Run to Win

This weekend saw the first running of the Cox Sports Marathon in Providence, Rhode Island, along with the Willow Tree Half Marathon and the New Balance 5k.

The weather might have made for a slightly tough 5k, but it was ideal for long races such as the half marathon and the marathon. The average temperature was in the low 50s with a high of 54°_F (at least by noon.) The race got off to a wet start with a gentle drizzle that turned into a mist early in the race.

The temperature noticeably warmed up once the precipitation stopped, but the sky remained overcast and a slight breeze throughout most of the race kept the runners from getting too over heated.

Being the inaugural running of the race, all of the winners of all three races were guaranteed course records. After the race, one of the race promoters asked me to email her some suggestions on how they can improve the races next year, so I am going to intersperse my suggestions along with this race report in the hopes that it can help out another race director that is trying to get a new race going.

The Expo

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This week last year I pondered the psychological aspects of running.

• The week began when I discussed what goes through your head while you are running. You are to some degree concentrating on the task at hand and distracting yourself from what you are doing.
• I recommended that you cut your hair before race day to gain a small edge. This is mostly a psychological advantage, but there are a few (very) minor physical benefits to it as well which obviously depend upon how long your hair was to begin with and how much you cut it.
• It’s important to step back once in a while and revisit your past achievements. This week last year I was reminded that a year prior I had had a great chat with Bill Rodgers when I was looking at the finisher’s certificate of a race I had run. The memories are one of the best parts of being a runner, so take a few minutes now and again to indulge in them and even share them with a friend or family member.
• While it is always important to get the advice of your primary care physician, I do not spend much time worrying about whether or not running will ruin my heart. Better a healthy life well lived than a sick life lived on a couch, and my operating assumption is that the running is not only going to provide a better life for me but will in all likelihood provide a longer one as well.
• This week two years ago I continued my discussion about the New Rules of Lifting, this time examining the eigth and the ninth rules. I also wrote about the 5 most common treadmill mistakes, namely:
  1. Taking it too easy
  2. Stepping off of a moving treadmill
  3. Using the handrails
  4. Unnatural stride length
  5. Not realizing how much easier it is

Photo by seanfragaIt is important that every once in a while that we remember to step back and look at our accomplishments. It is important to plan out what you are going to do in the future, but reminding yourself of your accomplishments is a good way to stay grounded and to reminisce about the good times that you have already had.

This afternoon, I was updating some of the information on the New England Mile website. Last year, Bill Rodgers was on hand to chat with the runners and to help run the event. All of the awards were signed by him. I pulled out the certificate that I had gotten, and there was his signature. I had completely forgotten that he had signed the certificate, and I had even looked at that certificate earlier in the day when I was cleaning in my office. I had to be reminded by one of the other race directors that was working on the website with me.

So if you have to move one of your finisher’s certificates or awards or trophies, take a look at it. Remind yourself how the race went, and even share a story about the race with a family member or a friend. The memories are one of the best parts about being a runner.

The Keybank New England Mile was this morning. A fast race through downtown Portland, the course drops 70 feet from start to finish. Prize money is awarded to the winners as well as the leaders at each quarter split. A sub 4 minute mile comes with a $5000 prize. Dereck Treadwell of Milford, Maine, thought that he had the bonus prize money in hand, but miscalculated on his third quarter split and ran too slow in 4:05. He still finished in first place by almost 10 seconds. Kristin Barry of Scarborough, Maine won the women’s race in 4:52.

Bill Rodgers was on hand to emcee the event and sign autographs. He was a very down to earth gentleman who loves the sport of running. He claims that in the twenty teens there will be national television coverage of track and road race events as the sport gains more popularity. I will be looking forward to when that happens.

In total there were 144 finishers coming through in under 13 minutes. 28 people were under five minutes, and over half the field came in under six minutes. The race doubled in size in only its second year. It is the second event of the Maine USATF grand prix race series.