SubscribeOn July, 13, 2013, Mallory and I ran the second race of the United Health Care Triple Crown Series, Jamestown, Rhode Island. Last year, we ran all three: Providence and Jamestown halves and the full in Newport. We got an extra big fancy medal and t-shirt for participating in the series. This year we weren't planning to do any of them, but when there was a Jamestown Groupon for $27 entry, we could not refuse.
This was the second year for this race and it was not without issue. Last year, there was the whole porta potties delivered as the racers were waiting to start fiasco and this year the race was delayed due to lines for packet pick-up. It seemed that all of the participants were picking up right before the race, likely due to it being a Saturday race and who has time on a Friday for packet pick-up between 2pm and 7pm?
Also, Providence, Jamestown and Newport races... Could you please have women's t-shirts or at least order extra smalls? Most races have a higher percentage of females and most runners are not known for massive size, so it would be nice if us petite ladies could get shirts that fit in a non-embarrassing way. I don't really like flashbacks to the 6th grade when I stole and wore my older brother's shirts. It was cool then, not so much now. Design is fine. Fit sucks! Goodie bags had samples and coupons and were okay.
We took shuttles between Newport and Jamestown so parking was easy and we didn't have to pay the toll to go over the bridge. The race started late, due to the wait for packet pick-up and then shuttles. We were informed, "don't worry, your time starts when you cross the starting line." We started with the pack, but I wonder if there were others that arrived even later. That would seriously suck, timing chip or not. Part of the point of doing a race is the crowd, the excitement, the sense of event. I can't imagine it's the same if you're stumbling over the starting line all by your lonesome ten minutes after the race started.
It was around 70 degrees at the start, overcast and humid. We lucked out on the heat which hit hard the next day and rain and thunderstorms which had just passed. Weather conditions could not have been better for a July race.
Mentally, I felt good starting in this race. Jamestown is a hilly course, so I wasn't planning to PR. I just wanted less than 2 hours and other than that, I was just gonna enjoy the run.
I use the first mile to find my pace and place in the pack. I always start with Eye of The Tiger (such a cliché) on my iPod. Also, I go too fast. I just love passing people and the excitement of all those people and all that passing gets me pumped.
Once I have established my place and pace in the race, I start to pick out my competition. I find someone who runs about like me or looks like a worthy opponent and that is my only competition until I give up or lose him or her. This time, I picked a petite female, smaller than me, but really fit. I named her Stripes or Muscles. That's right, I also name my competition.
Jamestown is a pretty course, quiet, peaceful, lined with trees and a few houses here and there. Stripes and I took turns with the lead. I was in front and let her pass me while I walked at water stops and then I took it back. When I got tired, I gauged myself by Stripes. If I could see Stripes I was okay. "Just don't lose Stripes," I said to myself. I noticed I was running at a pace to PR by at least a minute and had been managing the course in such a way that my mileage was right on. I was doing pretty well and felt fine. Between mile five and six, a big hill happened and I was losing my desire to be out running, but there was Stripes, and I still had the will to just keep her in my sight until I found the strength to pass her.
Around mile 10 or 11, the mental thing I do started to happen. There was a friendly water stop at the bottom of a hill. And by friendly, I mean apparently regular people with an SUV and some kids. I did not know this was not my regular water stop, so I walked and enjoyed some water. On the top of the hill was the actual water stop and I didn't know what to do since I just had a stop and water. Do I walk or do I pass it? I was pooped, so I decided to walk and due to two water stops right on top of each other, I lost stripes and ceased all caring. If I lost my competition what would be the point?
Then I walked up a couple of hills, because since I decided to give up, why bother running at all right?
Mile twelve, I realized if I ran under 8 minutes, I might PR by a few seconds, so I picked up the pace. I couldn't maintain that, given my state of exhaustion. I finished with my second best time. Finish was downhill and I could book it and finish really strong.
SCORE
Support: 3
Course: 4
Tee Shirt: 2
Bling: 3.5
Overall: 3
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