Be Moved Magazine, 2018/2019

PENSACOLA'S ACTIVE

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

2018/2019

races The Pensacola Marathon and Double Bridge Run return.

All the race and event info you need.

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contents

A letter from Pensacola Sports 7 About Pensacola Sports 8 Pensacola Sports Board & Staff 9 Be Local: A Look at the Pensacola Area 10 Be Smart: Exercise is at the Heart of a Healthy Lifestyle 14 Be Involved: Pensacola Sports and the Military 16 Be Challenged: De Luna's Beach Games

18 Be Fit: Who are the Pensacola Runners Association?

21 Be Informed: The Power of Sports

23 Be Healthy: Food for Fuel 24 Be Inspired: Student Profiles 26 Be Motivated: Tara Blackwell 30 Be Innovative: Bill Hamilton 32 Be Active: Outdoor Gems 35 Be Physical: Game, Set, Match.

38 Be Competitve: On the Water

40 Be Focused: Swimming Clubs Offer Life Lessons to Area Youth 42 Be Kind: Special Olympics Florida 44 Be Powerful: Local Endurance Events Calendar 46 Be Cultured: Local Events

51 Pensacola Marathon 54 Double Bridge Run 60

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Produced for

A Message from Pensacola Sports

by Thank you for your interest in Pensacola Sports and the greater Pensacola community. As we look forward to the coming year, Pensacola Sports is excited about the events and opportunities that lie ahead.

Owners

Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger

Publisher

Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com

Executive Editor

Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com

Art Director

Guy Stevens guy@ballingerpublishing.com

Graphic Designer/Advertising Coordinator Bara'ah Jaraiseh baraah@ballingerpublishing.com

Editor

Will Isern will@ballingerpublishing.com

As the leader in our area for event management and sports tourism, Pensacola Sports is passionate about enhancing the quality of life, health, and wellbeing as well as economic development of our area. Some of our largest events each year are the Pensacola Double Bridge Run, Subway High School All-Star Series, Cox Diamond Invitational, Pensacola Beach Firefighters Challenge, Bud Light Fishing Rodeo, Racquet Round Up, Kick Start Soccer and the Pensacola Marathon.

Our newest event is DeLuna’s Beach Games. This fun, familyoriented event is held on Pensacola Beach and will include a variety of sporting events including an open water swim, beach volleyball tournament, beach run, putt-putt golf and a scavenger hunt. These are all great events and I encourage you to take part as either a participant or spectator.

Editorial Assistant

Kaitlyn Peacock kaitlyn@ballingerpublishing.com

Editorial Intern

Gina Castro Gina@ballingerpublishing.com

Contributors

Emily Echevarria, Heidi Travis, VISIT Pensacola

In addition to these great events, Pensacola Sports is actively leading the charge for the development of a sports facility located in downtown Pensacola. This facility has been years in the making and will continue to be a focus of the organization as we feel it will be another great feature to our already great community.

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 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. Š 2018

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our members, sponsors, volunteers and Board of Directors for their continued support. Together we are all making a difference and continuing to make Pensacola a first place city.

Again, thank you for your interest in Pensacola Sports and our great city.

Sincerely, Rick Johnson Pensacola Sports Board Chair

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 7

About Pensacola Sports History

Pensacola Sports 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 producing more than 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.

Our Impact, Vision and Mission

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 by giving back through the Pensacola Sports Foundation.

Event Management

We are experts at athletic event management and promotion. 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, the Pensacola

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Marathon and Half Marathon, Subway High School All-Star Series, Bud Light Charity Golf and Tennis Tournaments, Senior Scholars 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. Or 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. www. pensacolasports.org.

Sports Tourism

We are advocates for growing the health and vitality of Pensacola’s economy. 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.

In partnership with Escambia County Tourist Development Council and Visit Pensacola, Pensacola Sports administers a successful grant program to support events that have demonstrated a history of positive economic impact from overnight visitors. Annually, the sports tourism industry provides $23 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 more than 40 area programs and organizations including: • Red Cross Learn to Swim Program • Special Olympics • Senior Scholar Athlete Scholarships • Pensacola Junior Tennis Association • Greater Pensacola Aquatics Club • The First Tee of Northwest Florida • Racquet Roundup • High School All-Star Series Interested in applying for a grant or donating to the foundation?

Contact Pensacola Sports for information or visit our website, www. pensacolasports.org.

Foundation Board Members Cindi Bear Bonner Shirley Cronley Blair Crooke Jackie Gheen Bill Hamilton - Chair Chris Hart John Hutchinson Rhea Kessler Hal Majors - Treasurer Jake Renfroe - Secretary Norm Ross Charlie Sherrill Donovan Whibbs Greg Whibbs Jack Williams - Chair Elect

2018–2019 Pensacola Sports

Board of Directors DIRECTORS AFFILIATION

DIRECTORS

Doug Bates Jim Beran Brad Bradford Zach Brothers Jehan Clark Will Condon Brian Cooper Bill Creedon Brooke Forester Charles Gheen Jackie Gheen Meghan Gilroy-Triolo Bill Hamilton Daniel Herman Domenik Hixon Cam Johnson Rick Johnson, Chair Katie Kehoe David Kemp Rhea Kessler

Phil Kraus, Treasurer UWF Swim Coach/Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club Mike Layton Fsi Group Evan Malone Executive Health Resources (optum and Unite Health Group) Jared Martin Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceutical Ti McConnell Boston Scientific Janet Olliff NurseSpring John Panyko Attorney at Law Ajit Patel Days Inn Downtown Ron Pulley City of Gulf Breeze Parks Dept.

Michael Rhodes Escambia County Parks & Recreation Jeff Rogers Gulf Power Norm Ross Escambia County School District Robby Rushing Carver, Darden, et al Brent Scott Medtronic, Inc Dave Scott University of West Florida David Taylor Beggs & Lane, RLLP Mark Taylor The Lewis Bear Company Jason Weeks Santa Rosa County Schools

Clark, Partington, Hart Gilmore Services Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz ActiGraph Swoop Consulting Sacred Heart Health System City of Pensacola WEAR Asst. Professor, Univ. of South Alabama Santa Rosa Island Triathlon Inc. Santa Rosa County Schools A Door Real Estate, LLC Pensacola State College Raymond James Financial Superbowl Charters Cox Communications Trustmark First Bank Holiday Inn Resort Gulf Coast Texans The Kessler Memorial Foundation

AFFILIATION

2018-2019 Pensacola Sports Staff

Ray Palmer

President/CEO

Jason Libbert

Director of Events

Sally Garst

Director of Operations

Mike Price

Event Coordinator

Pensacola Sports 101 W Main St, Pensacola, FL 32502 pensacolasports.org (850) 434-2800

Miriam Yarborough Finance Manager

Candy Carlisle

Administrative Assistant

Amy Marquez

Event Coordinator BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 9

BeLocal

A Look at the Pensacola Area Courtesy of VISIT PENSACOLA

Pensacola is famous for its natural beauty and historic culture. Bay area beaches boast sugar white sand and emerald green waters and are among the most pristine beaches in the world. In fact, these beaches have been ranked among the best in the country by the likes of USA Today, TripAdvisor, Dr. Beach and the Travel Channel. Most recently, in the 2018 10 Best Reader's Choice awards, USA TODAY readers named Pensacola Beach Best Florida Beach and named Gulf Islands National Seashore Best Florida Attraction.

Pensacola Beach

This narrow strip of sugar-white sand features two totally different waterfront experiences, as well as several historical and natural sites that have been preserved for hundreds of years. With only one highway and plenty of sidewalks in between the two shores, you can easily enjoy the Gulf side or opt for the serenity of the sound side.

Public beaches with amenities are abundant, as well as attractions, shopping, dining opportunities and the chance to explore preserved coastal territory.

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The Pensacola Beach boardwalk is home to a variety of shops, restaurants and bars that back right up to the Santa Rosa Sound. Gentle waves, shallow, clear waters and that famous white sand make this the ideal location for families. Bring your chairs, toys and floats for a laid-back beach day on the northern shores of Pensacola Beach.

Anchored at the western tip of Florida, stretching miles along the Gulf of Mexico, Pensacola Beach’s mild temperature, sugar-

white beaches and crystal clear waters draw beach lovers, fishing enthusiasts and environmentalists alike.

Located on Santa Rosa Island, one of the longest barrier islands in the world, Pensacola Beach has an old Florida feel with natural beaches, local hangouts, first-rate fishing and a historic fort.

Named Best East Coast Beach in 2016, visitors can access Gulf Islands National Seashore – the nation’s longest stretch of protected seashore

BeLocal – on both sides of Pensacola Beach.

The secluded national park makes an ideal spot for biking, snorkeling or kayaking.

For history buffs, Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach offers a unique look into the military significance of Pensacola going back before the American Revolution. Designed and built to fortify Pensacola Harbor, the Fort is located on the very tip of Santa Rosa Island within the national seashore.

The Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is one of the longest in the Gulf of Mexico at 1,470 feet, stretching beyond two sand bars. In addition to being a perfect vantage point for some of the most vivid sunsets you’ll ever see, the fishing pier is the perfect place to spot an abundance of marine life – including dolphins, manatees, rays and sharks.

Perdido Key

Spanish for "lost island," Perdido Key holds true to its roots as it remains a Southern sanctuary for people and wildlife of all kinds. Stretching along the far western shores of Florida and the far eastern shores of Alabama, Perdido Key has a unique advantage as the perfect island destination.

Tucked away on a narrow strip of land on the extreme western edge of Florida lies Perdido Key, a barrier island bookmarked by rolling, whitesand dunes and stunning views of the calm Gulf waters on its southern border and abundant wetlands, estuaries and wildlife to its north. It seamlessly combines natural beauty, coastal living and southern charm.

Perdido Key is home to several world-renowned parks such as Johnson Beach at Gulf Islands National Seashore, Perdido Key State Park and Big Lagoon State Park. They each have their own distinctions and play a role in the

coastal ecosystem that has been around for hundreds of years.

Public beaches with amenities, shops, attractions and restaurants are available along the barrier island.

Gulf Islands National Seashore Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key both are home to Florida’s Gulf Islands National Seashore, the longest stretch of federally protected seashore in the United States. The secluded and protected seashore is a perfect escape for fishing, surfing, snorkeling, collecting seashells or just taking it easy.

Not only is the sand of Gulf Islands National Seashore almost blindingly white – it also talks.

"Why," you may ask? The answer is quartz. The beaches here are 99.4 percent pure quartz crystal. The bleached mineral is the result of thousands of years of erosion of the

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 11

BeLocal

Appalachian Mountains and nature carrying its remnants down rivers and streams around the south, eventually powdering the shorelines of Florida’s Panhandle.

Visitors to Florida’s Gulf Islands National Seashore soon discover the sand speaking to them as they walk in the softer areas. To some, the sound may be more like a squeak, but a barefoot walk on our beaches proves the sand talks back.

The Seashore provides endless opportunity for solitude and relaxation and miles of unobstructed views and access to the Gulf. A short hike, bike ride or kayak trip always ensures a swath of beach, sans humans.

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Even without people, you are never truly alone. An abundant ecosystem of marine and terrestrial wildlife surrounds you. Osprey and great blue herons are often overhead, their huge nests visible in the treetops.

Dolphins, sea turtles and rays are commonly spotted swimming near the shore in the crystal-clear waters.

And at varying seasons throughout the year, the Seashore provides a nesting and hatching ground for shorebirds – like the beautiful black skimmers and tiny least terns – and sea turtles, particularly loggerheads.

For adventure seekers, the Seashore offers a wide range of recreational activities including snorkeling, kayaking, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, biking, camping, fort tours, ranger-led programs and more.

Launch your kayak from one of

several oceanside parking lots and make your own itinerary. Watch for the gopher tortoise, Atlantic bottlenose dolphin and more than 300 bird species. Snorkel to see sand dollars, starfish, crabs and fish. Join a ranger-led nature tour to explore life in the brackish marshes or hidden in the shade of tall pines and gnarled live oaks.

For history buffs, the Seashore offers a unique look into the military significance of Pensacola going back before the American Revolution.

Explore three forts designed to fortify Pensacola Harbor – Fort Pickens, Fort Barrancas and Fort McRee – all are included within the Gulf Islands National Seashore and administered by the National Park Service.

BeLocal

Exploring Pensacola’s History Pensacola’s downtown area is full of historic sites, but the truth is that with more than 450 years of history behind it, every step you take on its brick sidewalks or city parks is a part of our country’s earliest days and memories.

Founded by Spanish sailor Don Tristan de Luna in 1559, the Pensacola Bay Area was the first European settlement in the New World. Over the centuries, the flags of Spain, Britain, France, the Confederacy and the United States have flown over the “City of Five Flags.”

Located just a few blocks from Pensacola Bay, the Historic Pensacola Village includes 27 properties in the Pensacola National Register Historic District. Eleven of these properties are interpreted facilities that are open to the public.

The T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, originally the 1908 City Hall building, is a virtual treasure trove of historic artifacts, Americana and West Florida history. Historic Pensacola Village also includes the Pensacola Children's Museum, the Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center, the Museum of Commerce and other sites.

Also, part of Historic Pensacola Village, Old Christ Church on Seville Square was built in 1824.

It’s the oldest church in Florida still on its original site.

