It didn't. Now I just have tingly hands and a slimy foot. 

Mile 3 was inland a little bit, still following Davis Blvd, now north towards the top of the island. There are more homes here, and they're pretty, but not amazingly fancy, which was a surprise. It was a "normal" neighborhood like I grew up in. 

Mile 3, still some bodies in front of me

I was still trucking along at Mile 4, but I was beginning to worry that I wasn't going to make it off the island before I got shunted. All I could do was keep up my sad "run" and hope for the best!

Mile 4 and a very unflattering photo of the person in front of me

At this point, I was DONE with these stupid head boppers. The wind over here was strong, and they'd fallen off my head multiple times. I took them off and stuffed the into the strap of my water bottle. Yeah, I could have chucked them (they cost a buck at Party City), but I knew Hubby would be keeping an eye out for them at the finish line, so I kept them. 

You can see that the clock says 7:18 (or 7:19) - I was supposed to be AT THE BRIDGE in two (one) minutes!

I made it back to the intersection where the fire twirler guy was. It was nice to see him in the daylight (and he was probably pretty happy to see me - as soon as we pass, he can go home!). 

Not nearly impressive in the sunlight however

I wasn't off the island yet, but I knew I was close. I kept my head down and my knees up and pushed on.
 

I can see some of downtown from here, so I'm close!

What the hell is this?

Thankfully, I made it to the bridge that cuts over the Bay and I was safe from shunting!

For now anyway...

Umpire: "SAFE!" Okay, there's no umpires in racing... still funny.

Officially OFF the island!

I came back later and added this photo below; I was so happy about making it off the island, that for a little bit, I forgot I still had to go another eight miles!  See that little arrow on the left? I still had to go way the fuck down there, and all the way back!  The island was the easy part!

Follow the white wall - I have to go WAAAAAAAY over there!

Right off the bridge was Mile 5.  Somehow, I did my math wrong, and I thought that I'd be hitting the turn-around at about Mile 7, and then I'd do 5 miles back to the finish line. I actually had to go to almost Mile NINE before I turned around! Let this be a lesson - know the course before you run it!

Look at all the people coming back already

Also, this time around, I was on the Bay side of Bayshore heading towards Gandy. For every other race (5k, 8k and 15k), you start on the inland side, and return using the Bay side of Bayshore. It was a little disconcerting and not what I was used to.

The sign says: "When You Feel Like Quitting, Remember Why You Started" - I really needed this one!

With no crowds to worry about, I made it to Mile 6. 

Sure is a lot emptier now

And then crossed the 10k timing mat.

Oh, there's a bunch of people!

There were still a few folks in front of me, so I wasn't totally alone, and I could "lasso" them if I needed a boost of "go faster, fatass."

At this point, I refuse to look behind me. I was pretty sure that I was last. If I wasn't last, it wasn't by much!

Mile 7 looked how I felt!

Sssshhhh, Mile 7 is taking a nap

Mile 8 looked better, but by now, I'm so pissed. Remember, I thought I was supposed to turn around at Mile 7... I had no idea how much further I had to go and there was no turn-around in sight!

Where. The Actual Fuck. Is the TURN-AROUND?

I decided I needed an Action Selfie! Sure I look like I'm having fun, but I hurt and I hurt really fucking bad. My PF is raging. My shoulder/neck area is tight as hell. My back is killing me. I'm sunburned. I'm so fucking over this, and I still have 5 miles to go!

Lie-Smile (I'm not loving life right now)

But wait!!!

There's someone behind me!!

THERE'S SOMEONE BEHIND ME!!!

I'M NOT LAST!!!!

LOOK! People! I can see at least 2!

Yeah, I'll admit that put some pep in my step. All I ever want to do is beat one person.

Unlike the 15k, we didn't have to go down Gandy for the turn-around; we just rounded a Bayshore median and went back. 

It's GANDY! Turn around!

Luckily, there is shade on this side of Bayshore! I enjoyed it as long as possible. I made it past Mile 9... and then I was told to get to the other side of Bayshore (back where I was). 

Mile 9 = The Motherfucker Mile™

Oh, not just shunted back to the Bay side... all the way onto the damn sidewalk!

