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This is the 2nd time I have run the St Pete GP 5k, but the first time I have run a race with my daughter. A little more than a month prior to the race my 9 year old daughter expressed an interest to compete in this 5k. Registration is handled online via imathlete.com. Last year packet pickup was handled at a local hospital admin building, this year’s packet pickup was done at the start finish line at Vinoy Park. The packet contained race bibs, event t-shirt, coupons, advertisements, complimentary general admission ticket to the Friday practice at the Indycar circuit. Not bad.

The 5k start time was pushed back to 7:15 which works out great for a lot of folks that work till 5pm. But the 5k start time wasn’t pushed back due to that reason, it was because there were still automotive activities still going on. Before the race, there was a short speech given by Sam Schmidt, and singing of the national anthem, and finally the start. Last year walkers had infiltrated deep into the start box, and had bogged down the runners, so this year I moved my daughter well up into the box to avoid all that. The start/finish line is located just outside the Vinoy, with the course heading south to the Indycar circuit and back again.

Thankfully we didn’t have to run the Pier (the more runners I talk to, each one talks about how they don’t like the Pier runs – it is such a long straight and neverending stretch, it’s a morale killer), and soon we end up on the Indycar circuit itself. Different from last year is the traversing the circuit. Last year we ran it clockwise, which meant our eyes were staring into the setting Sun on the airport runway. This year they ran us counter-clockwise, and didn’t have that issue. Sure there were a couple switchbacks on the way back that pointed us into the Sun, but not for any serious duration.

My daughter’s school teacher, and her husband pushing a jogger/stroller were also in attendance, and they passed us at the 1.5 kilometer mark. By the time we got to the 2 kilometer mark, my daughter wanted to take a 30 second walk break. In our training runs, we were taking 30 second walk breaks at each kilometer, so getting to the 2nd kilometer without a break was terrific! Once on the airport, you run through pitlane (not the runway), and that is where they had the waterstation. I had explained the waterstation to my daughter pre-race, and that she should take a cup, take a swig from it, rinse her mouth if need be, and try not to toss it on anybody when she tossed it. She got the cup, took a drink, and then tossed the remainder on another woman’s shoe. Water actually splashed up and hit the woman in the face, but what are you going to do? Keep going, is all. But seriously the woman shouldn’t have chose that area to overtake. Especially in the gutter where all the cups were being tossed.

We got done with the pitlane and airport hairpin, that pushed back in the direction of the finish line. At this point me and my daughter shared some laughs that made others around us laugh. My daughter had complained that her sweaty armpits were chilly. I laughed, and told her as soon as the race was over we’d take her to the hospital to have her chilly armpits looked at, and told her the doctors my have to amputate. It was fun to laugh during a race, as it distracted us during that dreary segment that lasts from the 2.5 kilometer mark all the way through to the 4 kilometer mark. (the final kilometer always goes by fast)

We worked our way north, left the Indycar race circuit, back to St Pete streets, and hit the final kilometer just around the intersection to the Pier. At this point my daughter was asking to take another 30 second walk break, but when I pointed out that the finish line wasn’t that much farther she agreed and pressed on. Once on the final straight to the finish line my daughter found herself wanting to race against another young boy. The really pushed each other, but he had more left in the gas tank, but still she had a great finish 31 minutes and 16 seconds! She had crushed her previous 5k practice time by over FIVE minutes!

The race was not chip timed, so as you run through the finish line you have to look at the clock and grab a card. If I have to gig the organizers for something, it would be the lack of chip timing. Not a big deal, just a  few day delay in the posting of the results. And the confusion from people that didn’t take note of the finish clock when they passed it.

I really like getting the opportunity to run a race track, the volunteers did a great job, the police did a great job controlling traffic for us, people along the race route cheered the runners on. Post race vendors and organizers had plenty of bananas and orange slices to eat, and a free beer. The organizers are really close to hitting a grand slam with this event. They could do themselves a huge favor by utilizing chip timing. It would alleviate the hassle of going through race cards, and the results would be immediately available. A few days later, once the results were posted online my daughter was really excited to see how she had done.

Suncoast Classic 10k Route, originally uploaded by porkfork6.

Beep, originally uploaded by porkfork6.

