Run Tampa

Run Tampa Event Slideshows

St. Pete Rock n' Roll Half Marathon 2012

 

 

Run Tampa rocked the St. Pete Beach Classic

 

Miles for Hope Moving Towards a Cure 5k

Run Tampa really rocked this race! Congrats to Christina Chabrier, 1st place overall female, and Pat Bunce, 1st female grand master, plus many Run Tampa age group winners. Double click the slide show to see it full size. The slide show may take a moment to load.

Thanksgiving Race Slideshow

The largest race, locally, was, no doubt the St. Pete Times Turkey Trot. With four races, The Wingding 5k, Gobble Wobble 5k, 1 mi. Fun Run and Turkey Trot 10k, there is something for everyone, and over 16,000 people were on hand to burn off some calories before sitting down to a Thanksgiving feast.

While this slide show is comprised mostly of photos from that race, Brandi Jackson provided a couple from the race she did with her family in Birmingham. Thanks, Brandi. I am still hoping to get some contributions from other races around the bay area.

Please give the slideshow a minute to load. If you'd like to see it in a larger format, just doubleclick it.

 

Northdale Pumpkin Run

Photos of the Pumpkin Run are here.

Run Tampa Really Performed at Richard's Run!

Wow! What a night! I kept hearing PR, PR, PR, over and over and, no, the course was not short, our runners were just fast, fast, fast. Congratulations to everyone! Lots of new bling! Lots of smiles!

A special high five to Tracy Reed! He broke 20 minutes for the first time and won his age group! I know I'll leave someone off if I try to list all the PR's, and it was so crowded that I didn't get to see everyone after the race, but I know we had at least 14 PR's. 14! That's amazing! 

Then some people went out and raced again this morning, some at the Northdale Pumpkin Run and at least one at the Antioch 5k. Kudos for those people for doing two races in 14 hours! I'll have those pics posted in a separate slide show tomorrow. 

The slide show is below, but it may take a few moments to load.

Richard's Run for Life 5k TONIGHT

This weekend's Run Tampa event is the Richard's Run for Life 5k TONIGHT in Ybor City.

David, my husband, is coming along to be our own Run Tampa paparazzi! Be sure to wear your Run Tampa shirt so he'll know who to photograph.

We should have at least 50 people there. We'll take a group pic adjacent to the starting line 30 minutes before the race start.

You can register tonight from 5:00, so it's not too late to decide. Check back here for a slide show tomorrow.

This event is well known because it supports a great cause, cancer research, has a history of being well organized, and boasts one of the best post race parties around. Bring your non-runner friends, too. They can participate in the festivities for a $20 donation. $10 for kids under 12. This is a kid friendly, family friendly event. 

We've already got 46 confirmed attending. Should be great fun!

If you aren't yet registered, you can still late register, but you won't get a t-shirt. Online registration ends Nov. 2nd, but you can register at the race site on race day, Friday, from 5:00 p.m.

Packet pickup is at the Ybor City Columbia Restaurant on Thursday, November 3rd, from 10 to 6. There will be no race registration at that time.

Check out the post race menu:

• The Columbia Restaurant's "1905 Salad," paella, and black beans and rice
• Cha Cha's Guava BBQ Ribs
• Moe's Tacos
• Michelob Ultra Beer

From their website: Over 2,000 people participated in last year's event which raised over $75,000 for cancer research. 100% of money raised goes to cancer research.

As usual, I'll get lots of photos of Run Tampa members, and you'll find the slide show right here next week. Be sure to wear your Run Tampa shirt. We'll take a group photo adjacent to the starting line 30 minutes before the race, as usual.

I hope you'll join us. This is a great opportunity to get in a 5k for speed work to prepare for a half marathon in the weeks ahead.

Richard's Run for Life event website. 

Police Memorial Race, 2011

Congrats to the all the Run Tampa members who raced today. We had many at the Police Memorial Race and still others in Withlacoochee National Forest doing the John Holmes Trail 50k or 16 mi. Unfortunately, I don't have pics from that race. If anyone took any, I'll post them here if you send them along.

The winner of the $60 Feet First gift certificate is . . . . . .  Justin Porth! Congratulations, Justin! I'll drop it in the mail!

