Category Archives: Running

TPA

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Sometimes you find the place where your soul lives, and I think mine resides in Tampa, Florida. There are many reasons to love the city, including: the countless outdoor festivals, Bayshore Boulevard (my favorite place for a sunset run), a subtropical climate, diverse restaurants, the Tampa Bay Lightning (aka the best hockey team around), and gorgeous white sand beaches. I traveled back to Tampa for the first time in nearly 3 years this February for the Gasparilla Distance Classic, and to visit with one of my best friends.

Gasparilla is a season in Tampa running from mid-January to mid-March; the biggest event is the Parade of Pirates, held annually on the last Saturday in January. On this day, the pirates invade the city and celebrate with the country’s third largest parade. Different pirate krewes create many of the parade’s elaborate floats, and they throw beads to spectators. Other community events during the season include the Gasparilla International Film Festival, the Gasparilla Music Festival, the Sant’Yago Knight Parade, and the Gasparilla Distance Classic.

I didn’t train for the race since my decision to run the half-marathon was impulsive, but I think muscle memory carried me through. The course followed much of the same route I would run in college through Davis Island and along Bayshore. The race started before dawn, but it was already humid and warm; still, it was nice to run comfortably in shorts and a tank top.

The weather all weekend was beautiful, and we spent much of it outside. After the race expo on Saturday morning, we went to the beach in St. Petersburg. We also had lunch at No Vacancy, a new restaurant/bar in downtown St. Pete. It has a retro motel theme, and a great outdoor lounge with plastic pink flamingos.

Downtown St. Pete generally has a lot of really good street art + murals

At No Vacancy, I ordered a jerk chicken sandwich, which I would highly recommend!

The Don Cesar, an old hotel rumored to be haunted

Other weekend highlights included an afternoon in Hyde Park with a stop at The Hyppo for homemade, all-natural ice pops; a long walk along the newly-renovated Riverwalk; brunch at Oxford Exchange, arguably the most photogenic place in the city; and the new food halls, Armature Works and the Hall on Franklin.

 The Riverwalk was under construction for many of my college years

Outside of the Amalie Arena – go Bolts!

Hyppo Pops

An interior shot of Oxford Exchange

Armature Works

Though I always talk about wanting to move back to Tampa, I had started to wonder if I was chasing the past. If I move back, my life still won’t be what it was in 2014. But, my weekend in Tampa was a positive reaffirmation that I love the city as much as I thought I did. It’s undergoing a lot of development, and there are a lot of exciting new places to explore.

MCM Class of 2018

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Last year, I happened to be in DC during the 2017 Marine Corps Marathon. It was a crisp autumn day and, though I enjoyed giving out high fives, I felt a twinge of regret knowing that I was cheering instead of participating.

The Marine Corps Marathon is the fourth largest marathon in the country, and as such, offers a lottery registration. I haven’t had the best luck with race entry drawings (as evidenced by my 0-4 streak with the NYC Marathon), so I was very excited that there was another option this year: 11,000 spots were reserved for the quickest to register back in March.

For this training cycle, I decided to follow a 14-week program outlined in Robin Arzon’s Shut Up And Run. Though I felt more prepared this time around, I also felt a little burned out by week 10. Then, with all my nervous energy and excitement, I went out way too fast on race day. By the time I reached mile 21, I hit a wall and it was very difficult to push through to the finish. As an admittedly competitive individual, it was frustrating to not come close to my goal time. But, not every race can be a personal record (PR), and I know that I am a stronger person for it.

In many other ways, this race was a dream. The weather was ideal: it was sunny and a comfortable 55 degrees. The streets were lined with spectators holding entertaining signs (like the crew passing out Fireball with a “Whiskey for Winners” poster). Most importantly, the course was both emotional and inspiring. I was very moved during the wear blue Mile, which is a tribute to our nation’s fallen soldiers. American flags and Faces of the Fallen posters lined the course during this stretch. I also loved reaching “the Gauntlet” (17.5 mile mark) because the next part of the course took runners on a tour of all the Smithsonian buildings on the Mall. Overall, the race really showcased many of the monuments, memorials, and notable places in our nation’s capital.

DC is truly one of my favorite cities, and I know I’ve shared in other posts some of my favorite places and experiences within the city limits. My Marine Corps Marathon weekend flew by, and I didn’t even get to all the items on my to-do list. Nevertheless, here are some of the things I checked out:

1. Renwick Gallery

The Renwick is part of the Smithsonian’s American Art Museum, and it is walking distance from the White House. The current exhibition, “No Spectators: the Art of Burning Man,” is on display until January 2019. It showcases vibrant installations from the annual cultural and artistic movement that is Burning Man.

2. Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers at the NMAH

The National Museum of American History created an innovative (and slightly controversial) Kickstarter campaign in 2016, which fully funded an intense research and conservation effort beginning in April 2017. The slippers returned to view in mid-October 2018, and remain an American icon.

3. Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town, Alexandria

Old Town, Alexandria is a charming historic district with cobblestone sidewalks and brick townhouses. Hank’s Oyster Bar is listed in many DC travel books as a highly rated restaurant, and I agree with all the rave reviews. The crab cakes were excellent, and the service was quick. They also have some interestingly pleasant touches like complimentary Goldfish crackers before the meal arrives (instead of bread), and dark chocolate for dessert.

4. Ice Cream Jubilee

I know I have written about Ice Cream Jubilee before, so consider this another profession of my love for their eclectic flavors. The seasonal Sweet Potato Molasses Candy was sublime, and I paired it with the perennial favorite, Cookies & Cookie Dough.

Vancouver Vibes

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SeaWheeze 2018

SeaWheeze is lululemon’s annual half marathon, or, as they refer to it, “yoga run party,” in Vancouver, British Columbia. The race draws 10,000 runners to Vancouver for an entire weekend of festivities, including a showcase store and a sunset festival.

Though I heard rumors about runners camping out in line for the showcase store in previous years, this year, we were able to register for an “in-line time” when we could start waiting on Friday. The showcase store was located inside the Vancouver Convention Center in an enormous room, where the special edition product was organized by size. They had funky patterns, bright colors, and 360 degree reflective pieces.

The weather forecast all weekend predicted rain, and I was a bit apprehensive when I woke up Saturday morning to a downpour. I don’t mind running shorter distances in the rain, but I usually swap my long runs to days with nicer weather. I knew beforehand that I wanted to stop and take some pictures and hug my personal cheer squad at the 18 km mark. So, I checked my nerves, and just committed to enjoying every minute and soaking it all in (literally soaking, given the rain).

The race surpassed all of my high expectations. I was emotional when I first began running after listening to the Canadian national anthem at the starting line; this was my first international race, and hopefully not my last. There were many cheer stations around the course with groups from local run clubs, F45 Training, November Project, and the Vancouver Police Department. There was even a 20th birthday party outside of the lululemon Head Office. One of my favorite stations was the Ride Cycle Club; they lined up on their stationary bikes, cheering on the runners while riding.

The course was absolutely beautiful, even in the rain. Much of the course follows the Stanley Park Seawall, with salty air and views of the Pacific Ocean. I finished in less than two hours, and I received a beautifully vibrant medal, and overnight oats and banana bread for the post-race brunch.

Saturday night was the SeaWheeze Sunset Festival, held in Stanley Park. They had yoga, local vendors, food and drink tents, a Ferris wheel, a festival store, and musical performances by Diplo and Felix Cartal. I especially enjoyed the special edition beer, a collaboration by Poshmark Brewing with lululemon, called “Could You Be More Pacific?”

 Other Vancouver Highlights

1. Rain or Shine Ice Cream

I love visiting homemade ice cream shops when I travel, and two of the best places I have been to date are also on the West Coast. Rain or Shine offered some eclectic flavors like Blackberry Cassis, Cracked Mint, and London Fog. My favorite was the Malted Milk Chocolate, which incorporated dark chocolate-coated honeycomb and malted barley. Rain or Shine is definitely up there with Molly Moon’s in Seattle and Salt & Straw in Portland.

2. Gastown Steam Clock

There are very few functioning steam clocks in the world, and this was the first designed by Raymond Saunders in 1977. A trail of steam pours out the top, and the clock chimes every 15 minutes. It is an interesting contrast to the trendy Gastown neighborhood where it is located, just across the way from a Starbucks.

3. Granville Island Public Market

This indoor market boasted fresh produce, handcrafted wood products and souvenirs, and prepared food. While walking through, we were able to sample fresh bread, pickles, and maple syrup. I was really torn on what to order for lunch, since there were so many tempting options. I ended up with deliciously spicy pad thai from Sen Pad Thai, which I would highly recommend.

4. Cambie Climbing Tree

There is no exact address for the climbing tree online because locals are worried about the inevitable litter and vandalism that comes with an influx of visitors, so I won’t share the exact location either. Part of the adventure was checking through a row of trees for the signature “easy-to-climb” thick branches close to the ground. I probably didn’t get more than two stories up before I decided to just hang out. I don’t have time for another broken bone this year. While we were sitting in the tree, someone came along and climbed to the top to scope it all out, and he shared his panoramic pictures with us.

5. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of Vancouver’s most popular attractions. It encompasses a 450’ suspension bridge, a series of wooden paths winding through the evergreens, and a walkway around a granite cliff. The bridge was both terrifying and exhilarating; it swayed as we traversed across with a hundred or so other tourists in bright rain jackets.

6. Jam Café

Early in our trip, we drove past Jam and saw a line of people down the block waiting for this brunch spot. We decided to make it the last big meal we had on Sunday. We ended up waiting somewhere between 1.5-2 hours for a table, but it was absolutely worth it. We all ordered some variation of Eggs Benedict, but I’ll always remember their homemade jam with sourdough toast.

 

#BroadStreetRun

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Philadelphia’s Broad Street Run, which has a fast point-to-point course, is the largest 10-mile race in the country. I was lucky enough to be chosen in this year’s lottery entry, and I would wholeheartedly recommend adding it onto any running bucket lists (though I may be the only one keeping road race and marathon bucket lists).

What makes the race unique? Runners start in North Philly and run along the same street for the entire race, passing through many diverse neighborhoods en route to the finish in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. It also feels like the whole city of Philadelphia comes out to spectate and cheer on the runners. There were many live bands, DJ booths, and plenty of great signs. My favorite: “Run Like You’re Late for the Hogwarts Express!”

Found these Philly-themed nail wraps on Instagram from @sarahmariedesignstudio

Other things to check out in Philly:

1. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

This art gallery has an outdoor space filled with labyrinthine mosaic pathways. The mosaics are comprised of everything from rusted bicycle tires and chipped pottery to secret messages painted on tiles. The result is whimsical, and it’s an excellent spot for some Instagram-worthy pictures. Of note: the Magic Gardens is closed on Tuesdays, so plan ahead.

2. Rocky Steps + Statue

The steps up to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, also known as the “Rocky Steps,” are the same ones shown in Rocky’s intense training montage. It’s definitely worth recreating the scene and running up the steps because the view from the top is stunning. The statue is located at the base of the steps, off to the right.

3. Reading Terminal Market

This public market in Center City Philadelphia has been open since the late 1800s, making it one of the country’s oldest food halls. The vendors offer a vast array of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cheeses, as well as prepared food. Beiler’s Doughnuts is a must-visit; the doughnuts are so fresh, they are filled and frosted right in front of the customers. Beck’s Cajun Café also deserves some acknowledgment for their outrageous fried mac and cheese balls.

4. Liberty Bell

Philadelphia is a city steeped in history and home to many National Historic Landmarks. I was able to fill up a full page in my NPS passport with cancellation stamps in a matter of minutes. I did spend more than a few minutes in the Liberty Bell Center, though. The line for the security checkpoint moved very slowly, but it was well worth the wait to see an iconic symbol of American independence and freedom.

Walt Disney World Marathon

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Though I had been really active before college, the four years I spent logging miles on Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard at sunset cinched my love of running. Bayshore is rumored to be the longest continuous stretch of sidewalk in the country, and it will always be my favorite place to run.

Nothing beats a sunset run on Bayshore

I have wanted to run a marathon for quite some time, but I never actively pursued it. I’ve entered the lottery for the New York City Marathon a few times, but I just become increasingly discouraged and disheartened each time I am not chosen. Last year, however, I decided to register for the 2018 Walt Disney World Marathon.

The Walt Disney World Marathon turned out to be a great choice for a first marathon because there was so much course entertainment. There were high school marching bands playing fight songs, many upbeat DJs, and lots of pit stops with Disney characters and props.

I stayed on Disney property at the All Star Sports resort, so they had transportation to the starting line at 3:30 am. The only thing I truly wasn’t anticipating was how cold it would be. I’ve lived in Florida and I know that January can be quite chilly, but it was only about 40 degrees that morning. It warmed up slightly throughout the race, but I wish I had gloves with me.

The race started in the Epcot parking lot, and then we headed over to Magic Kingdom. The sun was just coming up, and Main Street, USA was lined with spectators cheering and holding signs. The course went right through the castle, which was absolutely magical. Next, we headed to Animal Kingdom, the Wide World of Sports, Hollywood Studios, the Boardwalk, and, finally, Epcot. Running through Epcot’s World Showcase at mile 25 was an absolute highlight. All of the cast members stood outside and waved flags representing their respective countries. It was the closest I’ve come to feeling like an Olympic athlete.

My knees were a little sore, but I was surprised at how much energy I still had after. After a quick stop at the resort to shower and ice my knees, I headed back to Epcot to eat and drink my way through the countries.

I still have my heart set on the NYC marathon, and I know it’ll happen for me someday. In the meantime, I’ll just keep adding other marathons onto my bucket list.