This was a first time run at this race, which I understand has been going for the last 5 years. It’s organized the Running Zone, the same shop that produces Space Coast Marathon. The results totaled 297 runners. The course led over a causeway bridge twice, at Mile 1 and Mile 5. The rest of the run was flat, with a good number of 90 degree turns in and out of neighborhoods. I left home at 4:05 am and arrived at Riverside Park at 5:15 am, an easy drive on empty roads.
I arrived early to Riverside Park, before any lights were on. I didn’t know where to park, I didn’t see any signs or people preparing for the event. I went to the paved parking lot closest to the Art Museum and parked alone there. Further north, I saw lights being turned on near some gazebos – so I went across a grassy field towards that. This was packet pickup and the race results electronics and scoring area. I spoke to the folks there, discovered I was now adjacent to the (unlit) finish line area, and I had parked near the start line. I found Brittany for my runner bib and shirt, then found Tim near the start area for the pacer sign. I did a quick restroom visit then waited in the start area at 6:15 to meet runners.
I met a woman named Ann and a few of her friends who she introduced as “Boston Marathon qualifiers.” This told me that designation was a special thing to her, one we’d be speaking about in today’s race. The start area didn’t fill up too tightly, we all had room to move around as the final instructions were being announced. I activated my watch and left it waiting to be started as I do every other day. When the race began, I started the watch as I crossed the timing mat, only to be met by the message, “Acquiring GPS signal.” I ran forward with the group and a few second later pressed the start button again and the timer and display went to it’s normal screen, tracking my progress. I don’t know how many seconds ticked off in the gap between being timed by the chip mat and getting the watch to operate properly. I guessed under ten seconds. So rolling forward, I could use my pace band and add 8-10 seconds to what the elapsed time said and be accurate to the course time.
So I thought.
I ran with Ann and her Vero Beach run club friend, James, a bearded guy. Out of the park and up the first bridge incline, I looked to lessen their concern about pace and time spent going up the hill. I asked if they had ever been downhill skiing and explained the motion of using your arm swings to imitate “poling” to contribute with your arms to forward motion. Then I shared how to go down the other side of the bridge by “keeping your nose forward” versus holding back and straining the muscles on the top of their knees. They enjoyed hearing this, and now as 7:00 am approached, daylight made seeing the road easier.
We discussed how to crimp the aid station cups and run through the water stops. I had a few people following behind us, but Ann and James were the most attentive and lively in my group. The first 4+ miles happen on the mainland side of Vero Beach, then we use the same bridge to return to the barrier island for the remaining 7-8 miles. Ann told me she would stop to pet EVERY dog on the course, which she started doing upon seeing a lady cheering at a street corner holding a Golden Retriever on a leash. She worked back up to the front of our group in the next 1/4 mile. We were at the required 9:30-ish pace as we encountered other runners ahead of us on an out-and back segment. An older runner, Harold, commented, “Hey look there’s another race going on over there!” to the laughter of our runners. He stayed near us on the flat sections, drifted back a little when we ran up the bridge again during Mile 5, then caught back up in the middle miles 6 and 7. Ann also stopped to drink at the water stations, requiring her to gradually make her way back to our group, which she had done a few times now between meeting dogs and getting hydration at aid stations.
Once we were approached the 6th mile, James had an issue with his leg. Ann spoke with him and told him not to continue, so he pulled off near Riverside Park. She explained to me he had a high hamstring injury and wanted to see how far he could get in today’s event – apparently that answer was “almost half way.” She drifted back to chat with him then came slowly back up to run with me.
When he slowed and fell off pace, I checked to see where they were. Before she got back to the pace I was running, I saw an aid station with only a few volunteers and a pair of port-o-let toilets. I ran into one and quickly used it. It was very dark inside but wasn’t a problem, this was a fast visit I thought! In those brief few seconds, I heard a “beep.” I didn’t know what it was, but I was standing still and then I realized, this is an “auto-pause” feature that must have come in a software update from Coros! I didn’t know how long the pause was on for, but I came out and linked up with Ann again. The two of us were now all that was left of the 2:05 finishing group. I saw Harold a little bit ahead, we would be catching up to him in the next two miles.
Here’s where I had time and Ann’s attention to ask about her friends who planned to run the Boston Marathon and more importantly, why she hasn’t tried to qualify. She thought the times were unattainable. She had never tried to BQ she said. She has done a few 1/2 IM events and has a few more of those on tap for this year, but no BQ marathon attempts. I explained the pace she’d need to run as a 55-59 athlete and how she can increase her weekly mileage to help this cause. As the 8th and 9th mile went by, we were on pace plus maybe 25 seconds. Again, here’s me not knowing what time I should be paying attention to in order to finish where I was supposed to. We spoke about her injury history – which was minor and not going to derail her chances at getting a BQ time. I knew she could qualify for the 2026 race if she could arrange to attend a fast and flat course before the September deadline. I think this resonated with Ann, as she became curious and saw the logic in what she was hearing. Now she was beginning to believe! All these miles and a few more dog-petting stops, she continued to slowly work back up to run next to me whenever she fell behind.
In the ninth mile, we picked up a guy, Danny, that told us he started with Maria’s 1:50 group but couldn’t last with them. He ran next to us for the next mile, then fell back off the 9:30 pace. We ran along the water for a short bit, then back among neighborhoods.
The course had good volunteers and course marshals at most of the turns.
When we reached Mile 10, I told Ann she was now going to experiment with her fitness. I told her to slowly chip away at the lead of each person in front of us, starting with catching a guy in a blue shirt. I told her to do this slowly as she had done each time she pet a dog and needed to get back with me. It worked! She made her way ahead, passing the runner with the blue shirt. She was still within range of my voice, so I yelled, “Black Hat!” This was the next guy ahead. And she increased her pace and caught him, too. I watched her turn off the road I was on and continue passing runners. At Mile 12, I ran upon a tall young high school runner, Katherine. I asked her to come and finish with me for the final mile. She ran along side me and told me she was 14 years old, home schooled, and not on a running team. She just liked to run and how it made her feel. This was her first half marathon! She stayed with me to finish her race very close to me and the 2:04:56 I logged. I guess my GPS moment at the start and an auto-paused watch at the restroom added up to almost tip me off the acceptable range of pacing properly!
Ann finished in 2:03:39 – a first place in her AG performance. Her husband took the photo below, she thanked me and said she wanted to know more about races she could attend to try for a Boston qualifier.
Here’s to a good day in Vero Beach!
-dm
drun4fun 