Race for the Cure Recap 2015

 
This year the 17th Annual Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure was back in downtown St. Petersburg on October 3rd for a nighttime GLOW run!  The race started in beautiful downtown St. Pete at Albert Whitted Park near the Salvador Dali Museum.

I ran the 10K with a 7:00pm start time.  Shortly before my race began, I watched the breast cancer survivors participate in a moving sunset walk.  I admired their courage and strength.

Claudia, Denise, me in my RunningSkirt

Haley, me, Denise

Shortly after 7:00pm the 10K started. My friend Claudia and I ran together.  It was quite warm out so I didn't plan to PR but wanted to finish under an hour.  I knew I couldn't run with a glow necklace because it would drive me crazy bouncing on my chest but I decided to try a glow bracelet.  Nope! It was probably more mental than physical but it had to go off my wrist. I handed the bracelet off to a nice lady cheering on the sidelines. Yes, I may be a little crazy.

The out and back course took us along the water of Tampa Bay, the Vinoy Hotel and Vinoy Park, and along Snell Isle.  Claudia and I stopped once for water at about the 3.5 mile mark.  I noticed there weren't many people ahead of us and the women that were ahead of us looked young.  I was not in the "young" age groups anymore.  The thought crossed my mind that Claudia and I could place.

Once the sun set, the course was dark and a bit hard to navigate (especially over the brick pavers in front of the Vinoy).  We managed but had to watch our steps and be mindful of uneven ground. Claudia started to pull ahead and I encouraged her to run and get the best time she could.

With a mile and a half left to go, the 5K runners merged with the 10K runners. I quickly found an open path to smooth running ahead.  The last half mile was tough but I got it done!

Claudia, my cousin Kelly, me

Claudia and I rocked our races!  She came in 1st place in her age group and I came in 3rd place in my age group.

Age group place: 3/13
Overall place: 33/186
Avg pace: 9:14
Chip time: 57:17

As a member of the Tampa Bay Bloggers, I was invited to be a “Race Ambassador for the Cure” at the Komen Florida Suncoast GLOW run in St. Pete. All opinions are my own.

Glow for a Cure

As a member of the Tampa Bay Bloggers, I have been invited to be a “Race Ambassador for the Cure” at the upcoming Komen Florida Suncoast GLOW run in St. Pete.

The 17th Annual Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure is back in St. Petersburg on October 3rd for a 6:00pm nighttime GLOW run!  The race starts in beautiful downtown St. Pete at Albert Whitted Park near the Salvador Dali Museum.

There are lots of different race options this year to GLOW PINK.

• 10K Competitive: The 10K competitive race will wind through the beautiful, waterfront streets of downtown St. Petersburg and Snell Isle. This event is timed and all participants will receive a runner goodie bag, timing chip & Race bib.
• 5K Competitive: The 5K competitive race will follow the same beautiful course as the 10K, just half the distance. This event is timed and all participants will receive a runner goodie bag, timing chip & Race bib.
• General Registration: You don’t have to run to have a good time at the Race! This registration is for those who want to do the non‐competitive 5K Run/Walk, the 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk or be Proud in the Crowd. All participants will receive a Race packet with a Race shirt & Race bib.
• Students for the Cure: A special student rate for students in middle school through college. You will need to enter your school name and student ID during registration. All Students for the Cure registrants will receive a race packet with a Race shirt & Race bib. This is a non‐competitive, non‐chip‐timed entry. To participate in one of the competitive categories, you must register in that category. There are no student rates for the competitive Race categories.
• Kids for the Cure: No matter the age, we need everyone’s help in the Fight Against Breast Cancer!! Kids for the Cure is available for all kids 10 years of age & under. We will have kids dashes and kids’ activities available on Race Day. Kids for the Cure Race packets will include a Race shirt & Race bib.
• Virtual: Can’t make it to the Race? You can Race in spirit instead! Virtual Race participants will be mailed a commemorative Race shirt. 

Click here for more information and registration.

Time to pay it forward with a free entry to the October 3rd Race for the Cure in St. Pete.  Use Rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Robbie's Run 5K Recap 2015

This was the first year I participated in Robbie's Run on April 18.  At the time of the race, my thyroid was overactive and I was not yet on medication, so I knew it would be a tough 5K.  It had been a month since my last run because of the exhaustion and tremors that came with my overactive thyroid.

