[Day594] Space Coast

Little did I know there is a bigger excitement (or plan) for me for next year. The news of me getting selected to run the Western States next year put a different light on everything, including the things I originally planned to write like this Space Coast Marathon. The year is not over yet for me. I also lost for words and my memory from Space Coast seems a little too distanced away for me to recall.

Why is that? I will try as best to remember about this race not too long ago over the Thanksgiving weekend and then will move on to the next post. Because I have still a lot to say, because a lot had happened this few days.

Space Coast crossed my mind as a race to run from time to time. First I wanted to see rockets. Second I wanted to see Cocoa Beach. Actually, I don’t really want to see the rocket itself. What I wanted to see was the launching of the rocket. I like to see the monent when force pushing the rocket upward exceeds the force of gravity. As a little delusion myself think I could see a space launch there every day, like fireworks at night, right?

As for Cocoa Beach, it is because of Mario Kart, and it probably has nothing to do with reality. I was glad when I found out Cocoa Beach actually exists though it might not be like in the game. Space Coast Marathon actually takes place near it. It seems silly to pick a race because of a childhood’s memory of a video game. But anyway, those were my reasons. Finally, of course to cross one of my 50 states races.

I did not plan to go down to Florida to run Space Coast this year because, I thought my schedule was too full already. In the beginning of the year, one of my friends wanted to go. So I started making plans, like checking for airfare, researching the race, the race cost, the registration, the pre-race instructions and so forth. Then I found it takes place during Thanksgiving. I was then reluctant to sign up because airfare would be higher and traveling would be hectics with so many other people flying during the holiday.

As the day of the race approached, the airfare lowered a bit and I bit my tongue to commit, even after my friend backed out from going. I was able to find a time where I did not have to fly a red-eye flight for cheap ticket. I also decided instead of flying out Thurday or Friday, I flew on Saturday to save some money and also to spend the holiday at home. I could come back immediately Sunday night. The schedule just worked out. I saved a night or two on hotel too.

Car rental was cheaper than I expected. There were offers of $5-$15 car rental. It was too good to be true. Indeed. I won’t call it a scam but it was close to one. If it is really a scam, the government would have shut it down. The reason for the low prices was because they were located off airport. The company I picked, while promised free shuttle pick up at the airport once I arrived, did not show after an hour of waiting. There was a phone number to call but it connected to an auto prompt system. I then checked on the company’s reviews (yes, should have done that first), everyone said it is a scam and the wait for a car is very long and they would nickle and dime you. The moment I saw that, I understood, I have been fooled. Instead of waiting more time to connect to a teller, I walked back into the airport where they had counters for the national brand car rental companies. I randomly chose one on the spot I know should be cheap. Went online to make an immediate reservation. I got my car in less than 5-10 minutes. Easy. The car was immediately ready for pickup without a hassle. I lost money with my first rental, but I figured I do not have an energy to fight for my back. The second rental was not too expensive either, maybe few times more, but the total was still way below the national average. I had car rentals that were more expensive than my hotel bills. This here was still relatively cheap, I think between $15-20. Much cheaper than hailing for an Uber ride.

I stayed at a cheaper hotel as usual instead of the race’s host hotel. The same afternoon, I went to pick up my race package. I believe mailing the race bib ahead of time was not an option. We had to pick it up in person.

I stayed a bit. The package pick up was the same location as the start and finish line. Not exactly the same but they were in the vicinity. I also learned that parking spots would be hard to come by at the Cocoa Water Front Park.

For race day, we had several different options where to park. I parked at the public library which was about maybe half a mile away. I did not mind the walk. There were closer parking lots maybe within a quarter mile from the start, but I felt I might not be that lucky person to get spot and also after the race finished, I might have a hard time getting out among all the traffic. Library seemed to be the location not affected by the race day road closures.

Geography. The race is in the city Cocoa which is different from Cocoa Beach. About maybe 7 miles away. It is not too far away. I did not know that until I arrived (I am not that good at remembering what I read in my research). The host hotels and my hotel were in the island over. I stayed on Merritt Island. Due to time constraint, I did not explore the place much. I do like the place because it reminded me of my former country in Vietnam, at least just a bit because of the tropical weather. Florida is pleasant to visit in the winter. It is a place I want to stay after I retired as do so many people.

Instead of visiting Cape Canaveral or Cocoa Beach, I decided to walk around the area near my hotel. I walked maybe couple miles to a buffet place and had an early dinner and then walked back. By the time I got back, the sun had set and it was the right time to sleep because I would have to be up early.

I believe the race started at 6:30, my memory is a bit vague now. I had to be up by 3:30 AM to be at the race parking lot by 4, to fight for my spot. They do have a shuttle on Merritt Island, but I did not want to depend on the shuttle since I wanted to stay around after the race and would not want to be bounded by the shuttle’s schedule. I believed I was a bit late arriving than what planned, but I was at the Library a little after 4. There were other runners arrived but I did get a parking spot.

Then it was the long wait for the start. It might seem long to wait for two hours but by the time I walked from the car to the start, there was a decent amount of time spent. The place already had people, milling about. Soon more and more arrived as the shuttle buses came. I got everything I needed. There were about a thousand marathon runners and maybe twice as many for the half marathoners. The place probably had few thousand people, plus volunteers, vendors, and friends and families.

They offered drop bag service but to me the weather was perfect and I did not need to wear a jacket, so did not have anything to drop off. I guess, it was good to change into clean clothes once the race is done.

I spent my time waiting for the bathroom. Since, I arrived early, the line was not too long. I also spent my time walking around. It was good to know exactly where I was. I am not a map reading person. I could read map but I prefer to actually walk the place to know my location and soak it in. Walking around served as a warm up. So yes, I walked around for two hours before the marathon start.

