Sunday, December 10, 2017

I Survived PCB (WW # 123)

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PCB Half Marathon
Panama City Beach, FL
December 2, 2017
Half Marathon  # 48


I was honored to have Tricia, Teresa and Karen join me for the Panama City Beach Half Marathon. After the previous day's Airboat Adventure, carbo-loading pizza and early bedtime -- we were ready.  We made the short drive to beautiful Pier Park and snapped a few pictures. The race started smoothly with rock music thumping from the speakers.  A male runner somewhere behind me kept shouting "Spring Break 96" during the first mile and that struck me as pretty funny.  I could only imagine his 40(ish) year old running self was much different than the rowdy young man that visited in 1996.


Let's do this ladies!

At the 1st aid station, there were no cups ready.  Huh?  Even though it was hot with full-on sun, I didn't need anything yet.  But when the 2nd one had no cups ready -- my heart skipped a beat.  When I got to the 3rd and saw I'd have to stand in line and wait, I panicked. {And...I may have said something ugly to the volunteers.}  In the next mile, I crossed through traffic to get a cup from a stocked station ready for our return journey on the opposite side of the road.  At the next station, they were dipping cups into the huge coolers (and not waiting on the stupid slow spout).  Finally! 

Little did I know this would be the minor problem of the day.

You see...

They ran out of water.
It was broiling hot.
I thought I was dying.

Shortly after the turn around point and high-fiving my Southern Sole Sisters who were looking strong, I switched into survival mode.  I was roasting.  The aid stations were out; their empty coolers underneath the tables. My heart rate had gotten extreme so I did run/walk intervals for a while with my new friend Tammy from Tennessee.  That helped.  There were a ton of cyclists supporting the course and they graciously offered runners a drink from their own water bottles.  I didn't partake but saw many that did. 

Dude, take a picture of my shirt!!

I did eventually drink water and Gatorade in the final miles, but it was too late.  When I saw the female runner down, my finish time didn't seem to matter any longer.  After another ambulance passed screaming toward the next victim...the true perspective kicked in.  Just finish healthy.

Official time 2:17 and change
It takes a lot  to make me unhappy with a race because it is what I love to do.  I take the risk of not carrying my own fluids.  And, this unexcused debacle did not detract from the fun I had with my Southern Sole Sisters.  That's the true pleasure in running...sharing the experience and the fun.

The emerald water, white sandy beach views were spectacular (no, it is not all condos).  Also, this is one of the most festive finish lines ever.  The announcer enthusiastically called out my name as the rock tunes were blaring and I had my fists pumping in the air Arsenio Hall style.  {I didn't buy that pic!  You're welcomed.}  A very sweet volunteer followed me making sure she got a picture of my shirt -- front and back.  And who can complain about the after party at Margaritaville?  Not me!

Ready for Margaritaville!
We survived!  And jumped!

After delicious food, celebratory toasts and chillin' just as long as we could on the deck of Margaritaville, we headed to the house so we could get the obligatory jump shot and still not be late for our afternoon leg massages and pedicures.  They were pure heaven.  Afterward, we returned to the house to capture another sunset and had a late dinner at Salty Sues.   I think we were too tired to remember a picture.

No filter.
  
And that's a wrap!


Have you ever participated in a race that ran out of fluids?

What is the hottest race you've run? 

Would you wear matching shirts?
 



34 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your race! Sounds like a blast! I have run some really hot races in Va Beach and I am silly and never even carry water. I just hate carrying it but usually quickly regret it. If I can not get a full body massage after a race, I make sure I at least get my legs and feet rubbed. So relaxing!

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  2. It sounds like you handled the debacle with as much grace as you could. I think I would panic if a race ran out of fluids -- especially one that hot. Glad you're safe and healthy!

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  3. Aw Congrats on your race! I'm glad you had so much fun with your friends. That is scary that they ran out of water.

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  4. Thats unbelievable that they ran out of fluids, and how awful on such a hot day! Im glad you still had fun though.

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  5. That's crazy there was such a water shortage, especially so early in the race. Were a lot of the "faster" runners taking extra water to pour over their heads? (That is one of my annoyances, BTW). I seldom carry my own water for races, but by a strange act of fate, I did in Vegas...and I really needed it!

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  6. I love the matching shirts and all of the cute photos! I cannot believe they ran out of water that's crazy. I sometimes carry my own just in case the stops are too crazy. Congrats you all!

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  7. I'm amazed by all the runs that you do! That is bad that they ran out of water - I've never had that happen but I hope I never do!

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  8. I never carry water either. I should be happy that I ran the race when the weather was perfect but I still had FOMO missing all the fun. I hope we can run together again.

    Love the matching shirts.

    I ran a half in VT (a marathon relay) when they cancelled the race, it was so hot but there was plenty of water.

    Isn't it odd that a week later, it is cold?

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  9. That is absolutely insane! I have encountered races that run out of water in the last few aid stations, but in the beginning of the race? There's just no excuse for that.

    However, I'm thrilled that you still had a great time with everyone that weekend!

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  10. I would totes wear matching shirts. This recap made me glad that I do carry my own water! I've run plenty of hot races--it's tough no matter what!

