Race report: Newport Rhode Races Marathon
Newport RI 4/13/24
Sorry - it’s long
Made the 2+ hour drive down Friday afternoon to get to bib pickup (1-7) and was met with a very simple and organized experience. Plenty of friendly volunteers on hand to answer questions about parking or the course and keep any lines moving. The weekend was a full,half,and 5K for events with 4500 participants and a little over 1000 marathoners so no where near Disney size but not like a small local race near me.
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The weather was just clearing out when we got there with a forecast the next day of near perfect temps (cloudy 41 start/53 finish) but unfortunate winds 15-25mph.
The next morning was up at 5:30 thinking wow I’d be starting now at Disney, quick coffee and PBJ, out to the car for a ten minute drive to the marathon parking. From there they were running school busses to the start and it seemed like every 5 minutes or so, again seeming very well organized and done.
The course was absolutely beautiful with miles along the coastline offering endless views of the Atlantic and running by many of the famous Newport mansions. The start could have used somewhat better organization as it was all at once self seeding but with several pace groups on hand most seemed to place themselves accordingly. The setup was good as the marathon started on the shared course a half hour early and crossed a timing mat at the halfway point which was also the half finish. On course saw an aid station about every 2 miles for the entire course with gels, water, and gator aid at each stop. The odd part, I’m not used to running with traffic, none of the roads were closed the entire race, however it wasn’t an issue as local police made sure runners always were safe and had the right of way. The entire course was very well marked and had flaggers at any turns.
The first half was a loop around one side of Newport then the second went the other direction to an out and back again along the coastline followed by another out and back by some unbelievable cliff top mansions then back through town to the finish at the beach. Both out and backs had timing mats to prevent the obvious easy course cut. There were some moderate hills (they seemed to get harder as it progressed)
The finish had lots of crowd support (as well as several areas along the course) and after getting the medal it was into the food tent for donuts, pizza, snacks, water, all provided for the runners, then on to the important things - the beer tent. Met my lovely wife and enjoyed a couple drinks then out to the shuttles to get back to the car.
That’s where they failed, there was a complete lack of organization or signage to direct people to which of two lots parking was at and the busses seems to be running less than a half of the start. It became a free for all taking over an hour waiting to get back. I think they’ll hear about that but being the only issue this is one I would race again.
Even better, it’s one of five in a series and if you do 3 or more, there is an extra medal/display that the others attach to and a discount (are you reading this Disney?)
So how did I do?
I felt good going into the race and even though it’s a big jump decided to go for 3:30 since there was a pace group to help. As a run walk run racer I met them just to see who I was looking for on course and lined up ready for the start figuring we’d play leapfrog with each other. I set out just a little faster and paced myself 4min/30sec run/walk keeping ahead of them and even gaining crossing the halfway over 4 min ahead of the pacers. Heading toward mile 14 I still felt good and just kept at it. Mile 15 - what are the odds a water main break on course saw to it that every runner would get rather wet feet - ugh. Could have been worse but just one thing to get you out of the groove… next up was the first out and back and now is when the winds became very apparent. This was a couple miles right along the coast with a very strong wind bringing salt and sea spray with it, not enough to get you wet, but enough to feel the dampness and put that smell of the ocean in your lungs. Still absolutely stunning views so I’ll take it. That got me to somewhere between 17 and 18 and heading to the next out and back and starting to feel it. This is where I hit the hills, nothing crazy, I think the entire course only gains about 800 feet, but enough that I was slowing considerably.
What next? Disaster as my Apple Watch failed me, for the first time the battery gave up mid race. Not sure if it was the cooler morning temps or the intervals but either way I lost my pace and my timer.
Already slowing I figured just run how you feel, though at this point I felt pretty beat.
It was mile 19 when the 3:30 pace group caught me, so I tried hanging with them and switching to continuous run mode. By mile 20 they were fading from view and again I just settled into the best I could do. The last aid station was at mile 24 and followed by the last hill (a decent one at that), at that point I decided to walk it and save myself for the final push. As I crested the top of the hill, the 3:45 group came up behind me, no,no,no not cool.
“Please tell me you guys are ahead of pace”
“A couple minutes, just a little fast”
That was the boot I needed, a couple minutes off 3:45 was my current PR, no way I let this group by me. With just under 2 to go I pulled away from them and settle in for the slight downhill to a flat mile to the finish, no idea what I was at but it must have been faster than I thought because when I hit the finish I saw a number on the clock that was a new PR!
3:41:11
Took over 2 minutes off my best! And on what seemed to be a pretty challenging course. It’s never fast enough, but I’m absolutely thrilled.
Now I need a quick recovery, a vacation to pick up our DD at school, a couple long runs, and taper to the Steel Rail Marathon May 19.
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I don't usually look at these types of metrics (body battery etc) but I saw a post saying garmin's stamina was pretty on the dot and now I'm freaking out.
