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@run4fun2m
Medford, MA Raving since 2022 Boston Marathon finisher Active 8 months, 1 week agoAbout Me
My Races
Organize, track & review your races and personal bests here.
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Future Races
Personal Bests (2)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title 9 Triathlon | Sprint | Hopkinton, MA | Sep 11, 2022 | 1:16:38 |
| Black Cat 10 or 20 Miler | 10 Mile | Salem, MA | Mar 26, 2023 | 1:18:00 |
Future Races (0)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Paid |
|---|
Past Races (5)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Result | My Raves | My Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence Marathon | Marathon | Providence, RI | May 7, 2023 | 4:05:43 |
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| Black Cat 10 or 20 Miler | 10 Mile | Salem, MA | Mar 26, 2023 | 1:18:00 |
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| B.A.A. Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Boston, MA | Nov 13, 2022 | 1:42:42 |
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| Loco Half & Full Marathon | Half Marathon | Newmarket, NH | Oct 23, 2022 | 1:44 |
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| Title 9 Triathlon | Sprint | Hopkinton, MA | Sep 11, 2022 | 1:16:38 |
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Providence Marathon
Mixed feelings about this race
Providence Marathon
This was my 8th marathon and I’ve run dozens of other road races, so I feel I can give a fair review. My biggest gripe was the fact that the … MORE
This was my 8th marathon and I’ve run dozens of other road races, so I feel I can give a fair review.
My biggest gripe was the fact that the aid stations had TINY cups of water and “electrolyte drink,” which was GU Hydration (kind of like NUUN – bubbly, no carbs to fuel you) which in my opinion is terrible. They really should have had Gatorade, Powerade or some other equivalent type of sports drink. The only gel they gave out was Triberry GU (which is caffeinated). Fortunately I brought my own gels and wore my hydration pack with Gatorade because otherwise I would have been a hot mess trying to survive on that stuff. I had to grab at least 2 cups of water just to get a decent drink but I also drank lots of Gatorade because it was so hot out. They really should have had bigger cups. The aid stations all had friendly volunteers, which I appreciated.
It was a hot day, 60 at the start and 76 when I finished at 11 am. Some areas had shade but there were also long stretches in the sun. After training through winter and early spring that was very tough.
The course itself was fairly easy, mostly flat, a few hills but pretty minimal. There were some scenic areas and some ugly areas.
Unfortunately much of the course is on a shared road where there are cones along the side and you’re supposed to stay on the edge as cars whizz by, but if you run with a pace group it gets quite crowded especially in the first half of the race. I tripped over a cone at one point. The second half of the race is mostly on bike paths but there are bikers, walkers, rollerbladers etc. also trying to share the path which can be annoying at times.
Pre race communication was minimal. There was no info on the website about what would be served at the aid stations until a couple weeks before the race and I wanted to be prepared so I emailed them to ask about it.
Getting to the expo was tricky (it’s in an area of downtown Providence that is crowded and parking is difficult). The expo was tiny. I got a very nice sweatshirt, but my friend who ran the half marathon was very disappointed because her shirt said Providence Marathon – not half marathon – even though she didn’t run the full marathon!
Race day start and finish area was nice and there were lots of porta potties. The finish area gave out water, Gatorade, bananas and sugary snacks (Gushers, Oreos). They had some vendors with tents around the field with some samples of things and beer, too.
The race photos were quite good and plentiful and you have an option of downloading some for free, which I really appreciated.
There was decent crowd support along the way with people cheering here and there, which was nice.
Personally I would not choose this race again, mostly because of the aid stations and the fact that spring weather is just so unpredictable. I ran my slowest marathon ever and I really attribute that to the heat.
Black Cat 10 or 20 Miler
Fun race, well organized
Black Cat 10 or 20 Miler
Parking is right near the start/finish area and there is a gym where you can stay warm inside before and after the race. The course is nice, it has some … MORE
Parking is right near the start/finish area and there is a gym where you can stay warm inside before and after the race. The course is nice, it has some rolling hills and is an out and back, there is plenty of space between runners/never feels crowded. The course was a little short according to my Garmin. Everyone gets a very nice medal at the end. If you get an age group award you receive a mug or a glass (your choice) and get to stand on a podium for a photo. After the race they have some breakfast foods (pancakes and other warm things plus snacks like granola bars) available plus water and Gatorade. They have aid stations every 2 miles on the odd miles (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) with water and Gatorade. Overall I really enjoyed this race!