If you can't see the below slide show (and I think there is a problem viewing it with Chrome as your browser), you can click here to see it.

If you double click on the photo, you see them all in a much larger form.

 

Police Memorial Race 2011

Pics From 2010 Police Memorial Race

Let's do this!

Come out and celebrate the beauty, the weather, and the people of Tampa, but most importantly, help us pay homage to the people who have given their lives to keep it a safe place for us to call home. Excellent event for the kids, too.

Run Tampa has 64 people from the Facebook group confirmed attending and 66 maybe's, so it's likely we'll have close to a hundred people there. 

We'll  meet on the grass south of the starting line at 7:30 for a group photo. Wear your Run Tampa shirt to be eligible to win a $60 Feet First gift certificate. To be eligible, you must get your pic taken in your shirt. I will be wearing my orange hat and shoes to make me easier to find :)  :)  :)

Don't have a Run Tampa shirt? Stop by Feet First, 3401 Bay to Bay Blvd. to purchase one.

Register here.

Check out these photos from last year's race:

 

Run Tampa Rocks at the Ranch Run 5k and Air Force Marathon

Great, great morning for Run Tampa. Jen Lanterman was the first overall female, and Linda Rush was second. Linda also took first place in the female master's division. Jenni Salemi took 5th overall and won her age group, and Christina Chabrier took 6th overall and won her age group. Of course, they all set PR's, too.
The PR's didn't stop there, though. Carla Cervantes dropped time again after setting a 2 minute PR just last week. And Pat Bunce also PR'ed as well.

Mark Davis took 2nd in his age group, Denis Karaijac took third in his age group, and Mark Radulich and Bruce Le both PR'd.

Oh, and while we ran through Temple Terrace, Run Tampa's Tori Williams and Dan Moss represented in Ohio at the Air Force Marathon. Good job, gentlemen!

 
 
 

4th of July Running Weekend

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That was some fantastic race weekend. Congrats to everyone who ran. We enjoyed two very different races and lucked out with good weather for both. The rain stopped just in time for the Kiwanis Midnight Runs on Sunday night, and Monday morning, it was in the upper 70's with no rain for the Lutz Independence Day Run.

Click on the slide show to see full size photos. Congratulations to all runners! Lots of Run Tampa runners have a new piece of hardware on their mantels this week. Here is a list, but I'm sure it's not complete. I'll add more when the results are posted for the Lutz race. If you are a member of the Run Tampa Community and you took home a trophy, but I left you off this list, please email me; I'll add your name.

Congrats to winners Tommy Brown, Marcia McCormick, Denis Karaiskaj, Jenni Salemi, Velma Radloff, Jack Radloff, Karen Hasque, Katie Store, Diane Spicer, Carol Pressman, Sally Smith and Nick Fusco.

4th of July Weekend Race Info

The first race on the Run Tampa agenda is the Kiwanis Morton Plant Mease Midnight Run. While this is not our official weekend event, we will have upwards of 70 people at the race. If you haven't experienced this race, you're in for a treat, especially if you're running the second race of the evening, the 10k. That route takes you over the Dunedin Causeway, and it will be lit by luminaries. In a word, beautiful! Check out the photos here: http://www.kiwanismidnightrun.com/pictures.htm

Normally, we take a group photo adjacent to the starting line about 30 minutes before the race, but due to lighting that's a challenge at this race. Therefore, I'll meet you in the brightest area of the parking lot where you pickup your number at 11:00. 

Lutz Independence Day 5k: It's almost race day! Are you ready to start your 4th with a little sweat, a lot of smiles, old friends, new friends, and fast feet? This is a fun race on a fast flat course.

There is no pre race day packet pickup. Arrive anytime after 6:15 a.m. and pickup your packet in the Community Center on race morning. I'll be there about 6:15, myself, and I'll have a table setup with our banner. 

I'll be taking lots of candid photos throughout the morning, and then we'll take our group photo at 7:40 adjacent to the start line.

Call me with any questions 813-416-4638.

 Check out THESE PHOTOS of last year's 4th of July weekend!