On this site, visitors can see where Union soldiers stabled their horses during the Civil War. At a small park at the intersection of Palafox and La Rua Streets is a small, preserved section of old Fort George, built by the British when they occupied the city

from 1763 to 1781. The fort was a major target during the Battle of Pensacola, one of the least known yet most significant battles of the American Revolution. Or you can picnic in the park at Plaza Ferdinand VII, where Gen. Andrew Jackson accepted the territory of West Florida from Spain in 1821 and first raised the U.S. flag in Pensacola.

Belmont-Devilliers is a historic neighborhood centered around Belmont and Devilliers streets. This neighborhood was a melting pot for music, food and entertainment during the early 20th century. The Devilliers Cultural Heritage Museum was created as a performing arts venue to showcase local and national blues, gospel and jazz artists.

Said to have been a burial site since the mid-1700s, St. Michael’s Cemetery near the Pensacola Bay Center is one of the only cemeteries in the country that has both nobility and slaves buried side by side.

And that’s just downtown – the National Naval Aviation Museum, the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum and several waterfront forts are also just a short drive from the heart of the city.

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 13

BeSmart

EXERCISE

IS AT THE HEART OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE If you’re looking for motivation to take that spin class or start training for a one-mile fun run, look no further than the list of ways regular exercise can improve the health of your heart.

Courtesy of Baptist Health Care

To understand how exercise benefits your heart health, it’s important to know how the body’s cardiovascular system works. Your heart is a muscular organ about the size of your fist that is located slightly left of the center of your chest. It works like a pump, circulating blood and oxygen around your body through blood vessels. The heart has four chambers – a left and right atrium and a left and right ventricle. Controlled by four valves, blood flows through 14 PENSACOLASPORTS.ORG

the right atrium and right ventricle into the lungs where it’s refreshed with a new supply of oxygen before it returns to the left atrium and left ventricle to be pumped out to deliver the oxygen to tissues throughout the rest of the body. After the oxygen is delivered, the blood returns to the heart and the cycle continues.

Blood flow is driven by the heartbeat which is actually the contraction and relaxation of the heart. This continuous exchange of oxygen-

poor blood with oxygen-rich blood is necessary to keep you alive.

What role does exercise play in this complex process? Like any other muscle in your body, the heart becomes stronger with regular physical activity.

“A strong heart doesn’t have to work as hard to pump oxygen-rich blood through your body because it doesn’t have to beat as fast,” Interventional

BeSmart If you sit for several hours a day, try to include five to 10 minutes of activity every hour.

“Stand up and get a drink of water or take a short walk,” Dr. Ghumman suggested. “Set an alarm on your smart phone, fitness tracker or email calendar to remind you to get up and move.”

“ YOU C AN BRE AK UP YOUR WORKOUT INTO SHORTER SESSIONS AND RECEIVE THE SAME BENEFIT. THE KEY IS REGUL AR , CONSISTENT ACTIVIT Y.” Cardiologist Muhammad Ghumman, M.D., FACC, of the Baptist Heart and Vascular Institute, said. “It also works more efficiently, which improves blood flow.”

Aerobic exercise is effective in strengthening your heart. Walking, jogging, riding a bike and swimming will all give your heart a good workout by making it beat faster, which increases blood flow. Aerobic exercise will also maximize the amount of oxygen in your blood because you’re breathing faster and more deeply.

Small blood vessels will expand to carry that extra oxygen to your muscles and waste products away.

If you struggle with high blood pressure, regular exercise can lower it and, for some, even eliminate the

need for medication because the heart is working more efficiently. Exercise has similar effects on high cholesterol because it boosts the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol and lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol. Low blood pressure and low cholesterol usually translate to a lower risk of stroke or heart attack.

How much exercise do you need? Dr. Ghumman recommends at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity about five days a week.

“You can break up your workout into shorter sessions and receive the same benefit,” he said. “The key is regular, consistent activity.”

Before you begin an exercise program, be sure to talk with your doctor, especially if you have any chronic conditions that need to be considered in choosing your preferred exercise routine and activity level. Start slowly and build up gradually. For example, you might start with a leisurely five minute walk twice a day. As you gain energy and momentum, you can pick up the pace, frequency and duration every day or so until you reach your goal. Be sure to warm up before you exercise and cool down afterward. Set yourself up for success by wearing comfortable shoes and clothing and be sure to stay hydrated by taking a bottle of water with you or having another source of water nearby.

Remember, too, that you don’t have to belong to a gym to exercise. Mowing the lawn, raking leaves, gardening, dancing and climbing stairs all provide physical activity that is beneficial to your heart health.

Regular, consistent exercise will ultimately improve your health, but warning signs of undetected heart concerns may become apparent during a workout. Stop exercising and seek immediate medical care if you experience chest, neck, jaw or arm pain or tightness, dizziness or faintness, severe shortness of breath or an irregular heartbeat while you’re working out.

Take the first step today toward a healthy heart and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.

BeInvolved

Pensacola Sports and the Military: Volunteering to Better the Community

Pensacola is known for its beautiful beaches and for being the home of the Ice Flyers and Blue Wahoos, but the city has another claim to fame. Known as the “cradle of naval aviation,” Pensacola has a large military presence from Naval Air Station Pensacola and NASP Corry Station in the city to NAS Whiting Field only a short drive away. All three bases are primarily training bases, meaning that thousands of students will travel through the bases each year. These students enjoy our beaches, walk with us down Palafox Street, study and work hard, but they also give back to the community through volunteer work.

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“We always have active volunteer work in the community, not just with sports events,” the Commander of the 479th Student Squadron Lt. Col. Michael Shields said. “However, there is something innate in the military with teamwork, which is why we absolutely love to volunteer with Pensacola Sports, and with sporting events and venues.”

The 479th Student Squadron is the only training squadron for U.S. Air Force combat systems officers, who go through flight training onboard NASP. Students typically spend 11 to 15 months in Pensacola before being sent throughout the country. The skills learned in Pensacola are vital to the students’ work in the military, but their volunteer efforts benefit everyone and help to build a relationship between the military and the local community.

For Shields, who is a Pensacola native, the importance of giving back to the community is vital not only for the students, but for their families and the squadron instructors as well.

“It’s important for the students and their families to know the community that they live in,” Shields said. “What better way than getting involved in the local sporting community and sporting events where they get to meet people that have similar interests as their own… it’s a natural way to link up with the community and to give back, and for the community to see we aren’t just military people going through training.

We have interests, we are people as well. We have hobbies, families, and we care about things just as much as a civilian would.”

Pensacola Sports and the military have been working together for years to bring quality events to the city. Mostly, the students help with the building of events and the tear down, but their efforts have been recognized as vital to the continued operation and safety of events hosted by Pensacola Sports.

“Having the military involved plays an important role in our volunteering efforts,” Pensacola Sports Director of

BeInvolved “It’s important for the students and their families to know the community that they live.

What better way than getting involved in the local sporting community and sporting events where they get to meet people that have similar interests as their own."

Shields explained that he encourages volunteering to his students and instructors because of the many personal and communal benefits.

Events Jason Libbert said. “Whether it’s the runs, the safety courses, acting as marshals, they are helping us set up the start and finish line, taking down the start and finish line, looking out for the safety of the event. They help make a safe event for participants…

It’s just a good relationship where we get volunteer support, and they want and need to be out in the community, supporting people and making an impact on the community.”

Last year, the 479th Squadron alone contributed more than 12,000 volunteer hours from more than 250 service members at 20 events throughout the city. Among their proudest achievements include a golf tournament hosted onboard NASP that raised more than $1,000 for the local children’s hospital and dedicating more than 300 hours to the Legacy Flight Academy, which is an organization that introduces local children to aviation careers through introduction flights. The squadron does not require students to volunteer, meaning volunteer hours are spent with the intent of giving back to the

community, no matter how long or how short the students’ stay will be.

“I want them to want to do it because they are going to get more out of it, which is what volunteering does,” Shields said. “It gives personal satisfaction of what someone achieves and contributes to the community.”

The 479th Squadron is not alone in its efforts in the community. NASP alone hosts dozens of squadrons from four of the major military branches, and each has their own way to giving back.

Libbert said that around 60 Marines who helped volunteer at the 2017 Double Bridge Run were commended for their efforts by a standing ovation from the participants of the run during the opening ceremony. The Navy gives a special award to Sailors who have contributed exceptionally through volunteer efforts to Pensacola called the Margaret Flowers award. Awards such as these highlight the good work done by service members, and continue to encourage students, Sailors and Airmen alike, to get out into the community to volunteer.

“The first benefit is just the personal satisfaction you get out of helping other people and the community,” he said. “The second is you get to see other things that the community has to offer. Even in the last ten years, having gotten to come home to Pensacola to see all the wonderful things that are going on downtown. The Blue Wahoos Stadium, the downtown business, just the growth of it all and seeing all the different opportunities to just enjoy Pensacola, not just Pensacola Beach, but downtown Pensacola as well. When you volunteer, you meet a different group of people that you are not normally around every day. It builds your respect of the local community, at the same time it builds from the local community on us. We’re not just here going through training.

We’re here and we are contributing as well.”

The 479th Squadron currently has more than 470 students training at NASP. These students have volunteered so far in the Fiesta of Five Flags, the Pensacola Bud Light Fishing Rodeo, the Double Bridge Run, among many other events.

Their continued support helps not only Pensacola Sports, but all of Pensacola achieve a closer community and makes some of Pensacola’s best and most anticipated events possible.

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 17

BeChallenged

Deluna's Beach Games Family Friendly Competitions on Pensacola Beach Pensacola Sports has become the local leader in unique, challenging and family friendly sporting events. Their latest athletic event, Deluna’s Beach Games, lives up to the organization’s reputation. Named for Pensacola’s famed founder Don Tristan Deluna, the games feature three levels of open water swimming and much more.

“There is a need for an open water swim in our area,” Pensacola Sports President Ray Palmer said. “We have some great protected water to give athletes a unique event. These three distances will offer a challenge for a wide range of swimmers – those just starting out as well as experienced open water competitors.”

The open water swim takes place behind Flounders in the calm waters of the Pensacola sound and includes three distances – a 0.6 mile sprint, a 1.2 mile short swim and a 2.4 mile long swim. The out and back course turns around a buoy at each distance.

While the sprint is open to any age, athletes in the short and long swims must be 11 years old. Pensacola Sports also makes sure there is plenty of support on the water for those swimmers who may need help.

Awards will be given to winners in each division and age categories as

18 PENSACOLASPORTS.ORG

well as for overall male and female winners. Awards will be given to coed teams and to first, second and third places.

2018 was the inaugural year for the games and the response was very positive, Jason Libbert director of events at Pensacola Sports said.

Libbert also said the 2019 event promises to be even bigger and better.

Along with the open swim, the 2019 Deluna’s Games is planning to add a sunrise run, a scavenger hunt, a puttputt event, volleyball tournament and cornhole.

“The idea is to create a family-friendly day of fun competition, where parents and kids can compete together while enjoying the natural beauty of Pensacola Beach," Libbert said. "The other goal is to have Pensacola Sports as the overarching umbrella. We’ll continue to handle the open swim, but we hope to have other groups take on other components and really include the entire community in the event."

Pensacola Sports envisions the event becoming a full-fledged family sports festival in years to come with future plans for cornhole competitions, skateboarding events and more.

The 2019 Deluna’s Games will take place April 19 and 20. Registration and event information can be found at pensacolasports.org/ delunasbeachgames.

ON THE LINE

RACE SERIES

12.29.18 2.23.19 3.23.19 4.13.19 7.4.19 7.19-20.19 9.28.19

>> >> >> >> >> >> >>

Make It To The Line Run >>> Ya Ya’s I Pink I Can Run BENEFITTING Beach Run/Walk for America’s Warriors GULF COAST Mullet Man Triathalon The Shark Adventure Run CHARITIES! Gulf Coast Paddleboard Championship T.E.A.L There’s a Cure Run

>>>

Races

More info & registration at www.florabama.com

BeFit

Who are the Pensacola Runners Association?

by Will Isern

Running is a popular and effective way to relax and stay in shape and the Pensacola Runners Association (PRA) is the premier community organization for runners in and around Pensacola. From weekly training sessions to local group runs to big races, the PRA connects its members with opportunities to get out and run together all year long. The organization is open to all ages and skill levels and is always welcoming new members. We spoke with Association President Gabriela Garza to learn more about the group and all they do.

What kind of events does the association offer?

We have Monday track training at UWF, we just started a Thursday social run partnered with Gulf Coast Brewery and then we have races throughout the year. We organize the Seafood 5k, the beach run, the trail run in Perdido. In May we have the Fiesta 5K and 10K and our membership run. In August there’s the Argo 5K where all the proceeds go to benefit the track program at UWF. There’s always something to do.

What would say are some of the benefits of joining the association?

For starters, if you’re new to the area we’re going to give you a lot of tips on where and when to run. If you don’t know anybody, we’ll give you the chance to come to our meetings and meet people.

We have a lot of people here so this is a good way to connect.

For example, I came here to the US six years ago and that’s I how I started getting involved, I became involved with the Runners Association and now I have lots of friends and we go running together and we have social events.

About how big is the association?

We have around 700 members.

What’s the age range of the members?