There were cops with loudspeakers telling me to get on the sidewalk... sigh.

There was good news and bad news about this shunting, though... I saw that there was a good handful of people behind me. Bad news was that it looked like they were just turned around where they were rather than going all the way to the turn-around and coming back.  I lost whatever lead I had on the folks behind me. 

At least it's a nice w--i--d--e sidewalk with no breaks

So, as you can imagine I am not fucking happy at all at this point. I'm in pain. I'm closer to the back. And I'm on the damn sidewalk like a loser.
 

Unhappy and all red

All I can do at this point is finish. I can't even take photos of the mile markers because they are on the "correct" side of Bayshore!  

So you'll just have to believe me when I say that I made it though the Motherfucker Mile™, 10, 11 and 12. 

I was able to see my Big Head Inflated Man, because by this point, I was allowed to rejoin the race already in progress, on the now correct side of the street (the race moves over to the Bay side after we pass Magnolia). Of course, I had to stay in the bike lane to let the speedy 8k folks go by - but like I've said before, I'm fine with that... I just want to be on the damn course!

Mile FOUR? Oh hell naw!

Do I mean "3" or "Asshole"? That's up to you to decide!

I'm in the chute, I've made it Mile 13 and I haven't died... I'm gonna count this as a win! I was kind of bummed to see that the clock had already changed over to 4 hours, but dude... I just did a 15k, a 5k AND a half-marathon over the course of two days! I don't care WHAT the timer said... I was already crying that I FINISHED! And I hadn't finished yet!

Aw man... four hours?

 I wanted to make sure that my finish line photos had my medals in them, so I pulled them out of my pocket and put them on. I also put my head boppers back on for Hubby.

They clang when I run, so I only took them out right before the photo

See?

 Then I (somewhat) ran the longest chute in the world to the finish line!

I'm coming! I'm coming! <pant pant pant> I'm coming!

I finished!! I FINISHED!! I FINISHED I FINISHED I FINISHED!!!!!

My official time was 3:57:56, which, honestly, is amazing! That's only 3-5 minutes slower than other halfs I've done! (Garmin said 3:55:15 which is obviously better!). I ended up coming in before TEN other people (where were they? I think they must have been invisible...), including the caboose who finished 4:31:16. I am not ashamed to say that I finished LAST in my age group (F35-39).

Nope, not holding my boobs - flashing fingers for "3" again

FINISHER SELFIE!

Look at me! Look what I did!

Now... where the heck is the family? I found them and got some Powerade, then fought my way uphill to get out of this hot mess on the bridge. There was one lonely guy directing traffic to the medal area. 

I don't think anyone was paying any attention to him, sadly

I picked up my awesome half-marathon medal and my even AWESOMER Ultra Amber Challenge Medal and put 'em all on!  Clang clang, baby... Look what I did this weekend!

Challenge Medal, Half Medal, 5k Medal and 15k Medal

Outside of this area, I met up with the family again and I changed into my flip flops then got a personal photo me and my medals, as well as a family pic. They are my Sherpas, who schlep my gear for me; they come to big races when I know they would rather be at home; they cheer me on; I love them!

Challenge, Half, 15k, 5k Medals w/Gaspar's Ship in the Background

The Kiddo™, me and The Hubby™ - My Sherpas!

Closeup of my medals (they are so awesome!)

We (okay, I) limped our way to the car and headed to St. Petersburg to meet my mom for lunch at the 4th Street Shrimp Store. As always, this place is super tasty, and of course, it's great to spend time with mom.

Afterwards, we stopped by WaWa and got some dessert (the "kids" got milkshakes). I wasn't jonesing for anything there, but my body was like, hey! You want doughnuts! so we went to a nearby Krispy Kreme.  I was kind of bummed... The hot light was on, but it looked like she took the donuts out of a hot box, rather than right off of a glazing line. Not cool, lazy Krispy Kreme location.  And seriously - prices were more expensive too - the dozen was $10.99!  (My local KK is about 2-3 bucks cheaper).

