Gasparilla Distance Classic-The Ultra Challenge-Feb 20-21, 2016




Gasparilla is the one thing that every single person in the Tampa surrounding area is familiar with. The city literally shuts down for the Gasparilla Parade Invasion every year, where everyone wanders Bayshore Blvd with 'booty in hand' watching the Pirate floats pass by and 'invade the city.' It is a party not to be missed for sure! However, it does not stop there! A couple weeks later The Gasparilla Distance Classic takes place (perhaps as part of a 'recovery' attempt from too much partying at the parade?) which is a full weekend of multiple race festivities!

The Gasparilla Distance Classic (GDC) has a distance for everyone! And if a solo race isn't enough for you, there is a 'Challenge' distance for every one as well! This year we decided to tackle the Michelob Ultra Challenge which is a 15k and 5k on Saturday followed by a half marathon and 8k on Sunday, totaling 30.4 miles!

Piece of cake right? Well, considering I just ran 26.2 with Donna the previous Sunday, this was going to be a real challenge for sure! Last year we did the 26.2withDonna and then the Gasparilla half marathon, which was challenge enough, but we were overwhelmed by jealousy when we saw all the Awesome Swag the Gasparilla Ultra runners were receiving! So of course, being still on a runners high, we signed up right away!

EXPO
We drove into Tampa Friday evening arriving with a little over an hour to explore the Expo at the Tampa Convention Center. There was no line to pick up our bibs or shirts. You receive one bib for the four races for the Ultra Challenge. We were given an awesome reusable bag and then held it open as they dropped in all our goodies of shirts and jackets! It felt like Halloween!

Being located downtown, be prepared to pay for parking for the Expo. You are Welcomed to the Convention Center with the Gasparilla pirate ship docked right outside (which will remain for the entire weekend!)There is a wide array of vendors, racing, and nonracing, to fulfill your shopping needs. There is also a huge banner with every single runners name printed, which of course you have to search out your own! There is a chance to meet a Tampa Buccaneer and also multiple times to meet Olympic Marathoners Shalane and Meb!


CARBO LOAD
There is a pasta party hosted by GDC, but we did our own thing and ate at Cappys Pizzeria, which was O.M.G. among the best pizza I have ever eaten! If the delish ingredients are not enough, this small pizzeria is jammed packed of unique antiques to check out. Their menus are even record covers! If there is a wait for a table, no worries, just help yourself to the beer cooler! The menu is small, but the taste is huge!


HOTEL
We stayed at the Le Meridien as this was the only place I could get an awesome travel agent rate. The hotel was a very close half mile to Start/Finish and Expo. The GDC takes place downtown, so be prepared to pay for parking for not only hotels, but also race day if you are planning to drive in.

The Le Meridien is a remodeled old courthouse which makes the exterior and hallways very unique. Unfortunately, the uniqueness stops there. The rooms, although very comfy and clean, are a bit stark. I would have loved to have seen old courthouse pictures or old city pictures at least to keep up with the theme.

The hotel does have a heated outside pool, but it was in the shade the time that I tried to go in (around 2p) and it was just a tad too cool in the shade to get in.

There is a nice lounge/bar/restaurant called Bizou Brasserie which I would have loved to have explored more, but time was limited.

The hotel also provides a complimentary shuttle for a 3 mile radius. Unfortunately this was not mentioned or discovered until after all our walking back and forth from the races.


RACE DAY 1
We arrived at the 645am 15k a little tired as we tossed and turned all night. However, as soon as we arrived and saw Bart Yasso, Shalane Flanagan, and Meb Keflezighi, our giddy eyes widened. I was literally just watching Shalane and Meb on tv one week prior, running the Olympic Trials!

I went into this Ultra Challenge with little expectation. I had no idea what my body was going to do after running the marathon the week before. Through marathon training season, I tried to maintain 30+ miles per week in preps for this weekend. I left my pacer at home and decided I wanted to hang with Marcia as long as I could as it always goes by faster when you are with someone you know, whether for competition or entertainment purposes. Marcia had fresh legs as she took this years Donna off from racing. She was no longer doing the run/walk, so we ran consistently and basically just walked the hydration stations. I was able to hang with her until about M6 or 7 before I gave into some walk breaks.

There was a group with a pirate ship float that was out cheering us on and passing out beads! On the second half, a guy was waving quarter pieces of Krispy Kreme. I literally had to jump to grab one out of his hand!

After crossing the finish line for the 15k, we had about an hour or so before we had to line up for the 5k. They provided Publix snacks (bananas, granola bar, fruit cup, and soda). We did not see the beer station, so I just ordered a screwdriver (they didn't have mimosa) at the bar to get in my OJ and a little energy to tackle our next mission!. We sat in the sun for a bit and did some stretching.

Before you knew it, it was time for the 930am 5k. I felt good lining up, but it felt like the movie Ground Hogs Day! Every single thing about the 5k was dejavu! The 5k runs the same course and pretty much had the same spectators/cheerleaders. The pirate ship float guys were still out, but this time they each had a box of Krispy Kreme at the half way mark. I had let Marcia go early and I just went slow and steady, taking a walk break for the Krispy Kreme, and then continuing on.

Surprisingly both my 15k and 5k times were not extremely too far off from average pace. At each of the finish lines are Pirates waiting to congratulate you with your medal and take pictures!

The 5k finish had the same Publix snacks, but we did find that the Beer After Party, which was in a completely different location (behind Marriott). It felt like we had to walk forever to arrive to the after party, but once we got there, we realized there was so much more space for them to set up. There was a country band playing on a large stage, and a large area passing out your one free beer (you only get 1 tab on your bib and because you only get one bib for the Ultra, you only get 1 beer for 4 races). There was also a bar set up to purchase beer as well,

We had our free beer and left shortly after as we were tired and wanted to get out of our soaked clothes. Temps were almost perfect. Clear and Sunny and not too hot and humid considering it was South Florida.

