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.
-----------------------
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.
-----------------------
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.
I shot the video above on my iPod Nano, so I apologize for having my fingernail in the frame. It's hard to run and hold a Nano that's 1.5" x 3.5", tightly enough not to drop it, and still keep my fingers out of the picture. I took most of the video during the first couple of miles while I was still getting warmed up. Then I pulled it out again after crossing the finish line. Thanks to my husband David for editing all of my videos. He does it on his Mac much more easily and more effectively than I can with my meager tools - and non-existent video editing skills.
Anyway, here is a continuation of my comments about the race weekend.
I chatted at the Metro station with Minnie, a 20 something Marine
stationed in Kansas. She had just returned from Kuwait where she had
trained in temperatures over 100 degrees.
Wendy got in a lot of
hot water - couldn't resist that pun - for stealing . . . wait for it . . . a
cup of hot water. The hotel had provided teabags and one of those
coffeemakers that makes one cup of coffee at a time. We couldn't figure
out how to get just hot water. Anyway, she went downstairs, thinking
that most hotels provide free coffee and hot water for tea. Not this
one, but she did see where they were setting up coffee and hot water
for an event in a meeting room. She borrowed one of the hotel cups and
filled it with hot water just in time to incur the wrath of a hotel
employee. He loudly admonished her, saying, "You have to pay for
EVERYTHING here!" Then another lady came over flashing a name tag as if
it was a police shield, saying, "Is there a problem?" Wendy sheepishly
retreated, cup in hand, only to determine when she got a good look that
the cup was dirty, and she would be unable to use the water for tea
anyway.
I'll always remember what seemed like a magical hour - or two - we
spent at the National Cathedral. We took a trolley tour Saturday
afternoon, deciding to get off whenever we felt the urge, but keeping
in mind that I needed to save my legs for the race. On seeing the
cathedral, we were both drawn to it and decided to get off. That may
have been the best decision we made all weekend. The whole thing was
magnificent, from the lovely sound of the carillon to the Bishop's
Garden to the a vivid stained glass window built around an actual moon
rock. It was drizzling off and on, and that added to the impact. It was, indeed, a spiritual experience that I hope never to forget. I can still hear the overwhelming peacefulness of the sanctuary.
We discovered they're big on cupcakes in DC. We visited Red Velvet Cupcakes and The Cupcakery. Wendy gave both high marks.
The only bad part of the whole experience, and it absolutely would not deter me from doing the race again - was that after the marathon, there were just far too many people to disburse efficiently to their various hotels. Too few cabs, not enough room on the Metro, etc. All the coffeeshops, restaurants, and cafes were full, and after you run 26 miles, you really want to just relax on your bed in your comfy hotel and EAT something.
When we could see that it would take a while to wait in line for the Metro, we decided to walk a couple of blocks in the hope of hailing a cab. Then we spotted the line for taxis. There were about a hundred people waiting already. I wanted a cup of coffee almost more than I wanted to SIT. Of course, Starbucks was full, but Wendy spotted a Marriott and speculated that there was probably a Starbucks inside. Brilliant! She was right. I rested while she got us drinks and we settled in for a comfortable hour in the Marriott's bar.
By the time we returned to the Metro station the line had only gone down slightly; after all, many people were still finishing. No choice, we would have to wait in line. It didn't take too long, but it felt longer on my weary legs. That's when we met Bob.
Bob was about my age and really tall, like 6'5ish. As we waited on the platform for the Metro, he asked Wendy for directions. When we discovered he
was staying at our hotel, Wendy said he could just follow us, and, relieved, he agreed. We
boarded the Metro, and moments later, Bob collapsed. Fortunately,
medics were nearby, and he came to, but moments later, he passed out
again. As soon as we reached the next stop, we went running for a Metro official while someone else called 911. It was kind of scary, especially after hearing about the deaths in the Detroit Marathon the week before. This story has a happy ending, though. We got word later that night that Bob would be fine but
would be kept overnight in the hospital.
The day after the race we took another trolley tour, stopping at the Museum of Natural History, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Viet Nam War Memorial. I got to stand on the spot where Martin Luther King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech, and I watched a Marine stand on a ladder to do a rubbing of a name high on the Viet Nam War Memorial. I had never been to DC before and I am immensely glad I went. Thanks Velma and Diane for encouraging me to choose this race. You raved about it, and now I will rave about it.
