DIVAS Long Island-Oct 6, 2013

 
 
 
 
This was the 3rd Annual Long Island DIVAS Half Marathon and 5k. The DIVAS hosts a series of events in multiple locations across the nation including Puerto Rico. As you can imagine with just the name alone, this is a fun filled weekend celebrating womanhood. Of course men race too and they do, many of them participating in the fun by dressing up either in drag, a tutu, or just join in the sea of pink!
 
The DIVAS races include a slew of benefits and goodies throughout the weekend, all keeping the girly theme. This race included a Host hotel (Marriott Uniondale) in walking distance (but also included shuttle for a fee), a welcome specialty drink (for fee), a pre race pasta party at the hotel restaurant (for fee), Celebrity guest Ali Vincent  from the Biggest Loser at the Expo and Race, boa and tiara on course (last mile), a Finish Line will roses, champagne, and shirtless men, a dance DJ at the Finish area, and an After Party at the Host hotel that evening (no comment on this, as we had to depart before party time).
 
There were 1,898 half marathoners and 1,200 5kers at this years DIVAS Long Island event.
 
This race was a last minute surprise for myself. As I was paid for, registered, and ready to take on the Smuttynose RockFest Half in Hampton Beach, NH in a few weeks when I was approached by The  DONNA group to represent them at the Divas Long Island Expo and Race! Despite the refusal of Smuttynose to refund or defer my registration, I still took the opportunity as this has pretty much my sole purpose of the last 3 years of running a half per month!....to benefit breast cancer awareness via The DONNA!   
 
I was partnered up with The DONNA' s Social Media Butterfly,' Marcia blogger of 'Travel, Run, Eat' and I don't think it could have been more perfect! Our personalities meshed well and we had a blast! We flew nonstop to JFK on my new favorite airline, Jet Blue! At check in, they even had a donation jar for The Donna! There wasn't much time after the excursion to pick up the rental car, driving into Uniondale, and checking into the Marriott before we had to be down the street at the Expo! (and yes, we were still late).
 
 
It was a two day Expo at the Mitchell Field Complex in Uniondale. The expo was of a good size and had some very unique vendors.  The Donna race had just announced their brand new Virtual option for the half and full marathon. We were super excited to help spread the word at the Expo! We met a lot of interesting and friendly people during the 2 days.
 
 
It was a quick day and we were both famished after not eating all day so we headed to Vincents Clam Bar for dinner and had some of the best and Biggest Italian food!
 
 


 Saturday was another long and busy day spent at the Expo, but there were lots of people interested in The Donna and we left super proud! We then had dinner at Grimaldis, arriving just 2 minutes before the wrap up of happy hour (pizza pie included!!) We then arrived back at the hotel to tail gate city!...apparently our room faced the Hockey Stadium! The windows were definitely thin as we could hear them in our room. Luckily they ended early enough, or we were too tired to notice and our sleep wasn't disturbed!
 
Working the two day Expo was definitely exhausting and I woke up not as well rested as I wanted to be (and definitely overly stuffed from all the carbs the past 2 days, and beers!)
 
We tried to sleep in as much as possible, knowing we were close to start, but still had a good mile walk (we drove it out the night before).
 
It was a cold, overcast, and drizzly morning. I still ran in my skirt and DONNA tank and convinced Marcia to do the same, although I think she later regretted it. We picked up a couple 5kers for the walk to start, as they were trying to get on the sold out shuttle without luck. Little did they, or we, know the 'only 1 mile' walk would be more like 2 (they didn't let us do our cut thru the park we had planned). Those poor 5k girls did a 10k by the end of the day!
 
The 5k was set to start in waves before the half marathon. We were just approaching start when the 5k first waves were starting. We had to scurry to take a couple pictures, get myself in the porta potty (plenty of them, and short lines, Thank God!) and line us up in our corral. The race had an honest system on the corrals. I convinced Marcia to start off in a faster pace of about 9min. Ali Vincent made a few words and then we were off!
 
 
 
 
One would think that a race in Long Island would showcase some part of the beach area. However, this race is held in Uniondale NY and the course itself looped around a business area and Eisenhower Park. It is not a scenic race at all. But just as scenic as you can get for a city race! We later learned as we explored Long Island Beaches after the race, there probably isnt a route that would make the race scenic with the beaches. So all in all, it was still a good destination to be central to some great areas to make a long race destination weekend! There are great day trip opportunities in both directions...NYC and the Hamptons. Of course, there is never enough time for everything and it was a quick in and out race for us.
 
The race started off quick. Its fun to have a friend in the same race, as it feels like there is more of a competition than just with yourself. Especially since Marcia and I are just about in the same pace and both have a goal for a 5 hour full marathon finish this February. Marcia was doing the Galloway method and I was just going to 'wog,' (walk/jog) listening to my body, knowing I needed to keep it at a 10:31 pace to make a PR.
 
We were leap frogging each other for the first couple miles, so I decided to give her method a try. However, I quickly learned her runs are faster than mine and I couldn't hang on for even a mile so I let her go. I was hurtin early. I wasn't feeling it at all and I had serious doubts. But having the average per mile goal and keeping Marcia in my sight kept me on track. Midway through I got some motivation back when I finally was able to catch up to and pass Marcia. I knew at that point it was going to be close call for me to PR.
 
The course was pretty flat with a few slight inclines. For me it was an almost perfect Fall day. The leaves were starting to change color and there were even a few moments where the wind blew and the colored leaves were falling down over us as we passed by. It was a peaceful and gorgeous sight!
 
 The last mile was a difficult one. I had to put some serious effort into it to make up a little bit of time. I grabbed the tiara and boa and threw it around my fuel belt. No time to be a prissy runner now! I ran and I ran hard. I ran fast. I probably ran my fastest I have ever ran. I could feel every muscle of my body engaging. I could feel my lungs working to the max. And it felt good. It was going to be close, but I was not going to give up being this close!
 
I crossed the finish line grunting and probably making the ugliest face at any race, but I made my 1 minute PR!
 
 
 
The Finish had the usual running food and the champagne?...a swallows worth. :/  It was too cold in wet clothes to hang out with the 'Dance DJ', so we quickly took some pictures and did our walk back to the hotel (this time finding the cut through we wanted!)
 
 
The medal is big and unique, but unfortunately not unique to each city, besides the name. (This years Long Island DIVAS medal looks almost identical to my Myrtle Beach DIVAS from 2 years ago!) But they do feature a tiara and a spinning part where you can put your picture on one side. The shirts also keep the same kind of theme.
 
I would highly recommend this event to anyone looking for a fun race, welcoming of every type of runner! Everything is very well organized and thought of ahead of time. I have participated in two DIVAS locations now without any snafus. And of course anything with Pink and that celebrates Womanhood, I am a fan of!
 
13.1-2:17
HM #31
 
Show your support and make a $13.10 donation at