McGuire's Prediction 5K

This morning I ran 3.1 miles with more than 16,000 green-clad friends.

"I'm the one in green!" shouted a woman behind me
as a news crew took panoramic photos of the race.

Billed as the nation's largest "prediction run," the McGuire's 36th Annual Prediction Run 5k did not disappoint. Race officials announced that 16,150 people registered for the McGuire's 5k. This beat 15,000 registrants and more than 10,000 finishers in at the race in 2012.

OUTSTANDING EVENT ORGANIZATION

After 3 years of running this race (first in 2011 and again in 2012) I have little new to report, other than noting that I'm always amazed at how smoothly the McGuire's folks manage to herd 16,000 runners through a bizarrely quick-and-painless bib pickup, a well coordinated (if a bit crowded) 3.1 mile run, and a raucous after-party.

With 16,000 participants converging on a tiny parking lot behind a restaurant, you'd think bib pickup would be a nightmare, but McGuire's pre-race organization is virtually the antithesis of a big-name event.

Think of the last Rock 'n' Roll expo you attended or read about. Compare that with a yoga class. That's about how different the two scenes are. Now, I mean no disrespect to the mega events that groups like Competitor and NYRR coordinate. There is an important place for those events in the running world. But with a similar numbers of competitors, it's hard not to make comparisons.

McGuire's has no frills, but is incredibly efficient. You arrive at packet pickup. You get your bib and t-shirt. You can get a wrist-band if you want to enjoy after-party adult beverages. You go home. The entire process takes less time than ordering a latte at Starbucks.

If you like the atmosphere of a race expo (and many runners do), you'll be disappointed by how little swag there is. If you run for the bling, this is definitely not your race. But if you prefer an event that is pared down to the basics: bib + t-shirt + run + party, you'll love this run.

COSTUMES!!!

Also... if stunt runners make your day, this race is definitely for you.

This year a man dressed as a "runaway bride" was my favorite costume-clad runner. The race also brought out 2 cows, 2 moose, a couple of bananas, and Bob Ross "Joy of Painting" his way through the 5k.

Runaway bride at the McGuire's 5k

Last year's Irish Mariachi band of runners was pretty cool, too.

Click here for more photos from the 36th annual McGuire's Prediction Run 5k.

Hello Pensacola

Hello Pensacola,

It is nice to see you again.

Thank you for welcoming me home with a weekend of summery, 80-degree days. I know you thought that I got soft after a week of San Diego's sunny, 60-degree, perfect weather, but it did hail on me there. That hail kept me on my toes weather-wise.

I also suspect that you thought 80-degree temperatures would keep me indoors. You know I don't like running in the heat. But on that count, you were mistaken. I took to the trails this morning and enjoyed every minute of my 10-mile run through Fort Pickens, even though there was no shade at all. (Yes, I am now showing signs of the first sunburn of the season... I never claimed to be a skin care role mode...)

Running over your soft sand trails will make my ankles and calves stronger. Powering through a shadeless run, with the sun beating down on me, is good mental preparation for next month's half marathon. The conditions then will be no cooler (or shadier) than they were today, so really, the weather was perfect for training.

And - dear Pensacola - you must, on some level, be glad to see me, too. Otherwise why would you have graced my run with blue skies and even bluer seas? You even had the hospitality to send some winged ambassadors my way. Great herons and ospreys greeted me at every turn. (The ospreys seemed to ignore me. They were intent on building their nests... and... ahem... filling those nests. But I enjoyed their company nonetheless.)

And the snapping turtle at the turn-around? She swam quietly under the bridge as I passed, and gave me a good excuse to pause and catch my breath.

I might not have wanted to move to Florida a year ago, but this morning's run felt pretty darned good. Thank you for welcoming me home.

Sincerely,
Beth (i run like a girl)

What running tales do you have to share this weekend?
And... sunblock or no sunblock? Am I the only (crazy) person who prefers to run early morning or late evening rather than slather on the spf?

Spring has sprung

Spring has sprung in Pensacola.
For the past two weeks, my runs have looked like this:

(Well, to be honest, one of my runs looked like this...)

St. Patrick's block party posing as a 5k

But you get my point... Running in Pensacola lately has been warm and sunny, with birds singing and cool breezes blowing. And all of my runs have been very, very green. Even my legs feel like they have an extra bounce... an extra spring. (Sorry - bad pun. I just couldn't resist.)

