Welcome back to racing in 2026! No matter what’s going on in my world, I love carving out time to toe the start line and head out for some miles on a weekend morning. The Resolution Run is a great way to kick things off: a small race, close to my parents’ house, along a beautiful course. Let’s get into it.
About The Race
The Resolution Run is hosted by the Florida Striders, a local race group in Jacksonville. The event stages in the parking lot of the Best Bet, and the course is an out and back along the St. Johns River. Historically, it’s a freezing cold race, but that’s ok. It is, after all, January. The Resolution Run offered 420 spots online with the option to register in the morning, and medals going to the first 600 participants. It’s also the first race of the Jacksonville Grand Prix series, so there are a lot of super fast runners on deck. Always a good time!
The Night Before
I went back and forth about my race day outfit. It was going to be in the 30s when I woke up and started my drive, but it would be in the mid 40s and sunny by 8:30 AM. From there, temps would continue to climb. I ended up choosing shorts with lots of layers up top. We had an early dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, where I had enchiladas verdes and a margarita.
Race Morning
With an 8:30 start time, I decided I would be safe to head out around 6:30. I wanted to grab a bagel on my way, and I still needed to get my packet. The drive is about 30-40 minutes, and I arrived comfortably with plenty of time to park, use the portapotty, catch the sunrise and collect my bib and long sleeve shirt. I then tucked back into the car to sit in the heat until the start.
The Start Line
I made the wander to the start line at about 8. It was plenty of time to wait on line for the bathroom one last time, and acclimate to the chill. It wasn’t terrible, but I did stuff hand warmers into my gloves. My Raynauds has been pretty nasty this year, and I’d like to minimize it as much as possible. As I stood there, I started getting warm, so I quickly switched my bib from my fleece to my tank, and tied my fleece around my waist. And then it was time to go.
Miles 1-1.5
Friends, this is really a gorgeous course. Runners follow the road along the river for a little over a mile, turn right for a little bit, then loop around and head back. Even with one road in play, it never felt crowded, nor did I feel stuck. While I planned to do intervals, I decided to just try running straight through the first mile, and I actually made it to the u-turn before taking a walk. There are gentle rolling hills (Florida hills) the whole way, and I’m not used to them.
Miles 1.5-3.1
And then we were on the way back. It was significantly warmer than when I started, even in such a short period of time, and I ended up taking off my gloves, exposing my ears, and tossing the warmers. I’m glad I took off the long sleeves or I would have been miserable.
The Finish Line
I finished strong and quite happy with myself. It was a good first showing of the year, and it’s incredibly motivating. We got our medals, and there were plenty of bananas and snacks. All runners got a complimentary hot chocolate from the coffee truck, which was a really nice touch.
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
The Good:
All good things. Runners get nice, long-sleeve T’s (they are unisex and cotton, but I like them so much better than technical shirts, so it’s a win for me). The race is chip-timed and the medals are good quality. I’ve already complimented the course about 100 times. There are even several photographers (one that offers free photos, and a professional company that sells photos), which is nice.
The Bad:
None to report. I can’t even whine about the weather. It was just that perfect.
The Ugly:
No complaints. Seriously. It’s a small race, but it’s also a well-done event. I don’t think I would change a thing.
Final Thoughts
While it’s not the actual first race on the Jacksonville race calendar, it’s a great way to start my race year. I felt it was a solid test of where I’m at and what I need to work on for the rest of the year.
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