• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • about
  • Pug Partners
  • contact/pr
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Runs With Pugs

ok, the pugs don't run, but we do

  • race reports
  • Travel
  • Recipes
  • Link Ups
  • instagram Landing Page

The Latest

|week 9| marching on + back to nature

five february runfessions

make your run go faster

how to make your run go faster

running the speedway at the daytona beach half marathon

February 16, 2018      23 Comments

Last year, the boys and I tried something new: the Lap the Track 5K at the Daytona Beach Half Marathon. We had such a great time that I got it in my head to go back for the half marathon.

When my friend J registered, I told Mr PugRunner how much I wanted to join her and he registered me as one of my Christmas gifts. Yay!

Daytona is just under an hour from the house, so it wasn’t an awful drive, although I did have to get up super early to be able to get my packet and check things into into gear check before the 7:30 AM start time.

I was just so happy to be out there with J: my only goal was to tag along and have fun. She is coming back into running, so it was all about the experience and a strong finish.

Arriving at 6:40ish, I got a great parking spot, and was able to easily get my packet, women’s technical shirt and a gear check bag. I was done with the details in minutes and was able to hit the restroom.

The biggest obstacle to the day was the weather: I had been training in 40s and 50s, but race day promised to get up into the high 70s with loads of humidity and sun (which was fine because earlier forecasts called for thunderstorms and rain). Good times. I was thrilled that J and I could wear our matching outfits without extra layers, but it was going to be tough on the body.

We lined up and listened to the final announcements and instructions. The race was supposed to do a small stretch on Daytona Beach, but because the tide was high, we would have to follow an alternate route, for safety. While I had wanted to see the ocean, I appreciated not having to run on soft sand.

After the National Anthem, a NASCAR pace car took its lap and then we were off. The first few miles were run around the actual Daytona International Speedway. It’s a really cool feeling to be out there on the track.

Right off the bat, the air quality was horrendous. It was tough, but I didn’t mind because I was so busy taking in the sights of a new-to-me course, and enjoying time catching up with J. Due to our hectic schedules, we don’t get to see much of each other.

We left the track and headed out on to the main road. This is technically an open course, but there were police officers at every intersection, holding and turning drivers. Not one got remotely close to any of the runners, which was nice and greatly appreciated.

After another few miles, we turned into some back neighborhoods. The benefit here was some tree cover from the sun, which was starting to pound pretty relentlessly. On a positive note, there was water and Gatorade every 1.5 miles or so, and each station was fully stocked and manned along the way. I loved how the later runners received just as much consideration as the earlier ones and we never worried about not being able to get proper hydration on course.

I got a little turned around in my head, but before long we passed the relay hand off, and then we found ourselves at the foot of the intercoastal bridge. It was a big one, but over we went, for a stretch alongside the beach, and then it was time to really start heading back.

The second time over the bridge was tough. It was steep and the wind was really blowing hard. We had to exert a lot of energy to get over the peak, and even the downhill portion was tough with the headwind. The view was stunning, though.

Once we conquered the bridge, it was time to finish up this race. Whoo hoo!

It was a straight shot back to the racetrack. By this point, the 5K was underway, so we had to merge in with those runners to get back to the track for our grand finale!

Mr PugRunner and little man had arrived and were waiting for us! It was so nice to see them. I was hoping to have them sign up for the 5K, but with the predicted thunderstorms (that never materialized), we agreed to have them pass. They said that next time, they were totally in, rain or shine.

With huge smiles on our faces, we crossed the finish line!

We collected our swag (huge medals and beautiful beach towels), and grabbed water and ice cold towels.

Between its amazing volunteers and attention to detail, this race really was top notch.

Of course, the photos at the track are the most fun. Runners are free to wander around and take full advantage of all the speedway’s cool photos opps.

By this point of the day, I was starving. There was free beer for runners, but the line was long, so we said our goodbyes to J, grabbed my bag from gear check and headed to one of the nearby restaurants for lunch.

It was a good day. I loved the event, and was even more thrilled to learn that BB Action Photo was providing free race photos to participants. Score! The whole family will be back for more next year!

What’s your favorite swag to receive when you finish a race?
Are free photos common where you live?

 

 

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wendy says

    February 16, 2018 at 11:27 pm

    This looks like so much fun! I wouldn’t have minded running on Daytona Beach because the sand is pretty hard, right? I remember cars driving on it back in the day. I don’t know if they still do that. Love your outfits and the medals are very cool.

    Congrats!
    Wendy recently posted…Book Review: Gratitude in MotionMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      February 16, 2018 at 11:37 pm

      That’s exactly right! The beach is included because it was part of the original track!

      I don’t mind a short ways on packed sand, but with the wrong tide, I was really glad they made adjustments. Soft sand is awful.

      It’s a great race, and everything was 100% on point.

      Reply
  2. Chelsea says

    February 16, 2018 at 11:40 pm

    What a fun race!! I’ve been to Daytona before and loved it!! Such a neat place!!

