Magical weekend

This was truly a magical weekend.

Saturday agenda-5k

This day marked 18 years since I started running competitively. I did the now defunct Doral fore miler, aptly named because it was centered around the famous golf tournament. My dad & I could not beat Sylvia, who, to this day still competes! This anniversary was magical. Thanx to Steve Conti, this tune up race was possible. Splitsecondtiming was involved with 2 races, but I could only pick one. There was a 5k in Doral & one in south beach (ocean drive 5k). Had it not been for Steve, I would have done the former since it would probably draw less people, increasing my chances at victory and it is the city in which I began my athletic career. This year, this race was amazingly competitive. Praise the Lord, despite the late start (8:30), the bad weather (heat & humidity) was held off by cloud cover. I got my 2nd best time of the year & got 3rd master. While that is magical in itself, the true dream occurred when my dad accepted the challenge to run & actually won his age group! Thus far, this year had been to make up for many of last year's shortcomings. Last year, I was sick & missed Sarullo's 5k; this year, done. Last year, I ran the Edison festival of lights but came back empty; this year, top of my class. Last year, my dad (& Samm) were registered for the ocean drive 5k but didn't make it;this year, my dad competed. He loved the fact that someone mentioned that we 'swept' again, remembering the past when the whole family that ran, got something.

Sunday agenda-princess half marathon

I was attracted to this event because it was an inaugural. It also makes the 3rd such that I have done this year. However, unlike all the others, this one was catered toward women. Although all finishers would get a medal, no man would be eligible for an award, even if you win the entire race. Because of that fact, I decided I was gonna have fun with this;time would be secondary. As in any sport, I dress accordingly;I have active wear appropiate for the activity &/or event, such bike jersey & shorts when cycling or swimsuit during a triathlon & or duathlon. Like Cinderella, I was transformed. I literally became a princess for a 'day'. Judging by the weather the previous day, I prepared for that but was surprised by much cooler weather. I had to keep on a t-shirt until 4 minutes prior to the start. My game plan changed (for the better) because of this. Now, I had to run faster to build up heat. I began in corral B (no men were allowed in A, regardless of time) but advance to near the front by jumping on the back of a female 'train'. What's that? A couple of ladies snaked through the crowd saying "excuse me, pardon me" & I merely followed. After my transformation, I fit right in with the crowd. When the cannon went off, plan B took shape. The first 5k was about a 7:15, mimicking the half last week but then the Lord, not the fairy, empowered me to quicken the pace. I cut the deficit & began hover around the pace I desired last week, 7. Along the course, I did like Caroline & started high 5ing Disney characters & engaging the crowds, you know, just having fun. She dressed in character at WDW marathon that year but I took it to a greater extreme. I mean, like, where I am gonna use the lady tech shirt? I recommend runners, particularly the ones who do or did this race, to patronize runningskirts.com. I met co-owner Christy at the expo;nice & understanding woman. After I finished the race, she thanked & congratulated me on the finish. Yep, she was faster than me, even though I got my 3rd fastest time ever! I also met her husband & saw her child. The best news is that Jonathan won the entire race, but since this was for the ladies, he didn't get his props. He won the fun run as well, but with much more fan fare.