B.A.A. Half Marathon
Challenging course but well organized
B.A.A. Half Marathon
The course is a bit challenging with downhills at the start and uphills at the end (although none of the hills were enormous). There are soooo many runners the entire … MORE
The course is a bit challenging with downhills at the start and uphills at the end (although none of the hills were enormous). There are soooo many runners the entire way but it feels spacious enough between everyone. The aid stations are set up at predictable increments (I believe it was every 2 miles), and they serve Gatorade and water. They had Maurten hydrogel about halfway through the course as well.
I liked the long sleeved shirts and the medal.
The post race food was a bag of pretty much all packaged carbohydrates snacks.
They have buses to Copley and back and the ride is fairly short.
Overall it was a well run race.
Loco Half & Full Marathon
Small town feel and well organized
Loco Half & Full Marathon
My first time at this half marathon and my 6th half marathon to date. This is not the most exciting race since it's in a small town without many spectators, … MORE
My first time at this half marathon and my 6th half marathon to date. This is not the most exciting race since it’s in a small town without many spectators, and the race itself isn’t large, but the race production is solid and the scenery is nice.
The race started at 8 am and it was 39 degrees. If you arrive early enough you can park about 1/3 a mile from the racing start area and walk over, otherwise you park 1 mile away and take shuttle bus. The Rockingham Ballroom is where you pick up your bib number and race shirt and can hang out inside to stay warm – I received a very nice, thick 1/4 zip long sleeved shirt that I enjoy wearing.
The bag drop off and portapotti lines were a little crazy when I realized about 30 minutes prior to the race that I should probably head outside to do those things. I had just enough time that I wound up at the starting line less than 10 minutes prior to the start.
There were pacers for the half and full marathon so I took advantage of that and went with the 1:50 pacer for the first 6ish miles and then continued on my own.
There are rolling hills, it wasn’t quite as flat as I’d expected but nothing major, and the last 3 miles are super flat.
There are areas on the roads where cones have been placed and you’re supposed to stay between the cones and edge of the road, I believe this was around miles 4-7 or so, and in some of those areas it felt a little cramped with the other runners. You could pass outside the cones when there weren’t cars nearby.
The last 5k or so is run on a trail through the woods. At first this made me a bit nervous because although I do enjoy trails I also fear tripping on rocks and tend to slow down out of caution. The trails are very flat and there are some rocks here and there sticking out from the ground but overall it was pretty easy and safe so I was able to pick up the pace without much concern. The fall foliage is quite lovely both in the woods and along the roads.
Water tables at miles 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11, and there was some kind of race gel somewhere but I brought my own with me. Water tables were not crowded and were well stocked.
A few spectators here and there along the course offering encouragement.
Overall it wasn’t the most exciting half marathon or race that I’ve run, but I did enjoy the course and was very pleased with my time. The course is amenable to running a fast, possibly PR time.
Post race they had cups of minestrone, chili and rolls, bananas, granola bars and water. Oh and beer, if you like beer after a race. Not quite a feast but at least there was something good everyone. The minestrone and roll hit the spot but I am glad I brought a protein bar along as I needed more than that.
Marathoners do a double loop of that same half marathon course.
Title 9 Triathlon
Great race production, womens sprint tri
Title 9 Triathlon
This was my first triathlon so I can't compare it to others, but I've competed in dozens of road races so I can compare with those. The event is 1/4 … MORE
This was my first triathlon so I can’t compare it to others, but I’ve competed in dozens of road races so I can compare with those.
The event is 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike and 5k run in and around/near Hopkinton State Park, Hopkinton and Southborough, MA.
The race production was top notch. Great info emails with all the details in advance of the event. The race organizers gave clear, helpful and encouraging instructions prior to the race. There was a time trial start, meaning 2 swimmers entered the water at a time 10 seconds apart. I was in the “newbie” category, which went after all the age groups, and I was a bit worried that there would be a jam up in the water after waiting for so long (I ended up starting the race 40 minutes after the starting time), but it was not a problem at all. I did pass several swimmers but it was not crowded in the water. The bike staging area was well organized. There were plenty of helpers out to get everyone set up prior to the race and handing out water/medals at the end.
The finishers medals and tshirts were very nice quality.
The bike route was hilly, but not excessively – there were a few spots where there were cars and trucks on the road where it could have been problematic and I barely squeaked by as I didn’t want to stop on the middle of an uphill. The run is entirely inside Hopkinton State Park and includes some rolling hills throughout.
Race enthusiasm was high. Not so many spectators but just enough to leave some encouragement and a lot of encouragement/enthusiasm among the athletes participating.
Overall a very positive, fun event and one I would certainly do again.