Have you heard about Cupid's Undie Run? St. Pete had one on Valentine's Day. I love everything about the race: great cause (Children's Tumor Fund), clever slogan (#ImWithCupid), and a street party atmosphere. I'm shy and older, so running in my undies in public is out for me. But, the idea of a unique race is appealing. It's fun to try new locations and events.
This March is the perfect month to cash in on your training to earn something extra when you race. I created a list of local races with unique themes and locations. Find a new race on the list below, and use it to stay motivated. Distances range from Fun Runs to Half Marathons. Would You Run for a Cupcake?
That sounds like a Dr. Seuss title, doesn't it? But why not race for a cupcake? You'll earn it after running a sandy 5K on the beach at Pass-a-Grille.
Fore! Four! Golf and Running Mix at Valspar
Sunday, March 6, 2017. 4:00 pm
Par4Miler at Innisbrook Resort, $25-30 Option to purchase discounted golf tournament tickets. Palm Harbor, FL How often do you get to run where the pros play golf? This race course is on the cart paths at the beautiful Copperhead Course. The race kicks off the 2017 Valspar Championship Golf Tournament. Finishers receive a voucher for Valspar paint, a medal, shirt and post-race party by the 18th green. Bonus: Runners can purchase discounted tickets for the Valspar Championship. The race benefits Moffitt Cancer Center. Read my 2/15/17 blog post for more details.
#par4miler #thisoldrunner #Valspar #Moffitt #HSNcares #Innisbrook #ValsparChampionship
VROOM! VROOM! Run the Grand Prix Track
#GrandPrixStPete5K #RunStPete #5K #ThisOldRunner #FirestoneGrandPrix #PALStPete #MBA
Be the Thunder! Run with the Lightning Bug
Saturday, March 11, 2017. 7:00 am
Bolt Run 1 mile, 5K and 5 Miler. $30-$65 Team entries available. Tampa, FL The Lightning Foundation sponsors this race that starts and finishes where the Tampa Bay Bolts play hockey— Amalie Arena.
Each registered participant receives: One ticket to the March 11th game vs Florida, or March 21st vs Arizona, or two tickets to a Tampa Bay Storm game; race t-shirt; pre/post-race activities with food & drinks; race goodie bag. 5k and 5 Miler finishers receive a medal. Proceeds benefit local charities. Lightning Bug, the hockey team mascot, runs with the kids.
#BoltRun #AmalieArena #5K #5Miler #BeTheThunder #ThisOldRunner #LightningFoundation
King of the Beach! Florida Beach Halfathon & 5K at Fort DeSoto Park
#FloridaHalf #Beachathon #FortDeSotoHalf #ThisOldRunner #StarfishMedal #FloridaRoadRaces
Spring Break in Sarasota! First Watch is the Last Half in the Florida Storm Series
#FloridaHalf #2PersonRelay #SarasotaHalf #ThisOldRunner #DolphinMedal #Florida #FirstWatch
5K & 10K Memorial Runs to Honor Fallen Heroes of St. Pete Police
Twilight Celebration 5K & 10K Races at Robinson Preserve in Bradenton
Friday, March 31, 2017. 6:30 pm
Fit2Run Twilight 5K and 10K Run, $35-$40 Kids' Races for ages 3 to 12 years start at 5:30 pm Robinson Preserve, Bradenton, FL Challenging course on trails and boardwalks surrounded by beautiful scenery and wildlife. 5 corrals based on finish time. Walkers, strollers, and runners with dogs are welcome in last corral. Fit2Run after party features catered food, refreshments, live music and adult beverages (with proper ID). Awards include prize money distributed to top three M/F finishers in each race. Age group awards. Medals to kids. 5K is chip timed. Family friendly event. Proceeds benefit Feeding Empty Little Tummies, a backpack program to feed homeless Manatee County children on weekends, and the Preserve.
#RobinsonPreserve #TwilightRun #5K #10K #Bradenton #RunStPete #ThisOldRunner #Fit2Run
2nd Annual Race Adds Charity, Celebrities
The 2017 Par4Miler race at the Valspar Championship has joined with two local organizations to help others. HSN Cares is a named sponsor, and proceeds from the race will benefit the Moffitt Cancer Center. HSN Cares is the philanthropic arm of St. Petersburg's Home Shopping Network. Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute is a nonprofit cancer treatment and research center in Tampa.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Ronde Barber, ran the inaugural race in 2016. This year Ronde returns with his twin brother, Tiki, a former running back for the New York Giants. Ronde ran 4 miles in 32:34 last year. Can you run his pace? Can Tiki? Registration and Perks
The early bird price was $35 until 1/31/17. There were some discounts on Groundhog's Day and Valentine's Day, so watch social media and the website for details. If you put together a team of 5+ or 10+ racers, there are additional discounts.
