Music Monday: It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me

Yesterday, I ran in the Gasparilla Half Marathon yesterday. I love Gasparilla Distance Classic weekend, but yesterday was not my best race. Not only was the weather super hot and humid for February, but I woke up with a crazy pounding headache that morning. Neither element makes for ideal race conditions, but I pushed along and made it through the pirate theme-raced for the ultimate racing treasure! ~~The meda~~l ~~The bling~~ The booty! Argggggh!

Yep, I shook off that headache like a pirate and grabbed that booty.

**Warning: Video contains mature content and not appropriate for young audiences, but it is DANG funny.**

I’ll have a full race report a little later this week, but for now, I’m focusing on a pirate themed Music Monday to celebrate Gasparilla. Not only is Gasparilla one of my favorite races, this pirate themed festival is my favorite time of year. So since Tampa is under siege for a two month long pirate festival, only pirate themed music would only do, me hearties. After all, I be pirate ~~at forty~~ ~~over forty~~ at forty two.

I love pirates. After all, my former ~~vehicle~~ vessel was The Black Pearl and now I navigate The Jolly Blogger through Tampa.

Like a good captian, I’ve passed along my pirate obsession to my ~~children~~ sprogs. Little Lion Man and I are huge fans of the Never Land Pirate Band featuring Sharkey and Bones that sing on the Disney Junior’s Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

Did you know that Sharkey and Bones once performed in a band called Captain Bogg and Salty?

I know. I know way too much about children’s music and I need a life, but you know what? It be a pirate life for me! Arggggggh!

Yo ho! Yo ho! It’s a pirate’s life for me!

What music has you moving this week?

For Music Mondays, I’m teaming up with my good friend and fellow Marathon Mama,Chrissy.

Visit Xmas Dolly and Jade Louise Designs for more Music Monday.

Junior Gasparilla (Raising Runners, Part 4)

The pirate races are pillaging through Tampa this week! Last Saturday, we attended the kid’s race and I’ll run the half marathon this Sunday. Aye, it be me favorite time of year, me hearties! Argggg!

As for last Saturday’s race, we loaded the kids complete in pirate apparel into The Jolly Blogger and set sail for the Junior Gasparilla Distance Classic at the Pepin Stadium at the University of Tampa. Although Allana is too old to join in the Junior Gasparilla, she happily cheered for little brother and sister. Plus, she had more time to enjoy the vendor booths between her siblings’ races.

Liam was a little nervous for his first race but with his mother runner at this side, he took off with a flash for his dash all while clinging tightly to his treasure, a small red ball he discovered at one of the vendor booths.

All that after school running club training paid off for Emmalynn, which was evident in her strong half mile run around the track. Since she typically runs about ten laps (about two miles) at running club, two laps around the track was nothing for our runner rock star! She took on that track and her half mile without stopping. She held a nice easy pace and finished strong with a smile (just like her mama)!

Liam and Emmalynn did great at the Junior Gasparilla! Their glowing confidence and beaming grins were the real treasure at this pirate-theme kid’s race, but these small swashbuckling runners loved their ~~loo~~t medals.

With the help of our after school running club, Junior Gasparilla and a few other races, I’ve trained my kids to be life-long runners. Now, we just need to work on smiling for the camera.

Gasparilla 15K Recap

Besides having just finished two half marathons within two weeks of each other, I chose the 15K race because I had never run this distance before at Gasparilla Race Weekend. Plus, it seems to be a popular distance with my running friends. So, yes, if you must know, I resorted to peer-pressure and did what all my friends were doing. Even Maribel succumbed to the running friend peer pressure when she chose to run the 15K as her first running race ever.

Basically, the 15K course stretches along Bayshore Blvd and back again, which is simply the most breathtaking view at sunrise and what I love most about Gasparilla next to the awesome ~~medals~~ booty.

At the start of the race, the temps were already beginning to rise. I found the 9:30 pace group and decided to tag along with them. However, with the heat, I would soon learn that finishing under an hour and a half would not be happening today.

