A Cruel Cruel Summer an August 2021 Running Update:
Uggg just Ugg just when I thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel…
I’m fully vaccinated, signing up for large EVENT races like RunDisney and Gaspirilla and even easing back in to the gym by using the treadmill as a failsafe if the Florida Summer heat and rain are just to much however as the month began I've crashed into a wall known only as the DELTA VARIANT
At least at this time nothing has been postponed or converted to virtual however they have made many modifications to the final race of this summer series and for my September run they have posted on the official facebook page they are closely monitoring the events so... fingers crossed
The main modifications were that there would be NO WATERMELON post race to avoid unnecessary loitering post race, age group awards for the overall series would be on a facebook live stream with awards to be picked up at a later date, a strong recomendation of face coverings pre/post race (I kept a gaiter around my neck) and most important a relocation of the bib pick up from the Gold Club to an "Outdoor" Location....I say Outdoor loosely as it was in a screened in party pavilion at a local park which was good because it was gearing up to rain badly as we were leaving the site.... it was a well organized system where you gave your bib number upon entering and were directed to a table where you received your bib, medal, and a protein bar before moving to another table to get your shirt and another for safety pins before exiting
On race day I was dropped off where I was in July and began my ten minute trek to my start point when suddenly I noticed one of my safety pins missing. I spoke to a volunteer who said the only extra pins were back at the finish area but there wouldn’t be time for me to walk back there and get to my “coral” and suggested to just pin the top of the bib (I ended up just moving the bottom pin to the center)
When I FINALLY REACHED where group 5 was supposed to line up there were maybe a dozen people milling about and the end of the line pace car waiting too close for comfort… also a row of THREE strollers lined up just in front of me parallel to the coral start sign when I swear in the rules it states strollers should be the last to cross the start.
Since there was nobody policing people being in assigned waves I inched into wave 4 however so did the strollers and four minutes before the race started a double stroller tapped the back of my leg.
Anyway before we start running let me share my OOTD!!
I initially pulled my blue and purple kohl’s outfit however since I wore it in June I opted for my Livi skirted leggings like in July however this time paired with a hot pink Kohl’s tank instead along with my purple and teal striped peace sign bondi band.
Weather was a cool 73 feels like 73 with 98% humidity
Mile 1 was reached in 14:37 with a pace of 14’15 visibly slower than the past two races & July fourth however remember that double stroller that tapped my leg? Well the person pushing it at about the .25 mile point let the two kids riding in it run and so she, the two women running with her and the two small children took up a good chunk of the course in front of me and even though it was the road portion every time I tried passing them they would catch up making me winded and exhausted
I reached the merge onto the jogging path in 16:56 where I waited a few seconds to finally shake the stroller group than hit the water stop at 27:33
Mile 2 I reached in 30:41 14’57 pace (still over where I was by a minute from last month)
There was hope… I could still make it in a time between 47:04 (July) and 47:22 (June) right…
Not so much…but not for lack of trying to brave the pain in my foot and the sporadic walls of people in front of me
I reached the merge back into the street at 44:48 15’13 pace and I could of pushed I really could of pushed for time especially as I was only 21 SECONDS behind when I hit the merge in July (than again my Fitbit had paused twice by this point throwing me off time wise)
I got to marker 3 at 46:13 15’14 pace (two minutes over June as July marker 3 was AT the merge)
My OFFICIAL time was 48:11(49 seconds more than June a minute seven over July)
Overall Series total 2:22:37 which isn’t bad considering my 15K PR is just over 2 hours 19 mins
Lion King time: 55:31
Lion King Series Total: 2:52:12
Lion King Medals have yet to arrive though my brother in law has received his photos will either be posted in my September recap or I may wait to do so in my November re-cap as I may do a 'photoshoot' in Animal Kingdom when I'm in park for Wine and Dine Weekend
August Marathon a Month: 7:20:03
FitLife Badges
The "Bear Snacks" 5K Badge I've earned multiple times!!!!!