For those that know me, they know that I had a bird named Beep. For most folks (me included) birds are those flying things that don’t let you get close, and if they did the result would either be pecking, poop, or a flurry of feathers.
Back in 1991, I was sharing an apartment with a woman that a few years later would become my wife. Lisa worked a late 2nd shift, and I worked 3rd shift. So when I would come home in the mornings, she would be asleep. On one morning I came back to the apartment, and noticed there was a loud bird in the tree in front of our place. When I went to investigate I saw that it was a cockatiel. I recognized the type of bird from pet stores, and thought, I should try to retrieve him.
I tried to climb the tree, but it was too high. I tried (this is dumb) to get a stick, thinking I could just knock him out of the tree, but he proceeded to climb just a little further out of reach. So I gave up, and went into the apartment.
My future wife was sleeping, but I went into the bedroom to let her know I was home, and that there was a loud bird out front. Too tired, she rolled over and ignored me.
I stayed up for a short while, watching TV, and soon she woke up and was asking me what the noise was outside, and I told her again about the bird.
She went outside to investigate, found that he was too high in the tree, so she climbed the stairs to the 2nd floor of the complex. Once there she called to him, and he promptly he flew over to her. He had adopted us.
We never had a bird before, and didn’t know what to do with him. So the next day we gave the bird to my future wife’s parents, and they were going to adopt him. Over the course of the next day or two we realized that he was kind of cute, but her parents had a terrible track record when it came to the care of birds.We wanted him back.
So the future wife brought him back, and we never let him go again. And he never let us go.
We bought a cage, and kept him in it.
When it came to picking a name, we tossed around a few ideas, all since long forgotten. I had remembered reading a book about Led Zeppelin (Hammer of the Gods?), and one of the Led Zep staff members was a man named B.P. Fallon that went by the name “Beep.” Without giving any background, I suggested the name, and it stuck.
Beep would call-out if the room was empty during daylight hours – which is kind of a bummer if you work nights & sleep days. In order for us to get rest, we moved his cage into the bedroom with us.
It worked. As long as he was able to keep an eye on the future wife, he would be calm & quiet.
Without realizing at the time Beep had made us a family.
(to be continued)

20th Annual Run With the Nuns 2012, originally uploaded by porkfork6.

This was a nice run! Registered online thru active.com, and the race was held at Bay Pines Memorial Park.
The race circuit is surrounded by trees, and right from the start you follow the winding roads that run thru the park. Which is nice for me, because looking down long straight stretches of road bum me out. The road is in good condition, smooth asphalt with concrete supported berms. The first section of the race circles back on itself, but once you get out a kilometer or so, it enters into the unpaved stretch.

The unpaved part of the course followed along a fenceline, thankfully there wasn’t any holes, drop-offs, or embankments to climb. There were a couple roots, but they were easy to see and accommodate. Having run on soccer fields the last few months I was use to the feel of natural terrain, and was able to pass quite a few people. This unpaved section seemed like it went on for a mile, give or take.

The final third of the race returned to the pavement, and headed back thru the area where registration was held, with a loop that ran close to the intercoastal, and finally finishing back in the parking lot. I really wish I would have had a better finishing kick, but to be honest I haven’t been training like I race, and that lack of practice effort showed in that last leg.

http://www.coolrunning.com/results/12/fl/Jan28_20thAn_set1.shtml

This race was in support of the Pancreatic Cancer Network. (I had a few posts about it back then so I won’t belabor the point.)
Like the Celma Mastry event, it started at the airport, worked it’s way north for a lap around the Pier, then up towards the Vinoy, then back down to the airport.
The organizers did a great job loading the start box. They put the super fast up front, then proceeded to load it with people who knew what their mile average time was. So I was in front of the walkers (Yay!), and the race hadn’t even started. At the start of the race, I had a quick pace, things were going smooth. I hit a mental wall once we got onto the road down the Pier. It seemed like it was sooo long. At this point if anyone wanted to pass me, I had no interest in pursuing them. After the loop around the Pier I lost track of everything. It was like I was lost in some sort of running coma. I didn’t snap out of it till I was at the end of the Pier road, and realized the event volunteers were pointing at me to head north towards the Vinoy. I ended up pacing behind some guy, just to have him cut the course, and start heading back south before he ever got to the turnaround point.
For an instant I was angry, then I decided to it wasn’t worth losing revs over. On the return trip south, my quick start caught up to me. Several times I had to speed walk, before I could return to running pace. I wanted to have a strong finish, but even that seemed sluggish and slow.
It was my fastest 5k, and raised some money for a good cause.
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/11/fl/Nov5_Purple_set1.shtml

Not a bad day.

A night run that starts at the St Pete Pier, heads north around the Vinoy, then back down again to the Pier.
The race was fine, the race was fun, the race was dark. With it being dark, there wasn’t really anyway to connect with anybody and pace along. Had one guy decide that he was going to pace with the girl just in front of me, then he learned that he wasn’t strong enough to keep pace with her. But that didn’t mean he was going to get out of my way, so I had to run out into the grass to put him behind.
If there is one problem with this course, was the start. The start sends the pack behind the Pier for a loop, and it was a disaster. The street is so narrow, there are cars parked around the building, and of course you have people that are walking, or are running with their dog. By the time I got around the Pier, two minutes had passed.
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/11/fl/Oct27_7thAnn_set1.shtml

There was a very nice after party, and with it being so close to Halloween, the event had a scary theme.
But seriously, that loop behind the Pier has to go!

A lot, if not all the runs are associated with charities. The One Step supports the cause of ovarian cancer.
The race set up was pretty nice, it started at the airport, made it’s way up past the Vinoy, then back to the airport again.
I started way in he back, didn’t really find anyone to pace along with, then kind of came back myself. The above picture was taken with a bunch of people, but they dropped-off at the halfway point.
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/11/fl/Sep24_OneSte_set1.shtml

Anyhow, this and the Creaky Bones was a buildup to the Purple Stride.

