Newport Half Marathon

Newport, RI

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Signed up for this race just three weeks prior.  My spring marathon plans fell apart due to my procrastination and lack of motivation after a family tragedy.  But it was time to get back out there; if not for a full marathon then at least for a half.  I had a decent run three weeks ago at the Eastern States 20 Miler, and it was time to test my mettle in a half.  I also had some unfinished business in the half, as I had run the Vermont City Half Marathon last October in 1:20:01.  A huge PR for sure, but oh so close to that magical threshold of sub-1:20.

So which half marathon should I run?  I was looking for something close enough this time that I didn't need the extra travel time and cost of a hotel, as I just had that at Eastern States, and will have a few travel races this summer plus hopefully a travel full marathon this fall.  I also didn't want something super hilly, but moderate hills would be fine.  In the end, obviously, I chose the Rhode Races' Newport Half.  I had run this course in 2017 with Tommy 5K, as the half marathon course is the first half of the full marathon course.  In my opinion, the first 13.1 miles are much better than the last 13.1, as the latter has two cone turnarounds, two OABs, awkward parking lot turns after the halfway mark and when finishing, and much more hills.  The former has none of that.  Newport it is!

Newport Half route.  With a SW wind, first 6.5 miles were generally into
the wind, final miles were with the wind.

Expo:  Went with Jana to the small but efficient expo and bib pickup the day before the race.  It was held at the Wayfinder Hotel, directly across the street from the old Newport Jai-Alai (more recently a casino).  Goodr was featuring running sunglasses and a new running shoe company called Dash Shoes was also there.  Dash Shoes was giving away GU packets and had one of my favorites (Vanilla Bean), so I talked to them for a few minutes.  It's always nice to have my bib ready to go and attached to my race singlet the night before.  Besides, in this case, the organizers had warned of long lines if you waited to race morning to get your bib, and they would charge you $15 for the privilege!

Race day:  With the designated parking lot (Aquidneck Industrial Park) just one mile from the start (Easton's Beach), it made sense for me to skip the shuttle bus and use this as my warm-up.  Since it had already warmed up to 50° upon my arrival, I opted to skip the logistics with a gear check and just stripped down to my race kit (short shorts and a singlet, as usual) and headed out.  Arrived at the start line just before the marathon start (7:30am), with would precede the half-marathon start by 15 minutes.  Caught up with photographer Scott Mason, warmed up a little more, final bathroom stop, a few strides, and into the starting line crowd.

Just the day before Jonny Eckel asked me what time I was looking to run.  I thought about it, mentioned my 1:20:01 at Vermont last fall, stated I didn't think I was in as a good of shape and that I would be real happy with anything sub 1:21.

First half:  The announcer was explaining the pace groups were starting at 1:30, but if that wasn't fast enough, at least one of the runners on the front line was looking to run sub-1:10 today (he did) so you could latch on to him.  Something in between?  Lining up in the second row felt right to me.

Start of the half

The gun went off and scads of young runners blasted past me.  We were into a headwind from the get-go, with the wind 17mph out of the SW.  I was in maybe 20th place as we started our way up the first hill on Memorial Boulevard, past the start of the Cliff Walk.  Then two other runners that I was between slowly but surely went past me:  on my left, a tall runner in a gray long sleeve cotton sweatshirt!, and on my right, a runner carrying a phone in his hand and something bulky in his left pocket that bounced up and down when he ran.  I know I shouldn't judge runners by what they wear / carry, but it is often a good judge, and I discounted both of them, only to notice them pull ahead and be out of sight after the next couple of miles.  Continuing uphill, the lead woman went past me.  I was a little concerned with so many runners going by me so early, but just reminded myself to run my own race.  Mile 1 split 6:15.  Not good, but I also knew this was one of the hilliest miles.

Climbing up the very first hill.

Turned left off Memorial Boulevard.  Heading south now, so still in the wind, just from a different direction.  Re-passed the lead woman.  Passed two more runners on downhill.  Mile 2 split 5:46, but I have to discount that a bit as it's biggest elevation drop on the course.

Early in 2nd mile, after repassing
several runners that overtook me on first hill climb.

In Mile 3, we're running right along the water on Wellington Avenue.  I'm now running into marathon back-of-the-packers.  Mile 3 split 6:13 - not good.  In Mile 4, I recognize the start of the Christmas 10K course, and we'll mostly be following this scenic course for the next few miles.  Side note:  after two years of not running, is that race defunct now?  In the end of Mile 4, we turn into Fort Adams.  I have to go wide to go around the increasing number of marathoners now.  I attempt to take my first drink at the water stop coming up, but it's just clogged with back-of-the-pack marathoners, a good number who are walking or stopped.  Ugh.  Frustrating.  Can't risk the time loss and I continue on without any water.  Mile 4 6:03; OK - that's very close to target pace.

In Mile 5, heading back out of Fort Adams, the marathon "clogging" got worse.  I presume these are now mid-packers, but back on the main road (Harrison Road at this point) they're taking up more than the entire right side of the road that we're supposed to be running on.  I run on the left side of the road as I feel I have no choice, but it's awkward a few times, such as when a truck comes and then a police motorcycle and I have to cut back into the masses for a few seconds.  Mile 5 split 6:14.

In Mile 6, after a few miles heading due west, we now head south towards Brenton Point.  The wind is still not our friend here.  Mile 6 split 6:14.  Again!  Ugh.  If I keep running 6:14s, I'll end up running 1:24:xx.  In my mind, I'm already starting to write my Strava description of "not my day".   Two-thirds of the way through Mile 7, we FINALLY round Brenton Point and get favorable winds.  It is instantly noticeable, as we go from that headwind in your face to feeling no wind at all as is typically with a tailwind.  