Everybody can bring his or her family, so we have children from 7 to 8 years old all the way to older members who might be in their 80s or 90s; and that’s what it’s meant for, it’s for people of all ages and all speeds to participate. We don’t discriminate. We just want people to get out there and have fun together.

What does it take to sign up?

All you have to do is go to our website and sign up to become a member and you’ll start receiving emails about all our events. We also invite people to volunteer for races so even if, say, I’m not ready to do a half marathon but I still want to participate, I can come volunteer to help set up, stuff like that.

Is there a cost associated with becoming a member?

An individual membership is $15 and you get a $5 discount on all races, so if you do three races, you get your money back. A family membership is $20 and includes the whole family, so if you have five kids you can bring them all.

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 21

BeInformed

THE POWER OF SPORTS A look at the economic impact of sporting events in Escambia County

Pensacola is a sports town, and the world knows it. Events held in and around the city generate millions in economic impact annually. This page looks at the impact of all local sporting events between October 2017 and September 2018.

TOP 3 EVENTS

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

4,348

50th Annual Snowball Derby, December 2017 ...................$4,226,968 US Finals Cheerleading, April 2018 ....................................$2,038,263 USODA Sailing National Championships, July 2018 ...........$1,646,003

34,494 ROOM NIGHTS

22 PENSACOLASPORTS.ORG

$

$23,435,904 DIRECT ECONOMINC IMPACT

3,695 50,029 VISITORS

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Be Moved By Our Cause!

Boutique Hotel & Events Venue Be Moved & Come Rest In Luxury!

Sunny Days provides Pensacola and Pensacola Beach, Florida, vacation experiences to pediatric oncology patients and their families. sunnydaysfoundation.org

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BeHealthy

Food for Fuel

W

hile protein is an important source of fuel, the vitamins and minerals found in plantbased meals are powerful as well. Celebrity chef Candice Kumai – also known as the “Golden Girl of Wellness” – recommends these make-at-home recipes to help brighten and awaken the best flavors at your table.

“Apple cider vinegar is my favorite natural way to cook, look and feel my very best for all of summer,” Kumai said. “These recipes feature its powerful benefits and bright taste, which awaken summertime cooking.”

Kumai recommends her Carrot Beauty Noodles as a show-stopping side dish to accompany main courses, while a light and savory Miso Kale Caesar

Carrot Beauty Noodles

Recipe courtesy of Candice Kumai Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 2

2 cups cooked brown rice or quinoa

3 tablespoons organic red miso paste

3 tablespoons Nature’s Intent Organic Apple Cider Vinegar 1/4 cup rice vinegar

2 tablespoons roasted sesame oil

2 teaspoons honey

2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger

2 tablespoons reduced-sodium tamari or soy sauce

9 cups spiralized carrots

2 cups shelled organic edamame

1 avocado, cubed

2 tablespoons fresh mint (leaves removed from stems)

2 tablespoons ground sesame seeds Cook rice or quinoa according to package directions.

In medium mixing bowl, add red miso paste, apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, roasted sesame oil, honey, ginger and tamari or soy sauce. Whisk well to combine. Add spiralized carrots, edamame and cooked rice or quinoa. Toss well to coat.

Garnish with avocado cubes, fresh mint leaves and ground sesame seeds.

Salad can curb and satisfy appetites before dinner.

Meanwhile, the fresh-and-fruity versatility of this Peach Smoothie means you can enjoy it at breakfast, as a nutritious midday snack or even for dessert.

All three recipes feature raw, unfiltered, made with the mother and can be a chef’s secret ingredient to brighten and awaken taste buds to the true flavors of food by enhancing your favorite recipes during the summer or any time of year. The clean, crisp flavors provide a difference you can see and taste while helping add a perfect sweet-and-sour balance to traditional meals as well as new favorites.

BeHealthy Peach Smoothie

Recipe courtesy of Candice Kumai Prep time: 5 minutes Servings: 2 2 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk 1/2 frozen banana 3/4 cup sweet-potato puree

3 cups frozen organic peaches 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 scoop collagen powder 1-2 tablespoons Nature’s Intent Organic

Apple Cider Vinegar In blender, combine almond milk, banana, sweet-potato puree, peaches, ginger, cinnamon, collagen powder and apple cider vinegar; blend until smooth.

Serve immediately.

Miso Kale Caesar Salad

Recipe courtesy of Candice Kumai Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 2 Dressing: 1/4 cup tahini paste (ground sesame seed paste) 1/4 cup organic red or white miso paste 1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup

3 tablespoons Nature’s Intent Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Salad:

1 large bunch finely chopped curly kale, destemmed 1/2 cup (about 1 ear) raw white corn, shaved off cob

2 cups daikon radish (about 1/2 radish), peeled, halved and thinly sliced into half-moons

2 ripe avocados, halved, pitted, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes

2 tablespoons baked hemp seeds Optional toppings:

8 ounces wild salmon, grilled

8 ounces organic tofu, grilled and cubed To make dressing: In medium mixing bowl, whisk tahini paste, organic miso paste, rice vinegar, honey and apple cider vinegar.

Add kale, corn and daikon radish. Toss well to coat with dressing.

Serve topped with cubed avocado, hemp seeds and salmon or tofu, if desired.

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 25

BeInspired

Student Profiles

by Heidi Travis

Sportsmanship, teamwork, physical fitness, self-esteem—these are just a few of the benefits that children, teens and young adults gain from participation in sports. Studies show that teens who play sports do better in school and are more likely to have high selfesteem, stronger relationships and improved physical health than non-athletes. Youth sports also offer kids the opportunity to experience the satisfaction of working hard to achieve a goal.

The Pensacola area has long been a terrific training ground for young athletes, with many local kids moving up into the big leagues in multiple athletic fields including football, golf, boxing, baseball and more. The following students offer a glimpse into what it takes to succeed as an athlete. Their focus, determination and skills are an inspiration to their communities.

Gustavo Mendoza Tate High School Over the past decade or so, soccer has really started to find its footing in American sports culture. With the success of the women’s national team and the ever-expanding national league, interest for the sport

has ramped up and the fan base just keeps growing.

But this is old news to Gustavo Mendoza. The 16-yearold varsity soccer player for Tate High School has known the love of this sport from the

time he could walk. Before he came to the U.S. four years ago, Mendoza lived in Honduras where he and his family are from. There, soccer was practically a way of life for him.

He played from sun up to sun down.

Of course, playing in the U.S. is a little different than the game he knew from his native Honduras. For one thing, the fields he used to playing on are vastly different.

“The soccer here is very different,” Mendoza said. “In my country, we never played on a grass field. We played on a sand field or gravel. It was one of the first things I really liked about playing in the States because we played on such nice fields.”

Since joining Tate’s varsity team, he’s relished the opportunity to play soccer on a proper pitch, even if it means having to adjust his gameplay a little.

This is not to say that there haven’t been some bumps along the road. Language is the main barrier Mendoza faces. His English is limited. Speaking in his native Spanish, he relates that surpassing this obstacle has been the greatest challenge to his game. In a team sport like soccer, where communicating

with your teammates both on and off the pitch is critical to the gameplay, Mendoza has had to work twice as hard to make himself understood and to understand them.

Another slight hitch in Mendoza’s game is the difference in gameplay style here in the U.S. “I grew accustomed to playing a much faster game in Honduras,” he said. “I’m one of the fastest on my team here and that’s because it’s the way we play in my country. Here I have to be on the level of my fellow teammates, so I adjust my style to theirs.”

American soccer also tends to be a bit more physical, favoring power over speed.

All the same, though the techniques may differ, the love of the game appears to be the universal language that unites Mendoza to his teammates. It’s the sport and the camaraderie it brings that surpasses any barrier.

After high school, Mendoza would love to go on to play on the collegiate level, but today he’s keeping his focus on the here and now as he embraces his love of the game.

BeInspired

Karsun Barrett Fort Walton Beach High School When 17-year-old Karsun Barrett transferred to Fort Walton Beach High School from Melbourne, Fla., his life seemed near picture perfect.

Popular, a stellar student boasting a 4.26 GPA, starting pitcher for his school’s varsity baseball team, a Boys State Representative, as well as a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership representative and a Florida High School Athletic Association studentathlete advisory leader – his Junior year seemed to be filled with all sorts of remarkable accomplishments.

That all came to a screeching halt the night Barrett suffered every pitcher’s worst nightmare.

“We were playing a team from Kentucky and the game had gone into extra innings,

so this was around the tenth inning,” Barrett said. “I had gotten moved in from outfield to first base because our pitching had kind of gotten low, due to the extra innings.

So a kid hit the ball and our second baseman made an amazing diving play. He caught the ball and he threw it but it was a misthrow and it went behind me.

“I ran back and I picked the ball up and I threw it to second base,” he continued.

“And as soon as I threw it there was a searing pain in my shoulder and I just went down. I knew something was really wrong because I’ve never felt pain like that before. It was like the death of me, almost.”

Immediately after the game, Barrett’s family took him to

the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze for an evaluation.

There, they examined his shoulder, ran an MRI and performed a number of tests.

The diagnosis – a posterior labrum tear – left Barrett gutted.

“It was devastating,” Barrett said. “I’m not going to lie. It shocked me. It shocked my mom. When he delivered the news, it was awful.”

Yet Barrett was undaunted, even by this. After surgery on his arm, he wasted no time in jumping right into his extensive therapy regiment, doubling his efforts to mend himself and pave the path that would lead him right back onto the pitcher’s mound.

Today, Barrett continues his intense training regimen.

Because his shoulder is still recovering, most of his focus is on cardiovascular exercise and on strengthening his lower body. Though he expected to make it back to the pitcher’s mound in January, Barrett still plays with the rest of the team, hitting and training with his teammates.

“I start out with running,” he said. “I run a lot sprints.

I do a lot of jumping and explosive work because baseball is a very explosive sport. Everything is done in short increments. I got into lifting with my legs so I do squats and leg presses and a lot different actions mainly involving my legs but I have a tendency to stay away from my arms because that is a no-go for now – no overhead.

For my shoulder, I do a lot of bands and other light stuff to fine tune the muscles in my arm. Stretching. It’s fun seeing what you can do – thinking outside of the box.”

It’s a balance, trying to fit in all of his extra-curricular activities, school work, physical therapy, and baseball training but somehow Barrett makes it all work out. He attributes this to his great support system.

“My coach has been very

open and friendly and understanding about how I have to go to PT to get back on the mound,” Barrett said. “He understands that. Anytime I have a problem he says to go because he knows they are going to be the ones that help me get better. My principal talked to me. My athletics trainer. It’s basically the whole school, at least that’s what it feels like.”

And as if this extraordinary young man were not already a standout, it turns out that Barrett also turns heads on the big screen. A little known fact about him is that he has been modeling and acting in various roles for many years, most notably on billboards and pamphlet’s for Orlando’s Legoland when he was a little boy, The Apprentice, and most recently in the upcoming film Speed Kills starring John Travolta, Kellan Lutz, Katheryn Winnick, Jennifer Esposito and James Remar.

Still, while Hollywood certainly holds some appeal, baseball continues to be Barrett’s first love. When asked what the future holds for him, Barrett says his focus is on graduating and getting into a good college.

Playing baseball in college is and has been a dream of his since childhood. Beyond that, Barrett said that he is seriously considering going into sports medicine, noting that his experiences both in baseball and with this injury and the recovery process give him a unique perspective that he plans to capitalize on. That is one of several options he is considering. One thing is for certain, and that is that whatever Barrett makes up his mind to do, he is sure to hit a home run.

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 27

BeInspired

Merigrace Whited Gulf Breeze High School Merigrace Whited appears to be every bit a typical 16-yearold girl. Friendly, lively,and always smiling, she charms nearly everyone she meets. In school, she makes straight A’s, but it’s on the softball field that she really shines.

Whited’s passion for softball started 10 years ago when she was just a little girl playing tee-ball. She and her father, who played baseball in college, would always practice together and the pair really bonded over the sport. There’s an understanding between them. They both get softball and they get each other.

Today, Whited’s father still helps her practice, especially now that she has upped her game and plays left field for Gulf Breeze High School’s varsity softball team, where her talents and fighting spirit have truly come to light.

What is most remarkable about Whited is her ability to 28 PENSACOLASPORTS.ORG

shine as a player in spite of wrestling with Dysautonomia – a medical condition she was diagnosed with in December 2017. Dysautonomia is a disorder that affects the autonomic nervous system which regulates things like blood pressure, temperature, heart-rate and breathing.

It comes with a number of problematic symptoms including extreme drops in blood pressure, fainting, blurred vision, chronic fatigue and weakness. Whited received her diagnosis after suffering what is known as a pseudoseizure, which landed her in the emergency room.

“I didn’t feel good so we took my pulse and it was like 130,” Whited said, recalling the fateful night. “I went to my room and my mom went in there with me. She just knew that I didn’t feel good. I started laughing uncontrollably and then it turned into me crying.

I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I wasn’t in my body. I kept telling my parents, ‘I’m not here. I don’t feel like I’m here.’ ”This launched an all-out medical investigation which lead from doctor to doctor, test to test just to get to the bottom of this mysterious string of symptoms. Additionally, it was discovered that Whited had a hole in her heart and a hernia which would, in all likelihood, require surgery.

She had to wear a heart monitor at school for four weeks, attending classes and going through her entire day with the apparatus attached to her. Through it all, Whited always took it in stride and found her classmate’s interest in it amusing.

