On Sunday, I ran my second Newport 10 Miler. This was my favorite–and strongest– race last year. Gorgeous views, awesome after party, challenging but doable course. I remember how thrilled I was to finish in 1:27–more like my 10K pace than my half marathon pace.
So it was kind of tough to admit to myself going into this year’s race that the likelihood of me besting last year’s time was slim to none. Last year, the race was held in late April, right in the middle of my half marathon training, so I was in good shape. This year, the race was moved to June (meaning a temperature difference of +10 degrees), and between my foot issues and the awful winter which delayed my long runs, I knew I wasn’t in the same place physically…or even mentally. I knew I had to be realistic.
As a result, my goal was to simply run without stopping (which, given the way my long runs have been lately, would be a huge accomplishment) and hopefully finish around the 1:30 mark, still a bit under my half marathon pace.
But the day started off on the wrong foot…no pun intended.
We left my parents’ house bright and early and drove the 30 min to Newport, which–based on how our timing worked out last year–would give us 45 minutes to wait until race time.
Yet the traffic this year was horrible. Horrible. We sat, not moving, on tiny side roads, with dozens and dozens of cards ahead and behind us, and watched the clock click closer and closer to start time, my blood pressure rising as every minute passed. This definitely did not happen last year.
We eventually parked our car on top of a huge hill, started booking it to the start line (probably a half mile away) when we heard the start gun go off, right at 8am–even as a line of cars full of runners was still snaking its way into the park.
Let me just tell you: nothing is as demoralizing as a runner than to be walking to the start line–and the bathrooms, because (let’s face it) we’d been in the car now for more than an hour and had to go–and seeing ALL the other runners go past you.
After a quick bathroom stop (where we heard that if we didn’t cross the start line at 8:10, our times wouldn’t even count!), I just ran to the start line and took off, just about 10 minutes after the race officially started. So much for warming up!
I was literally at the back of the pack. In some ways, it was nice not having all that congestion at the beginning–as evidenced by a 8:30 first mile and 8:50 second mile. I could run right in the middle of the road if I wanted. But it didn’t have that same sort of race atmosphere that gets my adrenaline pumping, my mojo got all thrown off, and dodging around the walkers (who tended to walk in lines of two or three people) was tough (although I did get a surge every time I passed someone).
Eventually, around mile 3 or so, I caught up to more and more runners and started to settle into a groove. I looked at the ocean and the mansions and the beauty of Newport as I ran.
I hit the 5 mile mark a little slower than I had hoped (around 46 minutes) but kept chugging along, and took my salted caramel Gu (my new favorite!) around 5.5 miles.
Photo: Newport 10 Miler Facebook page
Like last year, my favorite part was the lovely, flat, and shady stretch around Bellevue Ave around mile 7. Of course, this is where I felt the beginnings of what would be a ginormous blister on my second toe (literally the entire length of my toe–so gross), but there was no way I was going to stop now. We turned left off Bellevue into what I knew would be a challenging stretch of rolling hills, including that whopper a little past mile 8. My pace slowed, but I just told myself, One foot in front of the other. I was sweating like no one’s business, and I finished the rest of my watermelon Nuun that I was carrying in my dorky fuel belt.
Finally, we turned right into Ft. Adams State Park, where I knew we still had over a mile to go–otherwise it’s so deceiving, because you think you’re almost done at that point. Ha, not even close. Once I knew I was literally in the home stretch, I started picking off the runners in front of me, one by one, and as we ran through the tunnel into fort, I picked up the speed and cruised to the finish line.
I also compared the stats from last year’s race to this year’s:
2014
2015
Whoa, so the race jumped from 1227 participants to 2106 in one year! This totally supports my theory that the race was waaaaay more popular this year, given the new June date, and I suspect the race organizers probably took more runners than the tiny Newport roads (and the one entrance in and our of Ft. Adams State Park, where the race was held) could handle, because in addition to the traffic, the parking situation was pretty chaotic and they clearly needed more people to help in that area.
(I don’t know if they’re sticking with this June timeframe next year or–as I hope–they go back to April, because if they stay with June, I really hope the race organizers consider a shuttle service.)
After the race, Dr. G. and I enjoyed a quick Harpoon IPA in the sunshine ….
…then sat in more traffic for the trip back to my parents’ so we could celebrate with this girl, who turned 4 years old.
So in short? I’m proud of how I raced this year, and while the Newport course is really in its own category as far as scenery goes, I hope the race organizers take a long and hard look at how many runners they can accommodate in that location.
Nicole says
This looks like a fabulous race – I love Newport and I hope I can run this next year! Great job!
Jessica says
It is absolutely beautiful. Historic mansions, beaches, ocean cliffs … can’t beat it ๐
Jennifer says
I started my very first half marathon after the gun…we were in the bathroom and got to the start line and everyone was gone! In a way it was great because I didn’t even have a chance to be nervous; my faster friends took off and we were all like, “See you at the finish!”
Jessica says
That’s a great way to think about it!
Heather sweeney says
Great recap and great time! I have even wanting to run this race but the timing never works for me. Hopefully next year!
Jessica says
Hopefully they move it back to April next year ๐