Pepperjack’s Race and a Half challenge…Gasparilla 2023

Here we are… back again to the one race that started it all the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic

After a live expo yet virtual run in 2021 and my attempt at the Half in 2022 I’m back in person for the Stella Solstice Challenge 

We arrived at the expo a bit after 3 and spent some time weaving around grabbing goodies from the venders as well as my bib, shirts, & challenge jacket.

Though the Highlight for me was FINALLY getting to see Pepperjack 

I took a few more pics such as the obligatory name and soon it was time for me to check into my hotel and rest up

My ootd was my race shirt, my purple mystique running skort and one of my new Bondi bands… also new we’re my sneakers which I’d only ran about 3.5 miles leading up to the weekend.

I was dropping off at around 5:47 and arrived at the convention center at around 5:54. I finished my pre-race electrolytes and than took two restroom breaks before heading toward the start shoot around 6:23

I took some pre race water because who could resist when it was distributed in this…

At about 6:30 I was in the coral. Since I was doing the challenge I could seed myself and so I joined the 90 mins + wave (my PR from 2020 amounted to 139 mins and that was the b 2020 when I was 25+ lbs lighter and being more aggressive with cross training)

There are seasonal highs this weekend and at the start it was 65 feels like 66 with 89% humidity

At 6:55 I crossed the start and it was smooth sailing until I reached mile 1 roughly 15 mins later

One of the things I like about this weekend is the generous amount of water stops and in this stretch I hit up my first two.

There were some cheerleaders and various other crowd support before I reached the halfway mark… for the 5K that is.

After this I passed the rough riders crew who were once again serving Krispy Kreme nature is healed…and yes I took one.

About three minutes later there were some Star Wars cosplayers and the pace car ushering in the winners 

I reached Mile 2 in roughly another 16 mins (31 cumulative) 

There was another two water stops before there was another crew in the median cheering runners on. I don't know if it was a named one but the ship was called the "Satisfaction"

I reached mile 3 in 18 mins (49 mins cumulative) 

And an overall 5K split of 50:47 (7 mins 49 seconds over pr)

Taking an obligatory pic of my favorite installation I pressed on

Another water stop and I was at mile four in another 18 mins (1:07:00 cumulative)

With another water stop under my belt I was officially 

Shortly after this I reached the out and back on Gandy and once I made the turn around I knew I was on the long and winding home stretch

It was another 18 mins before I reached Mile 5 (1:25:00 cumulative)  and shortly after this just before turning back to Bayshore I had to tie my shoe. I must of done something leaning on that curb because when I started to run again I felt as if I rolled my left ankle.

Another water stop before I noticed the pace car creep up on the other side of the road.

Yet another water stop and and 18 mins later I was at mile 6 (1:43:00 cumulative)

My 10k split was 1:47:20 (4 mins 28 seconds over PR)

Not much in the next mile aside from passing the installation again and so 19 mins later I was at marker 7 (2:02:00 cumulative)

As I was passing the marker I passed the pirate ship in the median again. 

There were two more water stops before I reached where my 15K PR was…clearly didn’t make it 

I got to the 5K turn around point just as the Star Wars characters were relocating for the 5K and since I was already above PR and past the merge I attempted a selfie and decided to just have fun.

I passed the rough riders again this time forgoing a donut and 20 mins later finally reached mile 8 (2:22:00)

Another water stop before the 5K pace car began to make its way up the road just as I was passing their mile 2… 1.1 mile to go!!!

There were some signs that said “selfie stand ahead” however I didn’t see them or I would of stopped

Another water stop before the 5k winner officially passed me and soon I was engulfed with front of the pack 5K runners there were a few times I felt as though they were going to trample me 

19 mins later I finally reached marker 9 (2:41:00 cumulative) 

I was in the final stretch and so blessed to have one of the 5K runners encourage and chat with me for the last quarter mile give or take… I wish I got his name…

I never screenshot to timestamp when I actually finished but unofficially I did 9.81 miles in 2:47:36 a 17’05 m/m for whatever reason my Chip only registered my halfway split of 1:18:52 so on paper I got my first DNF though I can assure you I DID IT…

And now for act 2…

I had to go with my pirate look for this race ..duh..and so I wore my black mystique skort, white champion tee and the tek gear vest fashioned into a vest from my Han costume… I had a new pirate bondi and older sneakers as while there was wear and tear on them I figured something more well broke in would be better on my ankle 

I was dropped off at 7:55 am and arrived at the convention center a little after 8 to use a real toilet, pin my bib and genuinely get situated 

At about 8:20 I started the walk out and was in the staging area just after 8:30

It’s 64 feels like 65 with 89% humidity though while on par with yesterday's staging arrival however with the sun up and waiting 45 mins in the shoot vs 15 it’s much hotter

I didn’t take a pre stage water as I didn’t see anyone with cups just the station being used for bottle refills 

In past years the 8k was one free for all shoot which was why I arrived earlier however like yesterday there are two waves and so also like yesterday I kept toward the front of wave 2 just to give me some cushion especially cause with it being the last event they may not be as lax with sweeping and I know I’ll be significantly slower than my 1:13:59 PR due to the heat and my ankle.

I crossed the start mat at 9:20 and as I took off I instantly knew the pinch in my left foot was going to be painful and so I slowed down to a manageable jog and watched the 9:30,10,10:30,11,11:30 & 12 min pacers zip by me in rapid pace.

There was a water spot as well as people handing out ice bags left over from the half which was already refreshing with the heat.

I saw the car coming up leading in the winner just as I was rounding into mile one in 17 mins 

There were more of the Star Wars cosplayers and another water stop. After this stop I decided to take my cooling towel and soak it into the ice bag.

I made it to mile 2 in 18 mins (35 mins total) 

At the next water stop I removed my cool wet towel from the ice bag, dumped the water on my head and tossed out the bag. It was glorious!!!!

The “satisfaction” was back from yesterday giving the course some energy just before the turn around point.

We saw “the backside of satisfaction” and shortly after I saw a car on the opposite side of the road looking as if it was the end of the line.

There was another water stop…one of the few I doubled down grabbing a Gatorade before finally reaching mile 3 in what felt like forever but was really just another 18 mins (53 mins total) 

I then saw more people coming up the other side so THAT was the end of the line I guess. It was also the 5K point which I had 54:43 which was about four minutes longer than it took to get to this point yesterday and is about twelve minutes over my 2019 PR 

Another water stop where again I doubled down hydration before reaching mile 4 in another 19 mins (1:12:00 total)

Very shortly after this I hit my PR point for this distance so no records were to be had as I hit the final water stop and once more took both water and sport drink as I approached the final stretch

According to my tracking I clocked 5.25 miles in 1:29:53 and a 17’07 pace 

I did get official timing this time with 1:29:47 and an 18’04 pace 

Overall as much as I love Disney and all its magic this is still my favorite event of the year.

Next year I’m torn between doing this again, attempting another half or dropping down to do the 5k/8k challenge we will see what happens 

Since I’m not tracking a Marathon a Month anymore and I’m not making monthly posts of my mileage milestones Here is a general run the year update…

my present overall mileage is 359.82

Additional Challenges:

I logged in 25.09 overall miles between Friday 2/24-Sunday 2/26

Upcoming races:

¾: Promise Run 5k

4/14: Springtime Surprise 5K

4/15: Springtime Surprise 10K

4/16: Springtime Surprise 10 Miler

Race PRs:

1M {15:26} 3K {30:59} 5K {42.46} 8K {1:13:59} 10K {1:42:52} 15K {2:19:09} HALF {3:54:55} FULL {7:08:15*} *virtual full run in increments