When I studied the course map the night before, I misread the map and thought there would be only two water stations on the course at miles 4 and 7. Imagine my jubilation when I realized the EIGHT water stations were available every couple of miles! Thank you to the Zephyrhills water gods and Gasparilla volunteers, but mostly thank you for volunteers wearing rubber gloves and handing us clean water! The Rock ‘n Roll marathon series needs to take note of that.

And also a big “THANK YOU” to the residents of Bayshore and the City of Tampa for running sprinklers along the course. Those sprinklers were such a welcomed sight!

As for the actual running portion of the program, it was hot and I struggled with my 1:30 goal. Since I had been training in cool mornings, I wasn’t prepared mentally or physically for an unexpected heat wave. So, on race days like this one, sometimes you have to forget the PR and just run or walk it, like I was forced to do many times.

The heat was so unbearable that I started getting cramps in my side. I needed to walk quite a bit of the course as did many others. Between miles 4-5, we found reprieve under some large oak trees.

Then, around mile 5, we turned the corner and the sun beamed down on Bayshore Blvd again. I felt like I would puke.

And to make it worse all better, someone offered us Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Really? And people actually ate them while running! I don’t remember any donuts in the half marathon or even the marathon! WTH?! Who knew?! As far as Gasparilla races go, this must mean that the 15K is the sweet pick. As long as there’s no heat, I suppose.

The last few miles are a blur, even according to my cell phone camera as it kept getting wet from me dumping water on myself at every water station and the sprinklers. I just remembered wanting to finish and be done with it all. Once I spotted the finish line, my spirits picked up but I didn’t have the energy to sprint across the finish line. That heat did me in!

Due to all my walking, Maribel eventually caught up with me and we finished within seconds of each other.

Clock Time 1:47:06

Chip Time 1:45:31

Pace 11:19

Overall Place 3446/4956

Gender Place 1563/2569

Division Place 227/350

Maribel had all the emotions of finish her first race. I was so proud of her as well as thrilled and honored to share that special runner’s high moment with her.

After the race, we waited for our friends (Chrissy, Faith, Patti, and Angie) to finish the 5K, but due to an unexpected delay, they didn’t start their race until 20 minutes after the official start. I felt so bad for all the 5K people who experienced an even hotter race than the 15K runners.

Once reunited with all our friends, we had chowed down on Columbia restaurant black beans (my favorite) and a free celebratory beer, which was another first for me. Usually, I’m too tired or can’t be bothered to wait in line, but today the wait was worth it.

With our beer, we toasted to friends, Maribel’s first race and surviving the heat.

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

More Gasparilla Booty

I captured so many great photos from the Gasparilla Children’s Parade and I wanted to share some more, If you missed my previous Gasparilla post, gather ’round to hear the tale again, me hearties.

Something Fishy About This One

I’ve previously mentioned about my slight obsession with manhole covers ever since my husband decided to collect cuff links that resembled city sewer works. While visiting Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Downtown Tampa for the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, my family and I stumbled upon another fancy manhole cover that I hadn’t noticed before.

Bring on the Beads!

Last Saturday, our scurvy crew loaded into The Black Pearl for a voyage to beautiful Bayshore Blvd, Tampa for the Gasparilla Children’s Parade. For Grandma Elizabeth, Papa Rusch, Uncle Erich and Cousin Meghan, this would be their maiden voyage as they had never experienced a Gasparilla Parade before.

The parade forecast was freezing by Florida standards, therefore, warm winter coats covered all our pirate apparel, but Meghan’s hook and dress were still visible.

Our new pirate recruits quickly caught on that the Gasparilla Parade is all about the beads.

Grandpa Rusch and Allana tucked in close to the railing, however, Emmalynn and Meghan had an unfair advantage sitting on their Daddy’s shoulders. Even Grandma and Liam tried their hand at catching a few beads.

Although the girls decided they’d collected enough treasure, the Dads and Grandpa decided they need just a few more beads.

At the end, the girls proudly posed with their new found treasures.

Even Liam licked liked his booty.

Argggg!

BlogTrotting through Tampa Bay

Greetings from Land O’Lakes, FL!

