Let's Rock 'n' Roll: Half Marathon Here We Come!

We begin this column on the eve of the inaugural St. Pete Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in a carbo-comatose state.

(Our homemade gluten-free spaghetti was delicious.)

Writers interjection:

Katie: Wait, we're getting off topic, Cherlene.

Cherlene: OK, back on track! 

In case we haven't met, Katie Dolac is the editor for Dunedin Patch and Cherlene Willis the editor for Gulfport Patch. We embarked on a half-marathon training journey together in January. Despite our differences between our athletic backgrounds, we both agreed we wanted a challenge and a reason to maintain a more healthy lifestyle. (OK, let's be real. We jusy want to look cute!)

Katie has an embarrassingly small history of running half marathons (as well embarrassingly small ankles, or so she was told by a sales rep at a local running store). (Actually, Katie has run a handful of half marathons, but her training regimin has been sporadic at best in recent history.)

Cherlene completed an 11-mile Tough Mudder course in December (with minimal training), but has never run a half marathon and thought she never could until recently. 

Writers interjection:

Katie: Wait, can we empahsize that you had embarrassingly minimal training?

Cherlene: NO!

Katie: Why not? I have "embarrassingly" small ankles.

Cherlene: It's not my fault!

For the past 8 to 10 weeks, we've been training in our spare time (i.e., when we're not Patching) together on the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin, the Dunedin Causeway and St. Pete Beach. (You may have spotted us.) 

Throughout our training, we've stayed true to our motto (inspired by Aesop's famous fable "The Tortoise and the Hare").

Our motto is "Sometimes, it's OK to be the turtle." 

With all of that said, you can tell we're not running the half marathon for time, we just want to finish. And while picking up our packets at the expo, we saw participants of all ages, shapes, sizes, experience levels, races and genders. It was inspiring to see everyone coming together for one goal — to finish 13.1 miles.

Writers interjection:

Katie: Barf! 

Cherlene: WHAT?! It was inspiring.

Katie: No, I think I ate too much spaghetti.

By the time many of you are reading this, we'll be among roughly 8,000 runners making their way through downtown St. Pete on Sunday morning.

You will have missed our in-depth analysis of why we will (or won't) bring our cell phones with us when we run and our discussion on the finer points of maintaining proper hydration. So far we've learned that runners might really be a little insane. But we've also learned that this new healthier lifestyle feels great. And you know what, we're probably going to continue our path of craziness as soon as we finish this race. 

We start at 7:30 a.m. Wish us luck!

(Finger's crossed that we've had enough carbs to get through it!)

P.S. If you're running it, too, remember to send us your photos at the finish line. We're putting together a gallery of finishers!