PENSACOLA'S
active lifestyle magazine
Tips for your First Marathon
+ Crossfit:
Your Prescription for Fitness
+ Participant Stories: Brent Schneider, Tina Page & More
races
2016–2017
The Pensacola Marathon and Double Bridge Run return. All the race and event info you need.
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A FOUNDATION SUPPORTING PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY
Our 2015 -16 Sunny Days Recipients
IBRAHIM
KENA
KAILA
E D UA R D O
Sunny Days provides Pensacola and Pensacola Beach vacation experiences to pediatric oncology patients and their families. sunnydaysfoundation.org info@sunnydaysfoundation.org Fo u n d e d B y To s h & L a u r a B e l s i n g e r
Gulf Blue is a locally owned vacation rental management company offering best of the beach guest and client services, and hundreds of condos, beach houses, and town homes overlooking the beautiful white sand and turquoise waters of the Gulf Coast.
Pensacola Beach Navarre Beach Gulf Shores gulfbluevacations.com 800.242.3224 info@gulfbluevacations.com
A Bayfront Boutique Hotel & Events Venue Located in Downtown Pensacola’s Historic District
Women’s Clothing Jewelry Accessories 400 Bayfront Parkway Pensacola, FL 32502 info@leehousepensacola leehousepensacola.com 850-912-8770
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GO WHERE THE PROS GO INJURY PREVENTION & TREATMENT Founded by renowned orthopaedic surgeon James R. Andrews, M.D., the Andrews Institute provides patients with access to the same leading-edge techniques, technology and treatments that elite athletes enjoy, with multiple locations in Gulf Breeze and Pensacola.
ORTHOPAEDICS • SPORTS MEDICINE • TOTAL JOINT FOOT & ANKLE • HAND & WRIST • NEUROSURGERY ORTHOPAEDIC SPINE • REHABILITATION
Gulf Breeze / Pensacola
850.916.8700 / ANDREWSINSTITUTE.COM be moved lifestyle magazine 5
contents A letter from Pensacola Sports About Pensacola Sports Pensacola Sports Board & Staff Be Kind: Rally on Pensacola Be Local: A Look at the Pensacola Area Be Healthy: Going the Extra Mile Be Energized: Recipes for Success Be Inspired: The Joy of Endurance Sports Be Smart: 10 Tips for Running your First Marathon Be Fueled: Pensacola Area Restaurant Guide Be Fit: Downtown Pensacola's YMCA Be Strong: Crossfit: Your Prescription for Fitness Be Powerful: An Exercise in Endurance Be Informed: Marathons, Matches and Money Be Motivated: Running Wild Story Be Cultured: Local Events Calendar Be Playful: Get Out & Play Pensacola Pensacola Marathon Pensacola Double Bridge Run
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Produced for
by
Owners
Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger
Publisher
Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com
Executive Editor
Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com
Art Director
Guy Stevens guy@ballingerpublishing.com
5 Tips For Having the Best Ride Ever by Marie Mott, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN, League Cycling Instructor
Graphic Designer/Advertising Coordinator Anna Hitchcock anna@ballingerpublishing.com
Editor
Josh Newby josh@ballingerpublishing.com
Editorial Assistant
Dawn Gresko dawn@ballingerpublishing.com
Sales & Marketing
Paula Rode Account Executive, ext. 28 paula@ballingerpublishing.com Geneva Strange Account Executive, ext. 21 geneva@ballingerpublishing.com
ballingerpublishing.com 314 N. Spring St. Pensacola, FL 32501 850.433.1166
Find The Right Bike.
Bicycles today are more than just wheels and pedals, and there truly is a bike for everyone. Take the time to learn about the styles of bicycles and which ones might help you reach your goals. Trek Bicycle Store Pensacola’s and Mobile’s team of professionals provide expert advice on how to choose a bike you will love . . . or love the bike that you have.
Get The Right Fit.
While standing over the frame and going for a test-ride can get you a good feel for a bike, ‘getting fitted’ can enhance your joy of riding or give you that competitive edge. Trek Bicycle Store Pensacola and Mobile offer custom-fits, saddle fits, and Trek Precision Fit services to riders of all styles and skill levels. Ask in our stores for current schedule availability and pricing.
Keep Your Bike In Good Working Order.
No one enjoys riding a bike that does not work. Keeping your bicycle tuned-up can improve performance for bikes of all ages. At Trek Bicycle Store Pensacola and Mobile, we are happy to service all brands and models of bikes. Bring yours in today for a free consultation.
Think Safety.
Choose gear, and practice skills, to help you stay as safe as possible. Wear a helmet, gloves, and brightly-colored clothing. Use headlights and taillights at all times. Communicate with motorists, pedestrians, and other riders. Be visible and predictable.
Never Stop Learning. Ballinger Publishing is locally owned and operated. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents herein is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and/or the person identified as the author of the article, and they are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine accepts no responsibility for these opinions. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser. Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services by Ballinger Publishing. © 2016
Our certified cycling instructor and staff of professionals offer educational programs on bike maintenance, traffic skills, nutrition, and other relevant topics. Like us on Facebook and check in often for the latest schedule of programs. Trek Bicycle Store Pensacola 701 East Cervantes Street
Bicycle Stores
Trek Bicycle Store Mobile
Road Mobile1175 Hillcrest Pensacola
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A Message from Pensacola Sports Pensacola Sports is happy to present BeMoved! Over the past few months you have no doubt seen our new logo and motto or heard about our makeover here at Pensacola Sports. We are no longer Pensacola Sports Association. However, we are still the same strong community organization that you have known for the past 62 years. Last November, Pensacola Sports unveiled our new look. Just like each of the events that we produce or promote, we asked for the support of volunteers, participants and board members past and present to helps us refine our focus and mission. With the help of the folks at idGroup and their Brand On Us grant, Pensacola Sports is looking better than ever. You may be asking yourself what this means to you. This rebranding process really is all about YOU! It’s about you being active and getting involved. We want you to BeMoved! Maybe that means coming out to participate in one of our outstanding events like the 12th Annual Pensacola Marathon and Half-Marathon or the 20th Annual Double Bridge Run both presented by our tremendous partner, Publix. There are events just for the kids like Racquet Round Up and Kickstart Soccer. So you say you aren’t an athlete or maybe you just don’t have the time. You can still BeMoved! We have plenty of opportunities for you to be involved as a member of Pensacola Sports or to serve on our Board of Directors. You could BeMoved by becoming a sponsor or a volunteer. We are always looking for ways to give you a chance to get you business name out in the community. What better way than to sponsor one of our events. There is no question that you will BeMoved by volunteering at events such as our Subway High School All-Star Series or our Annual Senior Scholar Athlete Awards Banquet to honor our area students. They never fail to impress. Pensacola Sports has so much to offer an active family or individual. We are here for this community as your go-to for all things sports. We are passionate about enhancing the quality of life, health, well-being and economic development of Pensacola and the surrounding area through education, inspiration, and participation. This is what moves us and we hope you will also BeMoved!
Jackie Brown Pensacola Sports, 2016 Board Chairperson
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Jehan Clark
Pensacola Sports, 2017 Board Chairperson
About Pensacola Sports History
Pensacola Sports, formally the Pensacola Sports Association, has a long and storied history. Founded in 1954, Pensacola Sports is one of the oldest sports commissions in the United States! What started as an organization to manage the PGA Tour Pensacola Open, has now transformed into a completely self-sustaining event management company assisting and/ or producing over 50 events annually. Pensacola Sports has the privilege and responsibility of being the sports tourism arm for Escambia County, annually contributing major economic growth and impact for Pensacola and the surrounding area. In November, 2015, a new brand and look was unveiled after an eight-month rebranding process. The three pillars of Pensacola Sports are: event management, sports tourism, and foundation, each represented in the new logo and outreach plan. Along with the new name came a new website, logo, color scheme, and focused direction on the mission of Pensacola Sports.
Our Impact
We are dedicated to inspiring our community to perform and connect with each other through sports. By fostering and encouraging participation in amateur and professional sports and personal physical fitness, we are creating a community that promotes sportsmanship, camaraderie and community. We do this through event management and marketing, sports tourism promotion, and giving back through the Pensacola Sports Foundation.
Mission
We are passionate about enhancing the quality of life, health, wellbeing and economic development of the Pensacola and surrounding regions through sports and recreation.
Vision
Pensacola Sports is a recognized leader—and champion—for professional and amateur participant sports, athletics and sports tourism in the Pensacola and the Northwest Florida region.
We have established our reputation as an organization that delivers access to unrivaled athletic events promoting individual health and economic well-being for our community; thus, enhancing the quality of life for its citizens.
Event Management
We are experts at athletic event management and promotion. We leverage the geographic beauty, natural assets and historic charm of our region to showcase the unique characteristics that make our community great. Because of this, our events are unrivaled in their scenic quality, and promote individual health and economic well-being for our community, thus, enhancing the quality of life for all. Our staff of professionals is experienced in all phases of event management, including marketing, budgeting, event operations, hospitality and public relations. Some of our most successful events include the Pensacola Double Bridge Run 15K and 5K, and the Pensacola Marathon and Half Marathon, Subway High School All-Star Series, the annual Awards Banquet and more. Have an idea for an event or need support? Taking existing events and elevating them to the next level of success is one of our specialties! See if you qualify for one of our grants to help take your event to the next level. For information on the available grant programs, visit our website.
Sports Tourism
Growing the health and vitality of Pensacola’s economy. We are advocates for growing the health and vitality of Pensacola’s citizens and economy through education, inspiration and participation in a diverse range of amateur and professional, individual and team sports-related activities and events. These efforts contribute to the quality of life in our community. As the sports tourism agency of Escambia County, we work with local, regional, state and national sporting event promoters, teams and organizations to generate economic revenue for our community, and attract national and international athletes to our area.
Sports tourism plays an integral role in attracting visitor athletes and supporters to our area. In partnership with Escambia County Tourist Development Council and Visit Pensacola, Pensacola Sports administers a grant program designed to support event rights holders, national governing bodies as well as local organizations that coordinate events with a demonstrated history of visitor impact or significant potential to draw overnight visitors to the area. The sports tourism industry annually provides $20 million in direct economic impact to Escambia County.
Foundation
The Pensacola Sports Foundation’s mission focuses on the development, education, promotion and recognition of youth sports, amateur sports, scholar athletes, and athletic excellence in the Greater Pensacola Area. Since 1984, the Foundation has provided over $500,000 in grants to over 40 area programs and organizations, including: • Red Cross Learn to Swim Program • Special Olympics • Senior Scholar Athlete Scholarships • Pensacola Junior Tennis Association • Great Pensacola Aquatics Club • The First Tee of Northwest Florida • Racquet Roundup Interested in giving to the Foundation? Contact Pensacola Sports for ways you can give.
Foundation Board Members • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
President Rex McKinney President-elect Cindi Bear Bonner Secretary Jake Renfroe Treasurer Chris Hart Shirley Cronley Blair Crooke John Hutchinson Rhea Kessler Hal Major Norm Ross Charlie Sherrill, Jr Jodie Webb Donovan Whibbs Greg Whibbs Jack Williams
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2016–2017 Pensacola Sports
Board of Directors Directors
Affiliation
Directors
Affiliation
Doug Bates Bobby Behr Jim Beran Chip Boes Zach Brothers Jackie Brown Michael Burroughs Candy Carlisle Bruce Childers Jehan Clark Will Condon Brian Cooper Bill Creedon Mike Eddins Charles Gheen Meghan Gilroy-Triolo Ted Gund Bill Hamilton Cam Johnson Rick Johnson
Clark, Partington Hart BB&T Bank Gilmore Services Youth Basketball Organizer ActiGraph Santa Rosa Schools Gulf Power Company Professional Volunteer Bruce Childers, Attorney at Law Swoop Consulting Sacred Heart Health System City of Pensacola WEAR TV Hiles-Mcleod Insurance Santa Rosa Island Triathalon Adoor Properties Saltmarsh, Cleaveland and Gund Pensacola State College Cox Communications ServisFirst Banks
Katie Kehoe Rhea Kessler Phil Kraus Mike Layton Evan Malone Jared Martin Janet Olliff John Panyko Jay Patel Ron Pulley D.C. Reeves Michael Rhodes Norm Ross Robby Rushing Brent Scott Dave Scott David Taylor Mark Taylor Jason Weeks Finley Woodward
Holiday Inn Resort The Kessler Memorial Foundation Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club FSI Group Executive Health Resources Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceutical Nurse Spring Attorney at Law LHS Properties City of Gulf Breeze Studer Family of Companies Escambia County Parks Escambia County School District Carver, Darden, et al Medtronic University of West Florida Beggs and Lane Lewis Bear Co. Santa Rosa County Schools North Florida Financial Group
2016–2017 Pensacola Sports
Staff Ray Palmer
President/CEO
Jason Libbert
Director of Events
Pensacola Sports 101 W Main St, Pensacola, FL 32502 pensacolasports.com (850) 434-2800 10 pensacolasports.org
Sally Garst
Director of Operations
Mike Price
Event Coordinator
Miriam Yarborough Finance Manager
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BeKind
Rally on Pensacola by Dawn Gresko
W
hat or who do you rally for? If you don’t have an answer yet, chances are you’ll have one once you hear about the Rally Foundation: a nonprofit that has been empowering volunteers across the United States to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects, and ultimately, finding a cure. Since 2005, the foundation has been rallying others to forward clinical research trials, and offset costs of cancer treatment and care for affected families and their children, through various fundraisers and programs. For each dollar raised, 94 cents go directly to cancer research and relief funds. In Pensacola, Rally’s #MoreThan4Pensacola began raising awareness for childhood cancer in 2013. Shortly after it formed, Rally #MoreThan4Pensacola began fundraising for research and started a Family Emergency Fund to aid local families in need. On average, our community will see 50 new diagnoses of childhood cancer each year. Although any one can start their own fundraiser by visiting the Rally Foundation’s website, you may also get involved and help out this great cause by participating in a number of programs including Rally Athletes. The Rally Athlete program is made up of people who want to make a difference in the lives of children and families fighting cancer. Rally Athletes train for races all over the country, races that serve to raise funds for supporting the best in childhood cancer research. Every Rally Athlete chooses a Rally Kid to run in honor of and draw inspiration and motivation from throughout training and the race, which in turn raises awareness along the course. If you think you have to be a pro athlete to participate, think again: the Rally Athlete program in Pensacola is open to anyone who would like to run for a cause. “We are thrilled to once again partner with Pensacola Sports for the second year 12 pensacolasports.org
Four Rally Athletes posing with their special IV poles post race at the Pensacola Half Marathon 2015.
in a row,” said Cindi Bonner, director of Pensacola Rally. “Last year, we encouraged participants from across the country to participate in the Pensacola Half Marathon. This year, we were thrilled to be part of the Double Bridge Run.” The first local event Rally participated in was the Pensacola Half Marathon, when five Rally athletes pushed IV poles for the entire 3.1 Half Marathon course to show solidarity with the Rally Kids they choose to run in honor of. The IV poles were designed to withstand the distance with a base added to the bottom to hold industrial wheels similar to grocery cart wheels. Plus, large photos of the cancer fighters each athlete represented were displayed from the top of the pole to the bottom. In 2015, the Rally Athlete team raised $100,000 from September to November, which was used to benefit research and the Pensacola Family Emergency Fund. Pensacola Rally also encourages local families affected by cancer to interact with each other through activities, pizza parties and public outings, such as visiting the Blue Wahoos Stadium for baseball games. Pensacola Rally’s sponsors, such as Mellow Mushroom Pensacola, also allow all families to enjoy activities like these free of charge. “Anyone can participate in already established fundraisers and join the fight against childhood cancer,” said Bonner. “However you decide to ‘Rally,’ know that your efforts will empower you to make a difference in the lives of children battling this disease. We encourage innovation, so if you have your own idea, we would love to hear about it!”
