Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic Race Director Sue Harmeling will be the guest speaker at Take the First Step Running Club's monthly meeting this Thursday night at J. Christopher's Restaurant, on N. Dale Mabry, at 6:30 p.m. Don't miss this opportunity to ask questions and get the inside scoop on this major, major Tampa running event.
J. Christopher's is in the same shopping center as Starbucks and Bally's, and it is the regular meeting place for Take the First Step Club meetings.
All Take the First Step Club meetings are open to the public; a $5 charge is requested to pay for food.
Harmeling will provide us all with insight on the premier racing event in Tampa. The Gasparilla 5K and 15K will be on February 28th, and the half marathon and marathon will be the next day, March 1st.
And if that's not compelling enough, how about this? Bill Davison, owner of the The Running Center, located one building south of J. Christopher's, has donated a $50 gift certificate to be given away at the meeting. That's about half of a pair of running shoes, right?
I've been doing one of the Gasparilla races every year for about twenty-five years, and I wouldn't miss it. It's never an issue of whether I am doing Gasparilla, but rather which one. It is just such a happening with thousands - and I'm not exaggerating - of happy, healthy, excited runners. I think the races together pull in around 20,000 people.This year I'll be near the finish line of the 5K and 15k to take photos of club members. Then I'll be running in the half marathon on Sunday.
The "8 On Your Side Health & Fitness Expo" is huge. It takes place inside the Tampa Convention Center and runs from 10 a.m to 8 p.m. on February 27th, and from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 28th. I highly recommend you reserve some time to peruse the booths and talk to the experts.
I am still wearing the New Balance racing tights I bought for only $10 at the Expo the year before last. I wore them in the Boston Marathon, in fact. And, I bought my first pair of Supernova Classics at the Expo from the Adidas rep in 1995. I had never heard of the shoe, but I described my needs, my running, and my skinny, high arched feet to the Adidas rep. He said he had just the shoe, pulled them off the shelf, and I fell in love. I'm still wearing Supernova Classics to this day, but I'm on maybe my 30th pair.
Click here for the event website, and join us Thursday night.
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