In Maryland and Delaware, it’s generally challenging to run in the sand, with feet sinking in and sometimes a slope by the water. In New Smyrna Beach, Florida, though, cars drive on the beach, and the sand is much more compact.
When I saw there was a 5K happening during my Florida visit to celebrate my nephew’s first birthday, of course I jumped at the chance to sign up. The NSB Firecracker Beach 5K kicked off at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 5.
I’d still like to run a sub-30 5K this year, but I didn’t think this would be my day to do so — since it was the summer in Florida. However, after a stretch of way-more-hot-and-humid-than-normal weather both in Maryland and during our Nashville trip, it actually felt a little better than my Nashville runs and the prior weekend in Maryland.
In New Smyrna Beach, it’s the norm to use golf carts to get around, and my aunt drove me to the start in her golf cart. I picked up my T-shirt and bib and was ready to get going.
The course was entirely on the beach, a flat out-and-back. I’m assuming in order to keep the timing mats away from the water, the start and finish were in softer sand, but we were encouraged to run on the harder sand as soon as we could. I felt pretty strong on the hard sand.
While my pace still dropped per mile as I went, the drops were not as drastic as at the Spectrum Superstars 5K the week before. At that race, my paces for the first three miles of the 3.1 were 9:33, 10:33 and 11:05.
At this race, my mile paces were 9:51, 10:14 and 10:56.
While I’ve run on the beach plenty of times, this was my first beach race and has to be my fastest sand run. It was nice running along the water and seeing the other runners come back on the other side.
I finished with a chip time of 31:55, faster than the previous week’s race in Maryland. It was my second-fastest 5K of the year. My aunt, sister and nephew were at the finish to cheer me on.
This was also my first race as a fiancée!
Race finishers received a finisher medal and $5 in Flagler Bucks to use at nearby Flagler Tavern, where the awards ceremony was held. There were also free race photos. Winners earned additional Flagler Bucks (all to be used that day by noon). Our group had a table right by the awards ceremony.
While I was unsuccessful in encouraging most family members to sign up for the 5K, my other sister’s boyfriend did run the race (and came in well ahead of me), so I was excited someone else was interested in participating and I looked for him on the out-and-back. The two of them and his friend who ran also had breakfast with us.
It was a great way to start the morning and the only run of the trip where I tried for any speed at all. I got in two slow runs with my nephew in the stroller and another with my aunt’s dog. I always enjoy exploring and checking out new-to-me running spots and events.
I will be racing again in Florida this November in the Space Coast Marathon! I hope it’s much cooler.
Splits
Mile 1: 9:51
Mile 2: 10:14
Mile 3: 10:56
Last bit (.1): 1:01 (9:48/mile pace)
Final: Time on watch: 32:02 (10:19/mile pace); chip time on results: 31:55 (10:18/mile pace)
She Runs by the Seashore 