A New Year, A New Company

We have undergone some changes here, behind the cones - one we hope is for the better.

We are keeping much of what has been working in these races - great courses, amazing volunteers, pacers, etc but changing up what hasn't worked.  We have learned a great deal in the past and we hope to be better for it.

To start, our company is a sports event management company but it is also a Rhode Island Benefit Corporation.  This is a new designation which means we are a for-profit company but our core mission is to provide a social benefit.  Not only will our company provide the obvious health and wellness benefits that any endurance event provides but we have additional goals - to foster goal attainment and self-esteem not just amongst our participants but in the larger running community, to lessen our environmental impact, to be better partners to local vendors and businesses and to provide fundraising and monetary benefits to chosen charities.  They are lofty goals but we are trying to set the bar high.

But at its essence - we hope to execute amazing races and sports events. We want your feedback - what do you like about these races in the past, what would you like to see this year, what is your favorite part about participating in these events, what amenities are important to you?  If you have a few minutes - please consider filling out this survey.  We truly want to hear from you so that we can plan the best races in 2016.  We hope to give you a more personal experience - to help you attain your goals.  We have lots of ways to interact - FaceBook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn and Google+.  Talk to us and we will do what we can to get you across that finish line.

Please - sign up for our email list, like our social media and bookmark our website.  We hope you will continue to give us your feedback - good, bad or indifferent.  As runners - we are always trying to PR - that is no different if you are inside the coned running lane or out!

Hope you will join us this year.

www.RunRI.us

Betty Designs

I am a HUGE Betty Designs fan. She makes kick ass clothes for running, swimming, biking, yoga, SUP-ing - all my favorite things. Her motto is #badassisbeautiful and it just resonates with the idea of getting out there and do epic shit. 

If you haven't checked out her stuff - here is your chance to do so. Get 10% off if want to "thank yourself" before 11/29 using code thanks2betty.  

It is awesome stuff!! 

Narragansett Fall Half Marathon

In the past 6 weeks, I have spent 3 of them on our race courses and the other two on my sons' cross country courses.  On the 6th one - what do I do? Test my own legs with a half marathon!

I haven't raced a half in 2-3 years, I haven't even run longer than 7 or 8 miles since June.  But the Race Director for this race is just a great guy, I have heard nothing but wonderful things about his races.  So I wanted to give it a go - both to see what I have personally and see what he has professionally!

I feel that I have to continue to race other events so I know what works from a participant point of view.  While the runner doesn't care how the aid stations get set up at 4 am, they do care what side of the road they are on, how protected the course is, how much fun the post race festival is and what kind of medal is given out.

So my expectations were low for myself and high for the race - both proved out to be awesome!  The race was a great course of beautiful back roads and neighborhoods.  I don't think I passed a car on the whole course.  It helps that it was FREEZING and early Sunday morning - but both work for me as a runner!  While running, I was looking at both how the race is logistically executed and how I should execute my own race! I picked up a few good ideas for our races but ended up having a great day of running of my own.

The finish line was in the parking lot of a mall, but he had it decorated so wonderfully with barriers, pumpkins, hay bales, corn stalks - you forgot you were in a parking lot instead of a farm!  Lots of music and excitement greeted you as you came home.  I was 12th overall so it was still a bit quiet when I arrived but ramped up quickly after I ran back to my car to get my jacket.  The finish had pie, cider and beer as well as a few vendors.  Very fun!

Personally - I PR'd by nearly 5 mins, finishing in 1:32 and 3rd overall female.  I enjoyed a yummy DownEast Cider (beer at 9:30a on a Sunday seemed wrong - Cider is practically Apple Juice, so that's ok!), I hung out with some of my Rhode Island Runner peeps and headed home to shower and warm up.

I have been running for nearly 30 years, I thought my day's for PRs were behind me - gave me a new confidence to think there are still some ahead of me!  I focused on feeling positive and without pain, feeling light and fast. This article hit home because it epitomized how I focused on feeling comfortable.

http://running.competitor.com/2015/10/training/how-perception-of-effort-can-make-or-break-a-race_137729/2


So in the end - a well executed race, I picked up a few ideas to improve our races AND I had a self-confidence boost with a new PR.  Winning all around!

For a really fun race - check out the Narragansett Half Marathon Summer race in Easton, MA!

Ocean State Rhode Race (aka Why I love our Rhode Crew)

Our last race of the year is usually a big one.  We start and finish the season with a full marathon.  While this year's race had a new location, we were still going to end on a high note.  Controversy had dominated this race in 2015 and we just wanted to get back to our running roots and execute a race that celebrates Rhode Island.

