Race Recap: ColorMeRad5k

*As a member of Tampa Bay Bloggers, I received complimentary registrations to the ColorMeRad5k event mentioned in this post in exchange for social media love and this recap review. As always, all opinions are my own.*

Two weekends ago I put a team together of friends to run the ColorMeRad5k here in Tampa.

After going through the website looking at pictures and sending them to my friends, I was so excited to run the ColorMeRad5k with my friends and kids! Actually walk...not run. 

I knew I wasn't going to run this race because

1. It's not timed so what's the point? :)

2. I wanted my kids to have the option of not sitting in the stroller

3. My friends, who are not "runners", were gracing me with their presence. 

Being my first color run I envisioned color bombs going off everywhere, having a blast and crossing the finish line looking like a tie dyed mess! 

This is how it went:

Our start time was 9:10 and when we walked up to the starting area there wasn't much going on. We were the 2^nd to last group to start so maybe that’s why it was so lackluster? We must have missed the excitement. Just a guy on a microphone, talking about the colors packs and gels, letting small crowds thru the start line every 5 minutes or so. 

Side note: My pregnant friend went up for a water while we were standing around in the heat and got turned down...what?! I know the volunteers were probably told not to give out water before the race but come on! Have some common sense when you see an obviously pregnant women standing in the heat asking for water. 

Before starting, Sophia and Kennedy got comfortable in the double stroller pushed by Angelo, and Harper went into the other stroller pushed by Katie. That left Nelps in my arms. She was not having it with the stroller that morning and so I thought "ok, she'll for sure walk some of this course...right?" 

The short trek from the start to the first color, yellow, was so empty and kind of a early buzzkill for the run. I was trying to scope out how the course went and didn't see much going on. Where were the huge color explosions?! And the heat...Thank goodness the second half of the course was shaded! 

Once we got to the color station, we quickly realized that if you weren't walking right by the color throwers on the outsides, you would come out of the color station perfectly clean.

At some stations the color bombers were SITTING DOWN! You had to stop, get color thrown on you, and then proceed.

Angelo, Chad, and Katie ran ahead of us to keep the girls occupied in the strollers. We saw them on the course about half way through and the stroller was completely color bombed with orange and the girls looked like they were having too much fun in that stroller!

At one color station Alisha walked right in front of a color thrower to get color bombed. He looked at her face, looked at her belly, and went "bam! Color bombed to the boobs!" This gave us a good laugh! 

On the last color station before the finish line I was irritated that some people weren't all tie-dyed and skittle-like. So I ran up to the box of colored corn starch and color bombed people on my own! Was this allowed? Probably not, but at that point I wasn't about to take an “after picture” with people still resembling Mr. Clean.

Action shot towards the finish line!

All in all, I think the run was OK. And I'm probably writing all this still thinking about my aching arm from holding Nelpe the entire time. 

Tip: Don't carry an 18 month old child through a 5k run.

BUT, would I do it again? Yeah, why not? :)

After Pictures

XOXO

#RUNSarasota Race Recap

First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon Recap 

This past Sunday I ran my fourth Half Marathon, but it was my first half marathon as a blogger. I was given a free entry into the race courtesy of the Tampa Bay Bloggers in exchange for a race recap post. **All opinions are my own**

Training started in January. Every week for two months we trained. We had long runs every weekend, and actually stuck to the training plan. We ran Gasparilla and I had a PR for the 8k! Then we moved…The two weeks before this half, we ran maybe 5 times and 6 miles was the longest run. Our whole routine was off and running was put to the side while we got situated in our new temporary living quarters.

I was nervous at first, but then thought that I would just run at my own pace and enjoy the views of this race. No reason for pressure. Just finish the race with a smile…

The morning of the race started super early. Like 4:30 a.m. early. The race was located in Sarasota, by St. Armand’s Circle, which is about an hour away from our home. I got up, told Angelo to make coffee, and hopped in the shower to wake myself up. Coffee + shower = me wide awake and ready to go! Breakfast was a piece of toast with peanut butter. I only ate half of it because my appetite was still sleeping…being it 4:30am and all.
We scooped up my sister-in-law, Katie, on our way.

By the time we got parked and walked up to the starting area, it was already 6:30. Race started at 7:00. I had to use the bathroom after the long drive, and the bathroom lines were outrageously long and moving super slow. Do you ever wonder why you get stuck in the slowest lines?! We finally walked up to the starting line with under 5 minutes to go. At this time I realized that I left one of my Gu’s in the bag Angelo had checked for us. Damnnnn.

I ripped into my one chocolate Gu while walking to the starting line.

Source: LifeTime Athletic Events

I was placed in the A group so we made our way to the front of the crowd. We ended up literally at the front of the crowd. There were maybe 5 people in-between me and the starting line. That was a first. I’m usually positioned somewhere in the middle of the group. This made me a little nervous because I knew it would make me feel like I had to run faster, therefore making my first couple miles too fast, and tiring me out too fast.  My goal was to finish at or under 2:00. This means I had to have an average pace of 9 min/mile or less. That was do-able in my mind. But I knew it wouldn't be easy and it would take some pushing myself.

Mile 1 was run at pace 8:06. By the time I was at mile 5, my pace went to 9:30. Between mile 1 and mile 5, we ran up and down a bridge, TWICE! This killed me and I was almost dead by mile 5. I will say that the view and sunrise while running the bridge was beautiful!

Slowing but surely the different pacers started passing me. I REALLY didn’t want to walk at any point, but my hips were starting to feel extremely tight. I gave in and started walking at every water station. I would grab a water or Gatorade, take a few seconds to drink it and walk. Then start running again once I was done. 

I got my “second wind” around mile 6 where the relay runners were switching places. I was both jealous and happy to see this. Jealous that these runners were either beginning or ending the race. Happy that this meant I was half way done! Miles 6-9 were much better and my pace stayed between 9 and 9:30.

There was a Pub along the race path between mile 8-9  that was handing out drinks. I thought it was water. It was pink and the thought of it being some type of liquor went through my head…it WAS from a pub. I took a tiny sip and I think it was some sort of flavored water or lemonade. No idea, but thank goodness it wasn't liquor or I probably would have puked on the person running in front of me.

Everything hit me again at mile 10. I was cursing my legs when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Katie found me and said “Only three more miles!” At this time we were running through a neighborhood with little to no good scenery. I couldn't possibly go any faster or slower than I was going at 9:30-9:40 pace. You know when you get to that point when walker hurts more than running. I was at that point and I could taste the finish line. I could taste the huge bottle of water I was going to chug when I got there! The signs we were running past told me there were pancakes waiting for me…I didn't want pancakes. I wanted a ginormous cup of cold water. My body was craving water.

My NikePlus trainer app told me I was at mile 13, I turned a corner and the finish line was RIGHT there! A smile emerged on my face and I heard angels singing (No joke, I really think I did).

Timing tracker & Photos courtesy of LifeTime Athletic Events

I ended up finishing at 2:01:50!!!!!! Seriously?! I was 1:50 past my goal time and that stung a little. Although I was just past my goal time, I am still very proud of myself, Angelo, and Katie for finishing. Half marathons are not easy. They are both physically and mentally challenging. But having my goal so close has made me eager to sign up for another half and FINALLY get under 2:00.

My next half marathon is still undetermined. I will be signing up for one next week; I just have to figure out which one.

Any suggestions for my next half marathon?