23rd Annual Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic: 10K Race Results

Saturday I ran in the 23rd Annual Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic.  I chose the 10K option, as did Kim and Michelle from my church.  When I was considering this race, Michelle was the one who talked me into it.  I'd never participated in this race before, but was pleased with the ease of registration and packet pick-up, the starting location at Coachman Park, and the low, low price of $19 for a 10K.  

I'd picked up my packet ahead of time, but I did need to pick up my chip on Saturday morning.  We parked the van about 2 blocks from the park, and my family stayed in there watching Tangled while I went to get my chip.  Then I watched more of Tangled with them until I decided to head back into the park and get ready for the start.  They had a lot of port-a-potties, but none of them had toilet paper!  Still, I was able to do my business in plenty of time to get warmed up and over to the starting line. 

I never did see Kim and Michelle before the start.  I just tried to get into the pack a little ways back (turns out I was farther back than I'd thought!), and wait for the gun.  The start of the race is uphill on Drew Street for about 2 blocks.  We then turn and go into downtown Clearwater, and then turn again to go up and over the Memorial Causeway Bridge.  It seems daunting when you drive over it, so I was trying not to let the height scare me.  I just kept pushing up and up, telling myself that I eat bridges like this for breakfast!  (Even though, really, I don't!)  The first mile marker was on the bridge as we were going up and up.  Mile 1 Split:  8:16

Bridge photos from Frederick Gottemoeller Bridgescape LLC

So I finally crested the bridge, surprised at my split, and flew down the other side with the aid of gravity.  The weather was lovely, and it was very nice running on the causeway out toward the beach in the morning.  Crowds were still thick, but I hit Mile 2 pretty quickly.  Mile 2 Split:  8:07

And here is where I was thinking that maybe I was going too fast.  Because, really, 8:07???  That's obscene.  There was another little bridge, up and over, and then we were in Clearwater Beach.  We went around the traffic circle and headed north on the strip.  For some reason, I didn't think I would have to go that far north, so it seemed like a long way, but I was still feeling pretty good.  I hit Mile 3 and the turnaround by the fire station, and although I did slow up quite a bit, I was still surprised that I was sub-9.  Mile 3 Split:  8:43

After the turnaround, I saw Michelle and Kim and waved at them, yelling encouragement as they headed toward the Mile 3 marker.  I kept plugging along, starting to feel terribly slow, and chugged around the traffic circle and back onto the causeway.  The sun was in my eyes and it seemed pretty lonely out there!  Mile 4 Split:  8:56

While we were still on the causeway, they diverted us from the roadway onto the bike/pedestrian path that parallels the road around Mile 4.  I started feeling like I might throw up, which I didn't want to do.  I tried to slow down more to keep my breakfast inside me.  Eventually the feeling passed, and I didn't get sick, but when I checked my watch, I hadn't slowed down as much as I thought I had!  And it was getting hard, too, as I was climbing up the Memorial Causeway Bridge again to get back into Clearwater.  Mile 5 Split:  8:57

With the Mile 5 marker partway up the bridge, it just felt like it went on forever and ever...  It seemed much longer of an incline the second time around!  But I made it to the top without any walking.  Since we were on the pedestrian part of the bridge, we went down the spiral pedestrian ramp.  I was afraid I'd get dizzy, and happy that I didn't.  Once the ramp spits you out, you have to u-turn, then go up another hill to get back into downtown Clearwater.  Not a very long hill, but I just wasn't in the mood for it any more.  I charged up the hill, turned north, and kept plugging along, though I was quickly running out of gas.  Mile 6 Split:  9:07

After Mile 6, you turn left and it's back down the hill on Drew Street to the finish line (same as start line).  Some people were really letting it rip down the hill, almost dangerously fast.  I just coasted down, comfortably fast, waving and screaming to my cheering family, and blasted across the finish line.  Last 0.2 Split:  1:40

If you zoom in, never mind that lost look on my face...

SO, my overall time was 53:48.60.  To which I say, I never knew I was that fast.  9th out of 56 in my age group, 59th out of 387 women, 233rd out of 741 runners overall.  

I made my family stay at the finish area until we cheered Kim and Michelle across the finish line.  Great job, ladies!!!  They finished in about 1:04:00.  They had to walk a little going up the bridge the second time, but they still did really well, and improved from their previous 10K times from a few weeks ago.

Overall, I enjoyed the race.  Coachman Park was a great location to start/finish a race.  It was well-organized and had plenty of volunteer support.  No finisher medal, but hey, it was only $19 and I got a rockin' long sleeve tech tee for it.  I did like the course, but oh boy, that bridge is a challenge!  You just can't let it scare you, though.  I'm so glad my family came out to cheer me on.  It means a lot to me to have them at the finish line!