Gasparilla & Princess weekend

[AmyBWV99]

Anyone doing any portion of the Gasparilla and Princess weekend?

They are only a week apart and so close in distance I didn't know if anyone else would be doing both as well.

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

I will probably do the 15k or the 1/2 gasperilla then the princess 1/2. That was my plan this year but I got sick just before gasperilla and missed it so I could do the princess.

Which gasperilla race will you be doing?


Kirsty

 

[AmyBWV99]

Last year I did the Gasparilla full and the Princess 5k on a strained calf that I had to squeeze in 6 physical therapy appts before leaving to get thru. I've had better ideas.

DH and I are doing the Gasparilla full his 1st, my 2nd (it's the last year) and I really want to do the Princess 1/2 this year. I think it's doable altho I won't set any PRs on the 1/2 it's more for the fun of completeing it.

I'm recovering now from a stress fracture so it'll all depend on my ability to stay unbroken! I really want to beat my last Gasparilla time by 30 minutes.

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

Good luck and try to stay unbroken!!!

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

I just looked into the Gasparilla and am thinking of doing the 15k in addition to the Princess 1/2 marathon. The price is cheap compared to Disney races!

Has anyone done the 15k before? How is the course?

 

[FireDancer]

The first 5K I ever did was the Gasparilla 5K in 2005. The 15K is the same course, it just goes further down Bayshore Blvd. I liked the course. Bayshore is on the water so you can get a nice breeze to cool you off and the scenery is very nice.

 

[AmyBWV99]

The marathon was really flat so I'd guess it'd be similar since the entire area seemed flat.

 

[getnthinr]

DH and I are doing the Gasparilla full his 1st, my 2nd (it's the last year) and I really want to do the Princess 1/2 this year. I think it's doable altho I won't set any PRs on the 1/2 it's more for the fun of completeing it.

I gotta confess that after seeing that awesome pirate medal, I am very tempted to do the full -- it being the LAST chance to score that one. Like you, though, I seem to be having difficulties staying uninjured. I'm giving it some thought though. I think the primary difficulty for me (barring injury) would be the heat. I'm out there a long time and it could get very hot -- hotter (obviously) than Disney in January. Hummmmmm...

 

[chimera]

Hmmm....I like the Pirate and Princess combo

I've been wanting to do Gasparilla since it's so nearby, but the Sarasota half and now Princess are usually too close. I love the 15K distance...maybe would be a cool race the weekend before Princess. DD6 has her birthday on the 28th so the half is definitely out, but the 15K could be fun! And the registration is cheap!

 

[getnthinr]

Darn, just realized another complication. Feb 27 & 28 is Gasparilla. Feb 28th is also the "new" Mardi Gras Rock and Roll Half (formerly the Mardi Gras Half, purchased by Elite Racing as another of their RnR series). I'm already signed up for that -- There are just too many fabulous races out there!

And just in case you hadn't noticed... Gasparilla offers a "Goofy" type challenge -- do the 5K/15K/half or 5K/15K/marathon races and get a whole fistfull of medals and a special challenge shirt. Hummmmm... And I'd need to get in one more long "run" before the March Virginia Creeper Trail Marathon. Hummmm...

I'd better go hop on the treadmill before I spend a whole lot of money...

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

Is there a pirate medal for the 15k, too?! If so, I am definitely in!

Mel, I didn't know there were other Sarasota people on the board - DH and I will be Sarasota residents in August! It'll be hard to leave Disneyville, but we're excited to live on the coast. Any good places to run in Sarasota?

 

[chimera]

Mel, I didn't know there were other Sarasota people on the board - DH and I will be Sarasota residents in August! It'll be hard to leave Disneyville, but we're excited to live on the coast. Any good places to run in Sarasota?

Were you a PiPhi at UCF? I was a DG there a million years ago...the PiPhi house was down the street

There are a lot of asphalt/concrete areas to run, not a lot of trail opportunities unless you count the beach as a trail run. South Sarasota has the Legacy Trail, part of the Rails to Trails project (one of my favorite things ). Palmer Ranch neighborhood is south near the mall, lots of decent sidewalking there. Lakewood Ranch has a fabulous infrastructure for running/biking. Plenty of sidewalks and bike paths. There's a nice wide path down Longboat Key, though it's not beach side, you can run clear from Lido Key to Anna Maria Island. I live in the University area...lots of sidewalks...I easily had enough mileage for the 20 mile LR. And if you need to do hill work, we only have one...the Ringling Bridge. Park at Bayfront Park and run the bridge to St. Armand's Circle. Great views of the bay!

Local clubs:
http://manasotatrackclub.org
http://bradentonrunnersclub.com

 

[getnthinr]

Is there a pirate medal for the 15k, too?! If so, I am definitely in!

I don't know about 2010, but there was definitely a pirate medal the year this photo was taken (from the healthytippingpoint.com blog).

 

[AmyBWV99]

If it's your 1st full marathon you get 2 medals the regular one and and one that says Maiden Voyage, as well as a pirate ringing a bell for your feat. I believe they only give the maiden voyage medal for the full.

Last year's weather wasn't awesome 3 hours of rain but wasn't so bad i didn't finish it never got hot while I was on the course and I'm not speedy. I'm just hoping 2010 is dry!