Childhood Cancer Facts: • Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children in America • Childhood cancer research receives less than 4 percent of federal funding, while adult cancer research receives 96 percent • As a result of lack of funding, children are being treated with adult drugs, some of which were developed over 50 years ago • There have been only three new childhood cancer drugs developed since 1980 • One in every 285 children in America will be diagnosed with cancer • In America, 46 kids are diagnosed with cancer each school day • Average hospital stay each day for a child with cancer is $40,000
rallyfoundation.org
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BeLocal
A Look at the Pensacola Area
S
panning from inland Pensacola and the Downtown Historic District to the coastal communities of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach, the Pensacola Bay area has no shortage of things to do—no matter what motivates you there’s plenty of ways to be moved. From experiencing Gulf Coast culture in the form of local art, history and cuisine to enjoying a day of either indoor or outdoor recreations and leisure time, there’s always something new to try in our area.
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Pensacola
Say hello to the city of Pensacola:
named America’s first settlement, home of the Blue Angels and the Cradle of Naval Aviation, as well as the renowned City of Five Flags. Pensacola truly does represent “the upside of Florida.”
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Before becoming a Spanish settlement, after Tristan de Luna landed in 1559, the Pensacola area was occupied by a Muskogean-speaking Native American tribe who were called the “Panzacola,” which—you guessed it—is how the city received its name. After de Luna, Pensacola swapped hands from the Spanish to British, French, Confederates and Americans, hence the title City of Five Flags. In addition to a rich, cultural history, Pensacola offers plenty of local attractions as a tourist hotspot on the Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle. Although military members and families comprise a big chunk of the population, thanks to Pensacola’s Naval Air Station (NAS), the city houses a diverse group of people. At NAS you’ll find landmarks like Pensacola Lighthouse and Fort Barrancas, as well as the National Naval Aviation Museum. Pensacola proudly claims to be the home of the
world-famous Blue Angels, who are known for putting on performances for the city with their frequent practice runs and air shows. Heading to Downtown Pensacola brings you closer to the city’s historic foundation, especially when touring the Historic Pensacola Village. One of the newest additions is the John Appleyard Storytelling Cottage, where you can hear the famous Pensacola storyteller recount Pensacola’s colorful history. Downtown is also where you can catch a sports game at the Blue Wahoos stadium, home of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and soonto-be-home of UWF’s new football team The Argonauts. Don’t forget to check out the upcoming lineup at the Pensacola Bay Center, where you can pick up tickets for the next Pensacola Ice Flyers game, concert, convention, expo and more.
BeLocal
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If you’re looking to get cultured, then be sure to check out the art exhibits at T.T. Wentworth Museum, Pensacola Museum of Art, Quayside Art Gallery, and Blue Morning Gallery. Or, reserve a seat and enjoy a production at one of Downtown Pensacola’s many unique theatres: from the renovated Rex Theatre to the Saenger Theatre and Pensacola Little Theatre. If you like a little mystery, then enjoy the ultimate game of whodunit? with a visit to Escape on Palafox: a venue with three uniquely themed rooms in which participants (who can be strangers or acquaintances) must find the right clues that lead to the exit. You can even seize some outdoor time with the family and friends by taking a Saturday trip to the Palafox Market, which offers a selection of fresh produce along with booths and displays by talented local musicians and artists. Also located on the Palafox Place strip is Vinyl Music Hall, offering a variety of musical performances each month from cover bands to popular artists who return nearly every year like Chris Thomas King. If you’re wondering
about the nightlife, check out downtown after dark by exploring one of the many clubs inside Seville Quarter for a night of dancing, comedy, local music, and/or a casual game of pool. If you’re looking for food fuel, or a place to sample some of the Gulf Coast’s finest cuisine, then look no further because sampling from any one of these local menus is guaranteed to make your mouth water: Global Grill, McGuire’s Irish Pub, Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom, Nick’s Boathouse, Polonza Bistro, The Melting Pot, Carmen’s Lunch Bar, The Ruby Slipper, one of the Great Southern Restaurants and, of course, many more. In fact, if you’re looking for fresh, organic choices check out Ever’man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe.
University of West Florida’s Nature Trails
How are you moved to explore Pensacola? Whether you’re looking for a big breath of fresh air and want to spend your quality time outside exploring, or you’re on the lookout for a new spot to hike and/ or bike, there’s plenty of trails to take advantage of at the University of West Florida Campus. From cross-country trails located opposite the Sports Complex to the Edward Ball Nature and West Campus trails, there’s no shortage of paths to venture down. Feel free to view and print a variety of campus maps to guide you on your explorations, but keep in mind motorcycles and offroad vehicles are not permitted. Runners and walkers may access four Cross Country Trails, which offer varied terrain and wind through Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary taking you through sandhill, hammock and wetlands habitat. If you’re game for some serious outdoors exercise, take on one of the more diverse and challenging West Campus trails located on over 600 acres of UWF “Campus Woods.” These trails are enjoyed by hikers, cyclists, geo-cachers, and equestrian enthusiasts. For slower sauntering, and for foot traffickers only, you may check out the Edward Ball Nature Trail and meander through the half-mile boardwalk through Thompson’s Bayou, home to mammals, birds, fish and reptiles, including an occasional American alligator. be moved lifestyle magazine 17
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Gulf Breeze Welcome to Gulf Breeze:
the cozy, quaint community located just on the other side of Pensacola Bay Bridge (better known by locals as Three-Mile Bridge), and situated between the bustling metropolitan of Downtown Pensacola and populated shores of Pensacola Beach. Although you might not think so from its quiet exterior, this tiny waterfront community is still ideal for fun and adventure.
For starters, it is home to the only zoo in the Pensacola Bay area: the 50-acre Gulf Breeze Zoo with over 1,000 animals ranging from giant giraffes, coatimundi, rhinoceroses, zebras, chimpanzees, gorillas, giant tortoises, squirrel monkeys, otters, alligators and hippopotamuses. The zoo’s raised boardwalk, which features several binoculars for giving viewers a closer look, provides a special vantage point for viewing herds of deer, wildebeest, ostrich, cape hunting dogs and islands on which chimps and gorillas roam free. Gulf Breeze is best known for being part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a nationally-protected park with a plethora of recreational activities. From snorkeling to hiking and bird-watching, the park offers a variety of ways to enjoy the great outdoors. Part of the park is the Naval Live Oaks Reservation, where visitors can swim in the shallow water or picnic underneath the pavilion. The nearby waters of the Santa Rosa Island shoreline are perfect for parents with small children who want to enjoy a dip
in the waters while avoiding all the rough surf. There’s over 7.5 miles of nature trails for walking, biking, hiking and even camping. As long as you make reservations and leave no mess behind, primitive camping is welcome at the park. Across from the Gulf Breeze Community Center and on the Santa Rosa Sound is Shoreline Park, another section of Gulf Islands National Seashore, which has more hiking trails, a fishing pier, as well as a boat launch and even a dog park for your furry family members. The Gulf Breeze Community Center serves as a venue for a number of recreational and sports events, too, which you can learn more about by visiting their website. The center is also home to the newest, yearround farmers market known as Market in the Breeze, where you can find a healthy selection of local fruits, veggies and other home-made products every Tuesday evening.
BeLocal
Naval Live Oak Reservation
Now part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore overlooking the beautiful Santa Rosa Sound by Gulf Breeze, Naval Live Oaks Reservation has several trails for sight-seeing as well as biking and hiking, which are open to visitors from 8 am to sunset. The most popular of these trails is the 0.8 mile Breckenridge Nature Trail named after Henry Breckenridge, the forester who oversaw Naval Live Oaks Reservation. The federal preserve also makes for the perfect place to spend the day outside with opportunities to go boating, kayaking, snorkeling, swimming and fishing. If you’d rather stick around indoors, there’s plenty of handson exhibits to explore at the park headquarters. In fact, at the headquarters you might learn a little more about the history of the reservation, such as that the reservation began as the first and only federal tree farm in 1829. The live oak is the heaviest of all oaks and it is resistant to disease and decay, which made it ideal for ship building—a practice establish in America by the 1700s. Live oaks were used to build the USS Constitution, which played a part in the war of 1812 and received the nickname “Old Ironsides” due to the strength of its invaluable live oak construction. be moved lifestyle magazine 19
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Pensacola Beach Soak up the sun at Pensacola Beach,
BeLocal
Casino Beach
home of the world’s whitest beaches where the green waves of the Emerald Coast meet the Gulf Coast’s signature sugary-white shores and rolling sand dunes sprouting with sea oats and other native marine flora. It’s a small coastal community located just across Bob Sikes Bridges on Santa Rosa Island. But don’t let the small size fool you—there’s always a crowd and a big selection of activities to choose from at Pensacola Beach. Aside from paddle boarding, parasailing, jet-ski racing and marine nature tours, feel free to be a beach bum and recline underneath an umbrella on our unique snowywhite shorelines. Those with small children might appreciate the nearby Quietwater Beach, where the water is typically shallow, calm and clear. While the kids are building sandcastles, adults may relax, enjoy the boardwalk music, and order takeout for a picnic on the beach. Or, consider taking in the sights and sounds of the beautiful, breezy island by hopping on the Beach Bum Trolley, which travels around the Pensacola Beach area bringing passengers to places of interest. But, if you’d rather not get sand in your shoes, don’t fret, because there are plenty of activities to dive into without actually going onto the beach. If you’re looking for something fresh to eat, then head out to the Casino Beach parking lot on Thursday evenings for Market on the Beach, a local farmers market serving up local produce and products. The beach is also home to Portofino Island Resort, where you can get your fill of pampering all while
taking in the beautiful, beachside views. Whether you’re looking for a casual meal or an upscale dining experience on the deck overlooking the water, you’ll want to head out to Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, where you’ll find Hemingway’s Island Grill, Bamboo Willies and Boardwalk Café among others. You’ll also find oneof-a-kind clothing boutiques and shops with jewelry, art, surf wear and gifts—needless to say, there’s a little something for everyone at the Boardwalk! The Boardwalk isn’t the only place where you can find good grub—there’s also Flounder’s Chowder House, The Grand Marlin and H20 (a restaurant inside the Hilton Pensacola Beach). If you’re looking to drop a line, you’ll be right at home at the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier. There’s bait, tackle, rental rods, coolers, carts and several benches to make sure you have a comfortable experience on the pier. Some of the many gulf species that can be caught from the pier include Spanish mackerel, cobia, pompano, mahi mahi, flounder, blue fish, red fish, and tarpon to name a few. The pier also hosts fishing tournaments for those interested in being a participant, or simply a spectator, at the events. The pier is open 24/7, so even if fishing is not your forte, you can head down to catch the sunset on the beach horizon.
Perhaps the most well-known landmark in Pensacola Beach is the famous beach ball water tower near Casino Beach. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to go in, on, under or off the water—you can just about do it all at Casino Beach. Spending time at our sugary white shoreline is not limited to swimming: from fishing off the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier to floating above the water via parasail, or going on nature trails on the backs of jet skis, Pensacola Beach has got you covered. That’s not to mention fun-filled activities like surfing, diving and snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, and even mini golf games. If it’s down time you’re searching for, you don’t have very far to go: head out for shopping spree with friends and family on the beach boardwalk. Feel free to pick up a bite to eat either inside a restaurant like Casino Beach Bar & Grille, or have your meal to-go, so you can enjoy it while you recline in the sun and sand. If you’re looking for a lazy adventure, then sign up for a chance to get on a boat and bond with our water-mammal friend, the buoyant bottlenose dolphin, during a dolphin cruise at any time of the week. You can even learn the secrets of Pensacola Beach’s white sand and explore different ecological topics as you walk along the Pensacola Beach Eco Trail.
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Get Fitted: Selecting the Right Bike For You S o you’re a triathlete. Or, maybe just an average Joe (or Joan) who likes to take the ol’ two wheels for spin around the block. Or, maybe you’re the type who really gets hyped up on traveling through rough terrain. Better yet, maybe you’re a combination of all three. Whether you’re a pro at cycling, or you don’t know the first thing about what kind of bike you want, we’ve spoken with lifelong cycle-enthusiast and owner of Gulf Coast Cycle and Tri—Patrick Wilkes, who has kindly outlined the four primary bike types and guides us through the process for a bike fitting session. Gulf Coast Cycle and Tri (GCCT) is equipped with a patented bike fitting system guaranteed to get you to just the right fit no matter how you move—whether you’re moving at slow and steady or racing pace. It might seem silly to think of there being a “right” fit for a bike, just as we consider a “right” fit for our shoes before we purchase them. But, indeed, the importance of bike fitting is no joke. A proper fit can improve overall rider comfort, help prevent cycling-induced repetitive stress injuries, reduce or eliminate back, knee, neck and wrist pain, as well as reduce or eliminate “hot foot,” saddle discomfort, numbness in hands and fingers along with reducing rider fatigue. A typical fitting can take anywhere from one to two hours. The first step in the process is the rider interview, during which the fitter will take into account your history as a cyclist (and an athlete), your cycling goals and any injuries you’ve had that might affect your comfort on the bicycle. Assessing your history is where bike selection also comes to play. Although bicycle types are practically endless, there are four main types of bikes categorized according to how they are used: recreational, road, mountain and hybrid bikes. After you’ve spoken with your professional and have a bike type in mind, you’ll move on to a bike fitting session, which will assess your flexibility and measuring various parts of your body. Here enters the GCCT’s professional bike fitting system, aptly called The Bike Fit System. It is a system that involves laser guided cleat placement, a goniometer used for seat height placement and knee and arm angles. Although fitters can approximate your size by having you sit on a bike or go for a test right, not everyone fits a bike perfectly “out of the box.” Sometimes a seat needs to be changed out, or a stem or handlebar customized to a person’s build. If you have any cycling-related questions, or you’re looking to get fitted and ride out on your new bike, check out GCCT at their new location on 1811 Creighton Road.
7 ft.
rider height
6 ft. 5 ft. 4 ft. 3 ft. 2 ft. 1 ft.
18.5"
19.75"
20.25–21.5"
20.75"
top tube length
21-21.75"
Leisure/comfort
These bikes can be close cousins to cruiser bikes in that they have high upright handlebars and are comfortable to ride. Recreation or comfort bikes have high, upright handlebars and for more leisure rides.
