2013 Gasparilla Classic. One weekend, 2 great races!

How great is Gasparilla weekend?! If you are a runner, it's great! They offer a 5K, 8K, 10K, 15K and half marathon. They used to have a full marathon but not anymore. I'm not sure what's behind that but it's disappointing to not have a full in our city. But, other than that it's a great weekend! The expo is huge, great vendors and lots of pirate themed race shirts, if you like pirates. Before I got cancer I had a horrible case of plantar fascitis and when Gasparilla rolled around I thought I'd give the 15K a try. I felt good at the start, and it was crazy how good I felt as the miles ticked off. Not much foot pain, so great to be out in a race again! I finished and felt so good I ran from the finish to the expo ans signed up for the half the next day. Later that evening I thought "maybe it wasn't such a great idea to sign up for the second one" but it was too late, I was comitted. The next day I wasn't really feeling it but I headed down for the half marathon. I started out slow, very slow, and at the halfway point I realized that I was starting to get a second wind and felt awesome. That was a great weekend of local races! So, the year after cancer I decided it was time to take on the 15K/half marathon weekend again. I wasn't sure how it was going to be on this side of cancer but I felt great for both of them. I word a survivor shirt for the second race and got a lot of encouraging words from fellow runners, which is what I needed to get through it. I had a huge sense of accomplishment knowing I could take on the weekend of races again. My girls came and ran the 8K, they cheered me to the finish as their race started as I was finishing. I love when we can do the races together!