“Everyone wanted to see it in school,” Whited laughed.

“Whenever the electrodes would fall off in class, it would beep. People would just look back at me and I was like – Oh gosh! I’m sorry.”

Whited missed nearly 60 days of school her sophomore year due to all of the medical appointments and tests. It was certainly a marathon for her, but undaunted, Whited persevered.

With only a month until softball tryouts, Whited worried if she would be cleared to play at all.

“I had to miss a lot of school,” Whited said. “The doctors weren’t sure if I would be able to play at all. They had to learn more about my Dysautonomia first.”

A week and a half before try-outs, Whited got the news she had so anxiously been waiting for, and she was cleared to play.

Though Whited started out on the junior varsity team, she was moved up to varsity before the end of the year.

This year, her Junior year at Gulf Breeze High School, she means to pick up right where she left off.

“I just had surgery on August 7,” Whited said. “I had a hernia removed. I’m just now getting cleared. I’m so

excited that I can play.”

When she’s out on the field, Whited is always prepared, armed with plenty of Gatorade which keeps her sodium levels up and helps maintain a stable blood pressure. As is the nature of Dysautonomia, episodes can come on within seconds and without warning, yet Whited doesn’t let that stop her. If she feels it coming on, she just takes a moment to “level out” and then returns to training with the rest of her team.

“If I’m out there, I’m going to push myself to do it,” she said. “I don’t want to just give up and the whole team have to continue without me. If I start getting dizzy, then I cannot keep doing it. Then I have to sit down and resettle.

For the most part though, I just push myself through it.”

The one thing that Whited is adamant about is that she be known for her good game and not for her medical woes.

On this point she is crystal clear.

“I’ve been dealing with it my whole life but we just never knew what it was until last year,” Whited said.

“Obviously I don’t want people to look down on me for it.

I want people to look at me for being a good player and not for – oh she has this, you know what I mean.”

Whited is set to join her teammates again this year and this time she’s got her eyes on the prize at districts which she hopes to win this time around.

BeInspired

Renee Cox UWF Cross-Country Sometimes in life you have to run a full circle to get back on track. This could not be more true for Renee Cox. At 31, the University of West Florida cross country star is chasing down her dream of running competitively and breaking records as she goes. In her Junior season, she received the U.S. Track and Field, Cross Country Coaches Association Division II AllAcademic and All-South Region honors. She continues to make straight A’s in her classes as she works towards her master’s degree to be a nurse practitioner.

But getting where she is has been a marathon. For the 10 years before Cox broke into the collegiate athletics scene, she was a prisoner to addiction. It started when she was in high school, drinking and experimenting with drugs.

By the time she got to college, she would binge for days at a time, losing sight of all else but the bottom of a bottle. When she turned 20, she dropped out of Tallahassee Community College and began work as a bartender.

From there, things only got

worse. She would drink at work, sneaking liquor into her cup. She avoided places that didn’t sell alcohol and was always sure to carry some of her own with her, just in case, so she would never be without.

“It can be a really black hole if you get sucked into it,” Cox said.

“Just to be in an environment where drinking all day and all night is the norm. I started drinking so much and doing Xanax and Adderall with it. In the morning, I would just wake up with withdrawals. I would freak out and be shaking. At that point, I would just drink to be functional and feel normal.”

Then one day, after a threeday drinking jag, Cox awoke to the realization that she had a serious problem. This was not normal college drinking, after all. It was then that she decided she’d had enough and checked herself into detox. This set off a repeating cycle of progress and relapse that went on for some time. Still, it was actually during detox that the idea of running first crept into her mind. While speaking to someone at detox,

the question was posed to her: “What will you substitute for alcohol? What is a better addiction?”

Now, Cox had always rather liked exercise. In high school she had been on a track team for a short time, quitting after a lackluster performance at her debut meet left her feeling demoralized. It was a disappointment she carried around with her since. If only she had just stuck with it, she told herself. If only she had been part of the team.

One fateful night, Cox just started running.

“I think I was about 21,” she said. “I started at the FSU track.

I would go there late at night when I got off work, which isn’t very safe but that’s not the point. All the lights would be off and I would just run. I wouldn’t go that far. I remember the first time I ran a lap. Then I remember the first time I ran a mile. Then one mile became two miles and two miles became three and I just felt so different the nights that I would choose to go to the track and run as opposed to the nights I would go drinking.”

She had no idea how fast she was either. Cox was only vaguely aware of the fact that she always seemed to be outpacing everyone.

“It’s funny because whenever I would run around the track, I would come up with all of these scenarios in my head, imagining myself on a college team,” she said. “It sounds really stupid, but I did it all the time. I remember passing by that stand where the audience is and in my head there would be people and my family would be cheering for me. Sometimes it would bring tears to my eyes.”

Remarkably, she would return to play out this exact scene in her freshman year at UWF. She would run under the bright lights of the FSU track, brought to life by the stand full of friends and family cheering her on as she broke her personal record.

After the birth of her son, Cox channeled her energies back into running and began to sign

up for races for just about every weekend. It wasn’t until then that she truly had a sense of just how fast she was. She just kept placing in the top. It was at one of these races that she met Caleb Carmichael, UWF’s crosscountry coach. Each had come in first in their race and the pair got to talking. They kept in touch after the race, exchanging the occasional message until one day Cox got the idea to pursue nursing at the University of West Florida. What settled any doubt in the matter was discovering that she qualified for UWF’s cross-country team.

Like that, Cox’s fate was sealed.

At 27 years old, she moved to Pensacola and her life finally got back on track.

Today, Cox is in her senior year of cross-country with another year to go before she earns her master’s. She is looking to break the 5K record this year. After graduation, she plans on working as a nurse practitioner specializing in addiction and mental health.

She says she wants to be an example. She wants her patients to know that there is always a way to battle your way through addiction so long as you never give up and always find something inside of yourself to pin your hopes to.

Through it all, Cox has stayed humble and positive. Her genuine spirit, drive, humor and candor show the strength of her character in the face of tremendous adversity. And it’s clear that she truly means every word when she says: “After 10 years of drinking and mistakes, I feel like I’ve been able to have a second chance,” Cox said. “To be able to have something like that – it’s changed my life forever. It just goes to show you that when you change your life and you turn from the things that bring you down, and turn from the negativity, amazing things happen. And they definitely have. It’s been everything I’ve wanted it to be and more.”

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 29

BeMotivated

Tara Blackwell Rise to your Challenge

by Kaitlyn Peacock

Hardship hits everyone in life; it can hit at your highest moment, or your lowest. Often times, it’s not how you define your hardship, it’s how you let your hardship define you. Do you rise to the challenge or grab hold of the nearest thing and hold tight through the storm?

Someone who has leaped for the challenge is Tara Blackwell, athlete, former softball head coach at Pine Forest High School, wellness and lifestyle advocate, blooming entrepreneur, quadriplegic.

After suffering a spinal cord injury during her college sophomore year, Blackwell has spent her life in a wheelchair, but it hasn’t slowed her down.

Pensacola Sports had the honor to speak with Blackwell about all these things and more.

You seem to say you were always the athletic girl in the family.

I started playing ball at two years old out in the backyard hitting off of the tee. So it was just sort of instilled in me. My mom was a softball player so I just immediately had a passion for it, but I explored all avenues and played every sport you can imagine – from soccer to swimming to basketball, cheerleading, volleyball. Most sports, and softball was just my passion and that is what I went on to play in college.

Going into college, you played for Troy University?

Yes, I did. In 2003, I graduated from Pine Forest and went on to a softball scholarship to Troy.

When (the injury) happened, I’m sure it was a shock. What do you remember thinking right after?

I’ll be honest with you, all I could think about was my team. I was at the prime of my career and I knew that I was finally at a point where I was contributing to my team. I had always done everything I could to do that, but I had earned a starting position. I think I had the second highest batting average on the team. So I had a sense of responsibility to them.

And all I said was ‘I don’t think I’m going to be able to play tomorrow.’

After you graduated you went on to do some coaching from what I understand.

While I was adjusting to life as a quadriplegic and figuring out all I could do and all I wanted to, I was also working toward my degree. So in 2013, I was sort of gearing up toward the end of my degree and getting ready to graduate and I get an offer to come and be a volunteer assistant coach for Pine Forest. So I did that while I was finishing my degree. Of course I jumped right on that.

It was a little scary for me at first because I had no idea how the kids were going to receive me and it was a little intimidating, but I knew I had passion for the game and I knew I had knowledge for the game. I wanted to do it, so

I coached for one season as an assistant volunteer. Then, the head coach moved on and I went to the principal and I said ‘Look, why can’t I do this?’

And they said ‘Well, why can’t you? You should apply.’ So I applied for the job and ended up getting the interim position over the summer, so I coached for the summer. And I ended up applying that next fall for the head coaching job. So for the 2014 to 2016 season I was the head coach.

You’ve gotten into your own business ventures since then, I’ve heard.

A couple of years ago, in 2014, the same year I was coaching and graduating, I traveled to Orlando for two weeks to a recovery exercise facility called

BeMotivated

Project Walk. It is now called Next Step Orlando, but I went there and saw a completely different side of therapy. It was more like walking into a gym made for people with my sort of disability. Again, it was very challenging, it was exhausting, which I loved. I felt like I was accomplishing something every time I went in there. My body was learning new things and it was learning old ways and it was just an incredible experience, a very inspiring experience. And I just started thinking about how I wish I could provide something like that in my area. That’s what inspired it. For that last few years, I’ve talked with a lot of people, I’ve met with some professionals, I’m trying to figure out what would be best with our local economy. The most feasible. It’s not about the money for me, it’s about being able to help, even if it’s just one or two people. But I want to provide in one shape or another a community for people with disabilities where they can

"It will be okay, you know? It will be okay. We are given chance after chance after chance to better our lives and to just seize every opportunity to do that."

enhance their overall wellness and quality of life.

A lot of people in this area say that your story is so inspiring and your drive to continue despite what has happened is inspiring. How do you square being that figure, that you are also influencing so many people?

It’s honestly given me such a purpose. They are my accountability. I’m a positive person, so you’re never going to know some of the things I go through on an outside

perspective, but in those moments when I don’t feel like I can go on, I think of all the people that are there. I think that in so many situations, and with all the mental health issues going on today, that anybody going through anything, it’s easy for us to feel alone. Like nobody can understand. But so many people in my life truly do understand, and it’s because they’ve just been there. It’s like every time I keep going, I inspire someone else to keep going, and every time I hear from them about how I’ve touched their lives and what they’ve been faced with, it’s like a snowball effect, a cycle maybe. It’s been truly incredible.

Do you have something you would like to say or you do say to young athletes or people you meet who have had similar or worse accidents than you. Is there something you say to them?

Just to never stop believing because with every door that closes, there’s always one or two or three that will open.

Even though I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities and those are the ones that I talk about, I’ve had doors slam in my face over and over and over throughout my injury so I always try to see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that there is an opportunity that will lie ahead and it will be okay, you know? It will be okay.

We are given chance after chance after chance to better our lives and to just seize every opportunity to do that.

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 31

BeInnovative When did you decide that you wanted to get into athletics? That you wanted to go into coaching?

Probably sometime in my senior college years, senior or junior. I didn’t really know how to go about doing it. So I came home after I graduated from college. I knew I didn’t want to do public school because you couldn’t pick your team and you had to teach in a classroom of tenth graders or ninth graders who are trying to find themselves. I didn’t want to do that. So, I got into Columbus State College, which was Columbus College back then, in Columbus, Ga. I got my graduate degree, my master’s, then I got my first job in Madison, Fla., at a Florida junior college at the time in the fall and summer of ’87. Then I moved to Pensacola late summer of ’90.

Your bio says you’ve been doing this for 35 years. Is that correct?

Yes, this is my 35th year and I was a coach for 20.

When you came on to coach at PSC, actually it was Pensacola Junior College at the time you started coaching there, wasn’t it? When you were coaching the Pirates? What was that like?

Bill Hamilton: The Man Who Brought Baseball to Pensacola

Pensacola is known now as a sport city, with strong college teams and professional teams throughout the city, but it wasn’t always that way.

Many years ago, then-Pensacola Junior College wasn’t known for their strong sports teams, nor was Pensacola. With the efforts from long-time Athletic Director and former Coach Bill Hamilton, that all changed. Named by Quint Studer as the man who brought baseball to Pensacola, Hamilton worked tirelessly to improve the quality of facilities, teams and athletes at then-PJC, spurring the rest of Pensacola into a sports boom that has never passed.

BeMoved had the opportunity to speak with Hamilton about his career and his accomplishments while working as coach and the college’s first trip to the Baseball World Series.

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When I first got there we were behind both in scholarships and in facilities.

They didn’t have restrooms at the field nor concession stands. So we permanently installed temporary facilities for about nine years. We had port-a-potties and a concession stand the kids called the Roach Coach. Then they built that stadium with bathrooms and locker rooms. That year, 2000 I think it was, I got the Pelicans here to come and play at PJC that first summer.

That’s where Quint Studer bought the Pelicans and the rest is history. He came to a game, him and Rishy, and he saw all the kids running around having a good time and he said, ‘I want to be involved in this.’ But until the Pelicans came to town, he wasn’t involved in anything except his job. I just brought the Pelicans here, but he’s given me all the credit.