The race started at 8:00am with temperatures in the upper 70s. I was ready to run in my RunningSkirt and Strider shirt.

I met up with my awesome running group and our mandatory group picture. 

I planned to run this race on my own.  With my thyroid slowing me down, my usual running buddies would finish faster than me.  Even though I knew this would be a slower 5K, my goal was to finish around 30 minutes (my PR is 25:53).  I had a decent pace in the beginning but the longer I ran, the more fatigued and slower I became.  I was walking and drinking water around 1.5 miles, when Amber, a fellow Strider, passed me.  My new goal was to catch up with Amber.  She looked like she was doing great and I needed someone to keep me running.

Amber and I ran the rest of the race together, pushing each other to keep running on that hot and humid day. Shortly before the finish, Amber told me this was going to be a 5K PR for her.  What!  That was the determination I needed to keep going all the way to the finish.

We crossed the finish line and I thought I was going to fall down.  My hands and entire body were shaking with tremors.  I was beyond exhausted and I had only run 3.1 miles!  Afterwards, we had a delicious pancake breakfast, awards and raffle.  I won Boston Bill sunglasses!

My overactive thyroid really took a toll on me.  Looking back, I can see it in my pale face that I didn't look well.  Robbie's run was fun but now my racing was on hold until I got my thyroid under control.

Place: 98/224
Age Place: 15/17
Gender Place: 44/130
Avg Pace: 10:06
Gun Time: 31:20
Chip Time: 31:03

Beauty and the Beast at The Straz

Belle and Beast are at The Straz Center in Tampa, May 5 - 10.  My family and I had the opportunity to see this beautiful love story on opening night. 

As a mom, I loved the message behind the Beauty and the Beast story.  It taught us to always be kind and love others. It also showed, not to judge a person by his/her outward appearance.

Once a prince, the Beast was cursed because he was selfish and unkind to an enchantress who saw no love in his heart.  After many years alone in his castle, the Beast met Belle, a beautiful but odd girl.  Belle, at first afraid of the Beast, grew to love him as he changed into a kinder creature.  Belle and the Beast's love for one another broke the curse and returned all of the castle's enchanted inhabitants back to their human form.


Jillian Butterfield as Belle and Ryan Everett Wood as Beast. Photo from The Straz Center by Matthew Murphy

Dylan, my 10 year old, said he enjoyed the show.  Lumiere, the candelabra, was his favorite character because of his hilarious jokes, movements, and candle hands.  I think the French accent had something to do with it too.  Every time Lumiere was happy or excited about something, he lit up his candle hands with silly gestures.

The enchanted objects. Photo from The Straz Center by Matthew Murphy

Jared, my 13 year old, also loved Lumiere.  Patrick Pevehouse did a great job entertaining the kids and adults as an enchanted candelabra!

Jillian Butterfield as Belle and the cast. Photo from The Straz Center by Matthew Murphy

My husband and I thought Gaston, played by Cameron Bond, was quite the character, always flexing his muscles and admiring himself.  I have always loved Gaston's song in the bar...it's just so macho with over the top testosterone humor.  Jillian Butterfield's voice as Belle was amazing.  Of course, I loved all of the songs; Belle, Gaston, Be Our Guest, and Beauty and the Beast!

We thorough enjoyed this family show!  But we won't use antlers in all of our decorating.

What is your favorite Beauty and the Beast song?

Disclaimer: As a member of the Tampa Bay Bloggers, I received four tickets for my family.  All opinions are my own.

Strawberry Classic 10K Recap 2015

This was the first year I ran the Strawberry Classic 10K on March 21 in Temple Terrace.  I heard horror stories about the hills throughout the Temple Terrace area (it's very flat where I run). But I also heard about the delicious containers of strawberries the race hands out. 

This was my third race in March and I had been feeling a bit off and very tired.  I wasn't racing to break any records and just wanted to enjoy the run.  I almost always had a race goal and for this 10K race, it was to finish under an hour. 

The Strawberry Classic 10K started at 8:00am with temperatures in the low 70s.  At the race start, I predicted a hot and hilly race.  The course took us through the shaded streets of Temple Terrace.  When the course split for the 10K and 15K, I was thankful I only signed up for the 10K.  There were lots of hills and it was in fact very hot.  I pushed through the inclines and coasted down the declines.  The course streets were winding and seemed never-ending.