Recent Run Tampa Group Runs

The photo below is from the Run Tampa Group Run on June 25th at Flatwoods Wilderness Park. Apologies to the other five people who were there but did not make the photo. Double click the photo to enlarge. These group runs are open to everyone. We meet at a different park each weekend unless we have a group race, which is the case next weekend. Most members of the group are doing either the Dunedin Midnight Run or the Lutz Independence Day 5k. The next weekend, on July  9th, we will run at Dover Trails in Brandon, and on Sunday, July 17th, we'll be running on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail.

For details on our free weekend runs, register in the blue box on the right side of this page (640 have registered already). Then, you will receive the weekly newsletter/invite. Or, join the Facebook Run Tampa Group (775 members). Then you will receive a weekly invite. Run Tampa is for runners of all levels. Never finished a 5k? That's just fine. We have many runners still building their endurance. Training for a half or marathon? Great, you'll find many people to run with. Walkers are welcome, too. 

Our group runs are completely unstructured. In other words, you go as far as you want, as fast as you want. We don't try to stay in a group because we have people of widely divergent ability levels and experience. Most of our runs are on beautiful off road trails, but we do run on the Bayshore and on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail. Got questions? Call 813-416-4638.

Interested in coaching? The Run Tampa Coaching Group meets at Al Lopez Park Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. We took the month of June off, but we will resume on July 5th. That group includes different workouts appropriate for beginning runners through veterans. Beginning runners work on form, drills, and, most of all, endurance. The veteran group works mostly on speed, but form and drills are addressed as well. The fee is $45 per month or $10 drop-in payable to the City of Tampa.

Remember, though, the weekend group runs are free and everyone is welcome! Scroll down to see photos of many other weekend runs.

Below is the Run Tampa Group Run at Lake Park: The early group started at the Northdale entrance and ran through Northdale and into the back entrance of Lake Park.

This is the 8:00 Lake Park group.

Run Tampa Bayshore Run in June.

Loved RAP River Run!

Why? The temp was in the - you won't believe this - low 70's, no kidding, the 5k course ran along a tree-lined street beside a picturesque river, the post race food was far better than usual, there was plenty of water, the race results were posted very quickly at the race and on Cool Running, there was a delightful misting tent, and I could go on.

Check out these pics (41). To see them full size, just click.

 

Oldsmar Taphouse 5k

It was sizzling out there tonight, but everyone seemed to have a good run. Congratulations! Hopefully, some of you will be bat at it bright and early tomorrow for the RAP River Run at 8:00 a.m. at Sims Park in New Port Richey. Watch for that slideshow tomorrow. Busy weekend!

Click to see full size photos.

Run Tampa's First Travel Race Will be the Jax Bank Marathon and Half

While we suffer through the hot summer months, here's something cooler to think about:

The first Run Tampa Travel Race will be the Jacksonville Bank Marathon, Half and 5k on December 18th. It's a nice, medium-sized flat, fast race, which starts at the Bolles School and finishes in the stadium. This race has an excellent reputation, and since I've done it, I can vouch for that.

I already know of several Run Tampa people doing it as their first full, and I'm sure there will be some doing it as their first half. Register now and gtive direction to all your training between now and then.

More details to come.

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Join us tomorrow, Saturday, at Trout Creek at 7 a.m. for a lovely trail run. Mother Nature is calling your name. If you haven't done any trail running, you will be amazed at how much cooler it is on the trails, even at that time of the morning. Details were in the weekly newsletter. If you're not receiving it, register in the blue box. That always provides directions to the group runs and all the particulars.

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Join the Run Tampa Women's Half Marathon Team. Register by May 31st and use the coupon code

TEAMSAVEFL (case sensitive) to register as a team member and receive $10 off half marathon registration. This offer expires on May 31, 2011.  Registration prices increase on May 31 as well.  If you use the team code before the deadline and registration increase, you will save $15!

Go to Active.com to register. Click the 'Team' category, and then click Run Tampa in the drop-down menu. Let's have the biggest team. All speeds are invited, even if it's your first half, that's fine. The bigger the group, the better.

Run Tampa, Keepin' Busy

No point sitting around when we've got this much fun to be had. It's getting hot out there, but I find that hanging out with friends offsets many degrees, and you'll have plenty of opportunity for that in the next several weeks.

Next weekend: Saturday, Group Run at Trout Creek, also 7 a.m. It's always several degrees cooler on these beautiful, shaded off road trails, but you'll also have the option of running on the berm if you would prefer. It's all good.