Now, if only we could hold off mosquito season just a little longer...

Do you mourn the ending of winter, or look forward to the warmer weather?

Fat Tuesday!

Today is Fat Tuesday.

Peanut scored some beads!

While New Orleans gets all the media attention for its Mardi Gras madness, the entire Gulf Coast goes crazy for this holiday. In fact Mobile, AL is credited with the first Mardi Gras celebration in 1703 (or 1699 - depends on who you ask).

Mardi Gras revelry was suspended during the Civil War, but was revived (again) in Mobile in 1866. Legend has it that that one man, Joe Cain, rode through the streets on a coal cart, dressed in Chickasaw Indian regalia.

Obviously, Joe was also drunk as a skunk (which explains a lot about Mardi Gras parades...)

When Joe passed on, his second funeral procession (it's a long story) was the precursor to the big Sunday parades. Now the Sunday before Mardi Gras is now known in Mobile as "Joe Cain Day," with celebrations rivaling Fat Tuesday.

To an outsider, it seems like the party just keeps adding days (but I'm not complaining)! So here's the schedule as I understand it:

Mardi Gras costumes from the Krewe of Bowlegs
exhibit in Fort Walton Beach, FL

• January 6th, Epiphany kicks off the season. Krewes put the finishing touches on their floats. Carnival celebrations and masquerade balls fill up the social calendar.
• Saturday before Fat Tuesday - parades and partying begin in earnest (but I have yet to hear a name for this holiday?)
• Sunday before Fat Tuesday - Joe Cain Day (at least in Mobile, AL)
• Monday before Fat Tuesday - Lundi Gras (You thought I made that one up, didn't you!)
• 40 days before Easter - Fat Tuesday / Mardi Gras
• ...followed by Ash Wednesday (also known as "hangover recovery day")

Pensacola's Mardi Gras parades are more "family friendly" than those in the Big Easy. You won't catch people flashing their chests for beads. (Apologies to anyone who was hoping for scandalous photos...)

Krewes here throw beads, candy, moon pies, and other goodies to everyone in the crowd. (A krewe, prounounced "crew," is a social club organized around creating floats for the carnival season.)

Showing off our collection of beads from Saturday's parade...

I'm not going to sugar coat it: Even Pensacola's PG-13 Mardi Gras is still a 4-day drunkfest. But it's all in good fun. There's time for being an adult the other 362 days of this year.

(Speaking of being an adult... Ok... I'll run twice today, but only until I can get my hands on some king cake!)

King cake is a holiday staple - but watch out. There's a "baby king" hidden inside.
If you get the baby in your slice #1 - be careful that you don't chip a tooth, and
#2 - you're on the hook for bringing next year's cake.

Happy Fat Tuesday!

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Have you ever celebrated Mardi Gras?
Right now my dining room looks like a bead factory had an accident... Maybe one of these days I'll figure out how to work those into a giveaway?

Pensacola is a runner-friendly city

***First things first: Don't forget to enter this week's blogiversary giveaway. For details see giveaway post.***

I just found out that the Road Runner's Club of America designated Pensacola as a "Runner Friendly City." I think the ranking is correct, but I'm not sure I agree about the reasons why. Here's what RRCA has to say about my current running residence:

Pensacola, FL – The Pensacola Runners Association call Pensacola home.  They have an established route known locally as “The Airport Loop”.  Starting at The Roger Scott Park, the loop winds around The Pensacola Regional Airport and contains plenty of parking, restrooms, water fountains, and even a dog park.  There’s also a community track that is open to the public, well-lit, and properly maintained.

The PRA actively engages the community by approaching area businesses one-on-one to discuss their support as a sponsor for one of the PRA’s 10 events. Businesses typically donate their time by asking employees to volunteer and their money to help cover expenses that normally wouldn’t have been possible.

If you’re ever in the area, McGuires Irish Pub offers a Tuesday night 5K run in which it offers a buffet and beverage discounts.  Every March, they produce the St. Patrick’s Day Prediction, billed as the “world’s largest” prediction run where over 10,000 participants enjoy a 5K Run/Walk.

There are gender-neutral, youth running programs that are hosted in the community.  Local schools have a track/cross country team and the PRA hosts a club for the local youth.

Pensacola has a special events coordinator that assists organizations or individuals interested in producing running events. The City also provides a traffic officer to review the route and assign officers to assist in traffic control.  The city hosts over 30 running events annually.

