March 2011 (b)

Shamrock Classic 10k and 5k Sunday March 13 2011 Brandon Fl
This is the 32nd annual Shamrock Classic and is put on by the Brandon Runners group. Another great event! It is held in Sabal Park which is a business office complex. Of course being close to home helps run this on a Sunday so I can run and still make it to church.

The 10k starts at 8am and the 5k starts at 9am. The 10k is two loops of the same course the 5k is on. You start out and turn onto Craigmont Dr. Then turn right on Princess Palm Ave for 1/4 mile turnaround continuing back west on Princess Palm Ave. Turn left on Riga Blvd. Then Right onto King Palm Ave for halfway water station. After 2 mile mark you come onto Queen Palm Dr for the rest of the race to the finish.

With a hamstring :"strain" earlier in the week did not know what to expect. Held off going out to quick and did first mile 6:50. Then were a few small up/downs on the course, but nothing to worry about. Second mile I kept an even pace and I ran a 7:11. Final mile the group I had been running with either sped up or fall off so I just kept an even pace not wanting to hurt the strain and ran a 7:19 mile. Finhsed up at 21:48 and no worries from the hamstring. Finished third in my age group and 32nd out of 221. Did not stick around for post race party or awards since it was off to shower and get to church.

Like I stated in the Brandon Half Marathon/5k review in Dec 2010 I will always put this one and that one on my schedule if possible since the  Brandon Runners group always does a great job!

Strawberry Classic 10/5k Saturday March 19 Temple Terrace Fl

My first 10k!! Since the hamstring was not bothering me I thought I would be okay to do my first 10k. Of course maybe not this hilly course was a wise choice, but I knew the surrounding neighborhoods would be good to run through. This event is put on by the Tampa Bay Runners and is the 30th year of the event. It is held at the Temple Terrace Elementary School. You would think with doing it 30 years they would have no problems--oopss!

The 10k and the 5k starts together. In decision where the starting line was since there were a couple of lines painted on the road made everyone have to back up. The announcer did not have a bull horn so it made it very difficult to hear instructions. Some were still making thier way back from the Portalets that were about 200 yards away. Thought they could be closer.

My goal for my first 10k was to break a 8 minutes pace or 49:43, but just finishing is always the main goal. Off we went thou starting out on going uphill on Ridgedale road. Down and back up before the turn on Druid Hills road which had a nice downhill. Turn at the first mile mark onto 52nd rd. Being my first 10k I wanted to store some for the longer race so I went out in 7:54 minutes for the first mile. Turning on Whiteway you run flat to about the 5k halfway mark and water station. There is where I knew I was in for the long haul since the 5k turns down a side street making its way back.

I picked up the pace the best I could with the rolling hills as we past 113th Ave, Riverhills Ave, Bannockbum Ave, and Sleepy Hollow Ave. I passed mile 2 with a mile pace of 7:20, mile 3 with a pace of 7:37, mile 4 with a pace of 7:43. Got it going a little better with a mile 5 pace of 7:37. Started to feel it around now with just over a mile to go and an uphill climb, but helped having another runner next to me. We ran the next 3/4 of a mile together and I ran the 6th mile in 7:54. He sprinted the final 2/10 ahead of me and I pushed knowing I was going to easily break my goal. Finished in 47:42 which is a 7:41 pace--almost 20 seconds faster than my goal for my first 10k. Funney when I finshed I was filling out my card and the guy running with me asked my age and when he realized we were different groups he stated he wished he would have known he did not have to beat me and he would not have sprinted. Second in my age group and 28th out of 191 overall 10k runners.

They had water afterwards, but they were letting people grab multiple flats of strawberries so they ran out. Had to ask someone if I could have a couple of thiers. Also the awards ceremony took a long time getting started also. Then they would start and stop to do door prizes which made it last longer. Why not do the door prizes as people are waiting in the awards to be given out?? Age group awards were medal with the emblme , but are hard to see. Great scenic course makes this one to do, but the disorganization will make me think twice about doing again.

March 2011

Champion 5k ESPN Weekend at Hollywood Studios Saturday March 5 Disney World Fl
My first experience with a Disney race was just as advertised. Of course it cost more, but thought it was worth it. Down the road I am sure I will do one of their longer races, but wanted to try the shorten one first to get my feet wet. Sadly it has turned out to be the last stand alone 5k they do.

Packet Pickup was at the ESPN Sports Complex and was very dark. Would have expected more light for a Disney event, but no problems with pickup the night before. I prefer to have my stuff ready to go instead of worrying about it the morning of. They stated it had sold out so I knew there would be allot of runners in this and would easily be the biggest event so far they we attended. I had signed my son and I up for the two person team (male) competition since I knew I had no chance of finishing in the top 3 overall.

Race morning was a chilly day, but good for running. As expected there were people everywhere. Got our warmups in and took our windbreakers off to make our way to starting line. They had sings with pace times that you were suppose to line up behind according to your pace. I lined up in the first one 7 min and under. My son lined up in the next one 8 min and under. Goal was for me to run sub 21 and him sub 24:30. In looking at previous years that would put us right there for the team top three award.

ESPN announcer Trey Wingo was the emcee introducing some football players. On hand were the Miami Dolphin cheerleaders and the Harlem Globetrotters. Talked to a couple of runners up front. One being a young boy who stated he would break 19 minutes and another shirtless guy Trey made fun of since it was so cold. Countdown started and race with started with confetti boom. We made our way down which looked like the old way you came in through some parking booths and on out for 1/2 mile then back to mile 1 before going into Hollywood Studios. I passed mile marker (with digital clock for times--nice!!) at 6:30. Felt good as we made our way through the Sights/Sounds Stunt show area. Went passed some airplanes and through a warehouse (did not noticed what for) and on to the Star Wars area. Wondered if my son would stop there and play with the Star Wars stuff.

Passed Mile 2 as we entered the courtyard with the little fountain pond. Clock showed 13:40 which made mile 2 pace 7:10. Knew I had to pick it up to get near 21 minutes so pushed as I went by the Big Mickey sorcerer's hat. Passes the shirtless guy as we made our way to the Tower of Terror. Had mentioned to my son when I came back around the Tower that he needed to be passing me going in. That is what I had planned on teh map for us to get the times needed. Did not realize the uphill behind the tomwer so it slower me somewhat. As I came around the tomwer there was my son ahead of pace or was it me being behind in pace? Still pressed on and ran passed the front gate where people were lined up to come in.

As I came to mile 3 I could see that sub 21 would not be today. But seeing the cheering crowd, my wife and daughter cheering, Dolphin cheerleaders, and the Globetrotters at the finishline did help the sprint to the finish. No sub 21, but a new PR at 21:27. Did finish 37 out of 1872. Happy with that! Went back to cheer on my son when I saw him turning the corner. Yelled for him to sprint it out and good for him finsihing in 24:26.

They give you the medals as you finish and there are bags with water, bannana, and bars. Ran the Kids races with my daughter and she sprinted away from me so a little concerning until I caught back up to her at the finish.

Waited for awards and to my displeasure we finished in 4th PLACE!! I asked the 3rd place finsihers thier time and found out we missed by 27 seconds. The actual amount of time I would have needed to go sub 21. My son met the goal, but I failed to meet mine. Good thing he didnt take it as hard as I did.

Great event as I am sure all Dsiney events are and will be back!