Mountain
This rider is the more adventurous person who wants to go off road. This is the type of bike that sees the most changes from year to year. Off-road bikes have gone to all disc brakes and now a choice on wheel size 27.5 or 29.
hybrid
This bike is great for the riders who don’t quite want to commit to an aggressive, small-tire road bike. This rider does not want to put on spandex and tights, they want a moderate distance ride.
road/tri
This is for riders who are serious about their fitness, typically looking for longer rides and to get into shape or maybe do their first triathlon. Road bikes have an aggressive handlebar position and typically have a skinnier more efficient tire. be moved lifestyle magazine 23
BeHealthy
Going the Extra Mile: How Proper Nutrition Can Fuel Your Marathon Performance To complete the grueling 26.2 mile course of the Pensacola Marathon, you’ve committed the past six months to a pre-training program consisting of aerobic intervals, tempo runs, speed development workouts and weight training. But don’t make a rookie mistake by leaving out an important aspect of training that can derail your goal of crossing the finish line—your diet. The foods you eat several weeks before and the day of the marathon is just as important as a physical training program because quality nutrients are essential for maintaining optimal performance and overall health. — By Ione Villegas Marketing Coordinator, Sacred Heart Health Systems
Jamie Condon, a nutritionist at Sacred Heart Health System, says proper nutrition fuels athletic performance, so treat your body like the high-end sports car that it is. “Your body runs optimally when you fuel it properly,” Condon said. “You wouldn’t put crude oil in the tank of a Ferrari. The same concept goes for your body. High quality nutrition is similar to that of the highest grade gasoline when you want to get optimal engine performance. You don’t want your engine light to start flickering before you cross the checkered flag.” Every distant runner’s fear is “bonking,” a phenomenon that can happen about the 20-mile mark in a marathon, where every step feels like you’re trudging through quicksand. Bonking is the point in the marathon when your glycogen (stored energy) within the muscles is depleted, forcing you to slow down your pace considerably, sometimes even down to a walk. 24 pensacolasports.org
Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to avoid bonking by focusing on performance nutrition. For endurance athletes, the trinity of nutrition is protein, carbohydrates and fat. The proper balance of these macronutrients will help you sustain peak performance when you need it most. Another key factor in proper nutrition is staying hydrated.
Carbohydrates: The Energy Boost Carbohydrates are the mainstay nutrient for athletes because they provide the major fuel for exercise. Since the body has a limited capacity to store carbohydrates (as glycogen in the muscles and liver), stores must be replenished regularly to support training. Low body stores of carbohydrates can cause fatigue, impairment of performance at training or during competition and a negative impact on the immune system. Carbohydrates should be
a key focus of athletes’ diet during training and game time performance because they are the workhorse macronutrient that fuel workouts and nourish spent muscles. However, some carbs provide greater value than others. “Most of your carbohydrate intake should come from whole grains, fruits and vegetables,” says Condon. “The less processing a whole food receives, the more nutritional value it will hold. So think corn instead of corn chips.” Condon suggests using the following ratios for determining carbohydrate consumption: • Athletes should consume enough carbohydrates each day to replenish muscle glycogen that is used during training. • Carbohydrate intake should range from 7 to 12 g/kg for moderate to heavy training. Adjustments to these general recommendations should be individualized to each athlete
“Every distant runner’s fear is ‘bonking,’ also known as hitting the wall, a phenomenon that can happen about the 20-mile mark in a marathon, where every step feels like you’re trudging through quicksand. “
BeHealthy
“You wouldn’t put crude oil in the tank of a Ferrari. The same concept goes for your body.” based on intensity, level of training, body size and gender. The strategy known as “carboloading,” is often used by endurance athletes to maximize the storage of glycogen in the muscles and liver. Because muscle glycogen depletion is a wellrecognized limitation to endurance performance, this strategy may benefit your performance. Research has shown that carboloading increases muscle glycogen stores from resting levels of 100 to 120 mmol/kg to 150 to 250 mmol/ kg and improve performance in endurance events exceeding 90 minutes.
Protein Primes Body for Exercise
Protein plays a critical role in how your body responds to exercise. But not all proteins are created equal. Animal-derived proteins, such as milk, eggs, meat and fish, are high quality because they have all of the essential amino acids, Condon explained. Amino acids from proteins form building blocks that develop new tissue, such as muscle, and repair old tissue. They are also the building blocks for hormones and enzymes that regulate metabolism and other body functions. Protein also provides a small source of fuel for the exercising muscle. How much protein do you need? Condon said the amount of protein depends on your goals and the type/intensity of exercise or training. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests: • In general, athletes should consume 1.2 to 1.7 grams of protein per kilogram of body mass (.6 to .8 g/lb) and may require up to 2.0 g/ kg (.9 g/lb) if they are undergoing rehabilitation, trying to lose fat mass, or wanting to increase lean body mass • To maximize muscle growth, consume about 20 grams of high quality protein, such as a 3-ounce chicken breast, after training and every four hours while you are awake.
• Space out your protein consumption for optimal utilization. Eat a protein snack/ meal within two hours after exercise to optimize muscle repair and growth.
Fat as Fuel
Fat provides the main fuel source for long duration, low to moderate intensity exercise. Even during high intensity exercise, where carbohydrates are the main fuel source, fat is needed to help access the stored carbohydrates in your body. But Condon says this doesn’t mean that you should binge on ice cream and doughnuts. “You should include moderate amounts of healthy fats into your daily diet, such as nuts, fish (salmon), reduced-fat dairy foods, lean meat and avocados,” she said. “Foods high in unhealthy fat and low in other nutrients should be avoided.” Condon cautions not to eat foods high in fat immediately before or during intense exercise because fat is slow to digest and can remain in the stomach for an extended period of time, leading to gastrointestinal distress, sluggishness and overall decreased performance ability.
Water: Keeping Your Cool
Last, but not least, is hydration. Water makes up about 60 percent of your body weight and is your body’s principal chemical component. In fact, every system in your body depends on it. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs and carries nutrients to your cells. Lack of water can lead to dehydration, which occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you feel tired. The complications from dehydration are compounded during extended bouts of intense exercise, like running a marathon. “Fluid status is the most neglected aspect of nutrition,” says Condon. “When an athlete becomes dehydrated it can be detrimental to his or her athletic performance.” Condon suggests drinking a sports drink, such as Gatorade or Powerade, which contains sodium to help replace sodium lost in sweat and reduce the chances of developing hyponatremia, or low sodium in the blood, which can be life-threatening. Also, don’t forget to continue to replace fluids after you’re finished exercising.
“
When an athlete becomes dehydrated it can be detrimental to his or her athletic performance.”
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BeEnergized
RECIPES FOR
SUCCESS No matter what time of day, the food you put into your body matters. To make it easy to lean on the healthy side of eating, Publix has handpicked three simple meals for any one of your snack, brunch and lunch breaks, so you have the right type of food fuel to keep moving and building recipes for success.
BEGIN THE DAY WITH BREAKFAST
A hearty breakfast sets the stage for a high-energy day. Even though you may think you don’t have time for breakfast, this meal is important to enhance your workouts and provide ongoing energy. Make this recipe ahead of time and have it on hand for a quick and easy meal. FRUIT AND NUT MUESLI (Makes 10 servings) INGREDIENTS 1 (2.5-oz) bag dried apple chips 1 cup crispy rice cereal 2 cups rolled oats 1/4 cup flax seeds 1 cup sliced almonds 1 cup shredded coconut flakes 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup canola oil 1/4 cup honey Nonstick aluminum foil 5 cups plain Greek yogurt, divided 2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries, divided(or favorite fruit)
STEPS 1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine all ingredients (except yogurt and blueberries). Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. 2. Bake 10–12 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove from oven and stir. Let stand 30 minutes to cool; place in airtight container until ready to serve. 3. Assemble by placing 1/2 cup yogurt in serving bowl, topping with 3/4 cup muesli and 1/4 cup blueberries. CALORIES (PER 1/10 RECIPE) 390KCAL; FAT 18G; SAT FAT 4.5G; TRANS FAT 0G; CHOL 5MG; SODIUM 90MG; CARB 42G; FIBER 5G; SUGARS 22G; PROTEIN 17G; VIT A 2%; VIT C 15%; CALC 15%; IRON 15% GOOD SOURCE OF CARBOHYDRATES, VITAMIN C, CALCIUM AND IRON. EXCELLENT SOURCE OF PROTEIN AND FIBER.
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SNACK SMART When you hit that midafternoon slump, you need a boost of energy. Rather than heading for the vending machine for sugar and caffeine, fuel with a balanced snack. It will not only provide energy, but also help prevent low blood sugar during workouts to boost performance. Try these portable No-Bake Blueberry Bites made with whole grains, fruit, and nuts. NO-BAKE BLUEBERRY BITES (Makes 4 servings) INGREDIENTS 1 vanilla bean (optional) Zest of 1 lemon 1 cup raw cashews 1 cup rolled oats 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 3/4 cup fresh blueberries 1/2 cup pitted medjool dates Parchment
STEPS 1. Cut vanilla bean down center lengthwise; scrape center of bean with back of knife to remove seeds. Set aside. Zest/grate lemon, no white (1 teaspoon). 2. Combine cashews, oats, whey powder, vanilla seeds, and salt in a food processor. Pulse 1 minute or until nuts are finely crushed. 3. Add blueberries, dates, and lemon zest; pulse 1 minute or until combined and a dough forms. 4. Roll into tablespoonfuls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet (about 16 balls). Chill in refrigerator 30 minutes. Serve. Note: Can be placed in a zip-top bag and stored in freezer for longer storage. CALORIES (PER 1/4 RECIPE) 420KCAL; FAT 15G; SAT FAT 2.5G; TRANS FAT 0G; CHOL 5MG; SODIUM 160MG; CARB 65G; FIBER 8G; SUGARS 38G; PROTEIN 13G; VIT A 2%; VIT C 8%; CALC 25%; IRON 20% EXCELLENT SOURCE OF CARBOHYDRATES, PROTEIN, FIBER, CALCIUM, AND IRON.
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BeInspired
The Joy of Endurance Sports Michael Milligan, M.D.
M
y interest and love in cycling and endurance sports really started as a child watching the Tour de France. Back then it would only be broadcasted on Sundays. It was during the era when Greg LeMond was racing and winning the race. Toward the end of my senior year of college when I was done playing football, I had an opportunity to get involved with an organization called Journey of Hope. We bicycled across the country from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness for individuals with disabilities. Each day we would stop in different towns to do community awareness programs and help with the development of facilities and service for individuals with disabilities. A passion and enjoyment for cycling led me to becoming an actual participant in riding cross country. Cycling became an important part of my life ever since my Journey of Hope adventure. I have competed in various events, including centuries and ultramarathons. While I do enjoy the competition aspect of running or cycling events, I’m more interested in seeing myself improve and get better. I find my true enjoyment of endurance sports from the people that I meet along the way. While the groups I run or cycle with challenge each other, it is more of friendly competition that builds comradery between each other. One of the things I’ve learned over the years running and cycling in groups is that it gives you the opportunity to build a network of friends and individuals who all enjoy doing the same thing. They come from all different backgrounds and experience, and it helps you become part of a community. As I have grown as a physician and have continued to maintain an active lifestyle, one of the biggest things I see with patients is how remaining physically active throughout your life can have such a positive impact on your
physical and mental health. You can find correlations in research studies on how remaining physically active can have a positive impact on an individual’s health, but it really hits home when I see a patient who is physically active have an advantage when a health issue presents itself. Even if there is a medical disadvantage that the patient presents, those patients who remain physically active succeed in every way; physically, emotionally, in their jobs, etc. While remaining physically active has an impact on your physical health, I think it has just as big of an impact on one’s mental health. When I am out riding with a group, I often think about some of the individuals who have maybe retired, who have lost a spouse or have had their kids move away. Those people really find family in their cycling groups. Running, cycling, triathlons or masters swim groups keep an individual engaged by investing time and effort. These individuals look forward to remaining physically active at different stages of life. I think advice I’d give to member of our community preparing for the Double Bridge Run or any other event,a is that when race day comes, you need to go out there and enjoy it. You probably have goals such as setting a specific time or aspiring to run the whole thing. Once the day comes, go out there not only with that goal, but also with a plan of enjoying it. Take in everything that comes with the day. You’ve already done all the work, you’ve already done the training, so when the day comes it’s time to let loose and have fun. Even the greatest runners, the individuals setting world records, they have days that are not their best and they have days that exceed their expectations. They are no different than us, so just go out there and enjoy it. I think endurance athletes are a unique group of individuals, whether you’re a runner, cyclist, swimmer, tri athlete or ultra-marathon runner. They
tend to be highly motivated. They are well prepared when they come to see me. They often have already done a lot of investigation and tried a lot of things before they come in. I think the biggest thing they are looking for is someone who understands their goals, understands their sport and someone who understands how much it means to them. My goal, if you are out of the sport due to injury, is that I want to get you back to a point where you can participate. However, if you are coming in with an injury, we also want to find a way to work around that injury to keep you involved and engaged. Maybe there is a way to get you back running, or maybe if you are not able to run right now and you are a tri athlete, we can get you swimming or cycling to continue to improve while you are getting over an injury. Also, sometimes it’s about just telling a patient, “Yes you have an injury, but you aren’t going to harm yourself by running through this injury.” I actually had a tri athlete who came in with tendonitis in his knee and it was painful. We got him evaluated, got the right tests done, and basically the answer was that it was going to hurt, and that he could either take time off or he could run and compete with the injury. He asked me, “What would you do?” I replied, “If you were one of my college athletes, one of my basketball players and we were getting ready to go to a tournament, I’d tell you to get out there and play with it.” He replied, “Ok, gotcha.” We made some adjustments to his cycling position and he’s back out there riding. I saw him riding the other day and he told me, “Thanks for telling me it was okay to keep doing what I enjoy.” I think one of the things that I offer as a physician to my patients that have an active lifestyle is that I understand the importance the sport has on their life. My goal is to try and find a way to keep them engaged in their sport.
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10 tips for running your first marathon by Michael Milligan, M.D.
Preparing well and completing your first marathon is an accomplishment that few in the world can claim. However, individuals of all backgrounds and experiences have achieved this goal and you can, too. Proper preparation takes many months of training. Not only do you have to train for the physical and mental rigors of the event but you also have to prepare logistically for the event. Travel, lodging, packet pickup and other considerations must be made as you prepare. Below are a few tips to help you as you plan for the big day.
1. Train with others Consider doing at least part of your training with a running group. Training with a group allows you to learn more quickly the nuances of preparing for a marathon. Often local running groups will bring in speakers 30 pensacolasports.org
and provide other opportunities to learn and prepare. The group atmosphere provides support and keeps you motivated and encouraged as you progress. If you don’t have a local running group, seek out an online running community. Additionally, there are many quality marathon training programs available for free online if you have to train on your own.
2. Run a half marathon Running a half marathon six to eight weeks out from your first marathon is a good way to prepare for your upcoming race. The half marathon allows you to practice for the big event. Race pacing can be experienced. Eating and drinking strategies can be assessed. The gear you plan to race in can also be tested. If there is not a half marathon in your area during this time frame, then stage your own by yourself or better yet with running mates. Drop off hydration products
along the course at intervals similar to your marathon and carry with you any gels or other products you plan to carry with you in the marathon.
3. Run long In preparing for your first marathon, the long run is considered by most running coaches as the key component of preparation. Running long once a week is a key component of most marathon training programs. Not only does the long run prepare you mentally and physically for what you should expect on race day, it also allows you to practice the strategies you plan to use for hydration and any food intake. This is a great time to experiment with different running gear and different meals the morning of and night before the event. Building up to one or more long runs of 18 to 22 miles over the course of your training preparation will prepare you for the big event. The final long run of 18 to 22 miles is usually run about four weeks from race day.
BeSmart 4. Run in the gear you will race in
7. Stick to your plan but not at all costs
One of the most common mistakes for both the new and seasoned runner is wearing new gear on race day. Run several times in the shoes, socks, and other gear you plan to wear on race day. Knowing in advance if there are any blistering or chafing issues will save you a great deal of discomfort on race day.
Once you identify the marathon you want to target, identify the plan you will use to get you there. This might be training with a local running group that is preparing runners for goal marathons, working with a coach, or using a training program you identified online. Consistent training and preparation is crucial to a good race. That being said, life happens and most of us are not being paid to run. If you have to flip a long run from Sunday to Saturday or you miss a run because your child is sick it will not sabotage all you have done. It is the accumulation of training that prepares you rather than a single training session. Additionally, listen to your body. Running injuries can quickly progress from twinges to full blown injuries that can hobble you. If you are sore or stiff it is usually ok to go out and give training a try though you may need to dial back the effort level. However, if you are having pain then it is often better to walk, cross train, or just take the day off. If you have pain that is not resolving despite these steps, consider seeking evaluation from a health care professional experienced in caring for athletes.