June 4th: Saturday, Run Tampa Group Run on the Bayshore. Meet at 7 a.m. at Patriot's Park. There is a reason why this sidewalk is so famous. 

June 11th:  Saturday, Run Tampa's weekend event will be the RAP River Run in New Port Richey. We've already got 48 committed for this race. Are you registered? This is a very family friendly race, but you must sign up now to get the family discount.

June 18th:  Saturday, I'll be at the Champion's Mud Bash. Many people missed out on the Warrior Dash. To this day they are regretting not doing it. Well, there's still time to register for this one. I'll be in the 10:30 wave. We've already got 44 people committed. I'm starting to hear lots of chatter about this race. People are planning their costumes. No, you don't have to wear one, but many will. I know of a couple of people who will be sporting tutus. What are you planning?

Photos and Shirts: Lots of great photo opps at all these events. Do you have a Run Tampa shirt. They sure do help me find Run Tampa members, and you can order right here on this site. Click the 'Apparel' button in the menu bar. Come join us, have fun, make new friends, get in those miles, as fast as you want, as far as you want. You're the boss. There is just one rule:  Have fun!

Great, Great Strawberry Race!

Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Runners crew for putting on an awesome event! This is a great Tampa 5k and 10k race. If you didn't make it this year, start planning for next year's race.

Run Tampa shirts: I've got technical (moisture-wicking) sleeveless men's shirts and running singlets for women at screen printer now. Also, I was out of the short sleeve Adidas technical tees in men's and women's sizes, but more of those are being printed as well. You can order shirts here. I'll add the sleeveless ones as soon as I get them from the screenprinter. They will be $20.

Busy Running Weekend Ahead

Here's a preview just in case you're still in the planning stage:

Tomorrow is the Run Tampa Group Run on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail. You should have received an invite with all the details earlier this week. If you didn't, be sure to register (in the blue box to the right) to receive the weekly newsletter with the details of that week's event. I'm expecting 20 to 25 people of very varied levels, and they will be doing anywhere from 3 to at least 10 miles, maybe more.

Also tomorrow is Dances With Dirt, a trail race in the Green Swamp area of the Withlacoochee National Forest. I did this race last year. If you're doing it, be prepared to run through at least a couple of streams and be vigilant to keep track of the trail. There are five different race distances, 10k thru 50 mile. Depending on which race you do, you follow a ribbon that indicates which way to go. If your concentration fails you, you could end up going off course for many miles. It's a challenge, but then we love challenges!

Sunday is the Flatwoods Ramble 5k and 10 mile, which replaces the Flatwoods 4. If you go to the site, you can check out the new course. This is always a popular event. If you've been joining us for our Run Tampa Flatwoods group runs, you should be very familiar with the course.

The Chilly Willy Duathlon is at Ft. Desoto on Sunday. This is a run/bike/run event. Details here.

Also on Saturday: Honest Abe 5k, Wesley Chapel; Hero Run 5k, Starkey Park; Race for Red Cross Cupid Shuffle 5k/10k, Cory Lake Isles; Suncoast Classic 5k/10k, St. Pete.

Misc Run Tampa Photos from a Busy Running Week

Run Tampa was all over the place this weekend. One group did the FishHawk 5k,10k in Lithia, another ran at Trout Creek, and others ran the Melbourne & Beaches Music Marathon and Half. Lots of running, lots of fun. Next week's group event will be a Run Tampa Group Run on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail on Saturday at 7:00 a.m. 

 

Mud, Sweat and Beer at Warrior Dash

Yesterday and today, the Warrior Dash brought thousands of people, including many Run Tampa members, to the Triple Canopy Ranch in Lake Wales to crawl through mud, jump over hay bales, balance across planks, climb cargo nets, traverse a few hundred tires, mount chest high walls, duck under barbed wire, bolt over old cars, and leap over fire. In all there were 12 obstacles on the 3 mile course.

Everyone was assigned to one of the 13 waves that started at 30 minute intervals throughout the day. While waiting for your wave a band played, people danced, drank beer, gnawed on - what else - turkey legs, and marveled at the bizarre costumes and muddied physiques crossing the finish line. There was a show in every direction.

