Best Damn Race 10K 2018

One of my favorite local races is the Best Damn Race Safety Harbor 10K. It was held on February 4, 2018 this year. Don't be fooled into thinking Florida is flat. I never knew the hills of Safety Harbor existed until I started running the Best Damn Race. Have I mentioned that I hate hills.

On race morning it was about 55° and windy. The 10K distance of 6.2 miles was perfect since I was still training for the Donna Marathon.

My plan was an easy pace run with no PR in sight. You've probably heard that from me before but this time I was serious. My IT band was still bothering me causing pain on the outside of my left knee. My marathon was the following weekend and I didn't want to run in pain.

It was so nice to just run and not worry about pace. I even made myself slow down when I realized my pace was too fast for an "easy" run. The next 2 pictures are the final .10 of the race to the finish line. My fellow Strider friends cheered me on and yelled for me to GO and finish strong. I told them this was a training run where I was taking it easy and NOT sprinting to the finish line.

I finished with a smile on my face, not a care in the world for my time and no pain. That's a win for me!

Age group: 42/158

Gender: 261/880

Overall: 485/1264

Avg pace: 9:57 min/mile

Chip time: 1:01:48

Walt Disney World Marathon 2018

Oh Disney Marathon....

This was my first marathon 5 years ago at the 20th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon. I ran the Disney marathon again the following year and alleged that I would not run Disney again.

Fast forward 5 years and I ran it again. I'm training for the Donna Marathon in February so when the opportunity came up to run the 25th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon, I took it. I joined my good friend and running buddy Tara for 26.2 magical/miserable miles.

On the up side, the Disney Expo was fun as usual with lots to see and shop. We even got airbrush Minnie Mouse tattoos.

Tara, Rudy and I

The Disney Marathon started dark and early at 5:30 am with a temperature of 43°. We hit traffic on the way to the Epcot start area because of a broken down bus. We finally got parked but by the time we walked all the way to the start corrals, the race had begun with corrals A and B already gone. Rudy was in B so he hustled up close to the front. Tara and I thought we joined corral C but we were actually in the back of D. Tara and I ran together for about the first 3 miles, dodging people as we tried to get around slower runners. I still had the goal of finishing under 4:30 but if it didn't happen, I had Donna in flat Jacksonville in a month.

There was so much construction going on at and around the Disney parks this year. I felt they didn't have as many characters out or fun entertainment as past years. I usually hit my wall around mile 16 but during this race, I felt great...until mile 20. At 20, I was ready to be done. I could feel my tight, left hamstring. But, I only had 6.2 more miles left to go and if I could keep a decent pace, I would be very close to a PR. So I started telling myself, don't let the first 20 miles be a waste and blow it in the last 6.2...you worked so hard in the first 20, finish strong with the time you want!

I pushed myself through the last couple of miles with Epcot being the hardest because of its stupid little bridges between each country. I hate those little bridges! I willed my legs to keep moving forward toward the finish line.

Crossing the finish line and finally done!

 It hurt to walk after my finish. My quads were on fire, hamstrings tight and left IT band screaming for attention.

Me and Tara

I did it! I finally finished a marathon under 4:30 with a time of 4:29:09!!! I'll take it!

I dislike the Disney Marathon for many reasons, one of them being the course length, which is always long...almost a half mile too long this year.  But I did finish, earning my medal and mouse ears.

Age place: 108/1661

Gender place: 850/10763

Over all place: 2835/20025

Avg pace: 10:16 min/mile (course was long 26.63 so actual avg pace was 10:06)

Chip time: 4:29:09

Strawberry Classic 10K 2017

This is a fun but hilly little race in Temple Terrace, Florida. I've raced this one a couple of times choosing the 10K distance. I love the quarts of fresh strawberries that racers get to take home. This race is also directed by a Strider. This year the race took place on March 25, 2017.

I really didn't have any expectations going into this race because the hills are killers and not included in my training. I had just PRed at Best Damn Race the month before so I was ok with just finishing.

It was a cool 55° on race morning. I enjoy meeting up with my fellow Suncoast Striders for pictures and pre-race camaraderie. 

