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...

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 Wee...

It is Thanksgiving weekend and that means one thing: the annual running of the Space Coast Marathon in Cocoa, FL.  This was my sixth running of this race (the 46th annual edition of the long-running event).  It is also the last year of the "Big Bang Series", a five-year journey of medals that paid tribute to the Space Shuttles.  Run the race for five years, and you get bonus medals and gear.  I started the series so it made sense to see it out to conclusion.  It is a race that is notoriously hot and humid.  The road surface is also cambered to the point of ridiculousness at certain place.  Yet, year after year I return to this place. Race Week If you look at last year's report, you will almost see a carbon copy of what I am going to say.  Race week started with a head cold that made life miserable for most of the middle of the week.  It started on Wednesday with that pre-cold feeling.  Thanksgiving day, it turned into full cold, whic...

Inspired by DC Rainmaker (who I am not), I decided to put together a list of gear I use.  I find it helpful to share what I use to mainly be able to look back year to year as I accumulate new gear and find new things.   This is my list as of mid 2017.  The new year may bring new toys and gadgets but it also may not.  I hope to be able to update these every year as my gear changes. Swim Wetsuit: Zoot Z-Force 2.0 - I have both a sleeveless and full-sleeved version of the Z-Force.  I affectionately call these my Zoot Suits. Pool Goggles: Michael Phelps Aquasphere/Orca Profile- These are a new addition from last Christmas.  I use the Michael Phelps mostly for pool swimming.  They are a bit awkward around my eyes but they have very nice lenses that really do not fog up. Open Water Goggles:  I use simple single-strap non-adjustable Orca Profile goggles that I acquired in bulk for under $3 a pair on a lightning deal.  And three years later t...

Over the weekend before Halloween, my wife and I ran a local race called the Great West Chase 5k.  They also have a 10k option, but that is a little more than I wanted to run.  We live in the area of Tampa called "Westchase" and can walk to the start line, so this was a great truly local race.  I did not realize that the race had nearly 1300 participants between the 5k and 10k.  In reality, this is a good mid-sized race.  It was a spur of the moment race decision, with approval from my coach, of course. The 5k course is a straight out-and-back, remaining mostly on Linebaugh Avenue.  The course has one lane in each direction closed to traffic.  While there are cars, the police have it completely managed.  It is a USATF and RRCA certified course.  This is quite helpful as many local 5ks are not certified and end up either being short or long. It was a good race to check development. I asked my coach whether this would fit in my plan and she...

I have been looking for a daily high-mileage shoe for a little while.  After a lot of research, I actually went out to our local running shops and tried a few. Three stops later and a lot of whining, I settled on the Saucony Ride series.  The Ride 9 is last year's model but shares most features with the newly released Ride 10. First Impressions When I first put the shoes on, they felt very similar to my Kinvaras.  This should not surprise anyone as the platform and design share a lot of similarities.  The Ride has an 8mm heel to toe drop, so not as flat as some racers (or my Kinvaras) but not overly high for a larger high-mileage shoe.  One of the notable features is the high level of cushion.  It feels plush underfoot but not overly "cloudy" like the Brooks Glycerins.  The Ride and newer Saucony shoes benefit from a layer of the new Everrun foam that is supposed to create a long-lasting cushion with little weight.  The Saucony Freedom is pret...

Having a two shoe quiver, I noticed I am lacking in a quick and light trainer/racer.  My Zoot Kiawe are triathlon specific so running track workouts or tempo days in them really doesn't play to the sock-less use for that shoe.  In my research, I came across this shoe and thought to give it a try.  Billed as a quick day training shoe or a racing shoe, it features light weight less cushion for speedwork. For many, it could also double as a racing flat. First Impressions These shoes are loud.  Not in sound but in color.  I purposely chose the brilliant fluorescent yellow shoes and they certainly are hi-vis.  The material feels supple and well-made.  Putting them on for the first time, I immediately felt how comfortable and roomy they were.  They have a wide toe box and none of the shoe feels constricting.  It is obvious that there is not as much sole underfoot as other shoes but that is to be expected for the stated purpose.  I would...