Did I mention we paid to have to do this? Really, it was the most fun I've had in a long while, and I have a lot of fun! 

What follows is a flash slide show. If your computer does not support flash, click here to see the slide show on Picasa.

 

Wow! That Was Some Exciting Jingle Bell Morning!

We had a blast today at the Jingle Bell Run 5k at International Plaza. Run Tampa was there in force with at least 40 participants. Great fun!. Run Tampa's official photographer, AKA my husband David, does his best to get many pics of Run Tampa runners, but unless you are wearing a Run Tampa shirt, he won't know you're in the group. I just picked up an order from the screen printer, so now I have plenty on hand. I'll have them at Flatwoods at our group run next Sunday, and I'll be creating a new 'Apparel' page on this site tomorrow to make it easier for you to order.

Enjoy the slide show. If you want to look at the individual photos, click on the link below the slide show. Results are posted HERE.

Click HERE to go to the Picasa page to view all these photos in full size.

This Weekend's Run Tampa Event Will Be the Jingle Bell Plaza Run

Don't miss this fun family event at International Plaza. It's a great way to kick off the holidays while raising money for the Arthritis Foundation. Check out this slide show from last year's race. Be there Saturday and be in this year's slide show. 

Click here to see a printable flyer with all the event details.

Pumpkin Run Slide Show

To go to the Picassa web album of the Northdale Pumpkin Run photos, click here. Thanks to David Voiles for shooting these photos.

One Day, Four Races, Fast Times, Happy Faces

First, this weekend's Run Tampa group event was the Tampa Police Memorial 5k and 1mi. Huge crowd, four times as many participants as last year. Great event to raise money for the widows and families of Tampa Police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. I had hoped for a photo of the large group of Run Tampa people at the race, but many people were still in line to get their numbers or register right up to race time due to the huge crowd. 

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Then, I was off to Croom to congratulate other Run Tampa runners participating in the John Holmes 50k Trail Race and 16 mi. Fun Run. Race Director Jim Bodoh always puts on a great race, and, even though I couldn't participate this year, at least I got to hang out with my friends after they finished and get some pics to record a great event and some sweet PR's. 

These trails will close soon for hunting season, but by the time we're ready to start training for Tampa Races' Croom 50mi/50k/15mi Fools Run in the spring, the trails will be open and beckoning. In the meantime, we'll do most of our trail running at Trout Creek and Flatwoods, but I'm also exploring some other off road trails; so, we'll probably be adding some other sites to the weekend run rotation soon.

Many people were asking about Run Tampa shirts. I'm in the process of ordering more technical shirts. Currently, I have a couple of men's mediums and XL's left and a couple of women's larges. If you would like one, I'll have them at the Rattlesnake Run next weekend, or you can send me a check for $20, and I'll drop one in the mail. Just email me at deb@runtampa.com for the address.

Also, I'm having some poly/cotton shirts screen printed right now. They'll be ready in a couple of days.

Great Showing for Run Tampa at HCSO Ranch Run 5k

Many Run Tampa members participated in the HCSO Ranch Run 5k on Saturday, and many scored PR's.

Two people, Sherry Scallon and Yu Haofei ran their first 5k's. Both had excellent races and looked strong even in that last tenth of a mile. Both Kevin Cook and Melissa Hurt had PR's, and we were thrilled to welcome Linda Rush back after a few weeks away from racing due to injury. While she's still not 100%, she still took home hardware.
Congrats to Run Tampa's Bob Meissner who also left with a medal around his neck.

And, one more note, Kevin Cook went under 30 minutes for the first time in the HCSO race Saturday (by about 30 seconds) and then did it again the very next day in the Aces 5k in Clearwater, also taking 3rd in his age group. That's some running weekend!

And congratulations to Sally Smith. She did both races as well AND won a pair of Newtons in American Running Company's prize giveaway after the Aces race.

Our next group race will be the Tampa Police Memorial 5k Race in downtown Tampa (run is on Bayshore) on October 9th. See me between now and then to get your Run Tampa shirt or have one made at Fit2Run.

Group run: Join us Saturday, the 18th at 7a.m. at Trout Creek for this week's group run.

To receive the weekly detailed invites, register to receive my Run Tampa quarterly newsletter (yes, it is overdue) and invites to group activities.

