Paradise Coast Half Marathon - Naples, FL

This race was an excuse to take the kids to Florida to see their grandpa and to escape the cold of the Northeast for a couple of days. A few things we forgot to consider going into this race. Pre-race nutrition on vacation is very tough, especially in Florida. It is hard to find the right balance of what food you need for a race versus being on vacation. Secondly, Florida is a lot hotter in the winter than up north. When you are used to running in the teens, the 60’s and 70’s are rough. And, last but not least, 4 loops around a flat park, nowhere near the beach, is kind of a suck, not so fun race.

I ran this one alone from the start. Husband and I both ran but he has gotten much faster. I, therefore, had lots of time to think. And meet some new people. This I love, a race is oddly one of the easiest places to strike up a conversation. You know 100% that you have something in common with every single person in the race–EVERYONE is running the race!I had a few conversations along the way, about shoes, a bride and her maid of honor running the day before her wedding (that’s badass!) and making sure a young boy got some water into his fatigued body.

This race has a bit of a different angel story–this time I decided to make a concerted effort to be the angel. I had been walking a bit and on the struggle bus (remember aforementioned heat and boring as hell race). We are at the end of the 4th loop, which included an out and back on a sidewalk on a very busy road and there was less than a mile to go and as we head back into the park. I get my feet moving again and I want to run the last mile into the finish line. I see another woman walking. I have to preface this with despite my positive experiences with my angels and my ability to socialize during a race. I get really nervous to offer encouragement, what is this about? Well, this time I did it. I told the runner that she can do this (I wish I could remember the exact words), that we are so close. This incredible thing happened, I got that same feeling of energy right back. I don’t know how else to explain it. First it was a tingle which expanded into a full charge all the way through my body, right down into my feet. It gave me the push I really needed to get through that last mile and I finished strong.

We can all do this and enjoy the benefits. We can give and accept encouragement to fill ourselves with positive energy to get us through those tough parts of the race. And, once again, we can translate this back to our lives outside of running and take those cues on how to live fully.