Resolution Beach and Trail 5K - Recap

Resolution Beach and Trail 5K, the second in the South County 4th Season Race Series series by Off Rhode Racing.

My Past Results:

2012  31:59
2013  registered / DNS showed up an hour late!
2014  32:48
2015  28:29
2016  31:47

Full results here

My third best time out of 4 races, not too bad.  I'm sure the course was short for 2015, or it could have been the speed work I was actually doing at the time?

Sub 30 is my standing goal for 5Ks anything lower is gravy.  I'm happy with that.  I can sight-see a little at that pace, and breathe, I like to breathe and not to cough up a lung which is pretty standard of late with the mookus.

I'll work on sub 29 for 2016, perhaps.

This is a favorite race, low key, not a lot of hoopla.  Kinda like a big giant group run with the fast folks in the front and the rest of us tagging along hoping to get dragged along!



Mile 1 is on the beach, in to the wind out and then wind at your back, the latter was nice, the former, not so much.  Kinda like running at my parents house but no beach and no other people, well the milk truck, but um, that's more scary than comforting to see one of them coming at you down a dirt road.... I got passed A LOT.  9:57

Mile 2 the last bit of beach, all beat up from the people ahead of me, some sandy trail, a bit of hard top and then stone crushed trail.  I passed two people.  10:25

Mile 3 back into the wind for stone crushed trail, a bit of mud, (a slight down hill and I mean slight, and the sun in my eyes, and I nearly took a digger!!) through the stone house, over a small bit of water, then back on the beach for 1/2 mile till the finish.  I passed two people. 10:19

Scott Mason was catching people as they left the stone house, he missed me sort of as he was re-positioning, probably tired waiting for all the stragglers?  I like the shots he took and as always, purchase.  He's a talented photographer!

Well this was composed, I was tumbling off the tiny rock ledge I was sure
it would be a picture with my arms all over the place!!
Credit:  Scott Mason Photography

Mile 1/10 beach I was counting backwards from 1,000, it works to get my mind off the discomfort and the wind and the sand - I sucked sand out of my teeth for the rest of the day - gotta keep my mouth closed!!  10:10

Photo Credit:  Jana Walker
I'm totally counting and gritting my teeth!
And yes, I always look like I'm standing still, I'm running, really!!

The taller girl behind me came up to me after the race and thanked me for helping her.  She said she kept the back of my jersey in her sights the whole race and hung on.  That really made me smile! Glad to help someone out!!   Fortunately I can see her bib number and hopefully will remember her name, if I see her again.

Sincerely,
Beth, who ran through the water and the mud and didn't care her feet were soaked, that is the FUN of running off road, right?

Credit:  Scott Mason Photography
I really like this one.

Weekly Log 1/1/16 - 1/3/16 (partial week)

I'll wrap up 2015 in a different post - I wanted to start the year off fresh with a partial week. I dunno why.  I just did...

It's my blog!

Friday 1/1 - Stairs were on the agenda.  11 a.m. seemed so late.  It wasn't because Dave decided we'd go to his friends house for NYE and I tagged along, the only runner among 5 mountain bikers.  My road riding didn't really count much to them...  Geeezzzeeee   John, Haley, Jason, Kim, Dave, and I.  Nice small gathering, calorie laden food complete with pizza and beer and probably the 5th time John and Haley had watched Ted 2. It really was HYSTERICAL!

I was running a little late to get out to URI, fortunately so were both Jennifers!   We had a surprise, a new person for stairs.  Chris.  His goal is a 5K in three months.  We got him all hooked up with Couch to 5K and are figuring a race we all can run.  The poor guy was a little overwhelmed and thrilled to have not just Jennifer B but two other people totally he only met today on board with his plan.  Chris made 1 and 1/ 2 trips up the stairs at Mead Stadium, then decided he would walk the 1/4 mile stone path around the stadium.  One step at a time!

I wasn't hungry for dinner so I took Gus for a walk instead.  Being up so late really zombiefied me... Started tracking the walks on Strava.  I've been using MapMyWalk, I'd rather have all this in one place, I think...  Fortunately Walks don't count as Runs so my mileage will stay pretty true.