5. Taper off The final long run is typically run four weeks before the race. From there the long runs typically taper over the following weeks before the event. Additionally, the other weekly runs should taper as well. If you have been doing speed work in your training, then continuing that speed work often helps to provide the finishing touches to your preparation. However, do not add new activities in the final weeks. If you have not been doing speed work or cross training, now is not the time to add in these activities. The taper weeks are for allowing your body to recover, regenerate, and heal in preparation for the coming race. The work has been done. Allow your body to profit from this work.
6. Train on the course if possible With the number of destination marathons it is often not possible to train on the course in advance. If you are unable to run on the course prior to the race, then do your homework and learn all you can about the course you will be running on. Try to replicate uphills, downhills, and other unique features of the race course in your local training. Running your first marathon locally is advantageous and should be considered. If you are able to do at least some runs on the course then this will help you prepare mentally and physically. If all else fails, try to check out the course in the day or two before the race after you arrive at the destination. Just driving the course and seeing it will alleviate anxiety and surprises.
traveling to your race research online for restaurants or grocery stores near your hotel where you can dine similar to your usual habits. Alternatively, bring food with you. After the race you can treat yourself to that craving that you know you shouldn’t have now.
10. Enjoy the day Enter race day with a plan to enjoy the experience. You will have goals and expectations for yourself, that is only natural. However, don’t let these override your ability to take in an accomplishment that few can claim. Many things will be out of your control on race day. The race may start late or the water stations may not be stocked as your thought they would be. Weather conditions may not be ideal. Any of a number of unexpected things may occur. You and every runner on the course will deal with adversity. That is part of the challenge and accomplishment of completing a marathon. Accept and embrace these challenges and perform the best you can under the circumstances. Most importantly, have fun and smile big as you cross the finish line.
8. Relax The training has been done and you are in your taper. You will have more energy and more free time during the taper. Enjoy it but be smart. This is not the time to stay out late, skip on sleep and good nutrition, or pick up new sports. Those final nights before the race are a time to get good sleep. You may not sleep well the night before the race but the sleep you get the other nights will pay dividends.
9. Eat properly Maintain your usual eating habits in the final days before your race. Again, now is not the time to experiment. That being said most runners find it advantageous to cut back on the fiber in their diet in the final couple of days before the race. This tends to help alleviate race day intestinal distress. Use the tried and true habits that you have tested in your training. If you are
Michael Milligan, M.D.
Michael Milligan, M.D., CAQSM, is an experienced physician providing care of sports related injuries and orthopaedic conditions. He also is an expert in concussions and other medically related sports conditions and is fellowship-trained in primary care sports medicine. Dr. Milligan treats patients by appointment at Baptist Medical Park – Nine Mile and Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze.
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BeFueled
Fresh and Flavorful Food Fuel Wild Roots Organic Foods
820 Gulf Breeze Parkway 850-816-8870 For tasty and nutritional menu options, stop in at Wild Roots Organic Foods where they focus on health-conscious eating and treating. The eatery has an extensive selection of sandwiches, pizzettas, presses, wraps, and salads on the menu and include gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, vegan, and vegetarian options. The bakery is the Gulf Coast’s first to offer 100 percent organic, 100 percent gluten-free, and 100 percent grainfree baked goods. Also, the BeachPops menu features hand-crafted cold treats including fruit pops, ice cream pops, and their specialty artisan pops.
Ever’man Cooperative Grocery and Cafe
315 West Garden Street 850-438-0402 While in Pensacola for the marathon, stop in Ever’man Cooperative Grocery and Cafe. The co-op is a great local source for natural and organic foods. If you’re searching for a one-stop shop for healthy snacks and a quick lunch, Ever’man offers organic smoothies and wraps, as well as a hot bar, breakfast bar, and salad bar.
Khon’s Asian Bistro
34 South Palafox Place 850-912-6762 Khon’s Asian Bistro is a great place to stop in after the race. Located in the heart of Downtown Pensacola, Khan’s offers a delicious variety of Asian dishes from stir-fry to chicken curry. They also have a wonderful sushi menu and both traditional and house special Miso soup. So run by and have a bowl of Tom Yum with shrimp, calamari, red fish and mussels, tomatoes and bok choy stewed in a spicy broth; served over rice noodles. 32 pensacolasports.org
Restaurant Iron
22 North Palafox Street 850-476-7776 You can expect a fine-dining experience at Restaurant Iron, where local seafood and southern dishes are served in a contemporary atmosphere. For a savory main course, try their chicken and dumplings, a southern favorite with a modern day twist. They also serve seafood plates, such as wild salmon or creole dusted shrimp and grits.
Global Grill
27 South Palafox Street 850-469-9966 Check out Global Grill in Downtown Pensacola and experience five-star dining at this upscale tapas bar. Dishes such as the blue cheese-stuffed fillet of beef tenderloin served with grilled tomatoes, portabella mushrooms, and fried leeks will leave your taste buds craving more of the Global cuisine. With so many local seafood and tapas options, you will have to stop in after next year’s race as well.
End of the Line Café
610 East Wright Street 850-429-0336. For a healthy and satisfying pre-race dinner, stop in at the End of the Line Café and order the grilled tofu and hummus pita, or the surfer burrito platter with coconut black beans, cheddar, sour cream and pico de gallo in a spinach tortilla served on a bed of mixed greens. If you’re looking for something new to try after you cross the finish line, check out the Tempeh Pumpernickel Club. The unique concoction of tempeh, Gouda, grilled red peppers and onions, maple-hickory bacon, lettuce, Romas and Dijon mayo is deliciously satisfying.
The Fish House
600 South Barracks Street 850-470-0003 Treat your family and friends to a delicious southern seafood dinner after the race. The Fish House is a great place to enjoy fresh seafood while admiring the view of beautiful Pensacola Bay. Where else can you order southern-fried green tomatoes, pecancrusted and fried snapper, and smoked Gouda cheese grits all in one sitting? Or if you prefer the southern flavor without the fried—the Jack Daniel’s chicken salad offers the southern taste of brown-sugar poached peaches, Renfroe candied pecans, and crumbled blue cheese over mixed greens, drizzled with a Jack Daniel’s bourbon vinaigrette topped with a bourbon-glazed chicken breast. Need I say more?
Jackson’s Steakhouse
400 South Palafox Street 850-469-9898 Stop in for an elegant meal for lunch or dinner at Jackson’s Steakhouse. The lunch menu includes hot and cold plates such as the governor’s club sandwich with sliced baked turkey, country ham, thick-sliced bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, fresh basil mayonnaise, and bread-andbutter pickles on toasted thin-sliced sourdough with homemade fries. They also offer a vegan plate and an assortment of delicious salad options.
Nancy’s Haute Affairs
555 Scenic Highway 850-434-0112 Offering catering and dining, Nancy’s Haute Affairs is the haute spot for a quick bite or a special event. Stop in for smoked salmon on an everything bagel with dill cream cheese for an early morning pick-me-up, or a warm steak panini for lunch. The gourmet-to-go dinner options include a variety of fried and chargrilled meats and an eggplant parmesan entrée.
BeFueled Taco Mez
21 West Romana Street 850-332-7617 Need I say more than tacos and tequila or beans and burritos? If you’re drawn to authentic Mexican cuisine, you’ll find the offerings at Taco Mez more than adequately meet your requirements. Signature items on the menu include Carne Asada Fries (aka pork-fried potatoes), specialty tacos like the Baja (with your choice of triggerfish or grilled shrimp), and a shareable meal called Molcajete—served in a warm lava rock bowl with a plate of toppings and tortillas. Check out the restaurant between 4 to 6 pm and 10 pm to close every day for happy hour, when you can pick up $2 Street Tacos and get $1 off small plates. Finally, choose to celebrate your athletic accomplishments with any one of the many choices of agave spirits, cocktails by Evangelos V. Varonos, or cervezas.
also boasts a well-stocked oyster bar where oysters from Apalachicola and East Bay to more exotic locales are shucked to order. For those in the mood for something other than seafood The Grand Marlin offer enticing steaks, succulent poultry dishes and other fare to meet every taste.
fusion cuisine combined with its refined yet unpretentious beachfront atmosphere makes it the perfect beachside locale for socializing, sipping or sushi. 12 Via de Luna Dr. 850-972-1700.
H2O Cajun-Asian Grill
Local celebrity Chef Dan Dunn presents his award-winning Cajun-Asian inspired menu with perfect pairings from our premier wine cellar. Savor a sumptuous selection of steaks, seafood, gourmet salads and sandwiches. H2O’s eclectic
Red Fish Blue Fish
5 Via de Luna Dr. 850-677-8899 Stop by Red Fish Blue Fish on Pensacola Beach for a fun, relaxed atmosphere and delicious southern fare. The unique soundside restaurant is made out of shipping containers and reclaimed wood and features two white sand beaches, indoor and outdoor dining areas, kids activities and a stylish cocktail bar and patio. The menu is an eclectic mix of seafood, burgers, sandwiches and southern standards like alligator and frog legs.
Casino Beach Bar and Grille
41 Fort Pickens Rd. 850-932-6313 This iconic beach restaurant features island vibes, live entertainment and beautiful gulf views. Casino Beach Bar and Grille offers signature island cocktails made from hand squeezed fruit juices, quality coastal cuisine and delicious shareables. Their unique location nestled at foot of the Pensacola Gulf Pier makes for the perfect beachfront hangout. Don’t worry about brushing the sand off of your feet; just walk straight up from the water and have a good time.
The Grand Marlin
400 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 850-677-9153. With views of Santa Rosa Sound and sunsets over Pensacola Bay, The Grand Marlin offers a tranquil, relaxed atmosphere, paired with an excellent selection of fresh seafood and daily specials from the kitchen of award-winning Chef Gregg McCarthy. This beach restaurant be moved lifestyle magazine 33
BeFit
Downtown Pensacola’s
YMCA
written by Kelly Oden
A
whole new lifestyle is coming to Downtown Pensacola when the highly anticipated Bear Levin Studer YMCA opens its doors in the Historic Palafox District. The new building will encompass approximately 52,000 square feet at the corner of Intendencia and Tarragona streets. Plans include a fully-equipped wellness center nearly triple the size of the original downtown YMCAs; an accessible aquatic center with two pools; multi-purpose rooms dedicated to group exercise and special programs; a gymnasium; a demo kitchen; a larger Kid Zone designed for varying ages; expanded locker rooms; social gathering spaces; sauna and steam rooms; and dedicated space for their health-care partner 34 pensacolasports.org
Baptist Hospital. The expanded space will allow the YMCA to offer more programs in an effort to combat obesity and chronic disease. The brick, stucco and glass building is certainly remarkable, but YMCA officials say the building is merely a tool for the truly impressive stuff— the full slate of community health and wellness opportunities and activities that will be offered inside and will benefit generations to come. “One of the things we say often is that we try not to get too focused on the building,” says Andrea Rosenbaum, YMCA director of advancement. “The building is a tool. But the reality is that our current box of tools is kind of rusty and old. To be able to make an update to a tool that is modern and multi-functional
is fantastic. The new building is designed so that in a single space, we can do a half a dozen things. We’ve designed this space to create a sense of community as well. It becomes about more than doing a bicep curl or running on a treadmill. It becomes that social setting, that family strengthening, that social interaction for seniors or people who might be alone. As we design this building, which is a tool, we are designing it so that it can support our mission much better.” In that spirit, the new YMCA will offer something for everyone from athletes to amateurs and from babies to seniors alike. An estimated 8,000 members will have access to a stateof-the-art facility, including brand new exercise equipment, professional
BeFit
“
We are going from the traditional swim and gym model to a comprehensive health and wellness, healthy living programmatic facility. Baptist will have about 4,000 square feet directly inside of our building and attached to our wellness center”
trainers, group classes, medical and wellness personnel, meeting spaces and more. The demo kitchen will offer nutrition and healthy cooking classes and expanded youth programs will help children and teens establish healthy habits early on so they can maintain them for life. The new location has been designed to be open and fully accessible, offering access to physical activity to everyone, including seniors and those with special needs. “One of our biggest challenges in this current branch is accessibility,” says Rosenbaum. “Some of the people who need us the very most are not able to navigate their way into our pool or some of our spaces.” In the new YMCA, everything is accessible. Even the slide is fully accessible via an elevator for children with special needs. A partnership with Baptist Hospital and the Andrews Institute will really set this YMCA apart and allow for an extremely inclusive membership. This partnership will offer a seamless transition between preventative care, injury treatment and rehabilitation. “This Y will be very different from anything the community has seen,” says YMCA executive director Bill Seedes. “The main thing that is going to set us apart is our partnership with Baptist Healthcare. We are going from the traditional swim and gym model to a comprehensive health and wellness, healthy living programmatic facility. Baptist will have about 4,000 square feet directly inside
of our building and attached to our wellness center. Andrews Institute will house rehabilitative services there—physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational health. This will bring a different population into the building. We will still have people who need to lose weight or prepare for an athletic event, but we will also have people coming in who have deep rooted chronic disease. How is the Y going to meet their needs? We have a lot of programmatic ideas that center on diabetes prevention and cancer programs. I keep saying that we are an agent of change for the community. We’re not going to be sitting on the sidelines waiting for other people to take the lead. We are going to take the lead and really try to impact the community beyond what we’ve been able to do at the current facility.” Rosenbaum explains that planning for the new YMCA has been many years in the making. “The current downtown YMCA has been a part of the community since
the 1880s,” says Rosenbaum. “About five years ago, we really looked at what was next for this Y. What we learned is that there are a significant number of people in this community who have deep, meaningful ties to the downtown YMCA and so many YMCA models show that if you have a strong downtown Y, that becomes your flagship. Over the course of two years we did market research and talked with current members and prospective members to discover what people really needed from the Y. During that process, we proactively developed relationships with people who could help make it happen. In 2014, we began focused fundraising and development and we’ve been very fortunate to have some strong lead donors who got us moving. Our architects and contractors are local and they’ve also helped bring this to life.”
be moved lifestyle magazine 35
BeStrong
CrossFit
by Melanie Painter
Your Prescription for Fitness
If you’re looking to break the routine and get the most from your workout, a functional fitness plan is just what you need to get in shape while enjoying the path to better health. An ordinary gym routine can become discouraging, but the high-intensity interval training of CrossFit offers the variety most routines lack (hence the term routine). The workouts in CrossFit change daily to keep both mind and body stimulated and challenged. First, let’s define what CrossFit is: the fitness regimen was developed to prepare people for the 36 pensacolasports.org
knowable and the unknowable. In other words, it was designed to integrate everyday movements into a program to strengthen the whole body and prepare the body for any physical activity one may encounter. The core strength and conditioning program provides a total body workout by focusing on the ten recognized fitness domains. These areas of fitness are cardiovascular and repertory endurance, flexibility, strength, stamina, power, coordination, speed, accuracy, balance, and agility. The functional regiment has nine key foundation movements in three groups. The squat, front squat, and overhead squat make up one
“Though the workouts can be challenging, the positive environment helps members to keep pushing to complete the exercises.” group. The second is the press, push-press, and push-jerk, and the third group consists of the deadlift, sumo deadlift high pull, and the med-ball clean. The forms used for the foundation movements are used as base elements for more complex movements. To avoid injury, learning the foundation movements and proper form for each workout is key. Beginners should take the “Elements” course offered at CrossFit gyms (regularly referred to as the “box”) to learn these essential movements before taking part in the intense sport. Completing the workouts safely and effectively can be the difference between getting in shape and getting injured quickly. CrossFit has grown increasingly popular over the last few years, and for good reason. Many members of a CrossFit gym achieve better health and wellness while finding support in the community of members around them. Teammates and coaches provide words of encouragement, keeping members motivated and inspired. Though the workouts can be challenging, the positive environment helps members to keep pushing to complete the exercises. Another benefit of CrossFit is the impact the regimen has on the entire body. The intense workouts push the body to the limits in a shorter amount of time, creating a more effective full-body workout. The workout-of-the-day (WOD) is always different and can be “scaled” based on the person’s skill level. Those following the standard movements of the WOD without modifying the exercise are said to be doing it as prescribed or “Rx’d.”