See complete results of the HCSO Ranch Run 5k here and results of the Aces 5k and 10k here.

 

 

 

Photos and Video of Saturday's Bobcat Adventure Run

Bobcat Race at Lake Park August 2010

Run Tampa Group Run on Famous Bayshore Sidewalk, Sunday, August 15th, 7 a.m.

Join us S U N D A Y morning , August 15th, for a great Run Tampa group run on the famous Bayshore sidewalk, site of the acclaimed Gasparilla Distance Classic and 5k. It's not too early to start thinking about that race! If you've never done it before, now's the time to start training; make it your goal and train with us.

We'll depart from Patriot's Park at 7 a.m. and run to Ballast Point Park, which is about 2.5 miles. Beautiful run! We almost always see dolphins!

Patriot's Park is at the intersection of Bay to Bay and Bayshore Blvd.

If you have trouble finding the park or us, call Deb at 813-416-4638.

We'll run out to the end of the pier, then circle around on the jogging path in the park before returning to Patriot's Park. Bathrooms and water fountain at the park.

That's around 5 miles; however, don't feel like you have to go that far. Turn around at any point. No minimum distance, and walk if you want. That's fine, too.

No rules, here, just fun!

Runners in pursuit of more mileage will continue in the other direction towards downtown. Or, people wanting to do more miles might want to meet at 5:45 or 6 a.m. and return to the park at 7 to join everyone else for the last segment of their long run, a good option for people training for a marathon, but make sure you're in a group for safety before dawn.

All speeds, no rules, no fee; everyone is welcome. If you've never joined a group run, please give it a try. No one will push you to go farther than you want to go, and I always encourage everyone to go their own pace.

We will have some people walking the whole distance and others doing a walk/run. You do what you want to do. We'll just be glad you came! Good way to get started running and be inspired and encouraged by others!

Robinson Preserve Twilight 5k & 1 mi, Bradenton, This Friday!

Okay, this is one race I think I have to do. I raced last weekend and  raced the week before, but gosh, look at the photo. That venue is just irresistible. I have to do it. And it's an evening race, 6:30 p.m.

Race Director, Doug Schiller says, “If you haven’t experienced this amazingly beautiful property, you’ll surely want to now. And, if you have, well, you’re probably already registered for the race.”  

Could there be a better way to begin a weekend?

 

• 5k Chip timed and participants receive a New Balance tech shirt

• Enjoy a GREAT post race party and silent auction, DJ, dinner, beverages and more

• The 5k route is over shell packed trails, six bridges, winding around mangroves, vistas of Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and 100’s of species of birds then finishes on a paved path

• Kids’ races 3 to 12 years receive official race t-shirt, bib, packet, and finisher’s medal

• Cash awards to the M/F top finishers and award tiles to all winners in their respective groups

29th Annual Strawberry Classic 2010

I don't know which was more striking, the vivid blue sky and yellow race shirts or all the smiling faces. No matter how you look at it the 29th Annual Strawberry Classic was a huge success. Kudos to Tampa Bay Runners.

See the photo album in the column to the right or click here to access all 149 photos in a Picasa album.

Spring Into Summer 5K

Muggy weather did not deter over 300 walkers and runners who participated in this morning's 5k race and one mile fun run. Congrats to Race Director Christina Mitchelson and the many volunteers from Take the First Step. It was still drizzling when I arrived at 6:45, but 8:00 race time, the sun was shining, and we all benefited from slightly cooled temperature as the result of rains during the last 24 hours.
This is actually a great race for turning in a good time, at least if you, like me, are not especially bothered by the heat. I ran a lifetime PR, so I'm on a cloud today. The triathlon training I've been doing lately has had quite a favorable effect on my running. I think it's specifically the spinning and weight training. I worried that I had not had time to recover from the Madeira Beach Triathlon last weekend, but I guess I had recovered well enough. After thirty years of running, I broke 26 minutes for the first time. Woohoo! 
If you missed today's race, you will have plenty of opportunities to race 5K's at Al Lopez Park this summer. Take the First Step Club is putting on its second 5k Summer Series. Check the dates by going to the Run Tampa Race Calendar link in the menu bar. They are low key afternoon affairs. I will be there, and I hope to see you there, too.
 Click here to see all 52 race photos.