One last turn and I saw the finish line.  Of course it was at the top of an incline!  My running friends cheered me on from the sidelines and I finished with a clock time of 1:00:01.  I was tired and glad to be done!

Turns out, I won first place in my age group with a chip time of 59:57!!  I gathered my trophy and yummy strawberries with a smile on my face.  This was my first time placing 1st in my age group.

Age Place: 1/9
Gender Place: 10/68
Overall Place: 30/118
Avg Pace: 9:39
Chip time: 59:57

Sarasota Half Marathon Relay 2015 Recap

I've run the Sarasota Half Marathon for the past two years.  It's a beautiful course on the water near historic Sarasota.  The dolphin medal is the largest in the area.  This year, I decided to try the half marathon relay.  I invited my sister Patti to run the relay with me on March 15.

We came up with the team name Super Sisters.  I created a quick logo to have printed on matching shirts with our team name on the back.

On race morning, we dressed in our matching running outfits and headed to the start line.  The race started at 7:00 am with temperatures near 70.  I was running the first half over the Ringling bridge twice and Patti would run the second, flatter half.

It was still dark when the race started and I felt a little tired from the half marathon I ran the day before.  For this race, I only had to run 6.2 miles and I wasn't too concerned with time as Patti was nervous about the 6.9 miles she had to run (her longest race distance).  I told her not to worry about time and just feel good about her run. Patti waited with some of my running group friends and then made her way to the transition area.

The Ringling Causeway was killer on the way up but I flew on the way down.  We ran around St. Armand's circle and back over the Ringling Causeway bridge.  There were lots of little inclines here and there and I was glad Patti didn't have to run these as a newbie runner.  I met Patti in the transition area where we exchanged the timing ankle band and my Garmin.  I was so glad to be running the relay this year!!

The transition area was about a quarter mile from the finish, situated so the relay partners ran and finished the last portion together. I started to watch for Patti about an hour later. Luckily, I had some friends to pass the time with.

I was excited when I saw Patti approach the transition area.  She was doing fantastic with a nice pace.

I asked how she was doing and got a little emotional as we rounded the last corner together with the finish line in sight.

I was proud of my little sister for following through and finishing strong.

We both had a great race and pushed ourselves until the end.  I loved all the race photos and they were free this year!



Suncoast Striders' Relay Teams

Overall Place: 105/285
Female Place: 46/159
5K: 30:45 - 9:54 min/mi
10K (relay transition): 1:03:37 - 10:15 min/mi
15K: 1:32:55 - 9:59 min/mi
Chip Finish time: 2:18:03 - 10:33 min/mi

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Tampa Bay Bloggers, I was given a race entry.  All opinions are my own.

Pasco Challenge Half Marathon Recap 2015

The Pasco Challenge was hosted by the Alzheimer's Family Organization.  The half marathon was on Saturday, March 14 at Starkey Park.  I run Starkey Park every Saturday so I knew the course well.

I wanted to run a half marathon under 2 hours so originally I thought this race would be perfect for meeting that goal.  The course was very flat and I knew it well.  A couple of details I missed when planning my goal for this race were; this was Florida and it can be quite hot in March AND the Starkey Trail was mostly in full sun.  Both of those equal HEAT.  Heat and running fast don't really work for me.

Not thinking of the heat or sun, I set my Garmin's pace keeper to alarm if my pace was too slow to meet my goal of under 2 hours.  I needed my average pace to be 9:09.  I'd just run an average pace of 9:09 at the Gasparilla 15k so I thought it was doable.

On race morning, I talked with a couple of friends from my running group.  It was a smaller race with less than 100 people running the half.  The race started at 8:00am with temperatures in the mid/upper 70s.

During the first mile, my Garmin alarmed that I was running too slow for the pace I set.  I shook it off because the first warm up mile is usually slower.  When my Garmin continued to alarm through mile 3, I was ready to take it off and stomp it to death.  Instead, I turned off the pace keeper.

I felt decent for the first 6 miles.  Shortly after that, the course turned around and I was done.  I felt light-headed, overheated and exhausted.  I wasn't even half way finished.  At that point, I didn't care if I walked the rest of the race.  There was no way I'd finish under 2 hours.