He said, ‘If it wasn’t for Bill Hamilton, you know we wouldn’t have baseball here.’ That’s when he said he wasn’t involved in anything until he bought the Pelicans. He says I helped bring baseball to Pensacola, but I just brought the Pelicans here!

BeInnovative

Can we talk about the 2004 state championship? That was the first time you went to the state championship correct?

The school had been a few times, but that was the first time we had won it and gone to the World Series. We’d been several times to the state championship, but we won it in ’04. Went to World Series through the sixth, won the Best Sportsmanship trophy. We were the first team to option at the World Series to play in their Miracle League, which they called Challenger League. It’s become a tradition there every year now. They were up to four teams, but they’re going to eight next year, and they just had their 20th anniversary game and banquet. The ’04 team was a special bunch not just because they won the state championship and went to the World Series and that was the first time PJC, or PSC now, had done that, but they weren’t ranked in the top ten until there was only eight teams left in the tournament.

How was that for you and the team to be in that position?

Well there was no pressure on us. I don’t think we knew how good we were. The first game was the story of the tournament, really, because we played the No.1 team in the state, the No.2 team in the country.

They were up six to two at the bottom of the eighth inning, and we dropped a fly ball and they scored two runs. It would have been the third out. They hit it right

to us and we dropped it! And so they had two more at the top of the ninth inning, and they changed pitchers. The pitcher that they took out, we hadn’t had a hit off of in the last three innings. They brought their closer in, who was also their center fielder, and a walk, an air ball, a hit batter and seven hits later, we got an eight spot in a ten-eight league. We shut them down in the ninth and we won!

Do you remember that moment when you’ve won the game?

Of course! Oh yeah! After our teams shook hands, I always give out two things after every win – that is the lineup poster from the dugout and I would give that to a player in the game and then the lineup card that I keep in my pocket, the one that I share with the officials. We would give that one to the next best player in the game. During the game, right before the outfielder dropped a fly ball, we had one of their base fielders trapped in a run down between home and third, and my catcher at third wasn’t doing anything we had practiced over and over in practice. It looked like I hadn’t coached him at all. So anyway, the runner at third got back to third and the runner at first stole second, so second and third were two outs, then they hit a fly ball to the outfield and the outfielder dropped it. So after the game, when we went down, I said ‘I don’t know how you guys knew that if you messed up that run down and you dropped that fly ball that they would change pitchers and let us win, talk about game-saving catches,’

I looked at the outfielder and I said, ‘That’s a game-saving drop right there!’ So gave those guys the lineup cards for saving us by messing up! That’s how we were.

What would you say to any aspiring coaches or aspiring athletic directors?

Well, number one, to be qualified. Spend some time, you have to have the degrees and that kind of thing. Then, I would tell them to accelerate their learning, to be in it for the right reasons.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

We would be remiss if we didn’t talk about how good Pensacola is. The community and the town, the institution itself with the administration. All these things that I’ve done don’t happen without a world of help. Your housekeeping, your secretaries, your maintenance people, your lawn chair folks. All those people do things so that you can get to do what you are qualified to do. When you do those other things, it takes away time from what you love and that’s coaching those kids. Pensacola has been a great place for us. It’s home now.

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BeActive

Outdoor Gems

By Emily Echevarria

T

he Pensacola area has plenty of perks for outdoor lovers, including a climate and coasts that beckon locals and tourists to its natural majesties year round. It can be easy for longtime residents to take the many splendors for granted, but with national and state parks bursting with biodiversity, as well as unique outdoor activities and facilities, there are always new ways to explore the city’s sun-drenched outdoor resources beyond the gorgeous beaches.

Whether you’re looking for ways to incorporate a love of nature into a physical fitness routine, or just hoping to take advantage of cooling temperatures as the summer winds to a close, there are trails, parks and plenty of outdoor adventures awaiting you in the greater Pensacola area. Some are tucked in the heart of local neighborhoods, while others are a short drive out of city limits, but all offer distinct ways to enjoy some of the region’s outdoor gems.

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 35

BeActive LeaP Class Fitness Courts

For those looking to shake up a tired gym routine, three newly opened outdoor Fitness Courts offer a unique way to get an intense workout, while enjoying a million dollar view. This year’s Leadership Pensacola class teamed up with the National Fitness Campaign and the City of Pensacola to bring their project “LeaP into Fitness” to life, with the help of sponsorships and donations. The three courts are located at the Community Maritime Park, Bayview Park and Legion Field. Each one offers 30 individual pieces of equipment with shock-resistant sports flooring, making exercise stations available for circuit training and bodyweight exercises for adults of all fitness levels.

An accompanying mobile app helps to show some of the wide variety of ways to utilize the equipment, as well as engage in a little friendly competition with other Fitness Court users nationwide. A simple way to use the court for a high intensity workout is to download an interval timer, grab a friend and head to a court to do an exercise in each of the seven stations (or start small by picking three or four), switching exercises for each interval, and repeating as you like. The versatile courts offer ways to modify moves to fit your strength and experience, making your workout fully customizable.

Aviation Discovery Park

Pensacola is a bastion for aviation, and amateur flight enthusiasts have a perfect play area dedicated to that interest nestled in the Cordova Park neighborhood.

The Aviation Discovery Park is a flight themed playground that also serves as an observation area for all the action at the Pensacola International Airport. With a view of the runways and control towers, as well as miniature replicas of them and radio equipment to listen to the control tower and aircraft, aviation lovers young and old can experience the magic of flight up close. There’s also an educational display with information about local aviation pioneers.

36 PENSACOLASPORTS.ORG

BeActive Namaste Afloat and We Bring the Yoga

Yoga lovers who want to bring their practice out of the studio and into a peaceful, natural setting have options with two local companies that embrace the outdoors. Namaste Afloat offers a paddleboard yoga session on Perdido Bay, a unique adventure with an additional balance challenge. Don some workout gear or a swimsuit and get a short paddleboarding lesson before crossing the waterway to practice near a tranquil sandbar in the bay. Likewise, We Bring the Yoga hosts yoga classes right on the beach as the full moon rises. The company also hosts yoga camping trips, hikes, retreats, but can work with clients to build a completely unique experience for any occasion. facebook.com/namasteafloat webringtheyoga.com

Disc Golf Courses

Disc golf is the perfect sport for the slightly less athletically inclined, or anyone wanting a leisurely outdoor activity that requires little equipment and minimal physical strain. There are several local courses where you can try your hand at this laidback game, including some of the most accessible at Hitzman-Optimist Park, the University of West Florida and Sunset Disc Golf Park in Gulf Breeze. If you’re new to the sport, start your disc collection with a putter (a deeper and heavier disc that looks like a typical Frisbee) and a slimmer driver for long distance throws. It might be wise to invest in a floating disc if you plan to use the Sunset Disc Golf Course, which boasts some challenging water hazards. Watch some YouTube tutorials for throwing techniques and practice your form in a park before hitting a course. ecdgc.org

Pensacola Paddlesport Rentals

Pensacola Paddlesport Rentals is located in Bayview Park in the East Hill neighborhood, and offers kayak, tandem kayak, paddleboard and pedal boat rentals, starting at $10/hour.

Boaters can use the crafts to explore Bayou Texar or they can be delivered for use in other area waterways. Pensacola paddlesports also offers Torchlight Tours on Saturday and Sundays through Oct. 27, and by appointment during the off season. pensacolapaddlesport.com

Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park

Tarkiln Bayou Preserve boasts more than 4,000 acres of wetlands that are home to a diverse abundance of plants and wildlife.

The half mile paved and raised boardwalk of Tarkiln Bayou Trail offers an easy stroll through a pitcher plant bog that blooms in early spring with the lacy, white trumpet tops of the endangered plants. In the fall, look out for wildflower blossoms adding bursts of color amidst the pines. This trail ends at an observation area overlooking Perdido Bay. In addition, there are two longer loop trails on site: the Perdido Bay Trail (6.5 mile loop), which branches off the Tarkiln Bayou Trail, and the Wet Prairie Trail (2 mile loop), which starts across the street from the parking area. The latter two trails are subject to muddy conditions after heavy rains. Fees for entry are $3 per vehicle, $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists and extra passengers. floridastateparks.org BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 37

BePhysical

GAME, SET, MATCH. Tennis flourishes in Pensacola

Few other sports in Pensacola enjoy such robust participation and support as tennis.

The city’s best-known stars may be football players, golfers and one of history’s best boxers, but many Pensacolians turn to tennis as their game of choice.

The city’s love of the game is reflected in its many facilities and organizations. From the Roger Scott Tennis Center to numerous public and private courts, players of all ages and skill levels take to courts across Pensacola and its surrounding communities.

The Roger Scott Tennis Center in Pensacola is a popular choice of many players and Director of Tennis Brock Sakey said the game provides both physical and psychological benefits for players.

“It’s a good amount of exercise where you’re not overdoing it, but you’re still getting good exercise and getting outside,” Sakey said. “It’s also good for people socially. All these people who play up here become good friends.”

The Roger Scott Tennis Center hosts both the Greater Pensacola Ladies Tennis League and the Under the Hill League for men over 50, as well as USTA leagues. The center also offers clinics for men, women and beginners throughout the week.

“There really should be something for everybody,” Sakey said. “That’s the goal and I think we do a pretty good job of that.”

The game is especially popular among the city’s more senior residents. Robin Olsson is the director of the Under Hill League, which he described as a very competitive and closeknit group. Players must have a 3.0 USTA rating and be over the age of 50 to qualify for the league.

“Don’t let the age fool you, these guys are good,” Olsson said. “But it’s a lot more than just tennis, to me it’s about the guys. It’s really giving something to these guys more than just hitting a ball back and forth.”

While the Roger Scott Tennis Center does charge daily court fees of either $8 or $12

depending on the type of court, free courts are available at Bayview Park, Armstrong Park and Hollice T. Williams Park.

In Santa Rosa County, the Pace Area Tennis Association hosts leagues and clinics at the Santa Rosa Sports Plex in Milton, and the Gulf Breeze Community Center is a popular option for many players. Many private courts exist in both counties, including at the Pensacola Country Club and Portofino Island Resort.

The game is played at its highest level locally at the University of West Florida, where the men’s and women’s teams are perennial top performers in the Gulf South Conference.

Under the direction of head coach Derrick

BePhysical -Who is Derrick Racine?

For more than 20 years, one man has helmed one of the University of West Florida’s most successful sports programs. Head Tennis Coach Derrick Racine has led the men and women Argonauts to four national titles and more than 20 Gulf South Conference Championships.

PENSACOLA SPORTS TENNIS EVENTS Bud Light Charity Tennis Challenge Two-day tennis tournament in October Held at Roger Scott Tennis Center Men’s and Women’s Doubles Format 150 players Fundraiser for Pensacola Sports and ARC Gateway Founded after Hurricane Ivan to raise money for Rebuild Northwest Florida Features silent auction, raffle, and free food and drinks for participants

Racine for more than 20 years, the UWF teams have won four national titles and 21 GSC championships.

Racine said Pensacola’s tennis community is deep-rooted and does a great job of identifying and developing young talent.

“Pensacola is a great tennis town,” he said.

“It’s a really tight community and it’s very supportive of its players.”

For more information on tennis in and around Pensacola, visit TennisPensacola.com or call the Roger Scott Tennis Center at (850) 912-4103.

Pensacola Futures Championship Pro USTA Event Held at Roger Scott Tennis Center November 9-18, 2018 - 200 players from all over the world - $15,000 prize money May 6 – 12, 2019 – 100 players all over the world - $25,000 prize money Current top ranked tennis players who have played in Pensacola - Jack Sock, Denis Shapovalov, and Sasha Zverev Free for spectators to watch Western Gate Junior College and NAIA Invitationals Two events featuring many of the top 10 nationally ranked teams including defending and past national champions.

March 8-11, 2019 – JUCO March 28-31 – NAIA Round-robin tournament Held at Roger Scott Tennis Center, UWF, Gulf Breeze Shoreline Park, and Pensacola State College Free for spectators to watch

Racine arrived in Pensacola in 1999, taking over the university’s tennis program from its former longtime coach Ralph “Skeeter” Carson. Building upon Carson’s success, Racine has gone on to be named the 2003, 2005, 2012 and 2014 Division II Wilson/ITA Men’s Tennis National Coach of the Year and the 2002 Division II/ITA Women’s Tennis National Coach of the Year. His teams have accumulated a more than 75 percent win rate and are annually among the top performers in the Gulf South Conference.

Racine credits his success to the work begun by Carson and the traditition of excellence that the program has built.

“I think it’s the tradition we’ve been able to build,” he said. “It really helps when people come in they know they’re expected to do well, which helps because tennis is really a mental game so if you believe you should be winning a lot the time it pushes you to win.”

Racine’s collegiate tennis background began in the 1980s when he played at Abraham Baldwin College in Georgia and at Valdosta State. He was nationally ranked and achieved All-American status in both singles and doubles.

Racine and his wife Terrie have three sons: Olin, Austin and Luke.

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 39

BeCompetitve

On the Water From competitive sailing and fishing to leisurely kayak or canoe paddles, the Pensacola Bay Area offers an abundance of options for a spectacular life on the water.

Sailing Regattas Continue Pensacola’s Racing Heritage

Since the Spanish first landed here in 1559 and later pirates hid in Perdido Bay, the Pensacola Bay Area has been a natural playground for sailing and racing.