To begin - we honored the original Ocean State Marathon by contacting the race director and asking permission to use a portion of this name.  Additionally - that race incorporated Narragansett in the course and we elected to have our race start and finish in this beautiful seaside town.  We created a course that had beautiful shore line, stone bridges, quiet back roads and the most picturesque run along the Narrow River.

To end the race - we had the authentic RI blues band - Neal and the Vipers playing as the runners rounded the last corner, we served Del's Lemonade and Chowder at the finish and it was just a gorgeous day to have our post race festival at the iconic Narragansett Town Beach.  Our race participants were so loyal this year and we hoped that we were able to provide a race that celebrated running in Rhode Island.  We are extremely grateful to everyone for joining us in our new location and we are humbled that you joined us.  

A special note of thanks goes to our Rhode Crew.  On race days, these guys start working at 3 am and often don't stop until 7 pm.  They do anything that needs to be done, no matter what.  After the mesh banners are rolled up, the barricades are put away and the DJ has stopped bringing the runners home, the Rhode Crew still has to go back and do the dirty job of cleaning up and unloading the trucks, pushing their bodies past the point of exhaustion.  They do all that is asked of them (even if we don't ask), they do it very well and they keep us laughing the whole day.  They are the most generous and kind group and we could not execute these races without them.

So to Greg, Mike, Mike, Neil, Sean, Scott, James, Riley, Kyle, Matt, Keith and Byron - THANK YOU for another great racing season!

Jamestown Half Marathon

Jamestown is my favorite "Rhode Race."  We often refer to it as the red-headed step child of the 4 races - it doesn't get as much notoriety of the bigger races but the course is just stunning.  The majestic beauty of the downtown harbor as it overlooks the Pell Bridge with its peaceful sailboats bobbing in the harbor, the historic Watson Farm and the silent windmill, the peaceful ponds and fields and the rolling hills - to me, Jamestown is quintessential Rhode Island in its quiet charm.

But it is a challenging course.  And you can see none of the above with pea soup fog like we had race morning.  :)

For the third race in a row - we had weather related issues.  The fog was a new one.  It precluded our participants, spectators and volunteers from truly seeing the beauty of the course (as well as some other key locations - like the start!).  We hadn't prepared for it so it did present some challenges on race day - but it was still a great day.

We had a new start and finish location at Fort Getty but this location was going to be much better - it allowed us to avoid off-island parking and provided a stunning first and last half mile with Mackeral Cove now being incorporated into the course.  Finally - the Pavilion at Fort Getty was a natural shelter for our participants with amazing views of Narragansett Bay. But with all new things - it is hard to predict what can happen and how best to problem solve in advance.  We do sit down before each race, go over our wrap up notes from last year and brainstorm what can happen this year - and what we can do to prevent or prepare for it.  

With the new finish location and in order for the course to be truly 13.1, the start had to be a ways from the finish.  We didn't anticipate this being a problem as you had to go right past it to get into Fort Getty.    However - with the fog, our runners were unable to see much past their windshields. We also did have some shuttle issues - one bad driver and it affects a NUMBER of people - but next year, we should be able to avoid shuttles all together.

But in the end - the race is still my favorite and was a success.  The new start and finish is much more conducive to the post race atmosphere.  The medals were bling-worthy, our food was plentiful and appropriate for such an early morning start.  And the course is still gorgeous and challenging - after completing it, participants have such an overwhelming sense of accomplishment - they are truly beaming.  It is so incredible to help people achieve these goals.

Jamestown is just a hidden gem and we are always so excited to show it off in the best way we know how - a Rhode Race.

Harvest Wine Run

Well, as seems to be the case this year - it rained on our parade again. In spite of that, this race is my favorite of all our races (don't tell the other races that!)  Running, cross country, wine, food, acoustic music - all this goodness in one race! It is perfect.

The race starts and finishes right at Newport Vineyard, the first mile loops amongst their grape vine varieties. The next 2 1/2 miles are in the Aquidneck Land Trust - corn fields, winding through woods, fields - hazards and all, truly a cross country course. I usually drive the course a few times just before the race to shovel the horse "droppings" off the course before the runners start. It is a challenging course not for the hills - it is pretty flat, but because most runners have never run off road before. You have to watch your step on every part. It is always a bit visceral running through nature like that. It is a different experience for many, and a much better one. 

After you finish running through the vines and fields, you can hear the music and see the vineyard as you approach the final turn.  Nothing makes some people finish faster than knowing there is a glass of wine waiting for them at the end. You literally get handed a custom wine glass as soon as you cross the finish line!

