Ocean Run 1/2 - pre race, race day, race, post race

Pre race - Saturday morning light 5 mile run with Jeff, FiveK and Lulu - perfect morning for a run at the beach - good conversation. First run with Lulu who is not much of talking, she just likes to run. Wow, Tom has a girl who doesn’t like to talk that much – lucky (Hi Julie).

With day light saving Saturday night I figured I would go get my registration/swag early – leaving more time on race day so I wouldn’t have to rush. Text Crutch to see if he was going up early - text back - pick you up around 11:30 – perfect. Nice ride-up along with good conversation. Email later in the day from Jeff on car pooling to the race. Thanks Crutch for driving - FiveK was going up with his OTHER girl.

Race day – we meet at Jeff house for ride up, what a difference in weather from Saturday. We all had our bags filled with all kinds of cold weather gear. My plan was to run in shorts no matter what – just wasn’t sure on the hat/gloves thing.  We arrived in plenty of time and meet Tom and Shara in the parking lot. Crutch deciding he was going to walk down to race start – the rest of us were going to wait for the school bus. We decided to us the bathrooms at the school – doing our impression of Muddy. This was good choice as lines were long at the starting area. Arrived in plenty of time to drop our bags off and go for short cool down. As everyone was lining up for race start – I had to go find a bush around the corner one last time. When I came back to the starting line I was not able to get up close to the front – about 20 feet from the front. I usually like to hang around third row, so first challenge was going to be in the first ½ mile going around people.

Race – Took about 10 seconds to get of the starting line so I could start the space watch. Quick loop around dirt parking lot before we could get out on the road.

1, 2, 3 – familiar with this part of the run from Crabman. Fun passing everyone you recognize as this section has two out and backs. Cone turnaround at one point which I’m not a fan of but this was early in the race so it wasn’t that bad. I ran about a mile with Shara who was completing in her 2^nd ever ½ marathon.

 4, 5, 6 – around the four mile mark I think, Beth was volunteering as a flag person turning the runners to the right and cheering us on – great to see her out there after running 20+ the day before.  After we came out of the neighborhood you have to go up Matunuck Beach Road for a short distance before turning left. This is where the head wind started to pick-up. I tuck in just behind a tall runner – literally just behind him. I look at the space watch and I didn’t like the pace he was going at this point – I wanted to push him. I don’t think he like me drafting because he slowed up a little but I was not leaving me wing man. When we turned left onto Matunuck School House Road there was a water stop – guess who pulled over to get water or to lose me - thanks tall guy.

7,8,9,10 – This section was the lonely section as the field now was spread out and the wind was picking up. Not that bad but just enough to be a jerk. Other than the water stops there were little to no spectators in this section – sucks running alone in a race when you can’t get up to the lead group and no one behind you to push you along. My time in this section was not what I wanted – I was slowing down, wasn’t sure why - all alone with my inner voice. The BEST part of this section was this lone spectator group (not sure where on the course). It was Chris G along with his wife and boy cheering me on with big smiles – I wondered over for a quick slap of the hand and thank him for the support.  This was just what I needed – little encouragement in the lonely section. I started to focus on my pace again and ignore the wind. I reach back for my GU which was a first for me. Couple days before this race I tried GU for the first time – wasn’t pretty. I ended up with GU chewable (another story for another time). All I could think about was how funny it looked like trying to run and chew these GU things. It took about ½ mile for me to finally finish the packet, chocking on one.

11, 12, 13 – Finally the last third of the race, it felt like I was in the Green Hill area forever. Back in the grove again – still alone but I could sense a group coming from the spectators at the water stops encouraging runners on. Turned onto Moonstone Beach Road which is less than 2 miles to go starting to look at the space watch and doing the math – ok, no PR but I know that coming in as I was lacking speed work. Turned left onto Cards Pond road and who do I see taking pic’s – Chris G again with the family. Encouraging me for the last mile – thanks Chris. Turn right onto the field for a strong finish – OMG felt like I was running with no right shoe – up down, up down, up down. Not the best way to finish but the rush kicks in. Space watch was 1:28:43, official time was 1:28:55 – remember the start, 10 seconds behind. Good for 20^th overall 3^rd in that age group with you know who - four more months to go.

Post race – I was supposed to go to a high school lacrosse tournament in Springfield, MA right after the race, but it was cancelled. Thankfully it was cancelled as I enjoyed the post race gathering with everyone.

Nice course, flat only one hill. TRIMOM put on a great race, the course was well marked and she had plenty of volunteers all helpful, respectful and encouraging everyone on.

Chris and family – thanks for the encouragement/support/pic’s, much needed on Matunuck School House Rd

Beth – cool seeing you volunteering, couldn’t wait to get to mile 4ish knowing you were there to cheer

Mike C – nice race, you will get that goal for a ½ later this year no doubt

Seth wife (forgot name, sorry) – nice job on your first ½ - the dog and you need a blog now

FiveK – 4^th place and in the hunt at the end – NICE job. Sometimes I wonder if I slow you down

Shara – you kicked butt for your second ½ - 4^th overall women – Sweet

Seth – awesome PR, job well done

Matthew – nice job on the 5K – I know you will be faster later in the spring and I’m not looking forward to it (that’s a joke – smile)

Jeff – another PR, I knew you were going to run well at this race – great job - fun laugh on the podium