A Tale of Two Races {Lighthouse Loop and Space Coast Half Marathon Recaps}

Umm… hi? Surprise! Surprise! I just remembered I still have a blog!

I guess I’ve been doing anything but blogging. Work is keeping me on my toes and family life has been jam packed with dance, soccer, trips to Disney, and visits to Santa.

I’ve also been running a TON – in fact I made a goal last month to hit 100 miles and I did it! It’s been a while since I’ve seen that number — and I even skipped two long-run weekends. I’m interested to see how December goes. Last December I ran ZERO miles, so I know I’ll beat that!

In the past month I also ran two half marathons. They were similar in a lot of ways – but also very different.

First up was Lighthouse Loop Half on October 25th.

I signed up for this race what feels like a LOOOOOONG time ago and I really looking forward to it. My best racing friend was there too and it was like ooooolllllllddd times (it was her first race in almost a year!).

Things I liked:

• The organization – they had race day bib pick up and bag check right next to pick up
• My peeps  – I knew a ton of amazing ladies running it (including my all-time favorite racing buddy)

• The shirt – I had the choice of picking between a short-sleeved shirt and a sleeveless shirt. That was a first. I picked the sleeveless shirt and I love it!
• The cause – All of the money raised went to local schools. Yay kids!
• The post-race party – The food was amazing — plus there was free craft beer.
• The price – I think I paid $50 for the race and it included a shirt, a bag, and plenty of water/gels on course.

Things I didn’t love:

• The weather – Ok the weather sucked. It was hot and humid and felt like summer.
• The course – While it wasn’t horrible, the course was a little boring. We were right off the ocean in Port Orange, but we couldn’t see because of buildings. The lighthouse WAS cool, but it took 6 miles to get there and then that was it.
• The bridge – I’m thankful we didn’t have have the bridge twice, BUT the bridge at Mile 12 was KILLER. Thankfully, I was mentally prepared for it, but it really didn’t make it any easier to run over. Blah.
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• Lady issues – My favorite aunt was visiting and a porta-potty visit was necessary. At least it was clean.
• My time – It wasn’t horrible, but I know I can do much, much better. I finished in 2:07:48

The biggest mystery of them all… why is that lady behind me wearing a jacket AND capris? It was in the high 70s.

 

On November 29th, I ran the Space Coast Half Marathon. I ran the full last year and I have to say I have zero regrets about running the half this year, even though MANY (most) of my MRTT friends ran the full.

Moms (and one dude) carpool this town.

I did have a chance to run in with one of my friends from miles 24-26 though — it was her first full and she killed it!! So proud of that lady to me…

Things I loved:

• The course – Space Coast is an out and back along the Banana River that run between Cocoa Village and Rockledge — and back. The houses are gorgeous (and many of them are decorated for the holidays).
• The medal.

Need I say more?

• The company – I started the race with my fellow MRTT mama Jaime (she’s the Yao to my Shaq) and ran most of the race with her. I also ran 2 miles with my friend Sheila — getting her to mile 26, which was just a great experience. She wanted to quit, I was annoyingly chatty.
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• The post race party – There was endless beer, pizza, pancakes, and eggs. Plus, my crew and my ladies. What could be better?

Shaq, Kevin, and Yao.

Love these ladies (minus a few)!!

Things I hated:

• THE FREAKING WEATHER – It was effing November and in the 80s and so, so humid!! I’m really over this “winter.” I don’t need it to be snowing, but it would be nice to have some cooler weather for this race.
• Leaving my headphones at home – It was my first race that ran entirely without music. It didn’t suck as much as I though it would, but it still sucked.
• The stupid porta-potty stop I made at mile 6.5 – I barely made it to the porta-potty pre-race and apparently it hit me at mile 6.5 I DID manage to make up some of my time by running like a bat out of hell, but I had some issues getting my shorts back on (because of COURSE I did — too bad running naked is frowned upon) and it felt like Lighthouse Loop all over again (this time in a potty that felt like it was going to tip over).
• My time – So my goal was to beat my Lighthouse Loop time — and I did, but not by much. I was hoping for a time closer to 2:00. Cooler weather needs to happen before I see that number, but I DO think it can happen. Maybe. I finished in 2:07:07.

Overall, it was a great race and a great weekend. I would have appreciated it more if the weather was cooler.

Would I do the race again?

I MIGHT do Lighthouse Loop again — not for the course or the medal, but the miles. It wasn’t the prettiest, but there was a great post-race, so that counts for something!

I will definitely be doing Space Coast again next year so I can get my Milky Way Galaxy medal!! It’s also the 45th year — so it’s a pretty fancy medal. I don’t think I will ever do the full again though – that course is tough on the feet (the road is somewhat slanted) and I was pretty every mile during mile 17.

Up next…

More races! I’m doing the BDR Cape Coral Virtual Half Marathon  (PS for all other BDR races — use my code CRAZYRUN!!) and the Mt. Dora Half Marathon the weekend of the 19th (yes – back to back!) to close out 2015. A HUGE difference between 2014 and 2015.

What will 2016 bring?? I guess we’ll find out! (more half marathons, marathons, and maybe an ultra?? Say what!)