The course is easier than most other marathons I did. The start and finish is located in the middle. It is an out and back to the north for a half marathon and another out and back to the south for the second half marathon. We as marathon runners would run both the north and then southern route. There is no way of getting lost except when near the finish when we arrive back at the city Cocoa or unless they start to close the course, then yes, one would need to know where to go.

The half marathoners could choose which ever direction they wanted to run beforehand (the bib is color coded, so one can’t change their mind on the spot). The north side has a stricter time limit while the south side does not have time limit other than when the full marathon ends at 7:30 hours (and when the break down the aid stations and reopen the roads). They also have a sweep wagon to pick up runners. North runner would start first before the people who were running the south course.

We started in the middle of the street. North bound half marathoners started with us in the dark. I don’t remember if I wore a headlamp because it was still dark. With so many people, generally you don’t need one. Some did. I think I didn’t wear one. The streets I believe were lit.

I started at the very last wave. They had informal corrals. I met an older gentleman, probably the oldest runner on the course. His name was Bob. He has done Space Coast 8-10 times. He told me about the roads etc because I said I don’t know where to go because I had not really study the course. He said he knows the course by heart because he would be coming in after they take down the directions, etc.

The morning was nice. Since I started very last, I was slowly catching up. I passed different pacers. I don’t remember but I felt they had more pacers here than at the Philadelphia marathon, at least for the slower people. Soon I caught up to the 5:00 pace groups. There were two pacers. One would run an even pace and another would do run/walk. I think that was pretty interesting.

My goal of that day was to beat the 5 hour people. I know I don’t want to join the pace group but would go on my own.

Soon I caught up to the 4:45 and then passed them. I was straining to see the 4:30 people. It was not my day. The weather was getting warmer. I was tired soon. Miles went by. We had aid stations every two miles or so. Some neighbors would also set out their tables with adult beverages and some had nice fresh fruits, breads and snacks. Some only leave a cooler with a sign letting us know the snacks or food are for us. Not many people are brave enough to try stranger’s food, besides I think, everyone remember the rule of not trying new things on race day!

For me I had an iron stomach so I would stop at any stations available but avoid the official ones due to crowding.

I felt the crowd support and atmosphere was great. It is a small town, so it would not be like Philadelphia, but people were welcoming and I had a good time.

The road was closed for us. Though some residents (one, at least) did try to drive among the crowd of runners. Some runners were trying to report that to the police or security officers.

I did fine the first half. It is usually the second half that give me trouble. I got to the halfway point, and went out for the south route. There I saw the the fast marathoners coming in for the finish as well as the half marathoners.

I ran with couple people. I saw Bob a few times, usually at some turn around points and I waved and encouraged him. He remembered me and pressed on. I know for him it is a harder race than it was for me.

I had few more miles left before finishing. The 4:45 pacer passed me back. I was trying to hold off the 5:00 pacers. The finishing loop was pretty exciting. We came out at the park where the expo was and people who finished were staying around to cheer. It was where they served food, drinks and music. So I thought it must be the finish around the corner. People were cheering me on, so I ran faster.

Little did I know the finish was maybe half more to 3 quarters of a mile. It was to the end of the road that is far far away near the bridge that crosses to Merritt Island. Interesting indeed. Of course, after finishing, runners would have to walk back to the Park where the party was held. Fun indeed on tired legs. Usually, there were friends waiting and walking along, so it would not be too bad.

I finished under 5. I think around 4:53 (too lazy to look it up). I was torn whether to stay at the finish and cheer for people who were about to enter in or walk to to Park to enjoy myself with food and stuff.

I chose to walk back. And cheered at the Park and scammed runners like I was scammed earlier by saying the finish is just a little more around the corner. Fun. Some runners were jaitbaited but some knew the course and would not be fooled.

I stayed for three more hours or so. Soon there were fewer people finishing. They were already taking down the baricades on the road from the Park to where the finish line was. Some runners coming in around 7 hours to later were confused as where to go. I acted as a race course volunteer and pointed to people which way to go. Some had family or friends to guide them. Some I ran with with them.

Soon after a while, it seemed nobody would appear, I decided to walk further up the course to try to find Bob. I found one runner who was still on the course and I asked him, if he had seen Bob. He said is here wearing such and such color. I said yes. He saw him. He said while at a mile out, there was a bus/van to pick up runners since they would not make it to the finish by 7:30 hours. Many got on the bus, but not him (the guy I was taking to). He said there would be no way for him to quit a mile out even if the time has expired. He though was not sure if Bob has quit. In his opinion, Bob would not do so. I didn’t think so either.

So I waited a bit more. Bob did show up. I ran with Bob to the finish. He came in under 8 hours. I thought he was the last runner, but there was another runner after him. They gave him a medal and he was considered an official finisher. I was so happy for him.

I learned a bit, that is never give up even if it passed the impossible. Even though the race might close at 7:30 hours but they might also still keep the clock runners for those who refused to quit.

The rest of my day in Florida was uneventful. I went for sushi. Then I had to make my connection home. The airport was as busy as it could be. I got through security without any issues (through the pre-check line). It was a long wait for my plane at 9 pm. It was delayed and so forth. The food court was too crowded. I was hungry but was not willing to wait in line. Anyway, it was as expected a long trip home. Also about the car rental, I had forgotten which company I got my car from and that was fun little trip I took driving around to find out. Later, I found my rental agreement and everything was solved.

Overall, I enjoyed my travel and my run. I saw many runners. Some were very grateful when they arrived at near the finish to see me cheered and encouraged them. One lady complained that she had to run still a bit more. I shared with her, she does not have to, she can stop here, however, both she and I knew it wouldn’t be a finish. She reluctantly ran the course. Later she came back to thank me. I asked, does that last mile worth it? She said certaintly, beaming with her medal in hand.