Race report: Double Bridge Run (15k and 5k) 2013

For three years in a row I've run the Pensacola Double Bridge Run - either the 15k or the 5k.
(I even returned after swearing, last year, that the timing company's terrible attitude and abysmal customer service would keep me from running again...)

The start:
The Double Bridge Run 15k changed courses this year, starting at the new Community Maritime Park in downtown Pensacola. This point-to-point course takes runners over the 3-mile bridge to Gulf Breeze, then across the Bob Sikes bridge over the intracoastal waterway into Pensacola Beach.

Image Source

Despite a 7:00am start time for the 15k and an 8:30am start time for the 5k, runners need to wake up extra early, drive to the beach, and then shuttle-bus to their start area. Shuttles for 15k runners are only available from 5-6am, so if you are not an early bird, run the 5k (shuttles 6:00-7:30am).

The advantage of the early start time...

Sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico before the Double Bridge Run in Pensacola Beach

...watching the sun rise over the Gulf.

There are no post-race shuttles for runners who want to park at the starting area. Those runners need to arrange a ride or double-up on their double-bridge running.

View of 15k runners from the pedestrian bridge in Gulf Breeze

The bad:
My only real complaint about this race (this year) is that the finish area is over-crowded, as is the post-race venue.

I am pleased to see a local race gaining traction. But given how big this race has gotten (a sellout crowd of 4,000 this year), I think it's time to rethink some of the logistics. 4,000 runners + spectators do not fit on the comfortably on the boardwalk at Quiet Water beach.

The beer lines were long. The food lines were long. The venue was unpleasantly over-stuffed.

(Also, not having post-race shuttles is an annoyance, but is not a deal-breaker.)


The good:
The Double Bridge Run is an iconic Florida race. How many times in your life will you get to run more than three miles of your race directly over beautiful emerald-green water? Not alongside it. Over it.

Also, the crowd support is fairly impressive for a small town race. While Pensacola is a runner's town, it is not a spectator-haven. This race is an exception. Because of the staggered start times, 5k runners line up to cheer on the 15k racers, and there is excellent crowd support in the home stretch.

Pain now. Beer later. 

Also a rule, I don't love shuttle buses. In general I prefer the start/finish area to be one and the same. However, the logistics of the shuttle busing are perfect. No lines. No waiting. The process couldn't be simpler.

In fact, the same can be said of almost everything about this race. The organization this year was nearly flawless. (Well... except that the finish line banner fell across the course and blocked runners. Oops!)

The finish:
The post-race feast included a respectable spread of bananas, oranges and bagels in the finish area, plus red beans and rice and cold beer at the after-party.

But it's crowded.

I skipped the food line entirely* and got one measly thimble-full of beer because I couldn't bear to wait in a 100+ person line more than once. (Yes, I'm impatient. But really, it's too crowded.)

*Lest you think I'd race and not eat... First: You should know me better than that by now. Second: There are dozens of delectable breakfast establishments in Pensacola. I availed myself of one of those for a post-race omelette and coffee.


Parting thoughts:
All things considered, I've run both the 15k and the 5k, and I prefer the 5k. But I'd recommend either distance to runners looking for a well-organized and scenic race.


My race:
It was the best of races. It was the worst of races.

The face of someone who knows it wasn't a PR kind of day

I didn't make my goal time, but I did run fast enough to take home an age group award.

Finish: 25:05 (official)
Place: 2/80 division, 110/1102 overall.

I have work to do to get faster, but it was a pretty good day overall.

15k meltdown and some manners

Normally I'm a positive person.
Really.
I am.

But today...not so much

Source: Uploaded by user via Kris on Pinterest

I woke up feeling under the weather, and came >thisclose< to going right back to bed. But I hate DNS-ing a race unless the circumstances are catastrophic. So I rallied. I spent most of the pre-race in a port-o-potty line. But hey, at least I was there, right?

Once the starting gun went off, I cruised through my first mile in 8:18. Maybe I can do this!

Unfortunately, by mile 4 I was nauseated. I gave up any hope of a "good" time and focused on making it to the finish with my insides still in. Before this morning, I thought these were silly:

Source: visboo.com via Myles on Pinterest

Now I want one.
So useful!