I could break all three of these events into individual write-ups, but they would all be the same. Ran in the sand.

Well, there is a bit more to it than that. It’s summertime in Florida! It’s hot, there is no shade, no matter which the wind blows, it’s hot air. About the only thing that changes is how bad the wind blows.

All the races are hard, they are hot, and it’s fun.

http://www.coolrunning.com/results/11/fl/Jun24_StPete_set1.shtml

http://www.coolrunning.com/results/11/fl/Jul29_StPete_set1.shtml

http://www.coolrunning.com/results/11/fl/Aug26_StPete_set1.shtml

There is something about overcoming the heat that makes it worthwhile.

2011 St Pete GP 5k, originally uploaded by porkfork6.

There was another huge gap where I was not able to run, or run races for that matter. It’s not worth even mentioning what the obstacle was.

I decided that my next race was going to be the 5k associated with the Indycar race held here in St Pete. The course starts at the Vinoy, then heads down to the airport and back. The nice part is that most of the course is on the actual Indycar racetrack!

It was a large group of entrants, 640 or so, and again having been off for so long, I started from the rear. Mistake.

Many of the entrants, were in fact walkers. People just walking the course, and it seemed like I was behind all of them. (if you look at the set below, you’ll see a picture of me with my arms up and I’m griping.)

The first kilometer is spent just getting down to the course. but once on it, my knees were in Heaven. So smooth & flat.

The walkers were out of the way, a little mental obstacle, because now you are able to see the runways, and pit road, and it seems so long. There wasn’t really anyone to match pace with, so I just tried to keep this one big guy in eyesight. I figured if I could catch him in the last few blocks, I could beat him at the end.

But about the time I formulate that race plan, he pulled up. He had been pushing himself too hard, and now he couldn’t move another inch. He wasn’t even walking. (I’m sure he was all right, because he kind of glared at me when I lumbered past.) So I kept on going.
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/11/fl/Mar25_StPete_set1.shtml
Once off the track, it was a few blocks till we hit the brick road in front of the Vinoy. Not so pleased, because brick roads are not flat. So each step with my arthritic knees was measured. The fantastic part to all this was that my family came along, and my daughter ran out onto the course for the finish. My time was good, my place was fine. Not much in the way of oncourse battles.

This would pretty much be the kickoff for my current era of running. Enter more events, run more on my own, stuff like that.

SPRR St Pete Beach 5k Series Races (race 1), originally uploaded by porkfork6.

I had gotten back to running the streets, but not running races.
There were several reasons why wasn’t running races, one excuse was work, and the other was races I had entered before were no longer being held.

By the time I got sick of making excuses, it was summetime, and not many races are held in the summer (in Florida). But I did enough google searching to come across the St Pete Road Runners Group (SPRR), and discovered that they had a three race summer beach series.

On race day/evening I went to the beach and signed up to run the races, and found out that they actually run ON THE BEACH! Unlike the St Pete Beach Classic which is run on the streets. Oh well, what’s the worse that can happen? I was at the beach, I love the beach!

So I took up my usual spot in the back, just in front of a woman pushing a three-child jogger stroller.

The race starts, I put my headphones on, and about a hundred yards down the beach I start hearing things in the music that I had never heard before. So weird, it was a song I had listened to over & over, yet had never heard that backing vocal. Out of the corner of my eye, I realize something in the water next to me, I look over, and it is the woman with the triple jogger/stroller, and she is yelling at me to get out of her way!

It wasn’t the song I heard, it was her yelling at me. She was passing me, and pushing three kids through the water! God I’m slow.

There isn’t too much else to the race I remember. It seemed like I was passed by everyone. Running in the sand is hard. With each push-off your foot sinks a quarter-of-an-inch, there is a breeze that always seems to push you backwards, even though it is coming from behind 50% of the time. There were a few times I had to walk.

The start/finish line is in the same place, so you run down the beach and then back to the finish line. It’s exciting when you see competitors going in the opposite direction, you think “wow, the turnaround point must be right up here.” It’s not.

By the time the turnaround point comes into view, my spirit is broken. The lady with the three kids has long since passed me in the opposite direction, my legs are tired, and I still have to run back.

I do eventually finish, and people that had already finished were great and rooted for us late finishers. Afterwards was a little postrace beer & snacks, and post race awards were handed out. The SPRR group is a nice community and the folks all seem to know each other.

http://www.coolrunning.com/results/10/fl/Jun25_StPete_set1.shtml

My time was in between my time for the St Pete Bowl and the St Pete Beach Classic. Ok, so maybe I’m not that slow. Heck there were times I had walked, and I had still run faster than my first 5k!

A few days later I would come down with strep throat, and it destroyed me. I wouldn’t be able to race the final two races of the beach series.