BeStrong
The full-body workout that combines elements of cardio, weight lifting, gymnastics, and core training has taken on the form of a sport, even allowing participants to compete in games. The annual CrossFit Games aims to find the fittest man and woman on Earth. Everyone is allowed to participate in the five-week “open” qualifier. The top scorers in each region then go to the regional qualifier competitions. Those top scorers from the regional competition are qualified to compete in the CrossFit Games. Other CrossFit tournaments take place, as well. The Pensacola Beach Brawl is annual CrossFit event with more than 1,200 athletes expected to participate. The Beach Brawl has youth divisions, 18 and up divisions, and master divisions, all of which include Rx and scaled options. The event is a popular challenge for any level CrossFit enthusiast. Many CrossFit Games athletes will participate in the brawl as part of the elite division. Athletes from all over the country come to enjoy the beauty of Pensacola Beach while showcasing their talents. If the idea of doing different workouts every day while surrounded by a supportive community sounds appealing, then CrossFit just might be the alternative fitness regime you need in your life. With CrossFit boxes all over the country and WODs posted on the CrossFit website, the highintensity interval training is easily accessible. So, start with a scaled WOD and before you know it, you’ll be ready to brawl on the beach with the elite.
be moved lifestyle magazine 37
BePowerful
an excercise in endurance
Are you always going to the extreme—opting for the longest miles of running, swimming, and cycling? Do you push yourself to the limit time and time again, sweat pouring and heart pounding, because you would have it no other way? If so, we know just how to keep you moving at a steady pace with plenty of powerful exercises in endurance hosted in the Pensacola area throughout the year. We’ve tracked down several triathlon, cycling, and running competitions, for you to take your pick from either one or all of these endurance events for all seasons. If you’re feeling extra competitive, check out the website for each event and test your mettle by trying to beat the previous year’s best times. When the going gets tough, just remember, you’re enduring to achieve not only your personal best, but to achieve the best for our community. Many of these endurance events are hosted not only to offer an outlet for your athletic needs, but to benefit a local nonprofit and ensure the communal event can keep going—so you and our city can keep moving forward on building better fitness, health and stronger ties within the community.
The following is a sampling of local endurance events. To find more, visit runningpensacola.com
January
We Believe in Children 5K Run Support stronger communities and public education in Escambia County with the 30th annual We Believe in Children 5K Run and Health Fair, returning to Cordova Park Elementary in January 2017. Funds raised from the event go directly to the Escambia County Schools Foundation, and help support programs like Grants for Excellence, or teacher grants for innovative classroom projects, as well as Take Stock In Children, which provides educational initiatives not funded by tax dollar along with providing mentors and college scholarships to students from low-income families. Aside from running in the 5K, you can take a stroll through the accompanying Health Fair, which includes complimentary samples, demos, educational opportunities, entertainment and more. werunwild.com
February
Double Bridge Run The annual Double Bridge Run 15K/5K presented 38 pensacolasports.org
by Publix and hosted by Pensacola Sports takes runners on journey through Historic Downtown Pensacola and over Pensacola Bay into the coastal community of Gulf Breeze then onto beautiful Pensacola Beach. It is one of the premier 15K races in the country and the event takes place in the cooler winter months, making for the perfect running climate. From the culturally rich historic districts of Downtown Pensacola to the picturesque Bayfront Parkway and diverse Gulf Islands Seashore, you’ll be on a sight-seeing adventure while you make a run for the gold (or your next best time). Share your moments and see your photos on Pensacola Sports by adding the #doublebridgerun to your Instagram uploads. doublebridgerun.com
Blackwater Trail Run Challenge Do you pride yourself on being an ultra runner? Then race number three of the Black Water Trail Series might be just the run for you. Test your ability on the Ultra 50K Blackwater Trail Run Challenge: a stimulating
but relatively flat 50K course that takes you along the naturally beautiful Jackson Trail between Bear and Hurricane lakes in Milton’s Blackwater River State Forest. The trail run offers the ideal opportunity for pushing yourself to reaching new distances and achieving new personal bests, or simply checking your fitness for any of the upcoming longer races. What’s more, because the event takes place in February, you can bet on avoiding the harsher, humid weather for which Florida is known. While you’re still guaranteed to break a sweat, the cool breezes will offer a muchneeded respite to keeping you moving. werunwild.com
March
Bayou Hills Run Whether you’re part of a fun-seeking family or you’re a serious runner looking to maintain your stride, you won’t want to miss out on the Bayou Hills Run hosted by Creative Learning Academy every March. Put on your running shoes and take to the streets of East Hill Neighborhood for an event that offers participants the
choice of running in a 10K, 5K or one mile Kids Run. The run starts off in Downtown Pensacola’s waterfront Bayview Park, taking runners through challenging courses and great views all within a family-friendly atmosphere. Stick around post race for the after party, where there will be food and fun in addition to the awarding of medals and prizes to over sixteen age categories for men and women.
McGuire’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run What better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with McGuire’s annual 5K run? Going on its 40th year, the event starts and finishes at the McGuire’s Irish Pub in Downtown Pensacola. The race must be finished in under one hour and any stragglers will be picked up by the McGuire’s bus. What makes this run a little different from all the rest is not only its St. Patty’s Day theme, but the fact that it is a prediction run—participants guesstimate how long it will take them to complete the race and those who come closest to the predicted time wins. Of course, the race concludes every year with
BePowerful Pensacola Beach Run - January Kick off your New Year the right way, and make concrete plans to achieve your resolutions for better health, by sprinting into one of the premier road races in the Southeast: the Pensacola Beach Run Half Marathon and 10K/5K race hosted by the Pensacola Runners Association. This is a “pick your distance” event, which means you do not have to decide on whether you want to run in the 10K or 5K until the day of the race. All three courses are flat and fast, starting at the Casino Beach Parking lot and heading east toward many beautiful beach houses neighborhoods before traveling the Via DeLuna for breathtaking views of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Stay tuned post-race for the after party, when there will be free food and drinks for all who participated. pensacolarunners.com
a bash at McGuire’s—where participants sip suds, dine on the best Irish grub, and show off their Irish jig.
April
Tri The Island Triathlon We want you to try your mightiest to top your best triathlon time for next year’s Tri the Island, the newest triathlon event organized by the nationally-recognized Santa Rosa Island Triathlon, Inc. The event encourages and invites both first-timers and seasoned triathletes to gather up their gear and get ready to set off to the races. The event offers an ideal introduction to the sport of triathlon for those beginners who may just be getting their feet wet. However, it is also a great opportunity for experienced triathletes to kick off their season with a “red line” race. This USAT sanctioned race includes a 300-yard swim, 10-mile bike trail, and a two-mile run. But, the fun isn’t over after you’re done: the Santa Rosa Island Triathlon, Inc. ensures a tremendous post-race celebration for athletes. santarosaislandtriathlon.com
May
Fiesta of Five Flags 10K/5K Close out your spring racing season with the premier heritage road race in Northwest Florida: the Fiesta of Five Flags 10K/5K
sponsored by Pensacola Runners Association, which coincides with the Pensacola Crawfish Festival every April. Both the 10K and 5K races offer fast and beautiful trails winding through the heart of Pensacola. While the 10K begins at Pensacola State College and the 5K begins at Scott Street and 12th Avenue, the finish line for both races is Seville Square in Downtown Pensacola. As an added bonus all Fiesta runners receive free admission to the Pensacola Crawfish Festival. You’re guaranteed to burn some carbs and work up an appetite, so after the run be sure to join in celebrating the event’s 41st year by relaxing with some Cajun food and fun. pensacolarunners.com
Pensacola Beach Triathlon What offers an amazing venue for a swim, run and bike? The annual Pensacola Beach Triathlon held on the backdrop of Pensacola Beach. The triple-threat course consists of a 300-yard swim, 10-mile bike ride, and threemile run. Participants start on with the swim, which is held in the protected sound behind Flounders Restaurant, before they move on to the transition area in Casino Beach parking lot to hit their pedal to the metal, biking before running to the finish line. As another flat and fast course, it doesn’t matter if this is your first
or tenth time competing, as many participants use the triathlon as a means for speed training or keeping in shape for the many athletic events ahead. You don’t have to head home after you’re done: catch your breath and cool off at the great after party in Flounders. multisport.com
Bear Lake Four-Mile Trail Challenge Go rugged and run wild on the Bear Lake Four-Mile Trail Challenge taking place at the Bear Lake Recreation area within Blackwater State Forest in May. Unlike other runs, you’ll be traversing on a variety of surfaces ranging from sandy dirt, which may turn muddy depending on the weather, to grass and raised wooden boardwalks. This Pensacola Runners Association event will take you in a trail around the beautiful Bear Lake. Immediately following the race, the Pensacola Runners Association will host a cookout open to all participants who registered, where you can meet other members of the association and learn more about how the organization works. pensacolarunners.com
June
Gary McAdams Scholarship 5k Run/ Walk For the past 19 years, the Gary McAdams 5K Scholarship race has
awarded tens of thousands in scholarships to inspiring students. This is a “Rave Run,” named for its promise of a picture-perfect scenic route, taking participants along some of the best beaches in the world—including our very own Pensacola Beach. The course starts at the Pensacola Beach Pavilion, then proceeds east down Via De Luna Drive alongside the various great hotels, restaurants and bars. The race continues down the neighborhood streets of Avenida 10, Ariola Drive and Maldonado for a completion at the Casino Beach Pavilion. Stick around after the event and join your fellow runners in the legendary Sandshaker award celebration with hydrating sports drinks and plenty of spirits. werunwild.com
July
Ronald McDonald House Firecracker 5K Sport your most patriotic attire as you join the crowd in historic Downtown Pensacola for the annual Firecracker 5K. All proceeds benefit the local Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida. Choose to either run or walk, and feel free to bring along the kiddos—especially for the costume contest. If you bought red and white Ronald socks when you picked up your registration packet, then following the 5K you can join in on the free “Rock Our Socks Fun Run.” Come out not only to show be moved lifestyle magazine 39
BePowerful patriotic pride, but to help out a great cause and have fun while you do. The event will culminate in a post-race celebration with awards, where you can enjoy food and beverages inside Seville Quarter. rmhc-nwfl.org
August
Third Annual Xterra Blackwater Don’t mind getting a little dirty? Then you’re ready to rough it in the third annual XTERRA Blackwater off-road trialthlon returning to Milton, Fla. at Bear Lake. This rugged race includes an 800-yard swim, 13-mile mountain bike, 3.75-mile trail run. The event offers a mixture of family fun and friendly competition that all ability levels will be able to enjoy. The Xterra Blackwater is hosted by SOML Racing is a formidable force in the rescue swimmer community, the fixed-wing and rotarywing communities, and the lives of those who seek to better themselves mentally and physically, as the motto of every Navy Rescue Swimmer is “So Others May Live.” It is a 501c(3) incorporated, nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide positive impact through offering assistance to families of fallen aviators and aircrewman of all US military services, supporting and promoting youth athletic and mentorship programs, as well as fostering national and international athletic competition. All proceeds from SOML races and sales go to supporting their mission. somlracing.org
Argonaut 5K Let’s go, Argos! Suit up for the Argonaut 5K, a fun 5K hosted by the Pensacola Runners Association and a great way to give back to the Northwest Florida running community. You can be certain that 100 percent of proceeds go to support the University of West Florida Argonaut 40 pensacolasports.org
Cross Country Team, who give endless hours of their time volunteering at area races each year. The course is simple yet challenging, starting in front of the UWF track, heading over the rolling hills past the Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary towards the center of campus on Campus Drive, then looping around the median to return on the opposite side of the road before a fast finish on the track. Immediately following the race, there will be an after party featuring free food and beverages for all registered participants at the University of West Florida track. pensacolarunners.com/
September
Pensacola Seafood Don McCloskey 5K Feeling guilty for binging on seafood? Then consider kicking off your fall racing season (and those extra seafood pounds) by signing up for a healthy jaunt through the fast, flat, and spectator-friendly course that is the Don McCloskey 5K, which returns each year as a popular addition to the Pensacola Seafood Festival in Downtown Pensacola. The event honors Don McCloskey, a former Naval aviator who remained an active and inspiring leader in Pensacola’s running community until his death in 2011. Runners begin at Seville Quarter and travel down the beautiful Bayfront Parkway, through Maritime Park, Admiral Mason Park and Historic Downtown Pensacola before a fast finish back in front of Seville Quarter. Don’t let the kids feel left out: following the 5K will be a free one-mile Kids Run. Follow the post-race party at Seville Quarter, or carry on to carb up at the Pensacola Seafood Festival. pensacolarunners.com
Subway Pensacola Cycling Classic - September See the many sides of the Pensacola Bay area with a bike through the annual Subway Pensacola Cycling Classic and compete with the best of the best in the Southeast. Over the course of two days, there will be three stages of intense racing: a three-mile Time Trial on Pensacola Beach, a Road Race just under 25 miles in Milton that weaves through the scenic Blackwater River State Forest, plus a Criterium held in historic Downtown Pensacola. A Criterium, or a crit, is a bike race consisting of several laps around a closed circuit, and, for the Pensacola Cycling Classic, the crit will be a 0.75 mile route starting and finishing at the intersection of Government and Jefferson streets. If you registered too late, don’t worry, there’s always next year! pensacolacyclingclassic.com
October
Bridge to Bridge 5K Instead of burning bridges, burn through them in the third annual Bridge to Bridge 5K, which has quickly become one of the “must do” races in our area. From the emerald waters under your feet to the panoramic view of Pensacola Bay, by running this race you will fall in love all over again with the Pensacola Bay area. The course will start at the base of the Three-Mile Bridge on Pensacola side, taking runners into Gulf Breeze and finishing at the Bridge Bar and Sunset Lounge in under an hour. Don’t run off after the race; the Bridge Bar will host an epic after party voted “Best Post Race Party.” b2b5k.com
Pensacola Mud Run The Pensacola Mud Run is a fundraising event for Pathways For Change, a
Pensacola, Florida nonprofit organization that provides social, educational and spiritual assistance for individuals impacted by poverty, substance abuse and lack of education. The Pensacola Mud Run is a 5 mile/ 20 obstacle course with a 1 mile/ 5 obstacle kid run situated on 150 acres north of Pensacola. This is a family-friendly fun run with 20+ challenging obstacles. Runners can all expect to slip, slide, climb, jump, slog, and swing their way to a fun finish where food, refreshments, and showers are waiting. The morning will start with a competitive heat for the fastest man, woman and team, taking off at 7:30 am, followed by numerous non-competitive heats throughout the day, and ending with the kids run. pensacolamudrun.com
BePowerful November
Pensacola Marathon Combine Veteran’s Day weekend, historic Pensacola, sugar white sandy beaches, add a route atop the bluffs overlooking Escambia Bay, where runners greet the sunrise, and you have the perfect recipe for the 12th Annual Pensacola Marathon. In addition to the 26.2 mile Pensacola Marathon, the event features a 13.1 mile Half Marathon. The starting line for the marathon and half marathon will be near Admiral Mason Park at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Colfax Street, and runners will meet the finish line next to the Vietnam Wall Memorial at 10th Avenue and Romana Street. The course time limit is six hours. Runners can expect various race goodies, such as a custom Pensacola Marathon medal and a commemorative poster part of a three-part series. Your hard work will be rewarded with free refreshments, food and beverages at the finish line, as well. marathonpensacola.com
Seville Quarter Wild Turkey Trot Show off your signature trot as you decide to run or walk in the Seville Quarter Wild Turkey Trot, a great, family-oriented 5K through the streets of Downtown Pensacola. As you might have already guessed, this is a Thanksgiving themed race with proceeds going to help Seville Quarter’s employees prepare and provide complete Thanksgiving dinners to over 125 families in need. This quick and easy flat course starts at the Seville Quarter Entertainment Complex, guiding participants west on Government Street before turning toward Pensacola Bay and taking participants back along the beautiful bay front, returning to the historic district and guiding runners through some of the loveliest homes in the downtown area.
