So, here is a rundown of my first half-marathon October 2016. As I mentioned in the last post, I will give you my thoughts and critiques about each venue, from my perspective. It is important for youth understand that this is from my perspective for several reasons:
1. I have never run a half-marathon (or any distance over 6 miles) before -- those that run these races all of the time will certainly have a different set of criteria than I did.
2. I don't drink alcohol -- apparently for some the running is all about the beer. This aspect no longer has any appeal for me.
3. I am not the most social of runners -- I do not do the expos and the dinners and the parties and the chit-chatting while running.
4. I have not yet gone to any of these races as part of a vacation -- so, the fine hotels and vacation spots will be lost on me.
5. The beauty and scenic aspects may well be lost on me. I have a hard enough time breathing while running, much less snapping selfies and pictures of the race venue.
6. I am all about the easy in, easy out aspects. -- A place near the start and near the finish, a nearby airport, and a convenient date.
7. Warmth -- read my previous post. (Right now it is 81 F and I am inside with a blanket and a fire going... seriously! I have not been able to get warm adequately yet.)
All of that being said, I have my own perspective that may be of some benefit to some of you.
I chose Cocoa Beach on a whim. The race starts at Patrick Airforce Base and travels down A1A. I passes right by my mom's house at the 2 mile mark or so. There was no magic that made me pick this one. I was not planning one running this race, or any race, nor was I planning to run 50 races. I just thought, what the heck. Why not. I could simply drive over and see my mom, spend some time with her, run the race, and go back to mom's house when I was done. If I struggled at all, then I could walk back to mom's and it would be no big deal. I am sure this is a little different perspective than most who were running this race. Now that I have run a couple more, I can look back and give you some insight into how the race went.
Registration:
I tried to register online, but registration was closed. I called my mom to see if she could register me at the expo the day before the race. She went to the expo at RonJon's and registered me with what they called a charity registration. Same fee, just the proceeds went to charity -- OK -- bonus.
Fee:
$100 -- that reminds me, I still owe my mom $100
The Expo:
I did not go. My mom went for me.
Shirt:
We got a white wicking shirt and a hat
Race Day:
Sunday
Race Start Time:
7:00am
Course Map:
Race Type:
This was a bit of a themed race. There were several ladies and a few men dressed as Jeannie. Some of the men were dressed as Major Nelson. They put all of the Jeannies at the front of the start line, I think to get good pictures of them, because that was the only place were there was lighting.
Accommodations:
I stayed with mom. Best accommodations of all.
Transportation:
I simply drove over to my mom's house and she drove me to the start line. Her husband, Greg (Grampi) picked us up at the finish and drove us home. After a rest and a shower, I drove home.
There were busses (yellow schools busses) that transported racers from the expo at RonJons to the race. The race actually started a bit late as they waited on another bus.
Weather:
It was chilly in the morning... mid 50's or so, then warmed up nicely and gradually to 73 F. Fair skies.
Race Morning:
It was dark and chilly. The wind was light, but cold. There was no shelter at the start. We were all about in the parking lot trying to keep warm. Several racers went over the dunes to see the sunrise -- it was a pretty one -- but they got reprimanded and told to stay off.
Race Start:
There were no corrals, but pacers. The starting "gate" was super narrow and many were pushing and cramming their way in to try and get across the chip timer mat, think of a wide funnel with a narrow exit. That was not so fun. They had lights for the cameras to get good pictures of the Jeannies, but nobody could see because they were all crammed together trying to get across the start mat. There was a professional DJ at the start. Someone sang the National Anthem and we were off.
Race:
The course was very flat, the whole way (unless you count coming off the beach). The race was straight down A1A from Patrick Air force Base, past my mom's house, past all of the places I knew when I grew up there, to RonJon's, then a turn or two until doubling back on the beach. At the start they were very proud of the mats that they purchased to allow the runners to get from the pavement to the hard, packed sand without having to struggle through the soft sand at the top of the beach. They were proud in part because they were donating this mat to the city to allow for better handicap access. It was very nice. We did not have to trod through the soft sand to get to the hard, packed sand. BUT... there was no mat exiting the beach after 2.5 miles on the beach and 12 miles of running. That part was uphill in the soft sand too. I thought I might die right there. Why oh why was there not a mat leaving the beach? Who knows, but it was painful.
Water/Food Stations:
The water stations were every 1.5 miles. Some had Gatorade, some had bananas, one had pickle juice. I bet there were other things, but I only saw those.
Scenery:
It was Cocoa Beach. Part of the race was on the beach. Most of the race was on the major highway. If you like the beach and beach towns, you would enjoy this.
Race Entertainment:
There were several bands and musicians along the way. No idea what they were playing. I was zoned out in my own world of Pandora. I heard none of it.
Finish:
The finish was at a park (Lori Wilson Park) beachside. There was a big finish banner surrounding the road on both sides and above, and people taking pictures and cheering spectators. The finishers received a lei and a finishers medal. There was a long cooler of ice filled with Gatorade and Pepsi and other energy-type drinks. They had bananas. I did not notice any other food, but I bet there was some. They had a beer tent that you could get two beers with your bib tags. There were complementary massages that you could sign up for. The race results were on a board, on printer paper, updated periodically. There was a celebrity, Mary-Ann form Gilliagan's Island, taking photos with those that wanted to stand in line to get a photo and/or an autograph. There was a life-sized billboard photo of Kelly Slater. I looked for him to see if he was there, but I could not find him. He was a childhood friend. I thought it would be fun to say hello. His life-sized picture was unimpressed with my greeting.Bling:
I have not yet had a need to stay for awards. My award is that I am still breathing and my heart is still beating.
Misc:
There was a chip timing mat at the start, at the half and at the finish. Also a timer at the half. Plenty of spectators with signs and cheers. The road was blocked off -- one lane anyway, so traffic was never an issue. The police presence was adequate and the course was easy to follow. There was no full marathon at the same time, so it was not at all confusing -- and I get confused easily while running. Right foot, Left foot, right foot, hokey pokey, right leg... I don't always know.
Post-race:
The race results were posted within a couple of days on the website and I received a couple emails showing me how I could buy photos and how I could register for the race for next year.
That is about all I can think of that would be pertinent to anyone else. If there is other information that any of you would be interested in reading -- something I missed, neglected to mention, forgot -- let me know and I will include it here or at least on the other races.
NEXT RACE REVIEW -- Tulsa, OK -- "Route 66"
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