This was my first 15K and I raced it as part of my marathon training for the A1A Marathon in Ft. Lauderdale coming up in February. Overall, great race!

Expo: Finding parking at the convention center was a bit tricky. Wife stayed behind in the car while I ran in to get my stuff. Took all of 20 minutes, in and out. The sweater seems like it would be great but mines was too big. They have a try on area and offer the ability to switch out. However, me and the guy behind me wanted to switch and they ran out of sizes. I'd recommend getting to the expo earlier (rather than late Sat as I did) just in case. Ate some fondue and marshmallows on way out. :)

Parking: This was a bit of mess. The Convention center garage was filled just as we were pulling in. Cop sent us away without offering alternantives (we got there at 7 AM; race time was 745). We drove around and fortunately found a garage not too far. Can't remember how much it was but its by Amelie Arena and was an easy (warmup!) walk to the starting areas. Maybe get there earlier?

Portapotties were plentiful and lines were manageable (10 minues-ish) wait. I did not use gear check. Found my corral and decided to try running with a pacer 8:30 for the first time (my 5K and 10K races from last month I ran without a pacer). Race began and we are off!

Well, my pacer and pace group was off that's for sure! In a blink, I could barely see his sign waving in the distance. I guess I start pretty slow! So I basically immediately gave up running with the group and just hoped the 9:00 group wouldn't catch me. Around mile 1 we hit a small incline for a short bridge and I immediately worry about the elevation which I had never checked. Hopefully there weren't hills, I hadn't done any hill training! Luckily, that small incline was the only of the race.

I'm not sure what happened, but after about 1-2 miles I found I had actually caught up nicely with the 8:30 and by mile 3 I was running alongside them. Awesome, now if I could only keep this pace!

I hadnt used any aid stations yet but at this pace I knew I needed too. The first selections were sweets which I passed and grabbed some water. I actually ONLY saw water though Im fairy certain there was NUUN avialable as well but I never saw any the entire race.

Miles 3-5 went nicely with the group, running along beautfiul Bayshore with gorgeous houese on the right and the water to the left. Occasionally dank whiffs of reclaimed water wafted through the air but very scenic. We hit the turnaround and I realized I was feeling pretty good. So I got gutsy and decided to push ahead of the group a bit. And while I never saw the 8:00 group ahead of me, not even the sign waving, I also never saw my 830 group behind me again either. Finisehd the race in 1:16:35 with 8:13 min/miles, woohoo fastest race yet!

The course was very scenic and temps were nice, 69 degrees. Grabbed my hot choclate medal, some water, and walked back to the starting area where I knew I could get some goodies (which is a minor point actually. There was no signage, etc. pointing me to go back to get my hot chocolate finishing mug at the end. Had I not known about it prior, I would have hopped in my car and left without getting it).

One thing I enjoyed more at my Trasure Chest 5K and St Pete Run fest 10K from earlier was at the end, bananas, apples, etc.. were PLENTIFUL post race. Here at this race, a single, small, very ripe banana was given as part of my hot chocolate bowl. The fondue was great but I would have loved the opportunity for more fruit/food options after a long hard race.

Race photos were FREE and actually very nice. They came fast (some later that race day the rest, the days after)

The course I really liked, so I think I may try Gasparilla since it seems to be basically the same area next time as opposed to this particular 15K. But if works out in my training schedule next year, I would definately consider it again.