Caribbean Running Cruise Day 4 - St. Maarten Scenic Run

We met up in the Pyramid Lounge for our pre-race meeting and breakfast. Today we would run along the boardwalk in Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

There was a little chaos getting off the ship -- we always arrange to be the first off, but other passengers don't know that ... so when we go swanning by, well, we get some nasty looks.

But we all piled off, Wil being the first person off the ship in our line. However, something odd happened to the software -- the crew kept scanning the SeaPass cards and it wasn't working ... lots of WHOMP game-show fail sort of sounds, rather than PING success sounds. Eventually it worked, but the picture that came up on the screen was Wil. No matter who came through. We encouraged our fellow runners to acquire fake beards for when they came back on board...

We were met on the pier by a very nice Dutch expat who runs a triathlon store called Tri-Sport St. Maarten. (Really embarrassed that I didn't catch his name...) He and his crew had organized our run. We gathered not far from the weird "retail village" at the pier and stood around for a  little while (always with the peeing!) and then listened to the race talk.

yep, that's my camera lens steaming up in the muggy heat!

We would run from the start along the walkway into town, emerging on the boardwalk. The 5K runners would run along the boardwalk until it became hard-packed sand, then run to a turnaround by a green building. (Q: "Is it marked?" A: "It's a BIG building") Then run back past the finish arch to a turnaround, then back out along the boardwalk to the edge of the sand, then back to the finish. 10K runners would do the "long lap" to the green building 3x, then the short lap.

obligatory pre-race photo

marking the start line - photo by John Bingham

Eventually they sent us off running -- the first stretch was a little narrow as we were just running on a sidewalk, but it very quickly opened up. Our early exit from the ship meant that the boardwalk and shopping area wasn't too crowded, so we were able to quickly thread ourselves through.

and we're off! - photo by Jenny Hadfield

photo by Jenny Hadfield

big sale at the diamond store! run! - photo by Jenny Hadfield 

The restaurants and shops were just opening up, which meant we got a lot of attention for the shopkeepers. Wil was addressed as Moses and Santa, which was pretty amusing.

We ran out along the boardwalk, past the water taxi stop, along the very gorgeous beach, on to the sand ... the turnaround WAS marked and manned by a cheerful guy.

Team Wil-Sun - photo by Jenny Hadfield

The nice part about running back and forth all those time was that we could see all of the runners multiple times and cheer like mad.

Bud and Claudia - photo by Jenny Hadfield

At one point, one of the guys sitting in a restaurant called out to Wil: "Come and see me when you are done running... I have what you need." I said, "Put two in the fridge!" and Janet, running right near us, said, "Me too!" the guy shook his head and said, "Not that kind of thing, mon." Ha!

The weather? Hot. Stinking hot. But we got a little lucky since it was overcast AND we even got a little rain shower for a few minutes. But still -- SO HOT. So hot that at one point I saw BJ walking. WALKING. That hot. ;)

photos by John Bingham - he'll treasure this one forever :) 

We finished, gulped down some water, and then Wil went to buy us our first Caribe beers. We stood at the finish line, drinking beer and cheering people on. Best finish? Matt and Vickie Kim, who came in holding hands AND Matt did a nifty little heel kick.

Tony and Dawn post-race - photo by John Bingham

Joe finishing strong - photo by John Bingham

our two favorite ladies - photo by John Bingham, who first used his right hand, then his left hand...

And, how cool is this map of the run?

Once folks were all finished, we headed back to the ship to get cleaned up, eat a late breakfast (early lunch?) before walking back into town.

Since diamond shopping really wasn't our thing, we just wandered around the town, managing to be next to an elementary school as it let out, so that we were surrounded by kids in their school uniforms. Adorbs.

We did make a point of visiting the GuavaBerry store, where we tried the "local folk liqueur" Guavaberry, their rum, and their guavaberry daiquiri. We didn't feel the need to buy the rum or liqueur, but of course had to buy guavaberry daiquiris... in hot-pink cups.

We ended up back at the ship a little early -- which gave us time to enjoy today's happy hour at Boleros (2-for-1 mai tais), relax on the balcony, and take a nap before dinner.

maybe a little sun...

Dinner tonight was with Jenny (yay!), along with Matt and Vicky, Gary and Leshia, Joyce, and two other women I didn't manage to "meet".