All in all, this was one hell of a weekend. IF I'd trained as well as I should have, maybe it would've been a lot easier, but I learned that I'm still one strong fucking woman who can do anything she puts her mind to! I told hubby later that I will not do this challenge again until I'm under 200 pounds and my PF is completely healed. It was a very painful weekend for me. (I'll be doing the Lime Cactus Challenge again in 2018 though!)

Yo, Ho - Gasparilla Distance Classic Weekend (15k and 5k)

Saturday morning, I was up by 5am and dressed and ready to go by 5:45.  We parked again in our super-secret, not gonna tell you where it is, parking spot and headed towards the 15k start line. The 15k is the first race, and had about 9,000 total runners signed up (this included single racers and challenge racers, like me).

Roughly 2/3 of the crowd in front of me

Start Line Selfie!

More people behind me

The kiddo staked out an outside table at the Publix near the course so that she and the Hubby could suck up the free WiFi and eat breakfast while I run, which meant that only Hubby was there to see me off. I’m okay with that – I know she doesn’t really get into this the way I do, so she gets bored easily. Hubby is there for moral support, no matter what.

Soon, the race took off and we crossed over the Hillsborough River. (Once the crowds passed, Hubby would be following the crowd to the Publix). 

Such a sunny morning!

Up and over!

The aforementioned Publix

I got to Mile 1 quickly (*cough*quickly*cough) and I was feeling okay. Pretty good actually. For some reason, my PF hurt less when I ran, so even though it was probably slower than my walk, I “ran” for a lot of this race.

Mile 1 already!

Look at me! I'm running!

I passed the Rough Riders and got some beads. Last winter (as in three months ago), I found some empty plastic Christmas ornaments and decided to use some of my previous years’ beads to fill them. I think they’re awesome.  

I didn't even have to show my boobs!

I came up to Mile 2 and then after that saw this gorgeous house with a huge banner that said “Go Bolts.”  I saw many different signs like that on the course, so I spent way too much time trying to figure out what or who the Bolts were. (I looked it up later; apparently it's a nickname of the Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Team).

Mile 2!

Dude, can I have this house? I'll pretend to like hockey!

After Mile 2, the first wheelchair racer was returning. I think the race took off at about 6:45, so he did almost 8 miles in 30-40 minutes! Wow.

The wheels on the bus go round and round... oh.

Not to be outdone, the first runner came back just a few minutes after the wheelchair guy.

I'm coming for ya!

At Mile 3, there was a new building being built that wasn’t there last year. Also, it only took 3 years for me to notice this really cool 9/11 memorial.

Mile 3 - 1/3 of the race is done!

They move pretty fast here in Tampa!

I'd like to come back and check this out

I passed Mile 4 and saw the Big Head Inflated Man, which meant it was time to turn onto Gandy.

Mile 4

Everything points to going right...

Which also meant I’d made it to the turn-around spot, and I was officially halfway done. 

I love the flag at the turn-around spot

Headed back to Bayshore

On the way back to Bayshore, there was a person in a T-Rex costume – these costumes are great!

"I thought they said RUM too!"

I was happy to see a “lot” of people still behind me (and they were 15k folks, not 5k folks!)

Cool Buff Guy was there again, this year with a sign that said “Think Finish.” He was dancing in the street, so I danced with him for a moment. 

Trust me, I'm thinkin' it!

I passed Mile 5. 

Mile 5 with Bonus Dog

I passed Mile 6.

Mile 6 with no Dog

Yeah, nothing really interesting happened…

After Mile 7, I passed the Rough Riders again; once all 15k runners pass them, they will pull their truck across the route and become the turn-around for the 5k race in a little bit. 

Mile 7

Rough Riders on the Move

I passed Mile 8, which means there is only 1.3 left to go!

Dear Lord, am I done yet???

Then I passed Big Head Inflated Man, which made it officially ONE MILE to go!

I wonder how many people "high-five" the BHIM?

Right after that, I saw the 1^st 5k runner.  And then we were all moved into the bike lane so the speedy folks could come on through. I’m okay with this – I’m still on the race route (it’s when I get kicked up onto a sidewalk that really annoys me!).

Here comes the 5k!

Success, I’m in the final mile! Mile 9!

I'm almost there!!!!!