Numerous yacht clubs serve the area, and junior sailing programs teach the next generation of sailors while sailing regattas in the Pensacola area bring the best competition from the region.

Sailing competition is fierce and friendly. The Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola Beach Yacht Club and Navy Yacht Club Pensacola all are members of the Gulf Yachting Association, which includes clubs from

Houston and New Orleans to St. Petersburg. Regattas are held almost weekly throughout the year all along the Gulf Coast.

Sailors in these regattas race courses set inside the bay, as well as open ocean races and even international contests.

Many of the races are part of the Bay Championship, which is scored over races in the series and won by the top crew over the course of the year.

The Regatta del Sol, held in even-numbered years, covers 550 miles of open Gulf from Pensacola to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. And in 2016, the Pensacola Yacht Club relaunched the Race to Havana, Cuba, after a 50-year hiatus.

The Pensacola Bay Area leads the way in women’s sailing events as well. Pensacola

Courtesy of VISIT PENSACOLA

Beach Yacht Club launched the Race for the Roses as an all-women crew sailing event in 1986. The regatta is held in July in Pensacola Bay, and has been designated by the Gulf Yachting Association as the GYA Women's PHRF Championship.

Here are a handful of the established regattas in the Pensacola Bay Area: Pensacola Beach Pier Race — An open water race held the first Saturday in September.

Spectacular viewing from the Pensacola Gulf Pier.

The Race for the Roses — Women prep for this race, held in Pensacola Bay in mid-to-late July by Pensacola Beach Yacht Club. All crews and skippers are female.

Bikini Regatta — The Navy Yacht Club hosts this race in Pensacola Bay, featuring crews that are 50 percent female with a woman at the helm.

Lost Bay Regatta — Hosted in October by the Point Yacht Club in Perdido Key and Alabama, the Lost Bay Regatta is held in Perdido Bay and draws clubs from throughout the Gulf area.

Memorial Day Regatta — Pensacola Yacht Club holds this event in Pensacola Bay on Memorial Day Weekend to kick off the summer sailing season.

Fast Women Regatta — The last of the Ladies Racing Trilogy, the Fast Women Regatta in Perdido Bay requires at least a half-female crew and a female skipper.

Regatta del Sol — An open water race from Pensacola Bay to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Covers some 550 miles of open Gulf of Mexico. Scored on PHRF rating.

The Maxine Series — A trio of races held by Navy Yacht Club Pensacola, Pensacola Yacht Club and Pensacola Beach Yacht Club.

BeCompetitve • Maxine #1 — The Commodore’s Cup. Held in February by the Navy Yacht Club Pensacola.

• Maxine #2 — Held by Pensacola Beach Yacht Club in early March.

• Maxine #3 — Held by Pensacola Yacht Club in late March. The Maxine Series Champion is named.

Take Your Fishing to the Next Level

Get in on Pensacola’s summer fishing rodeo action and collect some cash for your big catch!

The Pensacola Bay Area has long been known as an angler’s paradise, and each summer the destination’s world-class saltwater fishing is showcased when these popular tournaments attract fishermen from around the region to test their angling skills in the Gulf of Mexico.

The competitions are held in June as the peak of the saltwater fishing season begins in the Pensacola Bay Area. The destination’s variety of saltwater fishing is unlike anywhere else on the Gulf Coast. Estuaries stretching from Perdido Bay to Pensacola Bay and East Bay provide a rich influx of nutrients and food to support one of the region’s most prolific recreational fisheries.

Flora-Bama Fishing Rodeo – Leading off the month of June, Flora-Bama's rodeo takes place at the Flora-Bama Yacht Club on the Florida-Alabama state line. This tournament is an everyman’s fishing rodeo and even offers a kid’s division. The rodeo has anglers competing in 30 categories ranging from catfish to billfish and everything in between. Accompanying the tournament is a three-day beach party and awards ceremony that will include daily weigh-ins with a fish viewing area, live music, and great food. A portion of the proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Foundation. Learn more at florabama.com.

The Pensacola Bud Light Fishing Rodeo – On June 22-23, 2019, the largest and longest running in-shore and king mackerel tournament in Pensacola takes place in our local waters. This event features a general rodeo for 20 fish species, an in-shore challenge (redfish, trout, and flounder), a king mackerel challenge, and a kids and youth rodeo. $15,000 in prizes are guaranteed for the general rodeo and cash prizes are available in the in-shore and king challenges.

Visit pensacolafishingrodeo. com for more information and register.

The Bill Hargreaves Fishing Rodeo – Started in 1971 with just 18 anglers, today the event hands out cash prizes for 12 different categories of fish in the Open Division, totaling over $7,200. There are 32 fish categories in the Junior Division awarding $50 cash in each. Held annually in June on Father’s Day weekend, fishing begins at 12:01 AM Friday morning and continues through weigh-in at nine p.m. Saturday with daily and overall prizes. Learn more at billhargreavesfishingrodeo.com.

Annual Pensacola International Billfish Tournament – This contest wraps up the month of saltwater fishing competitions and ranks as one of the most prestigious in the nation among its category. Hosted by the Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club, the tournament is a qualifying event for the World Billfish Series and the IGFA World Qualifier.

The stakes are high, as the overall winner receives an invitation to the IGFA Offshore World Championship. More information is available at www. pbgfc.com.

Of course, anytime is a great time to fish in the Pensacola area.

Cast a line from our sugar-white beaches or check out any of our many charter-fishing companies for deep sea adventures. Any way you get it, Pensacola’s seafood is hard to beat, but it’s even better when you serve it up fresh with a side of competition and adventure!

Paddling Experiences

There’s something so peaceful about paddling a vessel in the Pensacola Bay Area and enjoying all that nature has to offer. With rivers, bayous, bays and the Gulf surrounding us — there are many diverse ecosystems and coastal habitats to explore. The Pensacola Bay Area also marks the beginning of the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, so it’s no wonder many enjoy paddling our destination.

Where to Paddle The 700-acre Big Lagoon State Park marks the beginning of the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail. There you can explore salt marshes and pine flatwoods which attract a wide variety of migratory birds and sea birds. This park does offer kayak and paddleboard rentals or you may bring your own.

Just across from Big Lagoon State Park is Johnson Beach on Perdido Key, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

If you have your own kayak, this national seashore is a nice paddling destination. You’ll discover seagrass beds and salt marshes or you can pull up onto miles of unobstructed white sand. If you want to pack a tent

in your kayak, this destination offers primitive camping in certain locations.

On Pensacola Beach there are many unique waterways to explore including; the Gulf of Mexico, Santa Rosa Sound, Big Sabine Bay and Little Sabine Bay. Also on Pensacola Beach is Fort Pickens, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Here you can discover history and paddle all in the same location.

In Pensacola, there are many city parks and city boat ramps that make accessing the water easy. Kayakers enjoy kayaking on Pensacola Bay, Bayview Park and upper Escambia Bay where the bay and Escambia River converge.

For those who enjoy kayaking and canoeing on rivers, we have the Perdido River, Coldwater Creek and Blackwater River.

These rivers are shallow rivers with sandy bottoms, which make an enjoyable place to experience on a hot summer day. Bring a tent and camp along the river or enjoy beautiful cabin camping along Coldwater River.

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 41

BeFocused

Swimming Clubs Offer Life Lessons to Area Youth Discipline, good sportsmanship, punctuality and social skills — for many children their first encounters with these important life lessons come from their participation in sports. Team sports and individual competition help teach children that they can achieve any goal they set their mind to. Although many sports offer these skills and lessons, swimming stands out among other sports because it is one of the only sports where the body has to be trained to perform horizontally rather than vertically and against gravity, which adds a new level of mental and physical discipline. Luckily for Pensacola, the Greater Pensacola Aquatics Club (GPAC) and SEASTARS Aquatics understand the benefits of swimming and how it can impact and shape the young athletes of Pensacola into the best that they can be.

GPAC and SEASTARS Aquatics are both competitive swim teams. GPAC 42 PENSACOLASPORTS.ORG

has three levels that build swimmers up to a competitive state: beginner, intermediate, and pre-competitive. In the beginner level, swimmers learn how to get comfortable in the water. In the intermediate level, swimmers try to swim half laps and learn different types of strokes like the breast and back strokes. Once swimmers enter the precompetitive level, they start to learn more advanced skills and are challenged to swim the whole length of the pool.

SEASTARS Aquatics is a free swim team exclusively for children with special needs and children below the poverty line. To join the SEASTARS Aquatics competitive team, swimmers must already know how to swim.

Their weekly tryouts are to test if the swimmer is able to get across the pool without touching the bottom or the sides of the pool. Once the swimmer makes it onto the swim team, they must

By Gina Castro

follow the five rules: community service, positive sportsmanship, academics, attendance and personal goals. Each swimmer must complete two hours of community service a month to stay on the team.

“They understand that their community is more than just the neighborhood they live in, the bus ride to school or school,” SEASTARS executive director and co-founder Robin M. Heller said.

“Because a lot of the kids are so isolated, they don’t have a sense of community, so we work on providing a larger sense of community.”

GPAC and SEASTARS Aquatics both make an effort to show their young athletes the importance of giving back to the Pensacola community. GPAC partners with the Make a Splash campaign. This campaign’s mission is to teach every child how to swim. To

BeFocused “The water is wonderful because it levels the playing field. The water doesn’t see race. It doesn’t see ability or disability." but they know their parents are taking the money and spending it on gambling or on drugs and alcohol.”

Swimming is unique because even though these swimmers are teammates, they perform individually. Through swimming, they are able to challenge themselves both physically and mentally.

SEASTARS Aquatics makes a point to volunteer in the community by ringing the bell with The Salvation Army, cheering for the UWF Swim Team, volunteering at the Pensacola Buddy Walk and more. They also make an effort to educate the Pensacola community by spending the summers teaching The Salvation Army campers how to swim.

But swimming isn’t all GPAC and SEASTARS Aquatics teach. GPAC and SEASTARS Aquatics both take time to discuss nutrition, hydration and life skills with their swimmers.

show support for Make a Splash, GPAC has given half priced swim lessons to the non-profit Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America and to other children in need.

“I think, especially in our area, that we are around so much water that if a person or a child or anybody doesn’t swim, then they can put themselves into danger,” Kraus said.

GPAC is also one of the founding members of the non-profit Water and Youth Safety, Pensacola. This non-profit brings second graders from different schools to the pool to do water safety training.

“We have to remind them that premium fuel goes into premium engines for premium performance,” GPAC lead coach Greg Johnson said.

SEASTARS Aquatics takes the time to discuss topics of eating healthy, but they also confront challenging topics about drug abuse. Since SEASTARS Aquatics does serve the population under the poverty line, they encounter a lot of families that have been impacted by drug abuse.

“The water is wonderful because it levels the playing field,” Heller said. “The water doesn’t see race. It doesn’t see ability or disability. It doesn’t see anything.

Unfortunately, with a lot of organized team sports like football and basketball you have to understand the strategy of working with other people around you and show an understanding of the game.

Cognitively, it is hard for some of the special needs kids to understand.”

Although swimming does offer more of a challenge to the body, it also gives a place for displaced energy and offers physical benefits for children with special needs.

“Sports for all kids is huge, especially the fact that we don’t have a lot of PE in schools, so kids are bouncing off the walls with ADHD and everybody wants to fix stuff with medication,” Heller said. “We’ve had a lot of kids get off of medication because they are using swimming as an outlet. And, the physical benefits for special needs kids are huge.

A lot of our special needs’ parents use us as their kid’s therapy. We have special needs swimmers who are now able to walk independently — whose doctors pretty much told them that they would be using walkers all their lives.”

“A lot of our underprivileged population either see it first hand or have siblings, cousins or family members that either use or sell,” Heller said. “It’s really hard when I have kids that come to me and they do not have any food at the house, BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 43

BeKind

Special Olympics Florida:

Supporting Every Need with Wellness and Sports There are many who have physical, mental and developmental disabilities who are told they won’t be able to do something, or be something. For example, they’ll never be able to stand on a surfboard or play a round of baseball. Special Olympics Florida tells them yes, you can, and let us help you get there.

The Special Olympics Florida for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties has been training athletes for many years now, some of whom go on to play bigger roles in the sporting community, such as serving as referees. The training is rigorous and the athletes play hard, many of them rising to greater heights than they ever imagined they could. Through 17 sports offered at Special Olympics, the program is able to provide a community for the athletes to feel comfortable in, but also to provide wellness and health care that many of the athletes either don’t know they need or are uncertain where to go.

“We use sports as a vehicle for better health and wellness for the athletes, our unified partners, as well as their extended family,” Special Olympics Florida County Director Michael Stone said. “Whenever we do state competition, which we go eight times a year, we offer seven different disciplines where they get medical exams.

Everything from Strong Minds, where they learn sports psychology and how to be in the moment, to talking to nutritionists, to 44 PENSACOLASPORTS.ORG

help them with their physical challenges.

We’re the largest health organization that specializes in this segment of the population.”

In 1972, the very first Special Olympic Florida center was founded in Okaloosa County and had around 50 athletes. Today, there are nearly 50,000 athletes in Special Olympic Florida programs around the state.