Saturday 1/2 - Meandering run, probably won't run on Rte 3 again, but I was curious how it would be, I enjoy running through Westerly's north end, kind of like a place time forgot.

Dave and I watched Star Wars, very good.  I, being nearly illiterate when it comes to pop culture had no idea there are going to be two more movies.  I'm kinda sad about that.  I loved the way it ended.  Oh well.

Gus and I went out on our evening constitutional, he started staring me down immediately after dog dinner.  With in 10 minutes of getting back he is sacked out in front of the fire.  What a life these dogs have.

Sunday 1/3 - In addition to my Father's 73rd birthday it was the second race in the 4th Season Trail race series. Resolution Beach and Trail 5K.  I had a big course PR last year, not so much this year, I did run through the mud and water and nearly lost my footing on a slight downhill, that was pretty cool!

Recap to follow.  31:47 official time (and it matches my watch).  2nd fastest time on the course, I'm pleased.

Run: 10.6
Walk: 9.7
Remaining:  1,995.7

Bike: 0
Remaining 2016

Other: didn't drink a lot of beer?  the mookus is finally clearing up, only a few snot rockets and loogies!

Sincerely,
Beth, off to a decent start on the year

2015 is a Wrap!

Not really thrilled with the number of sentence starting with I... not really sure how to reconstruct them and not lessen the impact.

From my January 1, 2015 post  I had two goals:  sub 2 hour 1/2 and 1 or 2 centuries and the Pan Mass Challenge.

Did I sub 2 a 1/2? No, no I didn't.  Did I put in the work to do this?  No, no I didn't.  Did I beat myself about the head and neck?  No, no I didn't.  My last 1/2 of the year was very reflective.

Did I ride the PMC and 1 or 2 Centuries, Yes, yes I did.  I considered a third century the first week in October, the weather was horrid, why torture myself?

Races:  213 (based on my race recaps - I could count my bibs, but that sounds about right)
1/2/16 Editors note:  I counted bibs, I missed two race recaps JP Morgan Corporate Challenge and RISPFP
I focused in on what I wanted to do and learned to have fun running the race, I still have some more learning to do.

5K - 10
10K - 2
1/2 Marathons - 3
5 milers - 2
5.5 miler - 1
10 miler - 1
12 miler - 1 (DNF)
20K - 1 (DNF)
7.6 Miler - 1
8 Miler - 1

I earned 2 DNF, the first took me many months to fully get over, the second, I'm still working through.  I will tackle those races again.

I learned I need to find the fun in running and that means helping someone else to their goal (takes the pressure off me? - not sure of the psychology behind this).

Rides:  2 centuries, 186 miles of PMC, 57 mile leg of the Old Glory Relay, and a memorable 87 mile ride of hills.

I learned that my recovery time from the centuries is longer than I think it is going to be and I really need to ride into work regularly.

Miles:  3247, run, walk, bike

Eeking by 2014 totals with the assistance of spin classes,  I kinda feel like I didn't quite earn them, and during class I KNOW I earned them.

And from my FitBit:





















Fascinating!  These are the steps I take, exercise and general existing!


2016 Goals:

Biking: PMC, starting out of Sturbridge MA - the full 192 miles, 2 or 3 Century rides - TBD I'm over TFCE, and I'd like to to Mt. Washington again but it is the week before the PMC and I don't know if that is going to give me enough recovery time.  I have to do some research and make some decisions before the end of January.  2,016 miles on the bike, it MAY be doable with one or two spin classes a week and commuting into work on the bike in the summer.

Running: Full Marathon - targeting the Indianapolis Marathon in September.  Possibly at 50K in the fall - I'd love to run the Delaware Water Gap 50K.

Stretch goal:

2,016 walking + running miles:   This is a HUGE stretch goal for me.  2015 I achieved 1,679 miles between running and walking.  Will I make it?  I'm not sure.  Will I try?  Yes.  I've set up  my training log to keep track of the running and the walking miles and what I need to hit each week to achieve it. It is essentially 12 walking miles per week and 27 running miles for 52 weeks.

All these miles put me at 4,036 miles for the year, about 800 more than I'm trending.  That means about 80 more hours on the bike and about 130 more hours running through the year.  It will be interesting so see how committed I am.

Sincerely
Beth, older and wiser?