Rock 'n' Roll Providence - The Race!

August 19th I ran Rock 'n' Roll Providence after working the expo the day before for RunningSkirts!  I got to the race start with plenty of time and was able to park in one of the State lots with no problem.  I headed down the hill to get ready for the race.  There were something like 3,500 runners.  A significant group, but less than last year.  Thankfully there was less rain than last year!  In fact the weather was perfect (upper 60s).

Check out that start line!

Once we all got in our corrals we looked like a significant running party!

I don't know about you all, but I have never run with a pace group and I was starting to wonder if I should try it out!  Well there was a 1:45 and a 2:00 pace group and I was somewhere in the middle.  I had submitted an estimated finish time of 2:00 so that put me in corral 4.  The 2:00 pace group was also in corral 4.  So that was the pace group I would be with if I wanted to try it out.  The 1:45 pace group was in corral 2 so that was not going to work.  Anyway I ran close to the 2 hour pace group through mile 3.  I was carrying water and fuel on my belt, so when they slowed down around mile 3 for water I decided to just keep going.  I figured that if they caught back up to me I would just fall back in with the group.  The result was that I got a great 3 mile warm up and then I headed of at my own pace.

Finish line medal shot!

Happy runner across the finish line!

In the end I PR'ed the course! I finished in 1:54:52! I had a fantastic run.  I was giving thumbs up to all the bands along the course and loving every moment of it!  It really helped that I had pre-run the route 2 weeks prior.  If you are ever looking for a mental edge, pre-run the course.  Then on race day you will know every hill and turn on the course.  Nothing will scare you and you will own the course!  Okay that seems really powerful...because it is.  Power to the runner who knows the course!

Yes I rocked Rock 'n' Roll Providence
...and my Running Skirt
...and my Mickey in Training runDisney skirt
...and my race bib
...and...and...and it was fantastic all around!

After the race I met up with a great group of runners!  Linda Bachand-Doucet set up a wonderful post-race cookout right behind the stage! I may have been the only non Half Maniac in the group!  I need to check into that!  Anyway we all enjoyed her offerings including the police officers working the event.  Thanks Linda (Lady Gaga)! You rock!     

Until next time...Fairy Dust and Pixie Wings Forever!

5 Miler in the Morning

It was a runDisney "in training" kind of morning!  I put on my Mickey and RunningSkirt and headed out the door with my camera in hand and my parents in tow!  Well they weren't quite in tow...in fact they were here there and everywhere on their rental beach bikes keeping me company as we went.

We headed out on the sound side path and road so I could get in a few morning miles before another day at the beach.  In the end we made it 5 miles and once again I was totally soaked.  These are pure waterfall runs with sweat running off me the entire way!

This is a very runner and cyclist friendly beach community.  Most people do there core exercise in the morning and then cross-train the day away.  There is so much to do: taking on the waves or walking on the beach, riding bikes, hiking the dunes at Jockey Ridge, swimming in the pool.

We are going to bed earlier and earlier as the days are taking everything we have to give. Maybe that is just me! I was asleep at 9 pm last night, but up again at 5:30 ready to hit it!  I am just more of a morning person when it comes to vacation.  I am also a nap person. Exercise, food and sleep - that is pretty much what makes my world go round!

They have done a good job in recent years of putting in multi-use paths to connect runner/cyclist friendly road ways. 

They are very good about marking the roads.

There are periodic reminders on the road so you remember which town you are in.