This is a small, local race sponsored by the St. Jude Cathedral School in St Petersburg. It was run completely within St. Pete’s War Memorial Park, a very pretty and scenic park located on a peninsula extending into Boca Ciega Bay. The first 2k is run on roads that wind through the park. The second 2k is cross country on trails and the last 1k is back on roads.

 

The race was lead at the start by “Sister” Caroline on a bike in full habit. She rode back and forth alongside the pack throughout the race encouraging the runners with her habit around her upper thighs. She was wearing bike shorts underneath. J  Later, at the awards ceremony, she told me that she really isn’t a nun, but an injured local runner. She was granted special dispensation by the nuns to wear the habit and represent them. (The real nuns handled the race organization and awards ceremony.) Caroline clearly had a ball and added a nice touch to the race. Next year, she plans to run the race in full habit.

 

The weather was quite good for a short race. Mid-60's. Moderate humidity. Light breeze. Not a cloud in the sky, but so much shade in the park that we never had to run in direct sunlight. A really nice morning for a race in a lovely setting.

 

I didn’t set time goals for this race. My goal was simply to get a speed workout. (I’m planning to run a short race as the second of my weekly speed sessions most weeks for the next 10 weeks.) It turned out to be a good calibration of where I am at the end of the second week of my spring 10k training program.

 

I planned to run at a pace of 8:15-8:30, which would be a good workout at my current 10k pace. But, my one mile split was 8:03. I realized that I had a good shot at a second running life 5k PR, if I kept running hard. So, I did. My pace slowed a little over the cross country portion of the course, which I’m not accustomed to running. I was able to pick up the pace again once we were back on the roads for the finish. The splits for my second and third miles were 8:21 and 8:09. The last tenth of a mile was 46 seconds, a 7:40 pace, so I had a strong finish. Final time was 25:19 for an average pace of 8:10 and a second running life PR by 15 seconds.

 

Post race refreshments included fruit, bagels, pasta salad, doughnuts, cookies, pudding, Gatorade and coffee. The T-shirt is the most colorful race T-shirt I have ever seen. It depicts a stained glass church window in 10 colors. The design in the window is a multi-colored landscape scene with a church in the background. In the foreground, two nuns are running with flowing habits revealing running shoes and leg warmers underneath. A very cute shirt.

 

Disney Half Marathon last week. Running with the Nuns this week. Two fun races in two weeks. Can’t wait for the one next week......Race for the Pies. Just the name sounds interesting. J

 

Jim2

 

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