Santa Rosa Island Triathlon - October Ready, set, sprint! The Santa Rosa Island Triathlon, a nationally-known sprint triathlon event, is making a comeback to Pensacola Beach. Participants can expect to swim 600 yards in the Gulf of Mexico in a course that will be configured to take advantage of the currents, as well as an 18-mile bike ride that extends nine miles on Via De Luna into the Gulf Islands National Seashore before returning to the transition area, as well as a 3.1 mile run down Via de Luna into the gulf-side neighborhoods before finishing on Casino Beach Road by the Pensacola Beach Pavilion. santarosaislandtriathlon.com Return to Seville Quarter for a fantastic post-race party with an awards ceremony followed by servings of Turkey Chili, Coca-Cola products, Miller Lite and Wild Turkey Punch. sevillequarter.com
December
Volition Half Marathon & 5K Run united and with the power of choice in the Pensacola Volition Half Marathon and 5K: a course that will take participants through several cultural landmarks, including the Pensacola Historic Village, T.T. Wentworth Museum, Saint Michael’s Cemetery, Old Christ Church, and one of the 10 “Great Streets in America”: Palafox Street. After crossing the finish line victoriously, prepare to refuel with a variety of refreshments and relax with live entertainment in the Vince Whibbs Maritime Park. Keep in mind that new
this year is the Double Duty Challenge: if you run in both Volition America Florida events (the first on October 1 in Clermont and the second in Pensacola on December 3), then you will get a third finisher medal showing your accomplishments. Volition America raises funds to help military families pursue their passions through education, and their half marathon and 5K series of running events empower patriots and athletes to help support families of America’s fallen and wounded soldiers. volitionamerica.com
one of your favorite holiday characters. Stay after the race for delicious Christmas-y treats and hot chocolate followed by plenty of holiday cheer. After you’ve hustled, remember all kids can participate in the Santa Sprint for free. Finish off 2016 on the right note, and keep in shape because it won’t be long before it’s time to make new resolutions for the New Year! werunwild.com
Ho Ho Hustle 5K Looking for a fun holiday 5K that lets you bring the whole family? Look no further than the Ho Ho Hustle 5K, a holiday course that takes racers from Mallory Street to Scenic Highway and Bayou Boulevard back to Mallory Street. Feel free to dress up as a nice (or naughty) elf, or be moved lifestyle magazine 41
BeInformed
42 pensacolasports.org
Marathons, matches and money by Josh Newby
Of the area’s $1.4 billion tourism industry, the economic impact of sports tourism represents a sizeable chunk. Events like marathons and cycling classics draw people with expendable incomes from all over the world to our hotels and restaurants. It is no surprise that tourism is one of the main business sectors in our area, and thanks to sporting events, those visitor dollars are spread to off-peak seasons to allow for round-the-year prosperity. Even for those who already live here, these activities draw people who may not otherwise patronize a local business to grab a bite to eat or a drink after the big race. Long story short, these events encourage the purchasing of goods and services are beyond just the direct cost of facilitating the event. Julian MacQueen, founder and CEO of Innisfree Hotels, knows
this fact well. He touts sports tourism as a main driver of hotel compression, which allows for higher rates and greater profits. “When an influx of people comes to town for a marathon or other sporting event, they take rooms out of inventory,” said MacQueen. “That allows other hotels to adjust their rates accordingly and make more money than they otherwise would have. Sports tourism is a catalyst for compression, one of the most important principles in the hotel industry.” MacQueen went on to say that sports tourism probably accounts for about 10 percent of total business, but since the tournaments often occur during those crucial off-season months, they always represent a welcome influx of business. Locally owned restaurants also benefit from the perennial runs, walks and competitions. Joe Abston, owner of such downtown staples
as Hopjacks, The Tin Cow, and Pot Roast & Pinot, said that whenever people come into town for a multiday event, his restaurants see a lot of business. “Our restaurants are rated really well on travel sites, so people will pick out those destinations before arriving here in Pensacola,” said Abston. “We have to staff up for a lot of these events, from the McGuire’s run to other fun competitions. It’s a great thing for downtown because it in somehow benefits nearly everyone.” In all, amateur sports tourism contributes about $22 million annually to the area and supports nearly 300 jobs. The daily economic impact is about $151 per adult and $75 per youth. The industry also produces more than $55,000 in annual local option sales taxes. While it might be a comparatively small piece of the overall tourism pie, sports are a crucial ingredient to get the area moving, having fun and making money.
The sporting tourism industry accounts for $17.8 million in economic development, up from $16.7 million in 2014 About a thousand people visit indoor sporting events on average, and 800 per outdoor event 70 percent of people visiting for a sports event travel more than 200 miles Roughly 670 room nights are booked per event The daily economic impact is about $151 per adult and $75 per youth $55,000 is produced annually in local option sales taxes Most indoor events are volleyball at 27 percent, followed by basketball at 23 percent and cheerleading at 15 percent Most outdoor events are made up of baseball at 30 percent, followed by soccer at 18 percent and softball and football at 12 percent be moved lifestyle magazine 43
BeMotivated
What if Everyone Ran?
By Paul Epstein
R
ecently, a major running footwear manufacturer used that question as the catalyst for a successful marketing campaign for several years. As successful as the campaign was in the world of running and runners, I don’t think that anyone outside of our world really pondered the question as a real question. Can everyone run? What does it take to run? How would our world be different if everyone actually did run? These are some of things we may ask ourselves as we think about the original question. My attempt to answer the question is not centered on world peace, or saving the environment, or converting everyone into becoming a vegan, or anything like that (not that those things are unworthy). Rather, I’d like to give you, most likely runners, something to think about and more inspiration to get out and run more. First, how do we define running? Well, it’s not walking and it’s not riding a bike, and it involves some level of impact between stepping off a curb and jumping out of an airplane. Now that you know exactly what running is we can move on to the important things like: how does one run? Hopefully you can see that I’m being a bit sarcastic, but running is truly one of the simplest and most rewarding activities that we can do. We don’t really need to define it because it’s like walking or any behavior
44 pensacolasports.org
that we learn as we grow. Here’s the progression: you’re born, you cry when you want food, you learn to crawl when you need to get somewhere, you realize everyone else is taller so you stand and again you need to get somewhere, you see something you want really bad so you need to get there faster, so you learn to run. It’s really that easy. Now we’re back to our original question, or a slightly different version: if running is so easy why isn’t everyone doing it? We all need to get somewhere faster, right? As soon as you learned to ride a bike, you didn’t need to run anymore, and when you finally got a car you didn’t need to run or ride a bike and you got places quickly. And to make running even less desirable, you discovered that if you ran for more than a hundred yards or so, things started to hurt, really bad. Yet, even with all that pain after 100 yards, many people continue to run. They have discovered the secret: the correct gear makes running bearable, even, dare I suggest, enjoyable. We are not all created equal. I’m not talking a constitutional or biblical sense, because in those areas we are all created equally. I’m suggesting that running affects my 135-pound5-foot-6-inch frame slightly different than someone who is 210 pounds and 6’3”. I know that you’re
not interested in the fact that I wear the same size pants that I did when I graduated from high school in 1984, but that’s one of the by-products of decades of regular running. You would really rather know: how does someone who is not 135 pounds and 5’6” run comfortably, healthfully, injury free and enjoy it? Using the correct footwear based on your biomechanics, body type and goals is one of the key elements in running healthfully. The others are: maintaining a regular running regimen that is consistent with those elements, regular strength training and muscle manipulation, and tuning into and acknowledging your body’s strengths and weaknesses. That may sound complicated to some and over simplified to others, but as one has been running more of his
life than not and has built a career around the activity of running, I will attest to the fact that if you follow those four things you will be able to run and enjoy it your entire life. Regardless of your past experience and your perceptions I stand wholly by my previous comment. I’ve personally witnessed hundreds if not thousands of very different people over the years achieve their fitness goals successfully and healthfully through running.
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ART • ENTERTAINMENT • LIFESTYLE
MAGAZINE
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an Interview with Bubba Watson
Road Trip!
Amazing Destinations along Highway 90
SPECIAL BUSINESS CLIMATE SECTION INSIDE
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Tips + Techniques to Sharpen your Skills
AUGUST 2016 • penSAcolAmAGAzine.com
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How do you do it? The four elements that I mentioned earlier are not mutually exclusive; you need them all. You can spend hours on the Internet researching each of the four and come away with so much knowledge that you would probably qualify for some kind of advanced degree. My advice is: don’t do it! Sure you can do some research so you have an idea of the questions that you will want to ask, but there is no need to dig deep and spend hours researching. Find an expert in your community who actually runs. Find someone who has been running for many years and has a successful career in the running, health and fitness, or exercise industry. Your well-meaning, marathon-running neighbor will undoubtedly give you great advice, but his or her advice will be centered on their personal experience and may not apply to you and all of your specific issues. The people who are in these industries and who run regularly themselves have a much broader perspective and years of experience on which to draw from to help you reach your goals. So, what if everyone ran? Well, I would prefer to make the statement rather than answer our original question: everyone should (and can) run! The long-term benefits are truly unparalleled and far out-weigh the obstacles. And everyone can run, regardless of past experience and well-meaning advice. By following the four elements and seeking the advice and guidance of an expert who is personally practicing what they’re “preaching” you can run and improve your health and life.
be moved lifestyle magazine 45
BeCultured
local events Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 11-12. With Pensacola as their home base, the Blue Angels perform the season’s final show at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Gates open at 8 am and there will be a Friday evening show, complete with fireworks display. (850) 452-2583 blueangels.navy.mil
October 2016
Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival Sept. 30–Oct. 2 Sample a variety of mouthwatering seafood dishes, enjoy continuous live entertainment, shop at the many arts-and-crafts vendors and participate in the Fiesta 5K. (850) 433-6512 fiestaoffiveflags.org
Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival Sept. 29–Oct. 2 Original music comes to the island. (850) 341-0889 pensacolabeachsongfest.com
Greek Festival Oct. 7–9 Get festive with traditional Greek dances, gifts, entertainment and dishes, such as baklava, gyros and spanakopita. (850) 433-2662 annunciationgoc.org
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Annual Historic Haunted House Walking Tours
Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival
Oct. 22, 28, 29 A family favorite for Halloween, the narrated tours are led by costumed guides, visiting more than 50 sites. (850) 595-5985 historicpensacola.org
Nov. 4–6 The three-day, juried art show draws more than 200 of the nation’s best painters, potters, sculptors, jewelers, graphic artists, craftsmen and other artists. The arts festival is centered in downtown Pensacola’s beautiful historic Seville Square, and features live musicians, delicious food, and hands-on activities for the children. ggaf.org
Annual Pensacola Interstate Fair Oct. 20–30 With big-name entertainment, games, rides and exhibits, the fair is fun for the whole family. (850) 944-4500 pensacolafair.com
November
The 32nd Annual Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival Nov. 3–13 Musicians from across the world bring music to Perdido Key. (850) 492-7664 fbisf.com
Pensacola Craft Beer Festival TBA This festival celebrating home brews and small batch beers is held at the Blue Wahoos Stadium at Community Maritime Park. Food vendors and live entertainment will also be present. pcbeer.com
Pensacola Wine Festival TBA Sample a variety of wines from all over the world. (850) 434-5371 pensacolawinefestival.com
Foo Foo Festival Nov. 3 What’s special about Foo Foo Fest? It’s a 12-day celebration of culturally creative happenings, events and moments all gathered under one banner to attract visitors and residents alike to beautiful Pensacola for the month of November—right when a breeze is in the air. The lineup for this year currently includes 20 events, but stay tuned to the festival’s website to keep posted on new events added every week. While some events are free, others require a ticket, and you may find more information on each event’s information page. You won’t
want to pass up the chance to fill your fall schedule with events of high artistic and cultural caliber delivered with a hefty dose of Southern sophistication. For whatever moves you, this annual smorgasbord of arts, culture, sports, cuisine and heritage is guaranteed to motivate you. foofoofest.com
Creek Indian Tribe Indian Day Celebration Nov. 19 Attend this annual Creek pow-wow in Pace featuring Native American dances, traditional food dishes and authentic crafts. (850) 994-9633
Season The Holidays With Island Spirit TBA Santa Rosa Island hosts numerous holiday events throughout the season. (850) 932-1500 pensacolabeachchamber.com
Elf Parade Nov. 25 Kids dress up and parade five blocks from the T.T. Wentworth, Jr., Florida State Museum to the Saenger Theatre, caroling along the way. (850) 434-5371 elfparade.com
Winterfest Trolley Tours Nov. 20–Dec. 23 Trolleys act as theaters taking passengers to a series of interactive performances in historic downtown. (850) 435-0914 pensacolawinterfest.org
December
Annual Snowball Derby Nov. 30–Dec. 4 Auto racing fans delight in the action at Five Flags Speedway. (850) 944-8400 fiveflagsspeedway.com
Lighted Boat Parade Dec. 3 The nautical parade officially delivers Santa Claus to the island. (850) 932-1500 visitpensacolabeach.com
Surfing Santa Parade Dec. 4 Holiday floats wind their way down Santa Rosa Island’s main street. Santa rides atop his a red fire engine and visits with children. (850) 932-1500 visitpensacolabeach.com
Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade TBA Downtown Pensacola comes alive with this lighted, familyfriendly parade. (850) 450-3792 coxpensacolachristmasparade.org
Big Lagoon’s Christmas in The Park TBA Enjoy hot chocolate and Christmas lights in this natural, waterfront setting. (850) 492-4660 visitperdido.com
Annual Pelican Drop Dec. 31 Families can enjoy a street-party atmosphere downtown with live music, and fireworks, along with a 10-foot, half-ton illuminated pelican that’s dropped 100 feet at midnight. (850) 435-1603 pensacolapelicandrop.com
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Dec. 31. End the year with a bang with a fireworks display over the Gulf of Mexico. (850) 932-1500 pensacolabeachchamber.com
Pensacon Feb. 17–19 Fans of all genres, such as sci-fi, horror, comics, anime, fantasy and more—will gather to cosplay and indulge in the favorite fictional world. In addition to exhibits, there will be panels featuring actors and guest speakers. pensacon.com
January
Polar Bear Dip Jan. 1 Brave the waves and dive into the new year with the annual Polar Bear Dip hosted by the Flora-Bama. Located on the beach behind the Flora-Bama Lounge, the event starts at noon followed with a lunch of cornbread, ham and blackeyed peas. (850) 492-0611 florabama.com
Mardi Gras Kick Off Celebration Jan. 6 Mardi Gras season kicks off in the streets of Downtown Pensacola with the parade, music, beads and more. Festivities start at 5 pm. (850) 436-7638 pensacolamardigras.com
February
Chicago, the Broadway Musical Feb. 4 Saenger Theatre Set amidst the razzle-dazzle
decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who maliciously murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. She hires Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids. pensacolasaenger.com
Short Attention Span Theater Feb. 9 and 14 Pensacola Little Theatre Enjoy a night of six one acts about love, romance, relationships. A great Valentine’s date night! pensacolalittletheatre.com
Annual Krewe of Lafitte Mardi Gras Illuminated Parade Feb. 24 Enjoy the annual illuminated night parade with lighted floats, marching bands and festivities be moved lifestyle magazine 47
BeCultured 33rd Annual Crawfish Festival Apr. 28–30 Don’t be shy: dig in and get your Cajun on with over 16,000 pounds of boiled crawfish for chowing down on while you enjoy the beautiful Pensacola Bay and celebrate the founding of our city during the 33rd annual Pensacola Crawfish Festival from April 28 to April 30, 2017. There will be tons of good eats in the form of traditional Cajun staples like red beans and rice, boudin balls and seafood gumbo, as well as plenty of good times with live music, a kid’s area that includes the famous NASCRAW. Admission is $5 daily or $10 for a weekend pass, or free for children under 12 and active military who present an ID. fiestaoffiveflags.org
through Downtown Pensacola. Parade starts at 7 pm. pensacolamardigras.com
Grand Mardi Gras Parade Feb. 25 The Grand Mardi Gras Parade is biggest Mardi gras parade of the year. Taking place in downtown Pensacola on Palafox and Garden streets, the parade starts at 2 pm. Festivities for the whole family and a special area barricaded just for families and children is available to ensure a fun and safe event. (850) 436-7638 pensacolamardigras.com
Fat Tuesday Celebration Feb. 28 Celebrate Fat Tuesday with fun, festivities, and cheer. The celebration begins at 5 pm. (850) 436-7638 pensacolamardigras.com
March
Once, The Broadway Musical. Mar. 1 Saenger Theatre The touching, lyrical musical tells the story of two downon-their-luck musicians, an angst-ridden Dublin street singer/songwriter who works as a vacuum repairman, and a Czech immigrant who sells flowers in order to support 48 pensacolasports.org
herself and her family. pensacolasaenger.com
16th Annual Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire TBA Get dressed in your best renaissance costumes and step back in time to the days of jousting and medieval festivities. Musicians, firebreathers, belly dancers and more await you at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds. renfaire.com
23rd Annual Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts Festival Mar. 11–12 Celebrate the arts at this twoday family-fun festival in Gulf Breeze featuring over 140 national, regional, and local artists. Cash prizes awarded to wining artists. gulfbreezearts.org
Eighth Annual Smokin’ in the Square BBQ Cook-off TBA Enjoy some of the South’s best barbecue in Seville Square. Sanctioned by Kansas City Barbecue Society, Smokin’ in the Square is a festival you don’t want to miss. (850) 516-2622 smokininthesquare.com
Perdido Spring Fest and Fair TBA Enjoy five days of food, carnival rides and games, live entertainment and more for the whole family. Admission is free. (850) 982-8266 perdidospringfest.com
Go Irish On the Island TBA Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a pub-crawl, jig dancing, leprechaun hunt and more on Pensacola Beach. (850) 932-1500 pensacolabeachchamber.com
April
Bands on the Beach TBA. Attend this popular summer evening concert series with local musical favorites playing at Gulfside Pavilion. (850) 932-2257 visitpensacolabeach.com
Perdido Key Wine & Art Festival
TBA. Sample wines from boutique, international and local vineyards as artists display their original paintings, jewelry and sculptures at the Villagio. perdidowineandarts.com
Pensacola Jazzfest Apr. 1–2 Pensacola’s historic Seville Square hosts an event filled with great jazz performed by local and national talents. (850) 433-8382 jazzpensacola.com
Annual Interstate Mullet Toss Apr. 22-24 Perdido Key’s Flora-Bama Lounge hosts this wacky annual tournament that has participants compete in tossing a mullet across state lines. (850) 492-0611 florabama.com
MAY
Rosamond Johnson Day Ceremony TBA Share in a special remembrance of Korean War Hero and Purple Heart recipient, Rosamond Johnson, who was killed during war at the age of 17 while bravely attempting to save fellow soldiers. (850) 492-466 visitperdido.com
Fiesta Children’s Treasure Hunt May 14 Enjoy a free weekend of activities for kids and families. There will be treasure hunts, games and beach adventures. (850) 433-6512 fiestaoffiveflags.org
June
Grand Fiesta Day Parade June 2 The grand parade and celebration, sponsored by Pen Air Federal Credit Union, celebrates the founding of Pensacola. (850) 433-6512 fiestaoffiveflags.org
Centennial Imports Fiesta Boat Parade June 3 Celebrate the founding of Pensacola with a boat parade starting at 1 pm at the Pensacola Yacht Club. Over 25 marine vessels parade from Bayou Chico to Quietwater Boardwalk on Pensacola Beach. (850) 433-6512 fiestaoffiveflags.org
September
Summer Restaurant Week The Fish House, Jackson’s Steakhouse and Atlas Oyster House are joined by sister restaurant Five Sisters Blues Café for what promises to be another great summer hit with locals and visitors alike. The event operates in step with similar events in cities all around the country in which Restaurant Week is a culinary celebration that offers world-class dining at a great value. greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
Emerald Coast Beerfest TBA This event, held every year at Seville Quarter in Downtown Pensacola, is sponsored by the Escambia Bay Homebrewers. Attendees have over a hundred beers to sample, and included in the price of the ticket is a souvenir beer tasting glass and entrance to a post-event concert next door.
Chase your dreams. This should help.
Annual Bill Hargreaves Fishing Rodeo June 15-18. Enjoy great fishing from the Grand Lagoon Yacht Club. (850) 607-7569 billhargreavesfishingrodeo.com
July
Fourth of July Celebration July 4 The family-oriented, patriotic event held downtown is the largest on the Gulf Coast. Fireworks displays are also on Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach. (850) 434-1234 visitpensacola.com Red, White and Blues Week Suit up in your favorite red, white and blue gear to show some spirit while you witness the exhilarating and heart-stopping stunts and maneuvers performed by the world-famous Blue Angels at the annual, summertime hit: Red, White and Blues Week. Be sure to attend the official Pensacola Beach Air Show in which the Blues complete complex aerial acrobatics over the Gulf of Mexico. blueangels.navy.mil
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Pensacola Beach Air Show July 8 This must-see event features a show by the world-famous Blue Angels. (850) 452-3604 visitpensacolabeach.com
August
Outback. Built to take you to the place you’ve never been. Well-equipped at $25,645** Subaru, Outback, EyeSight, and X-MODE are registered trademarks. *EPA-estimated hwy fuel economy for 2017 Subaru Outback 2.5i models. Actual mileage may vary. †Activation with subscription required. Includes one-year trial subscription to Safety Plus connected service. See your retailer for details. **MSRP excludes destination and delivery charges, tax, title, and registration fees. Retailer sets actual price. Certain equipment may be required in specific states, which can modify your MSRP. See your retailer for details. 2017 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited pictured has an MSRP of $32,390.
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Bushwacker Festival
SALES:
TBA This festival is centered on Pensacola’s favorite adult beverage: the milk chocolaty bushwacker. Enjoy a fun run and celebration on the boardwalk. (850) 434-1234 visitpensacola.com
SERVICE:
(850) 438-2227 (850) 438-2227 PARTS: (850) 438-2227 4C Magazine Live: 7.875” x 10.375” Trim: 8.375” x 10.875” Bleed: 8.625” x 11.125” 1SOAOO-16-0122K
Hwy. 29 COLORS
Cyan
SUBARU OF AMERICA MY17 OUTBACK “CHASE YOUR DREAMS” AM: Erin Zurnich YourCCO: begins here. CD:adventure Randy Hughes/Conn Newton AP: Jenny Barnes AD: Michael Rogers CW: Conn Newton / Randy Hughes Photo:
North of Car City PRODUCTION NOTES • All line art & logos are repro
PP: Charlie Wolfe PM: Kelsey Doherty PRF: Seth Woehrle
Pensacola, FL APPROVALS
Proof_____ AD_____ CW_____ GCD_____ AE_____ Prod_____ Client_____
• Unless specified by workorder, all other images “Purchase or leaseMagenta any new (previously untitled) Subaru and receive a complimentary factory scheduled maintenance plan for 2 years or 1:53 24,000 miles (whichever comes first.) See Subaru Added Last Touched :helena.shimizu, 6-30-2016 PM, Production:2016:Subaru:SOA:OO_ are FPO Yellow Brand:6OO0122_MY17_National_Print_Ads:1SOAOO160122K_17OBK_ Security Maintenance Plan for intervals, coverages and limitations. Customer must take delivery before 12-31-2016 and reside within the promotional area. At participating dealers only. See dealer Black ChaseYourDreams_05.indd for program details and eligibility.” Scale: 1” = 1” Printed at: None
Revision #: 5
be moved lifestyle magazine 49
BePlayful
Get Out & Play
Pensacola
By Tonya Vaden Marketing Coordinator for Play Pensacola Parks and Recreation
T
he City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department wants you to Get Out and Play. In fact, we’re so serious about it that we made it a part of our name: Play Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department. With 93 parks, over 200 programs and events, nine neighborhood resource centers, a very active senior citizens center, two seasonal swimming pools, plus an 18-hole golf course and award winning tennis center in the city you’d be hard pressed to say there is nothing to do in Pensacola. Not to mention there are nearly 100 more parks offered by the county, state, and national parks systems. Here in northwest Florida we very fortunate enough to be able to enjoy these facilities year-round with little or no down-time. For the adult sports enthusiast the city organizes softball and kickball leagues year-round and hosts a winter flag football league. Every weeknight, Exchange Park is bustling with players engaging in a little healthy competition with comrades, coworkers and neighbors. The leagues are focused on sportsmanship, team play and fun so it’s not hard to join in and find a team if you’re new to these sports. Youth sports are also abundant with soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball, golf, and tennis leagues and training programs offered by the City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation at various times throughout the year. Youth baseball and tee ball are 50 pensacolasports.org
offered through an agreement with Bill Bond Baseball in the fall and spring while youth football is offered in the fall season through the NEP Wildcats, Pensacola Rattlers and SYSA Tigers. Several of our neighborhood resource centers offer After School programming, summer camps, dance, martial arts and fitness programs to keep kids active and engaged socially. Active seniors have many options available, too, at the Bayview Senior Center and each of the city’s neighborhood resource centers offers programs and classes to keep them active without having to travel far from home. Each September the Pensacola Senior Games taps into the competitive nature of our mature athletes with a two-week long multisport event for adults age 50 and over. Take a swing at golf at Osceola Municipal Golf Course. Part of the Florida Historic Golf Trail, Osceola was established in 1926 and
underwent a complete renovation of the course in 2011. It offers a challenging 18-hole course with practice facility that you are sure to enjoy and remember. The course hosts numerous tournaments through the year and offers group and private lessons. Each quarter they offer a Ladies Clinic on Saturdays for five weeks. Youth classes are also available through the First Tee of Northwest Florida. You can find out more at OsceolaGolf.com. The Roger Scott Tennis Center is serving up fun daily with leagues, private and group lessons, tournaments and regular open court time. RSTC is Northwest Florida’s largest tennis facility and boasts 10 rubico clay courts and 18 hard courts, all lighted. The facility was named “National Municipal Facility of the Year” by Tennis Industry magazine in the publication’s January 2012 issue, and was named USTA Florida
NEW INVENTORY!
Member Organization of the Year in 2007 and 2015. RSTC also plays host to several Pensacola Sports events such as the Bud Light Charity Challenge, Racquet Roundup, and the Pensacola Futures Championship. Organized sports and programs aren’t the only way to get out and get active. Having such an abundance of parks means that there’s plenty of options nearby to get yourself and your family outdoors to have fun. Many of our parks have playground equipment, 58 of them in fact! You’ll also find walking trails, basketball courts, pavilions and grills in many of our neighborhood parks making them the perfect gathering spaces for friends and families to play together. Getting out and being active is simply a matter of finding what you enjoy and then getting started. Play Pensacola Parks and Recreation wants to make that as simple as possible by offering you many ways to learn about programs and facilities offered and stay connected with us. Visit us online at PlayPensacola.com, there you can find a complete listing of parks and get more information about the programs we offer on a regular and seasonal basis and sign up for our PlayUp e-newsletter. Starting this fall you will also be able to sign up for many of those programs through our online registration service. Be sure and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest program and event announcements. Pick up one of our free Activity Guides at your neighborhood resource center, online and around town. You can also reach out to us by calling (850) 436-5670. All that’s left to do next is Get Out & Play!
BLUE ANGEL HOT TUBS & POOLS
850.456.5252 5501 Saufley Field Rd. Pensacola, FL 32526
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26.2 Pensacola Marathon Presented by Publix
The only full marathon in the Pensacola area since 2005, the Pensacola Marathon Presented by Publix replaced the Blue Angel Marathon after the Pensacola Naval Air Station MWR (Moral, Welfare and Recreation) discontinued the event after Hurricane Ivan. Since Pensacola Sports’ management of the event in 2008, the race has grown in size and stature. The event, which coincides with Veteran’s Day Weekend, now features a full marathon, half marathon, 5K, and kids race. The post-race party has grown to feature a “Tasting of Pensacola”, to include BBQ, peel and eat shrimp, red beans and rice, and even oysters, something not usually seen at a marathon postrace party. The race begins and ends at Veteran’s Memorial Park on the Bayfront, then winds its way through the city including historic neighborhoods, downtown, bands, and Pensacola landmarks. The finish line is next to Wall South, the Nation’s only replica of the National Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Pensacola Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier.
Race Date Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 Expo / Packet Pick-Up Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 12 @ the Pensacola Grand Hotel Full, Full Push-Rim Wheelchair, Half, Half Walker, 5K, Kids Event Race Begins at 6:30 a.m. – 6 Hour Time Limit On-Course Entertainment Featuring Live Bands, Drum Lines, Cheer Groups, and more! Race Record Female Anna Hallex (2009) – 2:58:25 Male Matt Dobson (2007) – 2:33:02 Four-Time Defending Male Champion (2012–2015) Brent Schneider 2015 Female Champion Jennifer Perkins be moved lifestyle magazine 53
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Pensacola Marathon
past winners Male winners
Female Winners
2015 - Brent Schneider 2:37:18
2015 - Jennifer Perkins 3:14:6
2014 - Brent Schneider 2:38:14
2014 - Kristy Maxwell 3:18:54
2013 - Brent Schneider 2:35:17
2013 - Amy Ostrofe 2:59:20
2012 - Brent Schneider 2:42:31
2012 - Jyl Horst 3:02:37
2011 - Ben Stephenson 2:54:28
2011 - Jyl Horst 3:02:39
2010 - Matthew Dobson 2:48:58
2010 - Tessa Knott 3:33:07
2009 - Ron Young 2:36:17
2009 - Dawn Kane 3:17:26
2008 - Matthew Dobson 2:43:03
2008 - Tara Lenn 3:11:47
2007 - Matthew Dobson 2:33:02
2007 - Kiersten Schnacke 3:18:54
2006 - Chuck Engle 2:29:09
2006 - Rebecca Jordan 3:24:59
2005 - Alonzo Lewis III 3:01:04
2005 - Kelly Wild 3:01:04
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Pensacola
Double Bridge Run presented by Publix Pensacola’s premier running event, the Pensacola Double Bridge Run is a must-do for active people both locally and nationally. 2017 will mark the event’s 20th anniversary of running over the 3-mile bridge and finishing on Pensacola Beach. The race’s feature distance, the 15K, has grown to be nationally ranked and will have more than 3,500 participants in this year’s race. The course starts on the water at the Community Maritime Park where the runners are greeted with a beautiful sunrise. It takes participants through a brief tour of downtown Pensacola, then onto Bayfront before getting on the 3-mile bridge. After the bridge comes Gulf Breeze, where the 5K starts. Unique to this race is the 1,500 5K participants line Hwy. 98 and cheer on the 15K runners as they pass. From there, runners run up and around the famous Pensacola Beach sign, over the Bob Sikes Bridge and finish on Pensacola Beach at the boardwalk. When it’s over, runners will have run over four miles of bridges and had six miles of water views.