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      February 17, 2018 at 3:36 pm

      It’s a nice little beach town. We’ve done races, camping on the infield during speedweek, and general vacations there. I wouldn’t plan to drive around it during the Daytona 500 or Bike Week, but other than that, I do like it as a little weekend side trip.

      Reply
  3. Rachel says

    February 17, 2018 at 12:04 am

    What a cool race! Your outfit is totally adorbs, too.
    Rachel recently posted…Spring Fitness Goals of 2018My Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      February 17, 2018 at 3:37 pm

      Thanks to Raw Threads and Sparkle Athletic! They have the cutest stuff!

      It’s a really cool race.

      Reply
  4. Deborah Brooks says

    February 17, 2018 at 3:27 am

    what a fun place for a race! Looks like a blast. You always have the biggest smile while running
    Deborah Brooks recently posted…Why Runners Should Embrace YogaMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      February 17, 2018 at 3:39 pm

      I always hope the photos come out great LOL! Probably not the most important thing, but I love it, especially when the pictures are free!

      Reply
  5. Kimberly Hatting says

    February 17, 2018 at 3:40 am

    This looks fun! We used to have a similar race at a nearby Nascar speedway…I couldn’t believe how steep the track was banked! We started with a loop around the track, a few miles out around the grounds, then back for a final lap on the track.
    Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Shall We Train? My Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      February 17, 2018 at 3:40 pm

      Right? You have to take a running start to get to the top of the fence on the speedway. You can see how far we’re leaning back in our medal shot on the checkered line. It was crazy!

      Reply
  6. Kimberly G says

    February 17, 2018 at 5:03 am

    Great job! This looks like such an awesome and fun race. I love races that have unique locations and race courses.
    Kimberly G recently posted…My Spring Fitness GoalsMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      February 17, 2018 at 3:40 pm

      This was definitely unique and they really play up the theme, which makes it even better.

      Reply
  7. Alicia says

    February 17, 2018 at 5:26 am

    Hey Jenn, looks like it was a fun race and you enjoyed a lot! I love what you do as always and I take inspiration from your blog too. You look so smile all the time.
    Alicia recently posted…Best Copper Cookware Set Reviews for 2018: Top Models RecommendedMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      February 17, 2018 at 3:41 pm

      I’m out there doing what I love – that’s why I smile so much. It’s hard to have too many complaints when you are getting to do the thing you enjoy with the people you love spending time with!

      Reply
  8. Darlene says

    February 17, 2018 at 6:50 pm

    Oh another race to add to my bucket list. Love your outfit.

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      February 19, 2018 at 12:55 pm

      Well worth the visit, I promise!

      Reply
  9. Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says

    February 17, 2018 at 9:59 pm

    What an incredible course to run! I don’t think that I would ever get tired of taking post race pictures on the speedway. And your matching outfits are adorable! I’m glad that the weather cooperated so that you were still able to wear them.
    Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…What I’m Looking Forward to About Princess Half Marathon WeekendMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      February 19, 2018 at 12:55 pm

      I could have stayed there for quite some time, but it was hot and I was ravenous and wanted something of substance to eat. Such a well put together event.

      Reply
  10. Jessica says

    February 19, 2018 at 1:01 am

    The (only) local half marathon here does free photos and I think that’s so awesome!! There are a few smaller, shorter races and I’ve been known to swipe some of those pictures from Facebook, haha.
    Jessica recently posted…Last Week’s Workouts: Energy City Half Marathon Training Week 7My Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      February 19, 2018 at 12:57 pm

      Free photos are such a great sponsorship point, too! I will always try to support the photographers, but some of the photo prices are pretty high. I have one I need to purchase from marathonfoto, and it’s going to hurt, but it was such a wonderful photo.

      Reply
  11. Esther says

    February 19, 2018 at 3:24 am

    Y’all are too cute! Love the outfits and your recap! What a fun race to have in Daytona!
    My fav race swag was a pair of scrubs! Yay for comfort!

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      February 19, 2018 at 12:57 pm

      Scrubs! That’s a fantastic bit of swag!

      Reply
  12. Stacie Seidman says

    February 19, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    This looks so fun, despite the tough conditions. Congrats on having a great race! Love the outfits!
    I’m not sure I’ve ever been to a race with free photos. But compared to horse show photos, running ones are pretty inexpensive so I don’t mind buying one or two.
    Stacie Seidman recently posted…Thursday’s ThreadsMy Profile

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

well, hello there…

bio
Welcome to Runs With Pugs. My name is Jenn and this is the story of my love affair with running and finding myself through fitness. From C25K to marathon, from triathlon to SUP, from broken leg to the recovery journey... I'm sharing it all. I'm a wife and mother of one, living in NE Florida, in love with travel, adventure, and food. Oh. We have pugs and a hedgehog, too. Thank you for joining us! We're glad to have you along for the ride!
Follow on Bloglovin


Pinterest

find what you’re looking for

recently

  • |week 9| marching on + back to nature
  • five february runfessions
  • how to make your run go faster
  • |week 8| when it rains, it pours
  • five ways to ensure fitness success

Facebook Likes

archives

Footer

disclaimer

I am not a doctor or medical professional, nor do I play one on the internet. This blog reflects my personal experiences on my own fitness and running journey, and the processes that work for me. Before you begin any exercise regiment, please consult your physician.
Every month this year, I’ve been committing to s Every month this year, I’ve been committing to some kind of wellness challenge. 

