Marathon #3 for the year. The Florida Marathon in Melbourne, Florida. My first time pacing (4:15) I have to admit I’ve been a bundle of nerves for a couple of weeks worried about making sure I was ready. Marcela Todd, one of the most awesome and energetic pacers I’ve ever met helped me break through my mile 20 problem, a few years ago, and this was an opportunity to give back. I was 23 seconds off, I should have banked a little more time for the bridge and heavy wind, but I met several great people, a first timer, a woman coming back to marathoning after 18 year hiatus to raise her kids, a guy who crushed his PR by 30 minutes, a 34-time Boston participant, and several others. It’s a great thing to be able to make a difference in people’s lives and hear their stories. This is why I love to run distance: Awesome, inspirational people overcoming physical, mental, emotional, and other obstacles. Fun fact: Florida is the only state that has 2 rivers both with the same name. There is a Withlacoochee in north central Florida (Madison County) and a Withlacoochee in central Florida. They have nothing in common except the name.