Race Date Saturday, February 4, 2017 Expo/Packet Pick-Up Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front Thursday, Feb. 2 and Friday Feb. 3 15K Run, 5K Run, 5K Walk Race Begins at 7:00 a.m. 14 minute per mile page required Race Record Female Janet Cherobon (2011) – 49:58:00 Male James Carney (2009) – 43:31:00 2016 Defending Male Champion Julius Koskei 2016 Defending Female Champion Demse Tewabech be moved lifestyle magazine 59
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Double Bridge Run
past winners Male winners
Female Winners
2016 - Julius Koskei 46:49 2015 - Tyler McCandless 45:18 2014 - Tyler McCandless 45:19 2013 - Tyler McCandless 46:12 2012 - Reuben Mwei 46:51 2011 - Mark Kenneally 43:35 2010 - James Carney 44:46 2009 - JAMES CARNEY 43:31 (course record) 2008 - Christian Hesch 45:34 2007 - Everett Whiteside 46:26 2006 - Michael Padilla 46:59 2005 - Everett Whiteside 47:04 2004 - Billy Bohlke 48:06 2003 - Everett Whiteside 45:33 2002 - 10K winner – Eric Mayes in 35:07 2002 - Everett Whiteside 45:12 2001 - Everett Whiteside 46:29 2000 - Everett Whiteside 46:12 1999 - (15K) Everett Whiteside 45:55 1998 - (12K) Everett Whiteside 36:31
2016 - Demse Tewabech 52:16 2015 - Allie Kieffer 55:41 2014 - Cynthia Jerop – 52:29 2013 - Sonja Friend-Uhl 54:56 2012 - Molly Pritz 53:49 2011 - Janet Cherobon 49:58 2010 - Janet Cherobon 51:04 2009 - AMY RUDOLPH 53:25 2008 - Amy Rudolph 53:55 2007 - Ann McGranahan 54:17 2006 - Dawn Kane 1: 01:04 2005 - Jennifer Hanley 58:43 2004 - Jenny Ledford 2003 - Jennifer Hanley 59:07 2002 - Jennifer Hanley 57:11 2001 - Jennifer Hanley 57:45 2000 - Jennifer Hanley 59:52 1999 - (15K) Sarah Kramer 56:36 1998 - (12K) Kelly Wild 45:40
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BeInspired
Pensacola Marathon
Participant Stories
Hometown Champ Brent Schneider, 36
Four-time Pensacola Marathon champion Brent Schneider will be participating in the Pensacola Marathon once again this November. The 34-year-old Pensacola resident will be attempting to beat his best completion time of 2:34:18. Brent also hopes to win the race again and possibly set a course record. Currently a civil engineer for Escambia County, Brent participated in cross-country, as well as track and field, while studying at the University of Florida. He has always loved running and claims it gives him a sense of balance and relief. For Brent there was “always a goal to run the Boston Marathon.” Fortunately, he accomplished this goal just this past April. Brent has also completed the Chicago Marathon and the Gainesville Marathon. When asked what marathon was the most challenging for him, Brent explains the most difficult race for him was the Chicago Marathon, which he ran in 2007. “Conditions were unseasonably hot, and, although I finished, I suffered through severe heat exhaustion,” says Brent. To prepare for the upcoming marathon, Brent does a mixture of training runs and core exercises. He increases the mileage for his runs until a few weeks before the marathon, when he will ease off in order to give his body a chance to rest before the race. Now that he has accomplished the Boston Marathon, Brent’s goal is to continue challenging himself to run in the Pensacola Marathon and other local races. Brent says he hopes continuing to participate in races will “inspire others to accomplish their own personal goals.”
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BeInspired
A Family of Inspiration Tina Page, 42
Tina Page is a 42-year-old employee at Navy Federal who often found herself turning to food to cope with her stress. However, the stress eating eventually took a toll on her body. After years of being a caretaker for those around her, Tina decided it was time to focus on her own health. In 2015 she began training for her first 5K and found a passion for running. She then accomplished the 5K Double Bridge Run, Bayou Hills 10K, and Fiesta 10k. Since she began running, she has managed to lose an astounding 120 pounds. Her goal to complete the half marathon will be what she calls “a walk in the park” compared to the hurdles her family members have overcome. After suffering three strokes between 2011 and 2012, her husband continues to work and won’t let his health stop him from being productive. Likewise, her son didn’t let his epilepsy stop him from recently graduating high school. Her biggest motivation is
her daughter who was diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, in 2006. After being told she may never walk again, her daughter beat the odds and became the captain of her high school color guard team. Watching her daughter dance gives Tina strength when things get tough. Now a ten-year cancer survivor currently attending college, her daughter continues to be an inspiration to Tina. To prepare for the Half Marathon, Tina does strength training four days a week and uses a marathon training app to track her running. She runs on the weekends, extending her distance a little farther each time. Her children, who paid the registration fee for her first half marathon as a birthday gift, are her strength to keep moving forward and run to the finish line.
Marathon Maniac Ben Hall, 39
Ben Hall is a 39-year-old fire chief from Blountstown, Fla., who completed the Pensacola Marathon back in 2014, qualifying him to become a Marathon Maniac. Also a member of Team Fox, Ben helps to raise awareness and money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Watching his mother, a breast cancer survivor, live with Parkinson’s disease has given him a personal reason to help the foundation. Hall hopes a cure for Parkinson’s will be found in his lifetime. At 34, Ben began running because of health concerns and set a goal to run his first marathon by the age of 35. He succeeded in accomplishing his goal and has since completed nine marathons, one of which was a 50K Ultramarathon. Ben will be running another 50K Ultramarathon three weeks before the Pensacola Marathon, for a
total of eleven marathons. He will be running the Full Marathon on his 40th birthday with his running partner and three other members of his cleverly titled running team, “A Case of the Runs.” Also, Ben will be bringing his wife and daughters along to participate in the Pensacola Half Marathon, Pensacola 5K, and Kid’s Marathon. "I've run nine marathons and over 20 half marathons and the Pensacola Marathon post-race party and expo has been by far the best," said Ben Hall. "It is obvious the Pensacola Marathon sponsors are dedicated to making the race one of the best around. I'm looking forward to what Pensacola Marathon has in store for this year!"
A Competitive Spirit Trey Thornhill, 28
Trey Thornhill is a 28-year-old college student from Daphne, Ala., pursuing a career in teaching. He will be running the Pensacola Marathon this year for the first time. He has previously accomplished the Double Bridge Run, Gulf Coast Half Marathon, and Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon. Trey began using walking as an exercise to lose weight. After a while, he began jogging and later decided to join a half marathon training group. Running helped him to find the competitive spirit he once had while playing sports in high school. He really enjoys running and suggests it is a convenient 64 pensacolasports.org
and inexpensive activity for getting healthy. So far, he has lost over 100 pounds and hopes he will continue to lose weight while training, so he will be able to run a faster mile per minute and continue on his path to better health. To prepare for the upcoming run, Trey will train with a coach as he approaches race day.
BeInspired
50 by 40
Derrick Pierce, 40 Derrick Pierce is a resident of Bentonville, Arkansas who will be running the upcoming Pensacola Marathon for the first time. Since Derrick has a family history of cardiovascular disease, he runs to maintain optimal health overall. He has spent the last few years attempting marathons in all 50 states. So far, the 36-year-old optometrist has completed marathons in 21 different states and hopes to have his 24th state marathon medal by the time he runs the Pensacola Marathon in November. Saying there are many places that he likely would not have visited if he wasn’t doing the 50 states challenge, he loves the opportunity participating in marathons gives
him to travel. He aims to complete a marathon in each state by the age of 40. To prepare for marathons, Derrick does training runs. However, since he runs four to five marathons in the spring, and four to five in the fall, attempting to have three weeks between races, Derrick often uses one marathon as a training run for the next. He enjoys running and uses the time to escape into audiobooks.
Sharing the Victory Daniel Guy, 26
Daniel Guy is a 26-year-old airman currently living in Colorado, but will be returning to his hometown to run the Pensacola Marathon. He has always been active, but didn’t discover his passion for endurance racing until joining the U.S. Airforce in 2008. While stationed in Guam, Daniel had the opportunity to be part of a great running community and began competing in events. Daniel has completed racing events such as the Cebu, Philippines Ironman Championship, the Colorado Colfax Marathon, and last year’s Half Marathon in Pensacola. He claims that running these races and training has helped him through tough times in life. While his strenuous workout includes strength training, cycling, and swimming, he believes proper nutrition is the most important aspect of staying healthy for sports and for life. He wants to be an advocate for proper nutrition and motivate others to have determination and push their limits. The Pensacola Marathon will be Daniel’s fifth, and he
aspires to qualify for the Boston Marathon and represent his hometown. His driving force behind participating in races is to push the limits of the mind and body. Daniel is humbled by how mighty and beautiful racing can be. According to Daniel, making his way home for the race where his family and friends can experience this accomplishment with him is very special. Since Daniel runs for his father, grandparents, and three sisters, it will be an exciting occasion to be able to share his victory with them. "Since becoming an advocate runner I have had the opportunity to participate in events all over the world," said Daniel Guy. "Compared to others, I really felt the passion and care from everyone involved in the Pensacola area, which made me love it even more. Pensacola's running community has grown so much over the past years and the city is one of my favorite places to run and now race!"
Motivating Others to Move Jen Davis, 48
Jeri Davis is an X-ray technician from Ozark, Mo. She will be running the Half Marathon this year and visiting the Pensacola area for the first time. For the past four years, 48-yearold Jeri has been running and participating in marathons to push herself to keep training. At 4’ 10”, she doesn’t let obstacles, no matter how big or small, get in her way. Jeri hopes running and completing marathons will inspire other to move, just as it has inspired someone near and dear to her: Jeri’s passion for running has become motivation for her sister-in-law, Kim Judd, to begin running, as well. As Jeri runs the marathon this year, she will be supporting Kim, who will be participating in her very first half marathon. Jeri stays trained because she runs many marathons each year. Currently, she has
completed six full marathons. Her personal goal is to run a half or full marathon in all 50 states. So far, Jeri has accomplished runs in 13 states and expects to have two more states marked off of her list by the end of the year.
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BeInspired
Participant Stories
Dedicated to the Race Three-time Pensacola Double Bridge Run champion Tyler McCandless will return to compete in the 2017 15K. The 2016 US Olympic trials kept the Boulder, Colo. resident from participating in the 2016 DBR, but he is excited to return to the area for the 20th anniversary of the Pensacola Double Bridge Run. Tyler found his love for running when he started running track in order to prepare for his ninth grade soccer team; however, his passion for running grew and within two years he quit soccer. He continued running for his high school team and into college where he earned a PhD in Meteorology. Now McCandless is a senior energy analyst for Ascend Analytics. Currently, Tyler Participates in about 20-25 races per year and he has run in ten marathons, two of which were US Olympic Trials. Tyler has competed in the DBR five times and aims to one day set the course record time for the race, which is now set at 43:31. Set during his most recent win in 2015, his personal record for the DBR is 45:18, so we may see him picking up the pace at the next
Just Keep Running 39-year-old Jennifer Pinto is a resident of Jacksonville, Fla., but she grew up in Gulf Breeze. While attending Gulf Breeze High School, she participated in cross-country and track. Jennifer has completed the Pensacola Double Bridge Run (DBR) 14 times since 2000, winning five times and coming in second place five times. While her record run time for the DBR was 54:28 in 2009, her last win was in 2005. As Jennifer’s run time got faster, so did her competition. Jennifer has completed many races, including 15 marathons. She participated in the Disney, NYC, Chicago, Marine Corps, and Boston marathons numerous times with a personal record of 2:55. She has also completed eight Ironman races, including three Ironman World Champion starts. She always enjoyed running and aimed to succeed in every race because of her biggest fan, her mother. When Jennifer first began competing in the Double Bridge Run, it was a fun and special race for her because she would run the 15K while her mother walked the 5K. In 2013, she lost her mother to breast cancer and wasn’t up to competing in the race in 2014. 66 pensacolasports.org
race. To prepare for the run he slightly increases his mileage, long runs, intensity, frequency and duration of workouts, just as he does for his Olympic trials training. “The Pensacola Sports event organizers are some of the best in the country,” said Tyler McCandless. “And they are definitely the friendliest group, which brings down anxiety for runners before the event and makes it more fun afterwards. The sponsors and the community support for the DBR also contribute to making the event successful. Running over the bridges at sunrise is certainly something that Pensacola has that I've never experienced in other races!”
Running for Karrah
The following year, she completed the Double Bridge Run again, but an injury prevented her from participating in 2016. Jennifer plans to be back in the race for 2017 for the 20th anniversary of the Double Bridge Run. “I love all the running and tri events that Pensacola Sports puts on,” said Jennifer Pinto. “The staff is always super friendly and inviting, almost like family for me. For a small town they put on some top notch events—great races and great post race parties.”
Shannon Spooneybarger is a 43-year-old homemaker from Tifton, Ga. Shortly before turning 40, she was at her heaviest weight. Shannon was faced with the decision to lose weight, or buy larger clothes, so she began running to get in shape. In 2012, Shannon started the couch to 5K program and began training for her first 5K. Her past inconsistent exercise habits made the training a challenge. Looking back, she remembers her first one-minute run being a bigger obstacle than her first 5K race. After working hard for nine weeks, Shannon ran her first 5K, the Pensacola Beach Run. Amazingly, she ran the 5K on her 40th birthday with friends alongside her. The race was an exhilarating and emotional experience for her, especially when she crossed the finish line. Shannon continued training and completed the Pensacola Double Bridge Run and her first half marathon in 2014. While the task seemed impossible, she was thrilled to achieve the goal. Her biggest motivation to continue participating in races is her buddy Karrah. Shannon was paired with Karrah through an organization called “I run for Michael,” which pairs runners with special friends who are unable to run. The group provides inspiration for both runner
and buddy. Running for Karrah gives Shannon a great sense of satisfaction. She has now completed the Double Bridge run three times and participated in four half marathons. Shannon runs regularly to stay prepared for the races and will be participating in the Double Bridge Run again in 2017. “I love the run because it's so beautiful running over 2 .5 bridges and seeing lots of water,” said Shannon Spooneybarger. “I like how there are cheerleaders along the route because that is helpful especially right before you're about to go over the last bridge! I also love having a DJ at the top of 2 bridges because it helps to give me motivation at a very difficult point in the run. The music helps "push me up the hills! The Pensacola Sports events are always well publicized and organized.”
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