Jon's Jibber-jabber

This year marks my third participation in the Gasparilla Distance Classic.  This festival is one of the best and fastest races on the circuit.  This year it is part of a professional series and drew some big names.  The $30,000 prize purse also doesn't hurt.  The 15k on Saturday is also a major race for that distance, being one of the few odd distance races that offers a prize purse.  There are four total races (15k and 5k on Saturday; Half marathon and 8k on Sunday).  My employer is a sponsor of the race and employees can submit for a free entry.  I got one this year so an added bonus was it's a free race! Race Week  Race week goal was to hydrate and detox by eating smart.  I tried to stay away from junkier foods and upped the fluid intake.  I also capped caffeine at 200mg/day max.  That's what I usually shoot for in a day but I am typically more lax when it isn't race week.  I was keeping an eye on the weather all week as the forecast became less and less pleasant

This year was the 25th Anniversary edition of the Walt Disney World Marathon.  Tracing its roots back to 1994, this race has grown from the announced 5,400 runners to over 25,000.  This edition featured 25 waves that took over an hour for all to start.  Needless to say, this is a big race. I made my decision to "retire" from the marathon distance earlier this year.  I'd try my best to get as low a PR as possible and then no more marathons.  This is not to say that I will never, ever run another marathon but for the foreseeable future, I do not plan on running any more marathons.  I have discovered I like speed.  So to the track I will go.  This was my fourth running of this race.  The only race with more appearances by yours truly is Space Coast with six.  I know this course and the area very well.  So this would be a fun run.  The goal here was to stop for every picture and run with some friends.  Race Week Hello, Florida winter.  Race week came with the longest