The delegation sizes for competitions in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties alone can reach 90 people. The growth of the program speaks to the need that a lot of these athletes have, and Stone is happy that they are able to provide the needed wellness care to the community.

“The medical end of this is very, very important,” he said. “That segment of our population pretty frequently ignored.

With kids on the spectrum or adults on the spectrum, it’s still fairly hard to find a doctor or a dentist who will allow them to come into their office. A lot of them are afraid of what they don’t know – are they going to have a meltdown, what’s going to happen here?”

Special Olympics has programs for children starting 2 to 7, though most athletes enroll around age 8. Stone said the best part about the program is the athletes never age out. His oldest athlete is around 70 years old. The continued support is very important for a healthy lifestyle and a higher quality of life.

Along with support from other athletes, the program provides partners for some of the team sports. Partners are people with no disability who help to mentor and support the athletes on and off the court.

The partners and athletes participate in

unified teams where the partners give the spotlight to the athletes, often putting their own glory to the side.

“We try to merge same age, same basic skill level,” Stone said. “It’s like having mentors out on the field or out on the court. The athletes get so much more out of it. We usually get these partners who join us because they can see they are changing somebody’s life.”

Combining community support, wellness and sports, Special Olympics is able to give a better life to a portion of the population that is often misunderstood or ignored.

By getting a chance to be in the spotlight, the athletes are able to grow and show just how bright they can shine.

Athlete of the Year: Marcellus Potter Every year, Pensacola Sports recognizes an athlete from the Special Olympics as the Athlete of the Year. This year, the award was given to Marcellus Potter.

Potter is primarily a basketball and volleyball player, but he also participates in many of the other sports hosted by Special Olympics. After being a player on the team for many years, he has begun transitioning to a coaching position.

Despite being deaf, Potter is able to communicate with and lead the athletes on and off the court.

“He is a true leader,” Stone said. “His example out on the court is pretty phenomenal.”

Potter will be the only athlete-turnedcoach in the county, but Stone said he will be an excellent coach to the other athletes and that his leadership is a great example of what these athletes can accomplish.

EV0034 Ever'man 2/3 pg ad for Be Moved.indd 1

9/10/18 11:47 AM

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 for the 2018-2019 season. To find more, visit runningpensacola.com

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

possible. Starting and ending at the Big Lagoon Pavilion, this Pensacola Beach Pensacola Beach Glow 8K, primitive loop features Run Run rolling hills and a wide variety Jan. 12 Celebrate this GLOWING Kick off your New Year success of a runwith all proceeds of footing, from hard packed gravel to soft sand to elevated the right way, and make benefiting Catholic Charities board walks. The sweeping concrete plans to achieve of Northwest Florida!! This views of the Wilde Drande your resolutions for better illuminating and fun filled Lagoon and Long Pond are well health, by sprinting into one family event takes place under worth the effort, however. of the premier road races in the gorgeous moonlit skies at the Southeast: the Pensacola The Gulfside Pavilion, Pensacola pensacolarunners.com/praevents/ Beach Run Half Marathon and Beach. Run or Walk the 5K 10K/5K race hosted by the COURSE with family, friends, Double Bridge Run Pensacola Runners Association. or co-workers, and Glow Up, Feb. 2 This is a “pick your distance” Glam Up and Show Up for an event, which means you do not unforgettable evening! Glowing The annual Double Bridge Run 15K/5K presented by Publix have to decide on whether you is fun at any age! Children and hosted by Pensacola Sports want to run in the 10K or 5K under 6 are free! Ages 6-17 are takes runners on journey until the day of the race. All only $20 AND the proceeds three courses are flat and fast, will help local families! Groups/ through Historic Downtown Pensacola and over Pensacola starting at the Casino Beach Teams of 10 or more receive a Bay into the coastal community Parking lot and heading east discount and prizes awarded to of Gulf Breeze then onto toward many beautiful beach the largest team! beautiful Pensacola Beach. It houses neighborhoods before ccnwfl.org/glow-run/ is one of the premier 15K races traveling the Via DeLuna for in the country and the event breathtaking views of the Gulf Bay To Bay 8K takes place in the cooler winter Islands National Seashore. Stay The Bay to Breakfast 8K Cross tuned post-race for the after Country Challenge, a Pensacola months, making for the perfect running climate. From the party, when there will be free Runners Association Event, culturally rich historic districts food and drinks for all who is a fun, challenging trail 8K of Downtown Pensacola to participated. and a great chance to take a the picturesque Bayfront facebook.com/ break from the roads! Not a Parkway and diverse Gulf pensacolabeachhalf course for the feint of heart, Islands Seashore, you’ll be on a pensacolarunners.com this is a true cross country sight-seeing adventure while race with as little pavement as 46 PENSACOLASPORTS.ORG

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 Feb. 16 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

BePowerful Florida is known. While you’re still guaranteed to break a sweat, the cool breezes will offer a much-needed respite to keeping you moving. werunwild.com

I Pink I Can Run Feb. 23 Run for a cause with the sixth annual I Pink I Can Run 4-miler. This run and walk race is pairing with Krewe du Ya Yas to help those affected by breast cancer. Krewe du Ya Yas’ misson is to promote early detection, advocacy and support services for breast cancer. Funds raised from this event will go toward furthering their mission.

Register quickly because the first 500 registered will get a free t-shirt. Awards will be given to the top three females and males in a variety of age groups. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to contribute to Krewe du Ya Yas’ mission. werunwild.com

MARCH

McGuire’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run Mar. 9 What better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with McGuire’s annual 5K run? Going on its 42nd 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 a bash at McGuire’s—where participants sip suds, dine on the best Irish grub, and show off their Irish jig. facebook.com/Mcguiresirishpub mcguiresirishpub.com

Bayou Hills Run

APRIL

Both the 10K and 5K races offer fast and beautiful trails Mar. 30 Deluna’s Beach Games winding through the heart of Whether you’re part of a Apr. 27 Pensacola. While the 10K begins fun-seeking family, or you’re Come check out one of the at Pensacola State College and a serious runner looking to most unique events on the gulf maintain your stride, you won’t coast! The 2019 Deluna’s Beach the 5K begins at Scott Street and 12th Avenue, the finish line for want to miss out on the Bayou games will feature a variety of both races is Seville Square in Hills Run hosted by Creative different competitions for the Downtown Pensacola. As an Learning Academy every entire family to enjoy! The day March. Put on your running starts out with a Sunrise run on added bonus all Fiesta runners shoes and take to the streets of Pensacola Beach, an open water receive free admission to the East Hill Neighborhood for an swim in the sound, along with a Pensacola Crawfish Festival. event that offers participants volleyball tournament, putt putt, You’re guaranteed to burn some the choice of running in a 10K, corn hole, and a scavenger hunt! carbs and work up an appetite, 5K or one mile Kids Run. The You and the family can compete so after the run be sure to join run starts off in Downtown in as many events as you would in celebrating the event by relaxing with some Cajun food Pensacola’s waterfront Bayview like! Come enjoy the beauty and fun.

Park, taking runners through of Pensacola Beach and spoil pensacolarunners.com challenging courses and great yourself with the treasures of views all within a familyDon Tristan Deluna himself!

Graffiti Bridge Run friendly atmosphere. Stick pensacolasports.org/ This unique 5K run/walk will around post race for the after delunasbeachgames/ Start & Finish at a classic, local party, where there will be landmark. Iconic collectors food and fun in addition to the Pensacola Triathlon medals will be handed out to awarding of medals and prizes Apr. 28th every finisher. Join us Memorial to over sixteen age categories for As one of the first races on the men and women.

Gulf Coast's calendar, Pensacola weekend for an event the whole family will enjoy. facebook.com/Bayou-Hills-Run Triathlon is a must-do. Start Don’t Miss: Have you ever bayouhillsrun.org your race with a swim in the painted the World Famous refreshing Pensacola Bay, bike Graffiti Bridge?

Well here’s your 10 Mile Trail Run along the scenic out-and-back chance. we will be closing down Challenge course, and run through Historic the street 2 hrs prior to race Mar. 30 Pensacola neighborhoods and start for you to have access to Immerse yourself in nature past cheering spectators. Race the Bridge.

Unless a train comes by running in the Blackwater Headquarters (Transition area) you’ll have uninterrupted access River State Forest, Florida’s is held at Maritime Park, next to “Tag” the bridge. largest State Forest. This run to the Blue Wahoo's Stadium. runpensacola.com/events/ will take you along the peaceful The event concludes with a Juniper Creek Trail. Trail runs festive waterfront awards party graffiti-bridge-5k/ put a unique spin on races featuring music, great food, and Tri The Island Triathlon by increasing resistance and cold beverages. Overlook the May 11 testing agility. So, put on your beautiful Pensacola Bay while bug spray and explore. If you soaking in and celebrating your We want you to try your mightiest to top your best enjoy the challenge of racing accomplishment! triathlon time for next year’s competitively, you can compete www.tripensacola.com Tri the Island, the newest for a top finisher award, or you triathlon event organized by can run at your own pace and the nationally-recognized still receive a medal and t-shirt.

Santa Rosa Island Triathlon, After the race, take a load off Fiesta of Five Flags Inc. The event encourages and and enjoy some food and, of 10K/5K Apr. date TBA invites both first-timers and course, the scenery.

Close out your spring racing seasoned triathletes to gather werunwild.com season with the premier heritage road race in Northwest up their gear and get ready to set off to the races. The event Florida: the Fiesta of Five Flags 10K/5K sponsored by Pensacola offers an ideal introduction to the sport of triathlon for those Runners Association, which beginners who may just be coincides with the Pensacola getting their feet wet. However, Crawfish Festival every April. it is also a great opportunity for

MAY

BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 47

BePowerful 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 twomile 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

packet, then following the 5K you can join in on the free “Rock Our Socks Fun Run.” Come out not only to show patriotic pride, but to help out a great cause and have fun while you do. The event will culminate in a postrace celebration with awards, where you can enjoy food and beverages inside Seville Quarter. rmhc-nwfl.org

JUNE

AUGUST

The Arc of the Emerald Fourth Annual Coast Blueberry Bash 5K Xterra Blackwater June 22 Make a run for a worthy cause at the Arc of the Emerald Coast’s seventh annual Blueberry Bash 5K. All proceeds from the event go to benefit client services to help empower those with developmental disabilities. The 5K route is a flat course through a quiet neighborhood, so join them after the race for awards and refreshments then the fun continues with the "Blueberry Bash" event. Arts, Crafts, food, children's activities, and entertainment throughout the day. The event will feature a 5K fun run, live music, a Show and Shine Car Show, along with a special plant sale and best of all: blueberries! Guests are welcome to pick their own blueberries and purchase, or purchase prepicked. arcemeraldcoast.org facebook.com/ TheArcoftheEmeraldCoast

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 rotary-wing 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, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide positive impact through offering assistance to families of fallen aviators and aircrewman of all US military services, Ronald McDonald House supporting and promoting Firecracker 5K youth athletic and mentorship June 29 programs, as well as fostering Sport your most patriotic attire national and international as you join the crowd in historic athletic competition. All Downtown Pensacola for the proceeds from SOML races and annual Firecracker 5K. All sales go to supporting their proceeds benefit the local Ronald mission.

McDonald House Charities of somlracing.org Northwest Florida. Choose to either run or walk, and feel Argonaut 5K free to bring along the kiddos— Let’s go, Argos! Suit up for the especially for the costume Argonaut 5K, a fun 5K hosted contest. If you bought red and by the Pensacola Runners white Ronald socks when you Association and a great way picked up your registration to give back to the Northwest 48 PENSACOLASPORTS.ORG

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

Florida running community.

You can be certain that 100 percent of proceeds go to support the University of West Florida Argonaut 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

BePowerful 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

help improve the lives of foster kids in our community. For more information about course, age divisions, and other race details, visit myfathersarrows.org or email info@myfathersarrows.org

The Pumpkin Run 5k

Semper Fi 5K The Marine Corps League and TEL Staffing & HR are proud to present the 35th Annual 5k Charity Run/Walk in Downtown Pensacola. The race will begin in front of Seville Square, wind through the streets of Downtown, continuing around Veteran’s Memorial Park & ending at Seville Square.

Started in 1983, the original charity race was organized with the goal of helping families of the 241 American service members killed in the bombing attack on the Marine barracks in Beirut. Today, the purpose of the race is to give back to the Pensacola community that so willingly supports Marine training. werunwild.com/events/event/ semper-fi-charity-run/

NOVEMBER

Pensacola Marathon Nov. 11 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 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 Ave. and Colfax Street, and runners will meet the finish line next to the Vietnam Wall Memorial at 10th Ave. and Romana Street. The course time limit is six hours.

Santa Rosa Island Triathlon - October 5 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 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 Nov. 23 Show off your signature trot as you decide to run or walk in the Seville Quarter Wild Turkey Trot, a great, familyoriented 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. 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

Sasquatch Trail Run Run or walk the Bear Lake trail (approximately four miles) through the woods, but be careful—there have been reports of Sasquatch in the area! Find out if you can make the loop without being spooked by Big Foot! Registration is $35 for adults and $15 for children 14 and under. Foster children and their families run free.