Miles for Moffitt 2009

Thousands of people turned out for the 2009 Miles for Moffitt races, and all the events appeared to be hugely successful. The weather was hot, but beautiful, and everyone wore smiles that said they were all happy to be doing their part to raise money for cancer research. Race Director Karen Dalton, wonderful sponsors and hundreds of volunteers deserve many kudos. This race, the second largest event of its kind in the Bay Area, behind only Gasparilla, raises more money each year. That's the plan, and that's what's happening. Click the photo below to view a slideshow.

Miles for Moffitt '09

Tour de Village 5K & 1 mi Fun Run

On any given Saturday morning many runners put in their miles on the sidewalks of Carrollwood Village, but today about 200 runners participated in the Tour de Village, a 5k race sponsored by the Phase I, II, and III Carrollwood Village Homeowners Associations.
The surprise for many people is that this is, in fact, an off road race, yet the entire race takes place in the Village.
Click here to see all 116 race photos. 

Run with Pride 5K

Pride Elementary PTA's Run with Pride 5K was an awesome race on a very cold morning! The temp - 37 degrees at my house - didn't seem to hold anyone back. The race seemed very well supported, and it did my heart good to see so many fit young people. The running community had better brace for an onslaught of new talent because I saw some f - a - s - t  kids.

MADD Dash Resolution 5K Run

Well, the 2008 MADD Dash Resolution Run at Tampa's Al Lopez Park is history, and what an awesome event. Race Director Dana Felice, once again, put on a wonderful event with the help of a cadre of Take the First Step Club volunteers and many generous sponsors.

Runners were encouraged to create a resolution sign proclaiming their New Year's Resolution to wear on their back during the race. Some of the signs read 'Eat Better,' 'Lose 10 lbs.,' 'Get More Rest,' 'Smile More, Frown Less,' 'Run Every Day,' and 'Eat More Veggies.'

Say No to Drugs '08

Say No to Drugs photos are posted here. Over a thousand runners participated in either the 5K or 10K. The 5K and 10K were followed by a pancake breakfast. Click on the link above to see all 37 photos in high resolution.
 

Tampa Bay Lightning Reindeer Run

Hundreds if not thousands of people converged on downtown Tampa Saturday for the Tampa Bay Lightning  Reindeer Run. There was a competition among schools to see which could get the most entries. I don't  know who won, but there were a lot of young people in the races wearing their school shirts.

The photos from the race are now posted. Go to the PHOTOS link in the menu bar above. More information to come.

Still looking for information about the results, etc., and will post when I locate that information. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures.

Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis at Lowry Park

On December 6th, several hundred runners competed in the Jingle Bell 5K Run and Santa Chase at Lowry Park Zoo. I saw lots of happy faces, many wearing Santa hats or reindeer ears.

The award for most money raised, went to Mandy Tyler-Sedlund, who raised $1,340 from 29 participants. Congratulations Mandy!

Click here to see 70 photos.

As an ex-teacher, I am so pleased to see so many families competing together. There seems to be a move afoot among some wonderful parents to include the whole family in this great sport. As I go from race to race, I keep seeing the same families.

Richard's Run for Life

This year 1,197 participated in Richard's Run for Life on the streets of historic Ybor City near downtown Tampa. The race raised money for the Amandalee Fund for Pediatric Cancer Research at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Cancer Institute. This is one of the few annual local evening races, and I, for one, think that's a great idea. I am not a 'morning' person, so I love evening races.

Typically, most runners hang out for 30 to 45 minutes after a race, but not this night. The post race party was a real party with great food, and excellent music, a fantastic way to  spend a Friday evening.

The Columbia Restaurant provided a delectable meal of black beans and rice, paella, '1905' salad, and much more. Runners also feasted on ChaCha's Guava BBQ ribs, Moe's burritos, and Michelob Ultra, mmmmmmmmmm!

2008 Northdale Pumpkin Run, Family Walk

What fun! The weather was just perfect, ideal for fast times. The 7th Annual Northdale Pumpkin Run was put on by the Bob Sierra YMCA and Northdale Civic Association, and proceeds went to the Bob Sierra YMCA Building Strong Kids Camp and the Northdale Civic Association. Click the icon on the right to see 40 photos.