Upcoming Races
Fallen Heroes 5K 9/11 {closely monitoring for changes}
Aching Quad 10/8&9
Wine & Dine 10K 11/6
WDW Marathon Weekend 10K 1/7
Gasparilla Half Marathon 2/27
PRS-1M {15:26} 3K {30:59} 5K {42.46} 8K {1:13:59} 10K {1:42:52} 15K {2:19:09} HALF {3:48:35*} FULL {7:08:15*} *virtual half/full run in increments
Run The Year Progress: 1386.60/2021 miles moved
I’m fully vaccinated, signing up for large EVENT races like RunDisney and Gaspirilla and even easing back in to the gym by using the treadmill as a failsafe if the Florida Summer heat and rain are just to much however as the month began I've crashed into a wall known only as the DELTA VARIANT
At least at this time nothing has been postponed or converted to virtual however they have made many modifications to the final race of this summer series and for my September run they have posted on the official facebook page they are closely monitoring the events so... fingers crossed
The main modifications were that there would be NO WATERMELON post race to avoid unnecessary loitering post race, age group awards for the overall series would be on a facebook live stream with awards to be picked up at a later date, a strong recomendation of face coverings pre/post race (I kept a gaiter around my neck) and most important a relocation of the bib pick up from the Gold Club to an "Outdoor" Location....I say Outdoor loosely as it was in a screened in party pavilion at a local park which was good because it was gearing up to rain badly as we were leaving the site.... it was a well organized system where you gave your bib number upon entering and were directed to a table where you received your bib, medal, and a protein bar before moving to another table to get your shirt and another for safety pins before exiting
On race day I was dropped off where I was in July and began my ten minute trek to my start point when suddenly I noticed one of my safety pins missing. I spoke to a volunteer who said the only extra pins were back at the finish area but there wouldn’t be time for me to walk back there and get to my “coral” and suggested to just pin the top of the bib (I ended up just moving the bottom pin to the center)
When I FINALLY REACHED where group 5 was supposed to line up there were maybe a dozen people milling about and the end of the line pace car waiting too close for comfort… also a row of THREE strollers lined up just in front of me parallel to the coral start sign when I swear in the rules it states strollers should be the last to cross the start.
Since there was nobody policing people being in assigned waves I inched into wave 4 however so did the strollers and four minutes before the race started a double stroller tapped the back of my leg.
Anyway before we start running let me share my OOTD!!
I initially pulled my blue and purple kohl’s outfit however since I wore it in June I opted for my Livi skirted leggings like in July however this time paired with a hot pink Kohl’s tank instead along with my purple and teal striped peace sign bondi band.
Weather was a cool 73 feels like 73 with 98% humidity
Mile 1 was reached in 14:37 with a pace of 14’15 visibly slower than the past two races & July fourth however remember that double stroller that tapped my leg? Well the person pushing it at about the .25 mile point let the two kids riding in it run and so she, the two women running with her and the two small children took up a good chunk of the course in front of me and even though it was the road portion every time I tried passing them they would catch up making me winded and exhausted
I reached the merge onto the jogging path in 16:56 where I waited a few seconds to finally shake the stroller group than hit the water stop at 27:33
Mile 2 I reached in 30:41 14’57 pace (still over where I was by a minute from last month)
There was hope… I could still make it in a time between 47:04 (July) and 47:22 (June) right…
Not so much…but not for lack of trying to brave the pain in my foot and the sporadic walls of people in front of me
I reached the merge back into the street at 44:48 15’13 pace and I could of pushed I really could of pushed for time especially as I was only 21 SECONDS behind when I hit the merge in July (than again my Fitbit had paused twice by this point throwing me off time wise)
I got to marker 3 at 46:13 15’14 pace (two minutes over June as July marker 3 was AT the merge)
My OFFICIAL time was 48:11(49 seconds more than June a minute seven over July)
Overall Series total 2:22:37 which isn’t bad considering my 15K PR is just over 2 hours 19 mins
Lion King time: 55:31
Lion King Series Total: 2:52:12
Lion King Medals have yet to arrive though my brother in law has received his photos will either be posted in my September recap or I may wait to do so in my November re-cap as I may do a 'photoshoot' in Animal Kingdom when I'm in park for Wine and Dine Weekend
August Marathon a Month: 7:20:03
FitLife Badges
The "Bear Snacks" 5K Badge I've earned multiple times!!!!!
Upcoming Races
Fallen Heroes 5K 9/11 {closely monitoring for changes}
Aching Quad 10/8&9
Wine & Dine 10K 11/6
WDW Marathon Weekend 10K 1/7
Gasparilla Half Marathon 2/27
PRS-1M {15:26} 3K {30:59} 5K {42.46} 8K {1:13:59} 10K {1:42:52} 15K {2:19:09} HALF {3:48:35*} FULL {7:08:15*} *virtual half/full run in increments
Run The Year Progress: 1386.60/2021 miles moved