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  11. I have run multiple races where they've run out of water or cups or both. Which is exactly why I rarely rely on aid stations. I'm really sorry that it happened to you. I know it's hard to anticipate how many cups someone will grab, but still. As a BOTPer, though, it's just something I'm all too familiar with. :(

    I think the hottest half I ever ran was ZOOMA Annapolis (also my slowest, I think). BDR NOLA was a close second -- but at least that one was flat & not hilly like ZOOMA!

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  12. Oh no! Sorry that it sounds like the race wasn't prepared for the heat of race day. I think the hottest race I've run was RnR Virginia Beach. They had lots of sprinkler stations set up and had buses along the race course so that you could chill in the AC for a minute or two before running on.

    Anyways, I'm glad that you had fun with the ladies on the trip! Looks like it was an amazing time!

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  13. How fun! It looks like all of you had a blast. I've never done a race that didn't have enough water. That's horrible!

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  14. First, I love the shirts! I had one race with an iffy water supply so I always carry my own -- and that was just a 10K. There's no excuse for not having water, although it's probably more the fault of the organizers than the volunteers. ;-) Glad you weren't late for your massages!

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  15. your shirts are so cute! And running out of fluids in hot weather - eek. That sounds awful! I think the hottest race I did was 80s in Cleveland....but it was in the 20s and snowy here thisw weekend so hard to believe!

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  16. This recap brought back PTS of my first marathon (Chicago '07). It was 93 degrees with 90% humidity and yes, they ran out of water. Someone died and over 300 were hospitalized. It was horrible. The only way I finished is because I carried my own water (of course it ran dry). So sorry you had to endure that. It sucks. Glad the time with the girls made up for the race!

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  17. Oh wow! Sorry to hear about the water issue. Love your tanks and pics!

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  18. Running out of water is pretty scary, especially in the heat! You played it smart with your walk/run intervals. Despite the water issue, it looks like you had a fabulous weekend! I love the shirts!

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  19. Oh man, I'm glad you got through the race without issues. That's really terrible that the race ran out of fluids, especially when it was so hot. That's part of what you pay for in a race - they are supposed to provide those things! I'm glad you had fun with the girls otherwise!

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  20. I do carry water, but probably would've run out too with that heat. I can't believe so many aid stations were not ready. No wonder the others ran out of water. I bet people were thirsty after not having any water at the beginning.

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  21. wow, that is crazy that they ran out of water! I can't imagine! I have run out on a training run when I went through my water faster than expected (was super humid out) but never a race. Glad you finished though, it looks like it was a beautiful weekend regardless.

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  22. That medal (and the ribbon) is one of the prettiest medals I've seen! But holy moly, the water issues on that race would have made me so mad - they can't let that happen, especially in warm weather climates!

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  23. Oh yikes!! I've never had the run-out-of-water experience but on a hot day?! They should have been over-prepared... glad you all finished safely and had fun!

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  24. Well, your pictures certainly don't look like you're dying! I can't believe they ran out of fluids?! Even at Disneyland when it was triple digit temperatures, they had plenty of water (I swear they ADDED water stops - or they just have an enormous number to start with). I typically carry my own fluids, just because I don't like to stop for water.

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  25. The pictures are really great and congratulations on your race! That stinks about not having cups and water at water stations... I've known them to run out or not have it out when the faster runners came by, and to me both are unacceptable. You're paying a lot of money for the race and want a good experience, but it's also unsafe especially on a hot day. Glad you guys all finished safely and had a lot of fun!

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  26. I love the matching shirts! You all look great in them. But boo to running out of water. That's a basic thing for all races :(

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  27. Yikes on running out of water, in the heat... that had to be brutal! Other than that sounds like it was a wonderful weekend!

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  28. Wow that must have been terrible! I can't imagine the race itself running out of water... I'm sorry you had to go through that but I'm glad you finished happy and healthy! I've overheated during a 10km, when I was using it as the final 6 miles of a 20 mile long run, but luckily there were gatorade stops every 3km!

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  29. Oh no, that is terrible! I'm glad that you did make it - no water and in that heat... very dangerous! The hottest race I've ever run was probably a tie between a hot and humid MN trail marathon in July (but I was carrying water) and the Boston Marathon in 2012 (wasn't prepared for that heat!). That heat really takes it out of a person and can get dangerous very quickly. I'm glad you made it and made the best of the race experience too!

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  30. Cannot believe they ran out of water!?! Just no excuse for it. Glad you finished healthy and upright - watching runners go down like that is scary.

    You race shirts were so cute! Despite the water glitch it sounds like a great weekend!

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  31. What a crazy experience! But I'm glad you guys had fun during the rest of the weekend. Those sunsets!!

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  32. Yikes...I definitely would have been one of the people accepting water from cyclists. How did they not have water nearby to refill the coolers?

    Not water, but I've run a half that didn't have any electrolytes whatsoever. To be fair, I don't think they expected to need them in March!

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  33. No matter what that race held for us ....the weekend was a blast and I'd do it all over again!!

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  34. So glad you finished safely and had a great time with your sole sisters! Mississippi River Half back in February was really hot and humid. One of the hottest races I’ve ever run, but that’s February in the south! Oh yes I would wear matching shirts to a race with friends or family!

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