Second half:  With a tailwind now, I'm hoping for some redemption to come my way, but wondering if it's too late to salvage this race.  At the next bend, I gain a little more satisfaction as sweatshirt boy comes back to me!  He's still wearing the long sleeve cotton sweatshirt, and perhaps not surprisingly, I see it's now soaked in sweat.  I catch and pass him and saunter on.  Someone is also pounding out some AC/DC on the side of the road here, and this certainly helps my motivation.  

Related, did you see the very recent news showing that surgeons perform
more accurately and faster when listening to rock, and especially so
under the test case of listening to AC/DC?!!   During my cancer excision
surgery, unfortunately "elevator music" was playing.  Hopefully my future
surgeons in my old age will be listening to Angus!
---
How about a study where Jeff runs a half-marathon where every mile
someone is playing classical music (or any genre other than rock),
versus a half-marathon where every mile AC/DC is being played?
I smell another PR!

There are still many marathoners for me to pass, but other than the occasional official pace groups that I have to run wide around, the marathoners are starting to thin out.  Mile 7 pace 6:11 - still not where I want to be, but I remind myself that 2/3 of this mile was run into the wind right along the ocean.

Passing mostly marathon runners at about Mile 7

Love this shot by Scott Mason along the ocean in
Mile 7.
(Race organization added on their logo and provided
it to me, so I assume they compensated Scott.)

Miles 8, 9, and 10 are all due east along the water.  The marathoners continue to spread out and are no longer an issue at all, as most are single file and easy to pass.  At the end of Mile 10, there is a very slight uphill and as we turn away from the shore and head due north.  I pass two runners, one of whom looks familiar, and once I hear one of them pointing me out as a trail race director, I suspect and later confirm it's David Andrade of Fall River, who ran our Grills race and was running his 4th marathon this year.  Mile 8, 9, 10 splits:  5:55, 6:02, 6:09.

Ten miles down, just 5K to go!  And I feel good as we go past the southern end of the Cliff Walk and head north on Bellevue Avenue now.  It's go time!  I don't care for the cement surface of Bellevue Avenue, but as it's only 3/4 mile, it's not a negating factor, either.  As I approach the end of Bellevue Avenue, I notice I'm gaining on the same guy with the bulky bouncing pocket and phone carrying that went past me in Mile 1!  He is running together with another young guy.  Both are almost exactly half my age at age 29.  Mile 11 split 5:59.

Start of mile 12.  At the start of a small downhill (about 20'), a 20-year old easily goes past me.  I'm not catching him, but it's a perfect opportunity to fall into his wake and ride it downhill past the two 29 year olds.  Bulky pockets doesn't have any visible reaction, but his companion looks at me with a hint of surprise, as in "Where did this old man come from?".  Two miles to go.  Don't let up now, and don't let them retake you!  Mile 12 split 5:54.

Early in Mile 13, we turn right onto Memorial Boulevard.  Cresting the hill, the beach and finish line are in sight!  I push it as hard as I can, and I'm passing a few more marathoners as I turn into Easton's beach parking lot for the final push and sprint on the boardwalk along the beach.  I come up on yet another 20-year-old half-marathoner, this one in a BC singlet.  I'm clearly gaining on him, but I don't have enough runway and finish just ten seconds behind him.  Mile 13 split 5:40.  I'm momentarily confused as I see the finish line clock ticking "1:34:xx", until I realize I have to deduct 15 minutes for the later half-marathon start.  That translates to 1:19 high, ticking towards 1:20.  Sprint, man!

Sprint to the finish.

Done!  Yes, I have a new PR!

Final results:  1:19:46 (6:05 pace), 11th place of 1,564, 1st in age group (of 88).  Full results here.

Super psyched to not only notch a new PR, but finally for the first time ever to run sub-1:20!  Such a great feeling.  

I quickly got cold hanging around the beach area with open winds, and as I was told it would take about an hour before they had awards ready, I took the bus back to the industrial park, retrieved my car, and hung out at one of my favorite coffee joints on the island, Custom House.  The time flew by as I enjoyed my coffee and scone while checking results and Strava posts, and then I drove back to the race, opted to park illegally for just a couple of minutes and risk towing or fines, picked up my award, and headed home, with a big smile embossed on my face!

Shirt is pretty bright, but I wear a lot of
bright shirts, especially when running solo on roads.

Medal, bib, and award:
a nice embossed cutting board.

Close up of medal, with Newport Bridge.
I don't need another medal, but it's nice.

What went well:

• Using RaceSignup for registration.  Not just because WTAC uses it now, but it's neat to see all your upcoming and past races on this site.  This race also used it to post race photos and results.
• Expo and check-in.  Small, but efficient.
• Pre-race announcements.
• Punctual race start.
• Police presence and cordoned off lanes on busy roads.
• Race finish.  Barricaded finish and announcement by name of runners finishing.
• Bus transportation:  frequent and easy to use.  No ridiculously long lines like Boston.
• Quick results posting.
• Free race photos.
• Quality and attractiveness of bib, shirt, and medal.
• Race event specific shirt (i.e., separate shirt for full and half marathoners).
• Picturesque course with much of it along the ocean.
• Surprisingly being able to pick it up and run sub-6 miles in the last few miles of the race.
• Strong finish and pushing the last miles paid off and got me a PR!

What could have gone better:

• Charging $15 to pick up bib on race day seems unfair.
• Starting half-marathoners 15 minutes after full marathoners was disadvantageous to half marathoners near the front of the pack.  I had to either skip fluids at Mile 4 water stop or come to a stop amidst the back-of-the-packers walking and lose time, and then I subsequently had little room to run around scads of mid-packers.
• The headwinds (obviously out of the race's control).