January ➡️ planks
February ➡️ balance

Lately, I’ve had the urge to get back in a gym. Kickboxing is out for right now but I think I could take on boot camp or spin. 

Then I felt a little guilty about spending the money when I have some weights and bands at home, our neighborhood has a gym, and I have a surgical procedure on the horizon (boo, wisdom teeth), so I thought I would work my way up to group classes by starting at home.

Day 1 done! ✅ with an assist from @sweetlunapug!

What’s your favorite strength workout?

#crosstraining #fitmom
Happy Monday! Headed to the bridge for some hill Happy Monday!

Headed to the bridge for some hill repeats and then walked over to the beach to really breathe in that salty air. 

Starting this week strong! How about you?

#Running #SetbackToComeback
Had some company for an easy walk today. Thanks to Had some company for an easy walk today. Thanks to @ktemedicaljobs for joining me!

Finishing February with 143.5 running and walking miles and feeling great about it! Can’t wait to see what March will bring!

#Running #SetbackToComeback
❝Whatever you think you can do or believe you ca ❝Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it.❞
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

All action for today’s 10 miles! It was hot and my ankle was a little cranky, but thanks to a change in route and some awesome pacing from @montarriba, it got done!

What magic are you making today?

#Running #SetbackToComeback
Sometimes, you just have to remind yourself that y Sometimes, you just have to remind yourself that you are the Best Damn Runner! 

And remember that @BestDamnRace is coming! In 2021! We have three #BDR2021 cities and dates, and we hope you will join us for the Best Damn Medals, Best Damn Swag, Best Damn After-Party, and Best Damn Series around!      
💚New Orleans (VIRTUAL) - 3/28
💜Orlando, FL (9/25)
❤️Safety Harbor (10/16 & 10/17) 

Save 10% off any distance in any of these cities, with code RUNSWITHPUGS!

#RaceDiscount #Running #BestDamnRace
Twinning with our @roadid and @dogid! Wearing thes Twinning with our @roadid and @dogid! Wearing these keep us both safe and protected in case of an emergency.

@SweetLunaPug wears hers on her harness, but I just ordered her a new Rock Solid collar so she can change things up.

How do you keep your pup safe?

Save 25% on your www.RoadID.com order with code RUNSWITHPUGS!

#RoadID #DogID #DogSafety #RunnerSafety #TeamRoadID #running #runninggear #runnerdiscounts
I struggled getting out the door this morning. I c I struggled getting out the door this morning. I couldn’t figure out my clothes. My stomach wouldn’t cooperate. Eventually, I got it together and got out the door.

Not my best. Not my worst. Grateful all the same. 

How is your day going?

#running #SetbackToComeback
The Florida weather can wreak havoc on our skin, e The Florida weather can wreak havoc on our skin, especially if we are athtetes, and even MORE especially when the weather can't make up its mind. 

The @freskincare DETOX ME post-sweat mask is a great way to combat the sun and humidity. And the cold and wind. And central heat and air conditioning. And everything in between! With ingredients like Kaolin Clay to draw out impurities and absorb excess oil and Blue Azulene to reduce inflammation and soothe damaged and stressed skin, I know my skin can be both protected and restored post-run. 

I apply the DETOX ME mask after my runs, and let the natural ingredients do their work to detox, exfoliate, and purify. I leave the shower feeling refreshed, glowing, and ready to face my next adventure!

Order today at https://www.freskincare.com/JENNL for 40% off DETOX ME and THE DETOX SET + take an additional 10% OFF with code JENNL at checkout!

#affiliatelink #detoxme #skincare #FreSkincare #wellness #HealthySkin #lifestyleBlogger #WellnessBlogger #SelfCare #RunnerSkincare #AthleteSkinCare
Stretching into Wednesday like... My back and hip Stretching into Wednesday like...

My back and hips have been a little achy so I took a minute to twist and readjust. It aways feels good to reset.

How are you getting it done today?

#running #setbacktocomeback
Good morning, beautiful people.! Stretching out t Good morning, beautiful people.!

Stretching out the tightness after a great morning run and getting ready to face whatever Tuesday has to throw my way!

How are you moving this morning?

#running #setbacktocomeback

Copyright © 2021 · Wordpress Theme by Hello Yay!

This site uses cookies: Find out more.