(This trip, there were so many people that John and Jenny dined separately so they could maximize the number of folks who got to eat with one of them.)

After dinner drinks in Olive or Twist (of course), but we had an early night, relaxing in our room on the balcony. Oh, and my favorite towel animal of all time:

Tomorrow: our first hash run!

Caribbean Running Cruise Day 3 - At Sea

Another fine day -- with little structure. Wil and I have decided to run every day while we are on the cruise... possibly beyond that. Most of the week was a given, since we have so many group runs. But today we were up to our own devices, so we got up, got dressed, and went up to the deck to run a mile. 

STILL stupid windy... but this time hot. Oh Dear. Should have added more time to my predicted race finish times!

We had to come back down to the room and shower before we could get breakfast -- we were that gross. From running a mile. Yowzers.

Very unscheduled all day -- so we did a little nosing around in the shops, attempted - twice -- to attend a shopping seminar (yeah, that was dumb), eating breakfast and lunch in the dining room (a meatless eggs benedict for breakfast, a massive salad and gnocchi for lunch), lounging in "the tongue" at the pool, and we went to hear John's talk.

I love hearing John talk about running, especially when he tells his story about getting started. But he also told some stories I hadn't heard before:

Talking to former marathon world-record holder Khalid Khannochi after the Chicago Marathon...

John: "What's the longest you've ever run?"

Khalid: "It was my worst ever marathon finish -- 2:12."

Aside from John to us -- now, most people in this room have run or walked longer than 2 hours and 12 minutes... so we've got ENDURANCE.

John: "I ran 5:37 today."

Khalid: "That's pretty fast for a guy your age..."

John: "No, you MOOK... 5 HOURS, 37 MINUTES..."

And a riff about what it's like at the back of the pack:

Post-race food? POST-race food? I didn't know there WAS post-race food for 4 or 5 years... by the time I got to the finish, there wasn't any... maybe a cookie on the floor or something.

And his classification of runners into four basic types:

1. Real fast. (The elites)

2. Pretty fast. (The sub elites)

3. Kinda fast. ("Trophy sniffers")

4. Penguins. 

After the talk we settled in at Boleros for the happy hour -- 2-for-1 rum punches (of course!). this time sitting in the bar and enjoying the gentility of it all. Later we went ack to the cabin and enjoyed our sunny balcony, writing and reading till it was time to go for dinner. 

Tonight we sat with Bud and Claudia from North Dakota, Ralph from Ohio, and Judy from Arizona. Again, two people didn't show up for dinner... I think we'll start to develop a complex about that...  For dessert I couldn't decide between the cherries jubilee and the cheese plate. I said I'd share the cherries jubilee with Wil... and proceeded to EAT ALL OF IT. Best part was that Bud called me out on it before I had even noticed. Oops. So, apparently, I like cherries jubilee. But don't feel too bad for Wil... he had a rum baba AND a Jaffa cake...

After dinner we headed up to Olive or Twist with John and Jenny and soon were joined by a lot of our fellow runners. 

Amusing moment: before any else ha arrived, the four of us shifted chairs and tables around to accommodate a largish group. A handful of JoCo cruisers were shopping for a table where they could see the track, because they were thinking of running around it. One of them nervously said, "Wait, do I have to run ALL THE WAY AROUND IT????"

Just then Belinda and some others arrived, a discussion of groups and tables arrived, and they shifted own so our group could stay together. Nice young chaps. (One left his DS sitting on the table... someone in our groups said to him, "You left your, um, phone?" He said he didn't have his phone with him, so Wil said "It's your DS.") Neeeerrrrd Boooooaaaat! 

(I should quickly point out that Wil and I firmly qualify as nerds... and that "NEEEEEERRRRRD BOOOOOOAAAAAT!" was a greeting by someone's Mii when street-passing with Wil. Yes, we ARE nerds...)

Tomorrow is our first early day -- a 7am race briefing before the ship docks at 8. Tomorrow we run in St. Maarten!

