After February’s half marathon, I got hit pretty hard with the post-race blues. I hadn’t been expecting it; I didn’t know how to deal. This time around, I make sure I’m not caught off-guard. After the St. Pete Run Fest Half Marathon, I give myself a few days to rest and recover before jumping back into my regular routine. The race was an incredible experience and I can’t wait to participate again next year. For now, though, I know I need to find balance in my workouts. Mentally and emotionally, exercise is the most therapeutic tool I have found. I know it’s not safe to sign up for another big race right after a half marathon, so I keep my miles low and slow.
When CL’s A&E editor Cathy asks me if I have any interest in running a 5K at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, I jump at the chance. I have never done a trail run before, and with my big race behind me I feel comfortable taking on a different type of challenge (read: if I fall and hurt myself, better to have it happen after I have completed the half marathon).
I grew up in St. Pete and loved going to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve as a kid. I remember school field trips there and days when my mom took us kids. More recently, my Nature Writing professor took our class to Boyd Hill for a day to review essays and readings, debating about what “nature” really is.
I am nervous about my first trail run (what if I fall and bust ass in front of my editor?) but I am also looking forward to it. When the day arrives, my wife Steph and I show up early to the race and have time to visit the bald eagle and other birds of prey before our trail run begins. Early morning fog greets us and I am grateful for the cooler weather. Florida's "winter" is pretty dreamy.
The 5K ends up being even better than I hoped. I maintain a solid pace and feel strong throughout. With cool weather and even cooler scenery, I don’t overheat and much to my relief, manage not to fall down during the race (although I do trip a few times). I deem the race a success and vow to sign up for another trail run soon.
The following weekend I decide to run another 5K. Girls on the Run is a non-profit organization focused on helping elementary and middle school-aged girls with their confidence and fitness goals. Someone left a stack of fliers for the race at my CrossFit gym and it piques my interest; finding out we get a t-shirt and medal upon completion of the race ultimately seals the deal.
The usual pre-race excitement is in the air despite the light drizzle of rain, and as I pin my race bib on I take in my surroundings. The warm-up for the 5K is basically a giant dance party and my heart melts a little bit as I see how many dads and father figures are participating. One dad takes a selfie with his daughter and boasts, “I’ll post this on Facebook and everyone is going to see you’re gorgeous!”
The announcer finishes the dance warm-up and reminds the participants: “This is our race. We control how fast we go, how hard we push. We may not control where our stories started — how we began — but today and going forward you are the authors of your own stories. You get to decide what to write!”
What an awesome way to begin a race.
The positive attitudes and validation remain throughout the morning. Moms, dads, coaches and friends constantly reassure the young runners they’re doing great, this is their race, they’re proud to be by their side. “Sparkle Runners” are volunteers who make sure no girl crosses the finish line alone; there are also sweep runners to make sure no girl finishes last. Altogether, GOTR puts on a fun 5K and I leave feeling inspired.
The “winter” months in Florida have always been my favorite, and I love them even more now that I run. Whether you’re a novice or a pro — or even if you just want to walk the whole thing — there are fun 5K races every weekend (and many during the week, too). Websites like active.com are super user-friendly and have a list of upcoming races of various distances you can search for by city. If your body is able, I highly recommend signing up for one.
This article appears in Jan 25 – Feb 1, 2018.