Community leaders who provided support and letters of recommendation include Jehan Clark, President of the Pensacola Runners Association; Jeff Schmitt, Associate Director of Recreation and Athletic Facilities; Kimberly Kaminski, Special Events Coordinator of Pensacola; and Ashton Hayward, Mayor of Pensacola.

My analysis of their writeup:

• Ok. The Airport Loop exists, but it's boring. Whatever. And what runner in their right mind would run through a dog park??? I don't know about you, but I try to avoid dogs while running.
• The PRA does excellent work. No dispute there.
• McGuire's run club is fantastic. I think I've mentioned that before. Maybe more than once.
• I have no kids. I have no idea. I assume this is true.
• 30 running events and a coordinator for races? That is pretty awesome. I learned something from the article!
• Who cares? Maybe I'm jaded after a decade of working in the public sector, but mayors sign all sorts of letters without really caring about the issue. If it's good PR, they'll sign. BIG DEAL.

The more important bone I have to pick with the RRCA writeup:

• They missed Running Wild, and all the work that store does to support the local running community. (Seriously, I've lived other places. I've never seen anything like this... Running Wild hosts several group runs each week, sponsors run clubs, organizes transportation to and from races, organizes volunteers at races, encourages runners to use their store for restroom breaks on their long runs... If that's not love, I don't know what is!)
• They missed the Hash House Harriers clubs that call Pensacola home.
• They missed all the other pub-sponsored group runs... The Seville Quarter Milers, the Helen Back Pensacola Run Club, and half a dozen others that I'm missing (see list here).

So, overall, I'm glad to see Pensacola on this list. It's just obvious that the list was written by someone who's never run here!

Would you rank your city a "runner friendly city?"
Why? (Or why not?)

Baby, it's cold outside!

Temperatures may be in the 30s in the mornings here, but the only way Pensacola, FL is going to see "snow" is if someone sprays foam on the old courthouse lawn.

Pensacola's idea of a White Christmas: a lawn covered in foam (right),
and an adult dressed like Frosty the Snowman (left).

Am I the only one who thinks playing in a giant public bubble-bath is a little bit weird? I think if you choose to live here, you have to accept that Florida weather precludes any possibility of having a white Christmas. What you get, instead, are Mardi Gras beads!

Pensacola Christmas Parade.
Yes, folks. On the Gulf Coast every holiday is Mardi Gras!

Don't get me wrong. I do miss snow.
Just not enough to fake it.

Winter is my favorite season for running, and not just because nighttime runs are brightened with holiday lights. I am a cold-weather running lover. My pace is 90 seconds-per-mile faster in December than in August, without even trying. I will wear shorts until the temperature dips below 35. That said, I'll admit, I haven't had to deal with running in snow for years.

I think the last time I ran in snow was on a work trip to Alberta, Canada back in 2008... I loved the crisp air, even if I hated the often-slippery footing.

But if I have to choose between snow and sauna, winter wins every time!

Running in the winter: Love it or hate it?
What about fake snow?
Ever collect beads at a Christmas parade?
(Yea, me neither until I moved here...)

Good. Bad. Weird. Wonderful.

Good: Finished 2 runs today.
My legs are slowly starting to feel less like lead and more like legs!

Bad: I'm home alone in Florida and my San Diego friends are at a holiday party. Without me.
Florida FAIL.

Weird: I bumped into a former student at a group run tonight. Met his mom, too. Good for them for exercising! But weird to meet a student when I'm wearing schlubby old running clothes and my hair is a hot mess. (See "Bad" below.)

Good: Discovered a free yoga class in my neighborhood. Score!

Bad: The humidity is so intense, my house keys collect condensation as soon as I step outside. (Just imagine what's that's doing to my hair. Even ponytails can't survive sauna conditions. Not ideal running weather, either...) Florida fail again!

Weird: On my morning run, there was a pig rooting around in a neighbor's lawn.
Yes.
A pig.
I do not live in, on, or anywhere near a farm.
I still have no idea where the pig came from or where he was going.
The weirdest part: I stopped to stare. Another runner passed and didn't notice at all. (Seriously, dude. How do you not notice a 150 pound PIG on the side of the road??? If a third neighbor hadn't also noticed the little porker, I'd have worried for my sanity.)