Caribbean Running Cruise Day 2 - Sunday Night Lights Predictor Run

photo by Jenny Hadfield

This morning stated with a phone call to let us know our room service was being delivered ... a VERY effective wake-up call!) Then we went to a strength and flexibility workout with jenny in the Solarium. It was a crazy windy morning -- so much so that the staff were tying down the deck chairs agains the wind. We struggled to hold on to our towels and our balance as Jenny led us through a circuit of 10 do-anywhere exercises -- a nice way to start the day.

gorgeous morning at sea!

For most of the day we took things pretty easy -- eating TOO MUCH (including a second breakfast with John and Jenny after the workout, where we had a chance to catch up.

our first towel animal of the cruise!

I suspect that's a Bahama Mama on the table there...

Other daytime highlights: submitting our predicted times for the events, picking up tickets for the ice show in a few days, trying the drink of the day -- a Bahama Mama -- at 11am, somehow eating an enormous salad at lunchtime, hoping for champagne at the "champagne art auction" and just giving up because the art was so terrible, deciding instead on 2-for-1 margaritas at what was to become "our" bar, Boleros, and a well-deserved nap.

Dinner was formal, so we gussied up and were seated with Gary and Leshia -- the folks who had read the blog. It's so fun tat these trips to have a chance to talk to other runners about the race they've run, where they're running next, etc.

Wil and I left dinner early because ... well, because today was the Super Bowl. So we watched the last few minutes of the first half, the halftime show (giant tiger puppet? heck yes, Katy Perry!), and then a short part of the second half.

Why only a short part? Because we had a NIGHT run to do!!!

Originally planned as an early morning event, the timing shifted to accommodate schedules and became the first ever SUNDAY NIGHT LIGHTS" run, complete with glow necklaces.

photo by Jenny Hadfield

Wil and I wore Seahawks gear (yeah, I know, funny) accented with Brite Pink Brooks calf sleeves and armwarmers.

photo by Jenny Hadfield

Because it was dark and Very Very Windy, the rules were adapted -- folks could run together, time themselves, whatever. John and Jenny were surprised that anyone actually showed up, but a bunch of us did!

Wil and I decided to run together -- the craziest, windiest three miles we've ever run. As you ran up the starboard side, the nearer you got to the bow, the stronger the headwind. You would just sorta adapt to it as you rounded the bow, but then as you turned to run along the port side toward the stern, the wind would gust and literally pick up your feet -- so much so, that a lot of us nearly tripped ourselves.

photo by Jenny Hadfield

But then an all-too fast trip down the port side, whooping at the timers, and then we turned along a wall ... where, when you cleared it, the wind would slam into you and knock you slightly sideways. Those of us running the staged marathon distance had to do this THIRTEEN AND A HALF TIMES -- 3 miles. It was pretty ridiculous... but also pretty fun.

photo by Jenny Hadfield

Meanwhile, while we ran loops around the deck, the JoCo cruisers were celebrating their "Fez Formal Night" -- and getting ready to watch the Princess Bride on the big scren. (And perhaps taking a little too much pride in the fact that they prevented the Super Bowl from being shown on the screen for everyone else on the boat... but it probably worked out better for the runners in the end ... fewer people meant we had more room to run.)

Wil nipped off to see the (for him, disappointing) end of the game, while I represented Team Wil-Sun and cheered... and drank... Wil came back up with the news, so we dinished cheering for the final finishers. (While wondering if speedy BJ was actually running 13 miles right then.)

photo by Jenny Hadfield

Then our sweaty, glowing, slightly giddy group went up to Olive or Twist for drinks, and we chatted with BJ & Janet and a few others before heading off for a late-night slice of pizza, some reading, and some writing. Another quiet sea day tomorrow!

Caribbean Running Cruise Day 1 - Embarcation Day

After a lazy morning (breakfast by the pool, a long walk on the beach, and browsing at a very large, very strange gift shop full of tat), we took an Uber to Port Everglades. We had a nice chat with our driver about running, cruises, San Francisco, Florida's flatness, and Morocco, of all things. 

Wil had received an email telling him we should arrive at the cruise terminal at 2. Which seemed absurd, since we needed to be on board at 3. It was also absurd that the email was sent to Wil, rather than me, since the reservation was primarily in my name. So… since *I* hadn't received that email, we just decided to head over at 11.

Arrived to slight chaos, but eventually cleared security (unwittingly "smuggling" a liter of fizzy water through) and then joined the check-in queue. 

