Gasparilla Half-Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

I could really feel the effects of yesterday's 5K today....especially in the first few miles. I really thought I'd have the shortest PR high from yesterday's race because I didn't really expect much out of myself today.

I was hoping to beat Disney's half split (3:25) and best-case scenario was a 15:00 pace overall at about 3:15. The last few training runs, I hadn't even come close to the Disney time, so I wasn't very optimistic.

After yesterday's PR high, I went to one of the training calculators and used my newest best 5K time to predict my half-mary pace . . it put me at 2:59 or just under a sub-14 min/mi pace. This turned out to be a good thing, cuz when I started seeing 14s on my Garmin, I didn't get scared and back off (like usual). I strongly believe this is what made today happen . . . that 'permission' to go a wee bit faster.

The first few miles, I really struggled....I was in the high 14s and wondering how the hell I managed to go faster than this yesterday. Hubby shot off like a rocket after the bridge to Davis Islands. After about mile or 2, I hooked up with a walker named Shannon doing the first leg of the marathon relay. She was keeping a 14:30 pace walking and I jogged with her walk until we left the island at mile 6. We chatted about races we'd done, how much she loved Disney and my goals for today. We also 'house shopped' as most of the houses on the island are mansions! She cracked me up when she said how lovely her Nissan Centra would look on one of the long driveways! When I slowed down to take off the very fashionable Florida tourist sweatshirt, I had to really run to catch back up. Hanging with Shannon was awesome and helped keep me at a steady pace that was not too aggressive, but faster than I've ever run 10k before!

After the bridge, she hooked up with her relay team and she was gone...it was all up to me now! So far, I'd only had two cups of gatorade and was looking for the next water stop so I could down a gel....and the greatest thing happened...we ran past the finish line snacks! Yellow bananas! I grabbed a banana and looked like an idiot as I ditched the peel in a trash can (wouldn't want anyone to slip on that peel) and basically had the banana hanging out of my mouth for the next block or two.

It was weird running back over the starting line again and in even more deja vu, I ran into Pacer Jim from last year! In 2007, he had been the 'last chance' pacer and since I had walked the whole race, I got to know him for many miles before I pulled away from the pack. I hauled ass to catch up with him, and this turned out to be my fastest split of the race! He was really nice and though I only stayed with him for a few min (he was pacing the 4:30 mary group this time), he said it was great to see me RUNNING this year! It WAS great and I was so proud of myself!! I guess it was at this moment that I resolved to really push hard today and KILL my time from last year (4:01).

I spent the rest of the race zoning on my music and not getting too distracted by the costumed spectators....though the guy juggling while running the race really blows my mind...I think I might have seen him at Disney too....wow! The only thing that really slowed me down was stopping to tie my shoe (new shoes don't have yankz in them yet since there's been no tris).

Got to see hubby after he turned around...he was looking strong and said he was keeping a 13 min mile. He was trying to break 3 hours today and HE DID!
Worked hard to keep focused after the turn around and was really grateful I didn't have to pee.

I did stop and walk after I picked up fluids, and I had a couple of 20 second walk breaks, but this year I ran over 98% of the time! I was having trouble doing the math in my head...but I guess I really picked up the pace after the first half, cuz when I got close to the finish line and saw the clock, I couldn't believe it at all! I had SHATTERED my goal of 3:15!!

Final chip time: 3:06



Wear yankz

Hubby got a PR, I got a PR....awesome day! We got some Columbia Paella and lots of free lara bar samples. Hung around and watched strangers finish the mary....left after my last year finish time at 4:01.

Had a late check-out and got to shower and had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.


I'd like to run Gasparilla every year! The race was awesome...medals were awesome...food was great!