Entrants receive: • Tech or Cotton Shirt • Free Race Photos • Finishers Medal • Valspar Paint Voucher • Post Race Party in 18th Green Hospitality Tent • Discounted Valspar Championship Tickets Schedule of Events
Packet Pickup
Friday, March 3rd - 2 to 6 pm BB&T Bank, 350 East Bay Drive, Largo, FL 33770 Race Day Schedule Sunday, March 5th - 2 to 4 pm Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor, FL 34684 2 to 4 pm - Packet Pickup 4 pm - Race Start 4: 30 to 7 pm - Post Race Party, 18th Green
If you love running and golf, this is the race for you. Get an insider view of the Copperhead course at Innisbrook Golf Resort as you run or walk the cart paths, and enjoy the post race party at the 18th green. If you take advantage of the discounted Valspar Championship tickets, you can come back to see the pros compete where you ran!
#par4miler #valsparchampionship #hsncares #moffitcancercenter #runtampa #runflorida #florida #bucsnation #siegetheday #tampabaybuccaneers #par4miler #innisbrook #copperheadcourse #stpete #palmharbor #clearwater #gulfcoastflorida #thisoldrunner #vspc #runwithronde
There's a Lesson (or Three) in Every Race.
I want to share a few things I learned yesterday at the Sarasota Music Half.
1. Always wear waterproof mascara. Who wears eye makeup when they run? I do. Generally, I wear waterproof, but I didn't this time. The fog and clouds meant every time I blinked a little more mascara was deposited under my eyes. (Think 13 miles of blinks and you'll get an idea of my look.) Thanks to all the volunteers and runners I met along the course who didn't smirk or laugh at me. I thought everyone was making friendly eye contact. It wasn't until after the race, food tent, beer tent and conversations with other runners — that I saw my raccoon eyes in my rear view mirror. Ha! 2. I wasn't trained properly. I knew it, and planned to run an easy race and take lots of photos. Still, I was disappointed. Really disappointed. Cue new training plan. 3. When you put bandaids on toes to prevent blisters, you may cause more blisters. This idea backfired. The bandaids I put on my long second toes for extra cushion rubbed against adjacent toes causing new blisters. Darn it. I know if I was properly trained my feet would have been tougher. I love to run. And even foggy, wet, challenging half marathons make me happy. This half is one of the best race events I've run. The city of Sarasota and it's residents embrace it. The course is scenic, historic and challenging. The management team is excellent. They tweak details each year, and the event keeps improving. Check Out the Fog During the Race in the Photos Below.
Read detailed race review here —> 2017 Sarasota Music Half
#SarasotaMusicHalf #Florida #HalfMarathons #ThisOldRunner #LessonsLearned #SceneOnARun #SeenOnARun #RunStPete
January 31 - February 5, 2017
The Florida CraftArt gallery is hosting eight Tibetan Buddhist monks this week as they create (and then destroy) a mandala made from brightly colored sand.
I stopped in yesterday to see their progress, and it's impressive! This has nothing to do with running, but it's an fascinating display of consistency, patience and teamwork. (Maybe that's kinda like running, right?) It was mesmerizing to watch the monks precisely place sand granules to create the complicated design shown above. Their metal tools made the only noise in the studio as they tap, tap, tapped tiny grains onto their canvas. The monks will dissolve their creation in a special ceremony on Sunday. They will carry the used mandala sand in a half mile procession to Tampa Bay. The sand will be deposited in the bay. The week long meditation on peace with end a final blessing at the water's edge.
#SandMandala #TibetanMonks #StPetersburg #FloridaCraftArt #WorldPeace #ThisOldRunner
I didn't when I discovered these creatures during my run today. Best. Serpent. Ever.
I've seen plenty of plants, snakes, foxes, birds, bugs, gators and cats while running local trails and parks. But none like these. These art installations are in Riviera Bay Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. They are a fun surprise.
A plaque at the park's entrance invites visitors to enjoy a native flora and fauna hunt by finding all the sculptures in the park. Artist Tom Pitzen, of PitzenStudios.com, created the eight beautiful creatures you can find. I'll post an indepth review of Riviera Bay Park soon. Happy #SerpentDay, everyone. That's a holiday I never planned to celebrate, but I'm glad to find such a beautiful snake on the right day.
#RivieraBayPark #TomPitzen #StPetersburg #FloraAndFaunaHunt #ThisOldRunner #SerpentDay #SeenOnARun #SceneOnARun #RunStPete
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Hello!2024 Races:Feb. 24-25, 2024
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