Wonderful: Just as I was starting to be really bummed out about sitting at home alone (Hubby's away for work tonight), missing my California friends, this song came on World Cafe:


If I have to be stuck home alone, finding good new music is a consolation prize I'm willing to accept.

What song(s) are on "repeat" on your playlist right now?
Any other good/bad/weird/wonderful events today?

Dog chases and birthday races

This morning was one of those runs... The kind that should be excellent (62 degrees! Sunny!) but just wasn't. I ran last night and generally don't do two runs in 12 hours, but my schedule for the rest of this week is a mess, I needed to get a run in, and it was just so gorgeous outside!

I slogged through my planned 3.7 miles. Why 3.7 miles? Because Jess, over at Run With Jess, is having a virtual race, "The Cupcake Classic," to celebrate her 37th birthday. In honor of this event, I did two 3.7 mile runs in the past 24 hours, including last night's run club birthday bash (a regular 5k to which I added a 0.6 mile warmup).

Cupcakes to celebrate the Cupcake Classic

So... two days, two runs, to celebrate two birthdays!

This should be cake, right?
(Sorry... bad pun.)

Unfortunately this morning's run was not nearly as much fun as a birthday party should be. It was more like: keep putting left foot in front of right. Switch. Repeat. Try not to think about running. Watch the pelicans.

And in the last mile, I started thinking "I'll be home in just a few more minutes!"
And then...
I was chased by a dog!

I only wish the dog-chasing had been in this direction!

I'd like to say this was a first-time occurrence for being chased by a canine, but northwest Florida has the most relaxed dog-leash culture of anywhere I've ever lived or traveled. This was, however, the first time I was chased by a dog at least as big as me. Not fun!

Fortunately, dog-on-the-loose did (sort of) listen when I stopped and shouted at him to "go home!" But, as with all dog-chasing cases, as soon as you start moving away they think "game on!" (Oh... if I could only find his owners and give them a piece of my mind!)

Don't get me wrong, I love our furry friends. And it is exactly because I love pets that this situation makes me angry. Dog owners: your pooch is not safe running in the street, chasing cars (and runners)! I have to wonder: Do you really want your dog getting hit by a car? Or pepper sprayed by a more anxious runner? Probably not. So, for the love of Pete, keep Fido at home!!!

Bad dog!

Ever been chased by a dog?
What did you do?

Photos courtesy of the State Library and Archives of Florida, and the State Library of New South Wales.

Tuesday 5k and run-club birthday bash

Don't try to drive through downtown Pensacola on a Tuesday evening.* Every week 300(ish) runners take to the streets for a free, weekly 5k "fun run" hosted by McGuire's Run Club. (Unsurprisingly, there are fewer runners when temperatures climb into the 100s, and there are more runners when there is free beer).

The tradition started seven years ago, right after Hurricane Ivan. McGuire's Irish Pub wanted to do something to give back to the community, which was still reeling from storm damage... and from that one idea, a tradition was born.

McGuire's staff say that about two dozen people attended the inaugural run, and they were thrilled when they reached 50 runners. Now the weekly event requires a police escort (note: thank you police officers!!!) and over the past seven years more than 11,000 runners have run the 3.1 miles route along Pensacola Bay. (Yes. Hubby and I count for 2 of those 11,000.)

To celebrate their 7th birthday, the restaurant (also a brewery) provided two kegs of their beer to thank the runners who attended. (Happy birthday to us!) And it's almost my one year anniversary with the run club, too! (Like I need an excuse to celebrate running?)

I think this is the first (and probably last) time I
color-coordinated with my beer.

Thanks McGuire's!

Does your hometown have any running traditions?

Do you celebrate running anniversaries?

*Note: The traffic really is not that bad -- a 3 or 4 minute delay, tops. But tonight there was some crazy guy blaring his horn at us and shouting out the window of his car. First time I've ever seen that happen! Maybe he was trying to be funny? Either way, I'd hate to see that guy in "real" traffic!

A little change of pace

I have a fairly consistent exercise routine during the week that involves running, yoga, lifting, walking, and some stationary bike on rainy days. I have my "normal" routes. But this morning I wasn't quite ready to let go of summer, so I decided to head to the beach for a long walk before work. (Oh, the joys of starting work at 10am!)
So, with a cup of coffee in-hand, this is how I started my day.

I really should do this more often. I live in a place where other people go for vacation. But it is all too easy to take this sort of thing for granted when you live right around the corner.

Do you take full advantage of the place you live?
How do you mix up your weekly routine?