I survived the race with no complete catastrophes (thanks to several strategically timed walk-breaks to let my stomach settle), but this goes down in the books as my worst race. Ever. I've had my share of bad training runs, but on race day I can usually hold it together. Today was crappy. Really. (Sorry. Couldn't resist.)

Oh, and I might have mentioned that on top of all the other issues, the race officials didn't record my time! So I sent them a formal, but polite letter:

Hello -
This morning I ran the 15k at the Double Bridge Run but my results are not listed. I tried searching by first and last name, and by gun and chip time. My Bib is #### (worn on front, left leg of shorts). I finished in approximately 1:29:30 (elapsed time, which I presume is closer to 1:32 or 1:33 given the wave starts).
I would like to see this error corrected.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
-Beth

The first response I received from the chip timing company was snarky, to say the least. I desperately want to quote their email here, but copying another person's personal correspondence into a public forum is probably going too far.

Suffice it to say: their reaction was to blame me (I must have hidden my bib!), rather than admitting that there was some mistake, or simply not saying anything at all and fixing the problem. Um... I race all the time, and I'm pretty sure I know how to use safety pins.

Sure...
I'm the one who made the mistake.

Proof that I ran! (Far left) I made it into the local paper!
(Note: even in this side view you can tell I'm wearing my bib on the front of my left leg.)

Later this evening the company let me know that they found my results and fixed the problem. (Hooray!!! But...) In that email they switched their blame from my alleged bad pinning skills to my use of a hand-held water bottle! Because, you know, water bottles are to blame.

Um.
Yeah.

In short, this email exchange seals it: I should have stayed in bed...
And this is one race I won't be running again.

Have you ever skipped out on (DNS-ed) a race you registered for?
What's the most unprofessional thing you've seen at a race?

Race Report: Double Bridge Run (15k and 5k)

The start:
The Double Bridge Run begins in downtown Pensacola, and is point-to-point. Runners need to wake up extra early, drive to the beach, and then shuttle-bus to their start area.

Image Source

Shuttles for 15k runners are only available from 5-6am, so if you are not an early bird, run the 5k (shuttles 6-7:30am). 5k runners get to sleep in. (I was a 5k-er last year, and loved the race. I greatly regret running the 15k this year... but now I'm jumping ahead.)

The bad:
Let's start with the fact that my race results don't exist. Granted, this was not the run of my life. (I'm not too proud to admit I had gastro-intestinal issues today.) But I FINISHED.

It took some fortitude to get up at 4am, realize I'd spend most of my pre-race hours in a port-o-potty, and still run.

I want it on the record, damnit!
If I wanted to "just run" 9 miles this morning, I could have slept in!

Also, the finish area was over-crowded, as was the post-race venue. I am pleased to see a local race gaining traction. But given how big this race has gotten, I think it's time to rethink some of the logistics, including (I'm sure you knew I'd get to this) more port-o-potties! The lines were 30-40 runners deep before the 15k began.

And make sure those loos are stocked with TP!

Years ago I learned to bring my own TP to races. I carry some at every race. But it still irks me when I need to use my own.

This is such a simple thing, but so many races skimp on loos. Why?!?

The other stuff:
Not having post-race shuttles is an annoyance, but tolerable.
Boarding the buses was actually a breeze. No lines. No waiting. That was a bonus.

Headwinds are an issue.
This is not a "fast" course. In the morning, winds blow in off the water. The route points runners right into the wind, with no trees or buildings for relief. (They don't call it the "Double Bridge" for nothing...) From what I understand, the headwinds were worse this year than usual. Even the winner was more than 3 minutes slower this year than last year on account of the wind.

The good:
The Double Bridge Run is an iconic Florida race. How many times in your life will you get to run the "3 mile bridge" and see this sign?

As a driver, I find this sign amusing.
As a runner, it takes on a whole new meaning.

Also, the crowd support for the last mile was fairly impressive. While Pensacola is a runner's town, it is not a spectator-haven, so having good crowd support for the home stretch was a pleasant surprise.

The finish:
The post-race feast included a respectable spread of bananas, oranges, cookies, and assorted chips in the finish area, plus red beans and rice and cold beer at the after-party.

Have I mentioned that I'd rather have my race results than a few slices of orange?

All things considered, I'd run in the 5k again, but I'm pretty sure I won't sign up for the 15k next year.

Have you ever had to contact a race organizer to post or correct your race results?
In a decade of running, this is a first for me!