Recognition will be made for Overall Male Winner and Overall Female Winner, as well as 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards for each male/female age group. All proceeds for the race benefit My Father’s Arrows, whose mission is to

The popular 5K race, which begins at 12th Avenue and Moreno Street and winds through scenic and historic East Hill, is sanctioned by the Pensacola Runner's Association and attracts close to 1,200 participants each year. Proceeds from the race benefit the Sacred Heart Cathedral School and are used to contribute to the capital improvements to the buildings and grounds.

The race begins at 8 a.m. and the 1-mile fun run begins at 9 a.m. www.shcs.ptdiocese.org

DECEMBER

Christmas Dash Mile

The Christmas Dash Mile, a Pensacola Runners Association Event, is a holiday tradition for the whole family! Bring the family out, for a fun, fast 1 mile race through Downtown Pensacola to kick off the Downtown Pensacola Christmas Parade! pensacolarunners.com/praevents/

Ho Ho Hustle 5K Looking for a 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 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. werunwild.com BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 49

local events

BeCultured

Pensacola Beach Air Show July 10–13 This must-see event features a show by the world-famous Blue Angels.

452-3604; visitpensacolabeach.com

November 2018 Foo Foo Festival Nov. 1 - 12 This 12-day festival has a little bit of everything from music to art. https://www.foofoofest. com/events/

Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show Nov. 2 – 3 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

The 34th annual Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival Nov. 8 – 18

Musicians from across the world bring music to Perdido Key. 4927664; frankbrownsongwriters.com

Santa Rosa County Creek Indian Tribe Pow Wow Nov. 17 - 18 Attend this annual Creek powwow in Pace featuring Native American dances, traditional food dishes and authentic crafts. 994-9633; https://www. crazycrow.com/site/event/ santa-rosa-county-creekindian-tribe-pow-wow/

Elf Parade Nov. 23 Kids dress up and parade five blocks from the T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum to the Saenger Theatre, caroling along the way. 434-5371; elfparade.com

Winterfest Trolley Tours Nov. 23, 24, 30 Dec. 1, 7, 14 - 16 Trolleys act as theaters taking passengers to a series of interactive performances in historic downtown. 435-0914; pensacolawinterfest.org

December 2018

Big Lagoon’s Christmas in The Park

51st Annual Snowball Derby Enjoy hot chocolate and Christmas lights in this natural, Nov. 28 - Dec. 2 Auto racing fans delight in the action at Five Flags Speedway.

944-8400; fiveflagsspeedway.com

Lighted Boat Parade Dec. 1 The nautical parade officially delivers Santa Claus to the island. 932-1500; visitpensacolabeach.com

Surfing Santa Parade Dec. 2 Holiday floats wind their way down Santa Rosa Island’s main street. Santa rides atop his a red fire engine and visits with children. 932-1500; visitpensacolabeach.com

waterfront setting. 492-4660; visitperdido.com

Annual Pelican Drop Dec. 31 Families can enjoy a streetparty atmosphere downtown with live music and fireworks, along with a 10-foot, half-ton illuminated pelican that’s dropped 100 feet at midnight. 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. 932-1500; pensacolabeachchamber.com

Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade Dec. 8 Downtown Pensacola comes alive with this lighted, familyfriendly parade. 450-3792; https://www.firstcitychristmas. com/event/2016-cox-pensacolachristmas-parade/ BE MOVED LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 51

BeCultured January 2019 Polar Bear Dip Jan. 1 Brave the waves and dive into the new year with the annual Polar Bear Dip hosted

by Flora-Bama. Located on the beach behind the Flora-Bama Lounge, the event starts at noon followed with a lunch of cornbread, ham and black-eyed peas. 492-0611; florabama.com

Mardi Gras Kick Off Celebration Jan. 5 Mardi Gras season kicks off in the streets of downtown Pensacola with the parade, music, beads and more.

Festivities start at 5 pm. 4367638; pensacolamardigras.com

February

Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival Nov. 2-4 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

First annual Fur Ball Don’t miss Pensacola Humane Society’s latest fundraising event. This black tie optional event will feature entertainment, a silent auction and a puppy parade. https:// secure.qgiv.com/for/fubal/

3rd annual Joint Mardi Gras Ball Feb. 1 This ’80s themed Mardi Gras ball is a great opportunity to show off your dance moves and ’80s rock star costume. 4367638; pensacolamardigras.com

March

Annual Krewe of Lafitte Mardi Gras Illuminated Parade March 1 Enjoy the annual illuminated night parade with lighted floats, marching bands and festivities through downtown Pensacola. Parade starts at 7 pm. pensacolamardigras.com

Grand Mardi Gras Parade March 2 The Grand Mardi Gras Parade is biggest Mardi gras parade of the year. Taking place in 52 PENSACOLASPORTS.ORG

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. 436-7638; pensacolamardigras.com

Fat Tuesday Celebration March 5 Celebrate Fat Tuesday with fun, festivities and cheer. The celebration begins at 5 pm. 4367638; pensacolamardigras.com

25th annual Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts Festival March 23 - 24 Celebrate the arts at this two-day family-fun festival in Gulf Breeze featuring more than 140 national, regional and local artists. Cash prizes awarded to winning artists. gulfbreezearts.org

10th annual Smokin’ in the Square BBQ Cook-Off March 15 - 17 Enjoy some of the South’s best barbecue in Seville Square.

Sanctioned by Kansas City Barbecue Society and Alabama Barbecue Association, Smokin’

in the Square is a festival you don’t want to miss. 516-2622; smokininthesquare.com

7th annual Perdido Springfest and Fair March 22 - 26 Enjoy five days of food, carnival rides and games, live entertainment and more for the whole family.

Instead of charging for admission and parking, they ask for food donations to the Manna Food Bank. 982-8266; perdidospringfest.com

17th annual Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire

Get dressed in your best renaissance costumes and step back in time to the days of jousting and medieval festivities. Musicians, fire-breathers, belly dancers and more await you at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds. renfaire.com

3rd annual Ciclovia This world-renowned event shuts down major streets in downtown for people to ride bikes, run or play. http:// pensacolaopenstreets.com/ Go Irish On the Island March 17 Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

with a pub-crawl, jig dancing, leprechaun hunt and more on Pensacola Beach. The fun starts at 10:30 am. 932-1500; pensacolabeachchamber.com

April Bands on the Beach Apr. 3 - Oct. 30 Attend this popular summer evening concert series with local musical favorites playing at Gulfside Pavilion. 932-2257; visitpensacolabeach.com

Perdido Key Wine & Art Festival

Sample wines from boutique, international and local vineyards as artists display their original paintings, jewelry and sculptures at the Villagio. perdidowineandarts.com

Pensacola Jazz Fest Pensacola’s historic Seville Square hosts an event filled with great jazz performed by local and national talents. 4338382; jazzpensacola.com

BeCultured Pensacon Feb. 22-25

Fans of all genres, such as sci-fi, horror, comics, anime, fantasy and more– will gather to cosplay and indulge in their favorite fictional world. In addition to exhibits, there will be panels featuring actors and guest speakers. pensacon.com

Annual Pensacola Beach Crawfish Festival

Fiesta Children’s Treasure Hunt

July

September

Spend the weekend enjoying live music and spicy crawfish at Bamboo Willie’s. 932-1500; visitpensacolabeach.com

Enjoy a free weekend of activities for kids and families.

There will be treasure hunts, games and beach adventures.

433-6512; fiestaoffiveflags.org

47th annual International Billfish Tournament in Pensacola

Emerald Coast Beer Fest

Annual Interstate Mullet Toss

June

Perdido Key’s Flora-Bama Lounge hosts this wacky annual tournament that has participants compete in tossing an actual mullet across state lines. 492-0611; florabama.com

Fifth annual Paws on Palafox This 3K dog walk is a fundraiser for the Pensacola Humane Society. The after-party will have food, vendors, music and awards. https://www. pensacolahumane.org/events

May Rosamond Johnson Day Ceremony May 5 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. 492-4660; visitperdido.com

Grand Fiesta Day Parade The grand parade and celebration, sponsored by Pen Air Federal Credit Union, celebrates the founding of Pensacola. 433-6512; fiestaoffiveflags.org

Centennial Imports Fiesta Boat Parade Celebrate the founding of Pensacola with a boat parade starting at 1 pm at the Pensacola Yacht Club. More than 25 marine vessels parade from Bayou Chico to Quietwater Boardwalk on Pensacola Beach.

433-6512; fiestaoffiveflags.org

Annual Bill Hargreaves Fishing Rodeo Enjoy great fishing from the Grand Lagoon Yacht Club. 607-7569; billhargreavesfishingrodeo.com

The Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club hosts one of the country’s largest billfish tournaments in downtown Pensacola, which attracts around 600 anglers from all over the southeast.

453-4638; pbgfc.com

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. 434-1234; visitpensacola. com

Pensacola Beach Air Show July 10 - 13 This must-see event features a show by the world-famous Blue Angels. 452-3604; visitpensacolabeach.com

This event, held every year at Seville Quarter in downtown Pensacola, is sponsored by the Escambia Bay Homebrewers.

Attendees have more than 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. emeraldcoastbeerfest.com

Shaker Fest Head over to the Sandshaker, “Home of the Original Bushwacker,” on Pensacola Beach to enjoy live music and signature drinks. 932-1500; pensacolabeachchamber.com

10th annual Taste of the Beach Get a sampling of island flavors from the area’s best chefs. 9321500; tasteofpensacolabeach.com

August

Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival

Bushwacker Festival

Sample a variety of mouthwatering seafood dishes, enjoy continuous live entertainment, shop at the many arts-andcrafts vendors and participate in the Fiesta 5K. 433-6512; fiestaoffiveflags.org

This festival is centered on Pensacola’s favorite adult beverage: the milk chocolaty bushwacker. Enjoy a fun run and celebration on the boardwalk. 434-1234; visitpensacola.com

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The only full marathon in the Pensacola area since 2005, the Pensacola Marathon 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 postrace party has grown to feature a “Tasting of Pensacola," to include BBQ, pizza, peel and eat shrimp, something not usually seen at a marathon post-race 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.

Race Date Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 Packet Pick-Up Saturday, Nov. 10 @ Voices Museum Pensacola 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 Chuck Engle (2007) – 2:29:09 2017 Male Champion Reid Williams – 2:53:03 2017 Female Champion Shannon Beale – 3:12:45 For complete race information, visit marathonpensacola. com and like the Facebook page at facebook.com/ pensacolamarathon.

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The 2017 Pensacola Marathon

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Pensacola Marathon

past winners Male winners 2017 - Reid Williams

Female Winners 2:53:03

2017 - Shannon Beale

3:12:45

2016 - Brent Schneider 2:39:01

2016 - Kelly Bahn

3:16:13

2015 - Brent Schneider 2:37:18

2015 - Jennifer Perkins 3:14:60

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

2006 - Rebecca Jordan 3:24:59

2:29:09

2005 - Alonzo Lewis III 3:01:04

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2005 - Kelly Wild

3:01:04

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434.2800 pensacolasports.org

Be

e v MO d Event Management Sports Tourism Foundation

2018-2019 CONCERT SEASON Opening Night!

The Envelope, Please

Jennifer Koh, Violin

Chris Confessore, Guest Conductor Susan Egan, Soprano

Mozart & Brahms

Mahler: Symphony No. 6

October 13, 2018

February 2, 2019

November 3, 2018 Alon Goldstein, Piano

March 9, 2019

Celebrate the New Year!

Russian Spectacular

Tony DeSare, Piano and Vocals

Elissa Lee Koljonen, Violin

Beethoven & Blue Jeans

Concerto for Orchestra

Robert Sheena, English Horn

Gabriela Lena Frank, Composer Alessio Bax, Piano

December 31, 2018

January 19, 2019

850.435.2533

April 6, 2019

April 27, 2019

PensacolaSymphony.com

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Pensacola’s premier running event, the Pensacola Double Bridge Run is a must-do for active people both locally and nationally. The race’s feature distance, the 15K, has grown to be nationally ranked and will have more than 3,000 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 three-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 more than four miles of bridges and had six miles of water views.

Race Date Saturday, February 2, 2019 Expo/Packet Pick-Up Expo / Packet Pick Up – Jan. 31 / Feb. 1 at Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front 15K Run, 5K Run, 5K Walk Race Begins at 7:00 a.m. 14 minute per mile pace required - 5k begins at 8:30 a.m.

Race Record Female Janet Cherobon (2011) – 49:58:00 Male James Carney (2009) – 43:31:00 2018 Male Champion Tyler McCandless – 46:03 2018 Female Champion Kimi Reed – 54:42 For complete race information, visit doublebridgerun. com and like the Facebook page at facebook.com/ doublebridgerun.

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The 2018 Pensacola Double Bridge Run

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Double Bridge Run

past winners Male winners

Female Winners

2018 - Tyler McCandless 46:03 2017 - Stephen Schroeder 49:16 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 - 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

2018 - Kimi Reed 54:42 2017 - Alex Ellis 58:41 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 54:58 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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Going the distance on and off the course, and leading a team to achieve proven results.

Qualities you may want in a Personal Injury Lawyer.

ONLY ABOUT 1% of the lawyers in Florida are Board Certified in Civil Trial by both the National Board Of Trial Advocacy and the Florida Bar.* Joe Zarzaur is a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist.

If you’ve been injured, hire a board certfied expert.

PERSONAL INJURY • WRONGFUL DEATH *Board Certification by the Florida Bar Association and the National Board Of Trial Advocacy. Statistical information current as of April 2018.

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