Burgers and brunch was had at Graffiti Junktion, followed by a restful afternoon, then dinner at Ditz. (a Tampa must!)


RACE DAY 2
The second race morning we woke up much more refreshed, despite the half marathon starting at 6am. We arrived to line up and found there was a table with coffee and pastries. Not sure if this was part of the race, but I definitely got my last energy kick, as both days we pretty much chose sleep over breakfast!

There was a super full moon that was setting right as we were starting. The half marathon course takes you over to Davis Island for the first 5 miles, where most of this is run in the dark. There was a guy spinning fire though and a guy playing the saxophone for entertainment.

The second half of the course runs the exact same thing as we did before on Bayshore Blvd. There didn't seem to be very many spectators out, but there is a huge group of kids that all give you high fives as you run through.

Marcia and I again stayed together for most of the course walking only the hydration stations before I let her continue on the last few miles. As I crossed the half marathon finish line, I got hugs from my other two friends that were lined up for the 8k.

It seemed to be very minimal time between the half marathon an 8k. It wasn't even enough time to go see/get the snacks. Thankfully, they did have some bananas and granola bars right at the medals. We took some pictures, used the porta patties and lined back up. We got to watch the rest of the half marathoners come in right before we took off for the 8k.

As we took the first few steps of the 8k, we were both literally scared we would not be able to run. We had tightened up so bad, we were barely power walking for the first mile or so. Finally we loosened up. Those last 4 miles were pretty brutal. The only thing that really kept me continuing on in a good mood was reading peoples shirts. I had seen one girl with a turtle tattoo which reminded me of my very first year of racing when my motto was 'slow and steady. The turtle wins the race.' There was also a large group of runners wearing 'Fighter' shirts throughout the weekend. I later learned that they had lost a loved one to brain cancer. I then saw a man wearing a shirt that read 'running doesn't develop character, it reveals it.' Which made me realize every distance I just overcame the past 8 days really made me feel powerful and that I can pretty much do anything that I put my mind to.

FINISH
As we cross our last finish line and get the 8k medal, we also get an Ultra Challenge medal as well. Marcia was running the 26.2 with Donna Virtually, so we finally got to put the Donna medal around her neck. We wore each of the 5 medals and proudly embraced the clank as we walked to our After Party.

On Sunday, GDC has the Columbia restaurant host the food for the half marathon and 8k. There is still the regular Publix snacks, but the salad, paella, beans and rice definitely is worth the wait in the long line! If only they had sangria to go along with it! We did not make it over to the official after party area with the beer truck and band because, well, we only got the 1 beer tab for 2 days/4races. That is definitely a huge bummer about doing the GDC Challenges.


After some freshening up and mimosa in the room, we headed to Datz Dough for some donut goodness for our road trip home! Yes, that is a maple bacon donut!


HYDRATION STATIONS and PORTA POTTIES
There was definitely plenty of water and Gatorade all around. During the half marathon, they even handed out GU chomps twice. There were many porta potties during the line ups and scattered along the course. We never seemed to be waiting in line for them.

THE SWAG
For participating in the Ultra Challenge, we received a shirt for each distance, and a Challenge jacket. We also got the reusable bag and magnets for each distance. A medal is also given at each finish line as well as an overall Challenge medal.




MEDALS
I really love all the medals. They make each one unique. The smaller distances look like coins, the half marathon is the infamous skull, and the Ultra Challenge is perfect.


SHIRTS
Each shirt is unique as well. I absolutely love the beach colors! All are short sleeve except the half marathon. All are gender specific and v shirt. Unfortunately, there is a small hole in one of mine, and the sleeves on the long sleeved shirt are too short.

The jacket is Da bomb and fits perfectly! I love all the different colors. And it is the perfect lightness for Florida! The only thing that could have made it even better was to make the different colors like the colors of the shirts.



THE BOOTY
Unfortunately GDC only gives 1 beer for competing in any of the races, which also includes the Challenges. It seems if you are going to be running for 2 days, you would at least have a beer each day to celebrate. Also, Tampa does not serve alcohol until after 11 on Sunday, so plan accordingly.

OVERALL THOUGHTS
This race has been around for decades and its 30,000+ runner turnout proves that it is one of the best! The pirate theme makes it fun and unique (who doesn't like to dress up like a pirate?) This is my second year participating in GDC. Would I recommend this race? Absolutely. I think this is one to experience in your running lifetime. Tampa is also an awesome area to explore so make sure you extend your weekend!

Would I recommend the Ultra Challenge? Absolutely. I think it is a challenge that will push every one to their limits, mentally and physically, in a fun and exciting way to share with friends!

Would I do The Ultra Challenge again? Maybe. My only hesitation in doing it again is the cost. For an average of $50 per race for the Ultra, I feel they need to step up their after party food/drink opportunities each day to make this a well rounded fun filled experience.

Would I do any of the distances again? Absolutely! And Guess What??....2017 there will be a Run DONNA, Run Gasparilla Challenge, called no other than, "Treasure Chest Challenge!" Stay tuned for details, but in the meantime, mark your calendar for Donna Feb 12, and Gasparilla Feb 26!



30.4 miles-6hours 2 seconds.
Half Marathon #59


I am currently running a half marathon a month and also running a half marathon in each state all to show support and raise awareness for breast cancer via The Donna. Please consider showing your support by making a donation today! DONATE










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