This week, BlogTrotting requested me to share my small slice of the Sunshine State. Although I live in Land O’Lakes, my little suburb is only 15 minutes north of Tampa, which is the home of the Buccaneers (Super Bowl XXXVII Champions 2002),

the Rays (American League Champions 2008 ),

the Lightning (Stanley Cup Champions 2004) and the spring training home of the Yankees.

Not to mention, Tampa is also the home of two great universities: University of South Florida (my alma mater – GO BULLS!)

and University of Tampa (my DH’s alma mater).

According to Dr. Beach, the Tampa Bay has some of the best beaches, including Fort Desoto, Honeymoon Island, Caladesi Island.

Although Tampa may lack the metropolitan and ethnic flare typically found in larger cosmopolitan cities, our beautiful city still offers its own flavor of culture.

Ybor City, a section of Tampa settled by Cuban immigrants in the late 1800s, produced more cigars than Havana and became known as the Cigar Capital of the World. Today, Ybor City is our own little Spanish New Orleans and serves up some of the best Cuban food outside of Miami. In late October, Ybor City celebrates Guavaween, which can be compared a Halloween Mardi Gras. Fifteen years ago, I met my husband one cold drunken Guavaween night.

Tampa residents love to spin pirate tales about a mythological pirate, José Gaspar, who invaded our streets during the late 1800s. From late January to early March, we celebrate Gasparilla with a variety of pirate parades, festivals and races.

As for tourist spots, I highly recommend the Florida Aquarium, which offers a gorgeous glimpse of our wetlands and coral reef and a fun splash area for the kids.

Busch Gardens is another favorite tourist hot spot. The roller-coasters and up-close animal exhibits are simply breathtaking in more ways than one.

Lowry Park Zoo is another great place to visit when the natives are restless.

If you visit Tampa in the winter months, you will want to stop by the Teco Manatee Viewing Center. During the cooler months, manatees seek refuge in the warm waters discharged from the power plant. On a good, cool day, you can view close to a hundred manatees free of charge.

If you crave outdoor adventures, Tampa Bay has beautiful waterways for boating, fabulous flatwood trails to hike, bike or run…

…and several rivers to canoe such as Hillsborough River, Weedon Island or Weeki Wachee Springs, which is the home of our world famous mermaids. Rumor has it even Elvis stopped there.

If hiking trails and primitive camping is your pleasure, Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park was featured last spring in the St. Pete Times as one of the best camping spots in Florida, but I prefer the “luxury amenities” at Hillsborough River State Park.

I love living in Tampa Bay and can’t imagine living anywhere else. I enjoy spending almost every day outdoors and wearing flip flops all year round. I’ve even got the tan lines to prove it.

My Girls at Gasparilla

Since the early 1900’s, Tampa residents have been invaded by the mythical pirate Jose Gaspar and his krewe. The invasion, now known as Gasparilla, has grown since its beginning days into a variety of parades, numerous festivals and several races.

Growing up in the Tampa Bay area, it is understood that residents should participate in the Gasparilla festivities at least once in their lifetime. I’ve attended my share of parades during my college days, but the memories are a little fuzzy.

This year, my family and I attended the Gasparilla Children’s Parade for our first time. The girls are I dressed in our best pirate outfits, although we were undressed compared to the many Captain Jacks, buccaneers, wenches and other pirates swashbuckling through the streets. I was just happy that my booty could still fit into my Nilla Shields Gasparilla shorts.

Other than watching the Macy’s Day parade every Thanksgiving on TV, my girls have never seen a parade up-close prior to last weekend. Seeing the pirate ships and all the fantastic floats was quite a thrill for my girls.

We never told Allana and Emmalynn what to expect or about the bountiful of beads that would be thrown into the crowds. Soon enough, Allana and Emmalynn were blown away by the pirate ships’ cannons firing beads and the people on the floats who pitched beads at all the bystanders. It was a child’s paradise and my pretty little pirates quickly learned the best ways to catch their treasure.

Emmalynn had the best spot to score a lot of beads sitting on Daddy’s shoulders.