I caught up with fellow Strider David with about a mile and a half left to go. The hills were as awful as I remembered and I was loosing steam. He gave me the final push to get up the last hill to the finish line. The finish line is actually at the top of an incline. I hate hills!

David and I running to the finish

Strider ladies got it done!

Of course I need a strawberry head picture!

I managed to pull off a new PR of 54:01. Now to get under 54. haha!

Age place: 4/20

Gender place: 28/148

Overall: 80/249

Avg pace: 8:42

Chip time: 54:01

Robbie's Run 2017

Robbie's Run is a great little 5K to benefit Word of Life Youth Camp scholarship fund and directed by a fellow Strider. This was my third year running Robbie's Run. I was able to talk Jared into running the 5K this year! I love when my boys come to run with me. Jared may have been swayed by the all you can eat pancake breakfast after the race.


April 1, 2017 was a cool morning by Florida standards at 57°. Perfect temperature for a 5K!

Jared was working out with his wrestling team but not really running. I knew he could beat me because he's young and fast. He teased our friend Jackie about wanting to beat her even though he wasn't a runner and she runs weekly. The competition was on!

The Robbie's Run 5K course took us out and back through the Word of Life grounds.

Me, Jackie and TaraV

I won 3rd place in my age group!! This was the only age category where Striders took home 1st, 2nd and 3rd place wins. Jackie took 2nd place and was victorious over Jared. He tried his best and really pushed himself towards the end. Maybe next year.

Age place: 3/21
Gender place: 21/163
Overall place: 63/294
Avg pace: 8:16
Chip time: 25:41

Best Damn Race 2017

Best Damn Race Safety Harbor February 4, 2017! This is a great local race with amazing food and drinks at the after party. I like the 10K distance best because according to this Florida girl, Best Damn Race Safety Harbor is a Hilly course. That's Hilly with a capital H!

It was a beautiful, cool February morning. I had no real time goal but a PR is always in the back of my mind.

I love the awesome race photos that Best Damn Race gives runners for FREE! Although this year, some were taken from a ground position and quite unflattering. Running legs...yikes!

All of us ringing the PR BELL!

I PRed and so did my friends Christine and Tara! We all got to ring the PR bell!

Age place: 22/164
Gender place: 124/969
Overall place: 273/1357
Avg Pace: 8:50
Chip time: 54:53

Celebration Half Marathon 2017

This was my first year running the Celebration Half Marathon in Celebration, Florida. It's a small, relatively local race just south of Orlando. Since it was held on January 29, 2017, we hoped for cool weather. I was still trying for an under 2 hour half marathon so I decided to stick with the 2 hour pace group. This would be my first pace group experience. I went to Celebration with two of my friends, Christine and Suzanne. At packet pick, they had a very small expo but a fun photo booth.

Race morning was cold and rainy. We were warned about the wooden boardwalks along the course that would inevitably be slippery in the rain. We got to the start corral just as the national anthem was sung and BOOM, the race started. I hesitated starting because my running watch was still searching for the GPS signal but my 2 hour pace group was taking off. I crossed the start line, starting my watch shortly after once it found the satellite. Not a great way to start my race. 

The pace group was pretty awesome! It kept me on track when I might have normally slowed down at the end of 13 miles. The multiple (yea like 6!) boardwalks were wet and slippery so we slowed the pace down, having to compensate during other portions of the race.

Towards the end of the race I noticed our pace group would finish very close to 2 hours or slightly over. I mentioned to our pacer I was trying to finish under 2 hours. Another lady with us also wanted under 2. Our pacer was familiar with the course and told us where we needed to take off and finish strong to meet our goals.

Fellow pace group runner trying for under 2 hour finish

Love having my Striders cheering at the end

Final turn to the finish

I did it!!  I finally finished a half marathon under 2 hours!!
It was still raining and freezing afterwards so we didn't stay long at the after party. They did have free beer.

Age place: 29/208
Gender place: 137/1184
Overall place: 367/1795
Avg pace: 9:09
Chip time: 1:59:45