Then the party can begin - BBQ and acoustic music on the Vineyards stunning patio, bordered by the vines on one side and the gorgeous stainless steel vats on the other. 

The Age Group winners are awarded custom labels bottles of wine!  I have won my share of trophies but this would be my favorite! 

Every year we do this race, we learn something new about how to improve it. Next year we will add mile markers on course. We can tweak the food a bit and shorten up the waves so there is more time to linger after the race. We send out post race surveys because we truly want to know what works and what doesn't so we can make it better.  For me - this race is everything that I love - running, trails, wine, music - I want this race to be AMAZING and learning from our experiences will help make it so.

Here is some cool drone footage from some of the last waves of the race:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/136355655@N03/22050611961/in/datetaken/

Why do I run?

I was given this poem by my HS coach.  I have referred to it often as it has helped me through some tough times.  I now have two kids that run HS XC country and you can only "coach" running to an extent.  Running is 90% mental.  The original hangs in my kitchen for every day viewing - for them and for me.

I won't say it defined me when I was a 16 yr old HS runner and just wanted to hang out with my friends - but it helped me when I was a college runner, in the years of marriage and children and aging and death of friends that were WAY to young - it defines me every day now.

For that reason - this man gave me a gift.  And I am forever grateful.

WHY DO I RUN?

WHY DO I RUN? 

THOSE WHO DON’T CAN’T UNDERSTAND.

THE PAIN IS REAL EVERYDAY.

IS IT EASIER NOW? NOT REALLY –

THE SAME PAIN I FELT THE FIRST DAY I BEGAN.

ONLY EASIER TO COVER GREATER DISTANCES

IN SHORTER AMOUNTS OF TIME.

THE PAIN IS THE SAME AND I UNDERSTAND IT ALWAYS WILL BE.

I DREAD IT, AND IN A SENSE I CRAVE IT.

WHY DO I RUN?

TO STAY IN SHAPE, TO KEEP MY HEALTH,

TO FEEL BETTER – 

ALL PARTIAL REASONS, I SUPPOSE.

THE REAL REASON IS CONFIRMATION –

CONFIRMATION THAT I AM IN CONTROL.

EVERY DAY I MUST MAKE A CHOICE –

A CHOICE TO EXPERIENCE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER GOAL.

OR TO GIVE IN TO THE BODY’S URGING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE MORE COMFORTING AND PLEASURABLE.

WHO IS IN CONTROL? MY BODY OR ME?

EVERY TIME I RUN, I VERIFY TO ME THAT I AM IN CONTROL

AND THAT I CAN BE THE MASTER OF MY OWN DESTINY.

THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHY I RUN.

I FEEL GUILTY WHEN I DON’T RUN – WHEN THE BODY WINS.

RUNNING IS A TEST OF MY STRENGTH –

NOT JUST MY PHYSICAL –

BUT MY MENTAL.

RUNNING IS A CHALLENGE OF MY “WILL” – 

OF MIND OVER MATTER

OF ME AGAINST MYSELF.

RUNNING IS MENTAL CONDITIONING AS WELL AS PHYSICAL.

IT’S THERAPY OF THE “WILL” FOR ME.

EACH RUN IS SUCCESS –

THE RICHEST AND MOST DEEPLY SATISFYING.

STRANGELY BUT UNMISTAKINGLY TIED TO SELF-DISCIPLINE, SELF-DENIAL AND SELF-CONTROL.

IN A WORLD WHERE I OFTEN FEEL HELPLESS, VICTIMIZED AND CONTROLLED,

RUNNING HELPS REVIVE FEELINGS OF HOPE, STRENGTH AND CONVICTION

THAT I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND I CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ME.

AN ADDICTION YOU SAY AND YOU’RE RIGHT –

THERE’S A DANGER.

SO LONG AS I “CHOOSE,” 

THE VALUE REMAINS TRUE AND REAL;

SO LONG AS I CONTROL RUNNING AND RUNNING DOES NOT CONTROL ME.

POSITIVE ADDICTION OR NOT, THE VALUE IS IN CHOOSING.

WHEN THE CHOICE IS GONE, I BECOME CONTROLLED AND VICTIMIZED AGAIN.

ON MORE THING IN MY LIFE THAT TELLS ME I AM NOT IN CONTROL,

THAT I AM SIMPLY A PAWN OF FATE AND CIRCUMSTANCE.

I MUST RUN AS A CHOICE,

NOT OUT OF NECESSITY OR IT’S REAL VALUE IS GONE FOR ME.

WHY DO I RUN?

I RUN FOR SUCCESS,

SUCCESS IN THE ULTIMATE CONTEST –

THE CONTEST OF ME AGAINST MYSELF.