In all the years I’ve participated in the Gasparilla Distance Classic Weekend, the weather for the half marathon has always been rainy and cold. This year, with temperatures hitting the high 70s, the Gasparilla Distance Classic faced record highs which prompted the race director to send out emails encouraging participants to drink water and stay hydrated to combat the heat.
Then on Friday evening, in unfortunate twist of fate, the City of Tampa alerted its residents to drink boiled water in response to a burst sewage pipeline. The Gasparilla Race Director sent a second email to ease everyone’s concern about water on the course. All the water distributed would be bottled Zephyrhills water.
Given the heat, I knew I would not be hitting a new PR, but I could shoot for a PB-PB (personal best post baby). Even with the heat, I knew I could run slightly faster than I could two years ago.
Chrissy and I started off together, even walked the David Island bridge bottleneck together, but I lost her around the 3 mile mark. She was determined to PR and I just wanted to finish without a heat stroke.
I kept an easy 10:00 mile pace and just enjoyed the course. I bumped into quite a few of my running friends along the way. I found my friends, Beth and Marie, cheering for me at mile 5.
I love running along Bayshore Blvd, but I always forget how incredibly long this part of the course feels. Thankfully, Heather caught up with me around mile 7, and but then, the sun decided to join to come to the party. Though the humidity hung around like an uninvited guest, at least the heat stayed away for the first half.
As in previous years, misters cooled off the runners as they ran along Bayshore Blvd. With the water boiling advisory, I avoided the “shitsters”. They were as unwelcomed as the heat and the humidity. I chose to dump Zephyrhills bottled water on me instead.
Much like Disney Marathon, I stayed hydrated by drinking water and Gatorade at every water station. Around mile 8, Jessica of Cuban Running Crisis handed me water. I couldn’t resist the water and a photo opportunity.
Just a little after mile 9, we turned for the homestretch back into Downtown Tampa. At mile 10 with only 3.1 miles left to run, I worried that I wouldn’t beat my time from two years ago.
But none of that mattered when I reached the cheering section at mile 11. A few hundred screaming children cheered and shouted out our names as we ran past. The sound of their cheers and the sight of their smiling faces brought tears to my eyes. Hearing hundred of children yelling my name humbled me.
As I stopped to take photos, I hollered back. “Thank you for being here! You ROCK!” Then, I read their shirts and I realized how true those words were. These children represented the Gasparilla Kids Running Program, a program to encourage kids to stay in school, stay healthy and maintain positive attitudes. We need more people in the world like these kids!
With only two miles left and just inspiration I needed to run, I picked up the pace and concentrated on finishing strong.
I sprinted with a smile across the finish line…
….and I even beat my Gasparilla Half Marathon time from two years ago by nine minutes.
Bib #26394
Clock Time 2:26:30
Chip Time 2:22:16
Ave Pace 10:51
Overall Place 2698/4436
Gender Place 1163/2291
Of course, I couldn’t leave the race without the traditional finisher’s pirate photo…
…and a shot in front of the Downtown Tampa skyline….
…and a shot with the Best Damn Race gang, Brad, Nick and Beth.
Chrissy PR’d by one minute and by doing so, she missed Marie on the course, but we had our Kodak moment after the race.
Heather finished a few minutes after me and Jenny finished around 3 hours.
Despite the heat and the shitty water, we all sailed through another successful Gasparilla race.
Good for you! My daughter (a jr. in high school) placed 3rd in her age division in a 5k last weekend. She is part of a really great running club that our school has and loves it.
I was in Florida last week, but wasn’t able to include this race (although I thought about it). Maybe next year? haha
Looks like a fun one. Congrats on your finish! The medal is awesome 😉
Gasparilla is a must-do! Next time you’re here, go for it!
Good for you for beating your time! Gasparilla this year was my husband’s first ever half. The boys and I had fun cheering all the runners on near the end. I did the 5k. I’m hoping to do the 8k next year.
9 Minutes off your last time? Awesome! I absolutely hate running in warm weather so I know how you feel. But once you were done and saw your time it must have been a great feeling.
I applaud ALL of the runners that finished Gasparilla weekend! It was definitely not ideal racing weather or water conditions that’s for sure! Congrats on your PR 🙂
Congrats on the time! It’s funny, I live in Fort Lauderdale and we always get a mailer at the office announcing the festivities … sorry about the ‘crappy’ water situation 🙂 Funny though!
Congrats on finishing the half.
Looks like it was a blast.
Art
I ran this race too…the humidity was TERRIBLE!!!
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