We started to notice a lot of "unexpected" folks -- nerds and geeks and folks with colored hair, and lots of PAX and video game shirts. So, me being me, I asked. Apparently we've stumbled across the JoCo Cruise Crazy #5, named after Jonathan Coulton -- a singer/songwriter who "specializes in songs about geek culture" (saith Wikipedia). More on that later, I'm sure. 

More amusement at check-in -- I happened to give the clerk my credit card for shipboard expenses. He then laboriously filled out a form for "WILLIAM DELANEY" to sign, and I was told to sign on the back. Umm.

But we got it sorted out, got our SeaPass cards, and headed upstairs. We fully expected to enter a big waiting room to sit until our boarding group was called… but we found ourselves in the obligatory pre-cruise photo gauntlet, and then headed up the gangplank. Nice. 

We were scanned aboard (beep!) and then we were at a complete loss as to what to do next. We went exploring first… admiring the Royal Promenade (and, um, stopping for our first pint at the Dog & Badger pub...

... giggling at the decor in the Labyrinth (googly eyes on the ravens don't quite work, but who doesn't love a gogo-dancing Yeoman Warder-ette)...

... wondering at the suitability of some of the art for a cruise ship (though, to be fair, a lot of it was super cool) ...

...and, eventually, breaking down and braving the buffet for lunch.

Then it was 1:00, so we headed to our cabin -- we had splurged on a balcony and within five minutes we knew we had made the right decision. Glorious! (Though we may have spoiled us for any future cruise, I'm afraid!) 

Later we took our first dip in the hot tubs cantilevered off the side of the ship (awesome), had the drink of the day ("Miami Melon" -- and, look, no matter how terrible it sounds, you HAVE TO DRINK THE DRINK OF THE DAY -- every day. Rituals are important.)

When we arrived back in our room, our luggage had been delivered, so we set about unpacking. Now, I love unpacking into a hotel, even if we're just going to be somewhere for 2 nights. So this is one of my favorite things about cruising.

Also attended the obligatory muster drill -- definitely lessened by the lack of orange life vests -- and that our muster station is a dining room. But whatever. 

We had our welcome reception with John and Jenny at 5:30 -- where we saw some old friends - BJ and Janet, Rick and Belinda (from Alaska), Deborah (from Peru), and of course Mila, who greeted us with a big hug. I was surprised by how big the group is -- 127 people! -- which is awesome. A lot of the cruisers are repeat offenders -- apparently, a lot of people do this cruise every year as their winter sun getaway. 

John gave us (and Brooks) a shout out, which was nice, and told everyone about the bronzed shoe. 

Ernst -- a TEN-YEAR trip veteran -- was honored with a Marathon Expeditions jacket (awww); the newcomers (not the Newcomers, ha ha) were given special attention, too. A nice get together … and not just because we had a couple of glasses of wine. 

We all marched to dinner as a group in the Macbeth dining room -- sorry, the SCOTTISH PLAY dining room -- having received special dispensation to arrive late because our meeting had to be scheduled after the late muster drill. (And we may not have been dressed appropriately, but them's the breaks…)

On this cruise, we had a block of tables, and every night we are assigned to a different one, so we get a chance to meet our fellow runners, occasionally dine with John or Jenny, and just generally mix it up. This night we were at an 8-top with Nancy and Roger, Ken and Laura, and Tom and Kathy.

When we put in our dessert orders, Roger said he wanted nothing for dessert. And he received it... IN ABUNDANCE!

After dinner we heeded up to Olive or Twist for an after-dinner drink… or two. We had a chance to talk with Tone and Dawn from Coventry, as well as Gary and Leshia, who had read our blog before they went on their Alaska cruise. Awww. 

I'm really excited about this group -- everyone seems really lovely. 

2015 Caribbean Running Cruise - we're home!

We arrived home from our amazing Caribbean Running Cruise vacation late Sunday night, and it feels like we've been running full speed ever since. I am going to type up all my "paperblog" notes over the next few days, but just wanted to make a quick post to say a huge THANK YOU to our hosts, John "The Penguin" Bingham and Coach Jenny Hadfield, our cruise helpers Mila and Karen, and all of our fellow cruisers -- thanks a million for making this run-cation so fantastic!