At the 6 mile turn around, 3 members of my running group passed me.  One of them, Trish, fell back from her group.  She was ahead of me so my goal was to close the gap.  I had to have a goal to prevent me from walking too much.  After some running and walk breaks, I caught up to Trish who was practicing a run/walk method to keep her heart rate in the correct zone.  I decided to stay with her and finish the race using the run/walk method.  I was really struggling and Trish helped me through the run portions.  I got to a point were I could only run one minute with a minute walk.  That was the worst I've felt during a race in years.*

I finished in 2:15.  No PRs but thrilled to be finished.  I left the awards ceremony early because I had to shower, pack and head to Sarasota for another race the next day.  I won second place in my age group!  Looks like the heat sucked the life out of everyone else too.

Age Place: 2/9
Female Place: 17/43
Overall Place: 39/83
Ave Pace: 10:21 min/mi
Chip time: 2:15:37

*Come to find out...my thyroid was overactive again so that's why this race sucked so much.

Gasparilla 15k Recap 2015

The Gasparilla 5K was my first race back in 2009, so even though this race is very crowded each year, I still run it.  The bling is pretty awesome too!

This was my second 15K race with Gasparilla 2014 being my first.  Last year I took my time because it was so hot and an automatic PR.  This year I planned to secure a faster time.

On race morning I met up with my running group for pictures and well wishes.

Me, my sister, my cousin

The morning was cool with temperatures in the mid 40s. The race started at 6:45 am and the sun wasn't quite up yet.  We ran along Bayshore Blvd near downtown Tampa.  I felt great and warmed up quickly as the sun rose.



I remembered that every year after the halfway turn around point, volunteers handed out Krispy Kreme donuts.  I never stopped in the past but this year I planned to stop for a donut snack.  As I approached the donut tables, I shuttered.  All thoughts went to... donuts and running in the Florida heat, don't mix well.  I passed on the melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness of Krispy Kreme donuts.

I still felt strong and was having a nice race.  At about mile 7, the 1:30 pace group caught up and passed me.  I was ok with that because I started before them and this was the first time they passed me.  My plan was to finish under 1:30 so I tagged along at the back of the pace group.  I didn't realize how much I needed that pace group until I had to keep up with them.  It was a good push to the finish and kept me on pace.

Another successful race finished with a 7+ minute PR!  And then I got to hang out with some pirates!  ARG

Div Place:  110/490
Gender Place:  626/3017
Overall Place: 1641/5257
Halfway Split time:  43:08
Average Pace:  9:09/mi
Chip time:  1:25:19

Lands' End Getaway Tour Review

Summer is right around the corner for us Floridians.  It actually already feels like summer here in Tampa with temperatures getting into the mid 80s.

With summer, comes the beach and swimsuit season!  I visited the Lands' End Getaway Tour when it stopped at Wiregrass Mall this month.  Lands' End brought their beautiful swimsuit lines and professional fitters to help everyone find the perfect swimsuit for their body types.  I stepped into a dressing room with a fit expert, who took my measurements to help find me the perfect fitting swimsuit.  Then she came back with swimsuits for me to try on.  After a couple of no-goes, I did find a swimsuit that I loved.

The Beach Club collection offerd bright colors and great fits with modern styles.

Slender Suits help you look a whole size smaller with tummy tightening one piece swimsuits.

The Aqua Sport collection had cute, sporty swimsuits for the active beachgoer (or mom running after kids).

Swim mates had bright mix and match separates so you can create the style that's right for you.



This purple, 2-piece Beach Club swimsuit was my favorite!  I loved the look and fit.  Sorry, no pictures of me in this swimsuit.  This beach body is still a work in progress.

Don't forget your sunscreen this summer or check out one of Lands' End UPF 50 swim tees!

Disclaimer: As part of the Tampa Bay Bloggers, I was invited to this free event.  All opinions are my own.

Sarasota Half Marathon and Relay Preview

The First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay is celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year.

This year's race is on Sunday, March 14, 2015, starting at 7:00am at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center in Sarasota, Florida.

The First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon's scenic course takes runners over the John Ringling Causeway and around St. Armand's Circle, then down the Tamiami Trail and by the Ringling Museum of Art before they make their way back to the finish line at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center.  The finish area is right on the gorgeous Florida water.

This race is know for it's giant finisher medal!  I have two from previous years.

My sister, Patti, and I are participating in the relay this year.

Who's joining us this year at the Sarasota Half?