First impressions: a photo anniversary

One year ago today I got my first glimpse of our new home. To be honest, after 10 days in the car, it was somewhat underwhelming.

Our first taste of Pensacola was at a dive bar known as the Flora-Bama, which straddles the state line between Florida and Alabama. It was pouring rain. (As you might be able to tell from the photo above.) We split a can of Corona and a plate of grilled oysters. (Yes, Flora-Bama is so divey Corona is the best beer on the menu. Also note the plastic plates and flatware. Super chic and very environmentally conscious.)

But... oh, the oysters! I drool just thinking about them. I had been worried that the BP oil spill ruined local seafood. And indeed there is evidence that the ecosystem will be damaged for decades to come. Eating the oysters here will probably take years off my life. But damn, they're good.

My first impression, sitting in this ramshackle beach bar in the pouring rain: I started out this trip near Mexico, and ended up (on the Gulf of Mexico) at a bar that looks like it belongs in Tijuana. Why did I have to travel thousands of miles for this???

It continued raining. We waited for a break in the rain. Laced up our shoes. And went for a run. (Had to run off 10 days worth of greasy roadtrip food.) It rained on us during our run. I worried this was a bad omen.

But we had sailed through the ultimate test of a relationship: the extra-long road trip, with no personal space or time apart, and a trunk full of smelly running clothes, for 10 days straight. And we still really liked each other. Surely that was a good omen.

On our next run, we went to the beach for a 6-miler right before sunset. In all the places I've run, this might take the cake for prettiest run ever.

We wrapped up our run that night, got back to the car, mopped off the sweat, and started snapping photos. While we were taking pictures another runner stopped to introduce himself. We chatted for 20 minutes or so. He filled us in on some great local places to run. This Southern chatty friendliness continues to amaze me on a daily basis.

So my first impressions of Pensacola: damp, redneck, friendly, beautiful, and very very different than any place I have lived before.
...and the oysters are damned good.

Where everybody knows your name

As a child of the 80s, I am enamored with the television show Cheers. And having, six months ago, left my own personal, real-life Cheers behind when I moved from San Diego to the Florida Panhandle, I have been a bit blue that I lost my place (cue theme song music)

where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same.
You wanna be where everybody knows your name.

It has taken some adjustment to find a new coffee shop, grocery store, neighborhood bar, and - most especially - running group. Because for the past six months no one has known my name, or much cared, for that matter.

I am not being overly dramatic here. Most of the people of this fair town have lived their entire lives within a 50-mile radius, and don't have any need to make new friends. The rest of the population, like me, will be here 3 years or less and probably annoy the locals with our constant shuffling in and out. So the locals mostly just ignore us, and I can't say I blame them.

But maybe I spoke too soon?

Tonight, while out at the local pub run, I saw some of the hashers from Sunday night. Not only did they recognize me, they shouted my name across the parking lot, greeted me warmly, and brought me into their group.

Hooray!

After six months of weekly pub runs, someone finally knows my name!

(cue more theme music)

Tonight I glided through the run, and the lighter-than-air feeling had nothing to do with my stride.

If you have never moved away from your hometown before, you might not understand this feeling.

If you have moved far away from home, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Race Report: Bayou Hills 10k

Last weekend, the day before our wedding, my (then) fiancé and I ran the Bayou Hills 10k. Given that it was wedding weekend, we ran this as a recreational run (and as training for an upcoming half marathon) rather than "racing" it. The route is definitely not a "fast" course anyway with plenty of twists, turns, and hills. While the total elevation never reaches more than 128 feet above sea level (this is coastal Florida, after all), there is also not a single quarter mile that is even remotely flat.

That said, the Bayou Hills 10k was one of those friendly, small, community races that reminds us that not every race is a NYC Marathon behemoth (nearly 45,000 runners) and not every race sells out in a few brief hours (like Boston). Locally, a week before this race the McGuire's 5k brought more than 11,000 runners out onto the streets of Pensacola. Bayou Hills was about one tenth that size. The course was never crowded. The water stations were well-placed. The finish line had plenty of the expected goodies (bananas, oranges, rice & beans, water, and beer). And perhaps nicest of all, an announcer congratulated almost all finishers by name as they crossed the finish line.

My fiancé crossed the finish line hand-in-hand, took a few photos, and ran off to the rest of our wedding weekend responsibilities. It was a good race for our "last run as single people."