Last overpass!

The 5k – since it’s a short race – always has fun costumes. I saw a team of Dumb and Dumber, and a guy riding a “dino.”

I don't know which is Dumb and which is Dumber

Guy "Riding" a Dino

I ran into the chute and finished! 1 of 2 races done today, and 1 of 3 total races done for the weekend! For some reason, my results never showed up online, so I have to kind of extrapolate conclusions from the little bit of data I had available. Garmin said I came in at 2:44:58, which is what was shown as "predicted time" on the Results website, so we'll go with it. With that time, I beat 28 people and came in 5488th out of 5516 finishers. This made me next to last in my age group! 
 

Here I come, bitches! Where's my medal!

I got my medal and met up with Hubby. I got a cold washcloth from one of the finish line guys. Hubby gave me some Powerade and I sucked down a Gu while we walked back to the starting line for the 5k.  I was originally supposed to be in the Walker Wave, I think, but I ended up in the Red Wave. The 5k had a total of 15,790 runners registered (combination of individual racers and challenge racers, like me). That’s a LOT of bodies! 

Start Line Selfie #2

So many red shirts!

And somehow, within all those bodies, I heard a little “clink” noise. What was that? Oh, that was my medal, falling off my neck! The little ring that held the medallion to the ribbon was bent just enough for it to fall off. Luckily, I saw it fall and was able to pick it up. I tucked it in my pocket to exchange later.

It's cute... but it's broken

The 5k runs the exact same route as the 15k, so not a lot of difference here.

We went back across the Hillsborough River. While at the top of the bridge, I saw a lady fall and scrape her knees pretty bad; I still had my wet washcloth from the finish line, so I offered it to her to clean herself with.

Up the bridge

Down she goes

I got my required Bridge Selfie, then had to laugh – Hubby had caught up with me and was walking on the sidewalk along the race route! He was on his way back to the Publix where the Kiddo was saving seats. 

Bridge Selfie #2

Action Shot!

Rare Hubby Action Shot!

I passed Mile 1, and meandered my way down Bayshore. I’m not rushing at all; I’m saving the tank for tomorrow’s half-marathon.

Sign says "You Are Stronger than you Think - Keep Going" - I needed that this weekend

Mile 1 (No, that's not my time on the clock!)

"Worst Parade Ever"

"Keep Going, I'll Stand Here"

Maybe I should rush just a little bit… I’m getting beat by a dad in khaki shorts!

He looks like he got lost on the way to Whole Foods

Meanwhile, Jogger Dad tricked out his Jogger Stroller!

Up ahead, I see the Rough Riders, and I know it’s time to turn around and head back to the bridge.

What, no beads for the 5k?

Once I turned around, I was surprised to see how MANY people were still behind me!  That’s awesome!

Came through Mile 2. 

LOL, I'm gonna PR for sure - for Slowest 5k Ever!

Big Head Inflated Man announced 1 Mile to Go!

Wish I had some sunblock - the cloud cover is all gone!

Once in the chute, I pulled out my 5k medal so I could get my photo with it as I crossed the finish line.

Here I come again!

After I crossed the finish line, I traded in my busted 5k for a new one, got my 15k medal and met up with the family. My official time was 59:51 (my Garmin said it was 1:00:38, so I'll take the official time). I was 729/825 in my age group and I beat 1,106 people! I came in 10,423 out of 11,529 participants! Amazing!

We skipped the after-party, because long lines for warm Coke and yogurt aren’t really my thing.  We headed back to the car, and then once at the hotel, it was time for a hot bath!

Once I felt human again, we walked a few blocks to PDQ for lunch. None of us had had food here before, but we got one in our town a few years ago, so I was curious.  Hubby got tenders while Kiddo and I got chicken nuggets. The fries were “hand-cut” and not bad. Honestly, I would prefer Chick-fil-A over PDQ. They were good, but not blow-me-away good, and a bit expensive for what we got. 

Tenders and Chicken Nuggets from PDQ

Back at the hotel, we chilled for a while (maybe too long; my muscles froze up) and then went to Red Robin for dinner. Afterwards, we hit up Walgreen’s for some lotion; I got a sunburn today!