Plus Race the State Training – Run Edition

BankNewport and OceanPoint Insurance Return as Presenting Sponsors!

We’re thrilled to announce that BankNewport and OceanPoint Insurance are returning for the 3rd straight year as presenting sponsors of Race the State! The support from the entire team at BankNewport and OceanPoint Insurance has been unparalleled and we’re proud to have such an iconic brand synonymous with Rhode Island as our presenting sponsor.

In a joint statement, BankNewport President & CEO, Sandra J. Pattie and OceanPoint Insurance President & CEO, Douglas K. Mayhew expressed excitement:  “We’re excited and very proud to bring the third edition of Race the State Rhode Island back for our customers and communities to enjoy!  There are so many beautiful locations along the 53 mile course, from Tiverton down to Westerly, giving fans and spectators the opportunity to cheer on the athletes as they navigate the unique challenges of this multi-sport event. We encourage everyone to join us on race day!”

Run Leg Training Guide

Also in this newsletter, check our Run Training Guide section for tips and tricks for mastering the run legs of Race the State! From the first quick run to the long haul on Aquidneck Island, we’ll get you prepared to do your best in both! We caught up with Dirk Johnson, member of the team with the fastest overall time, Island Idiots. Dirk contributed to the team’s overall ranking by running the second run leg of the course with a split time of 7:33/mile! Continue reading to find out more.

Normally I live on the Port-o-John line until the national anthem starts to play, which if I plan right gives me about 30 seconds to find my way to the starting line in time for the gun. Once the gun fires I’m good to go, unfortunately the waiting before the start also makes me good to go.

Unlike most running races where you have a prerace routine and known starting time, Race the State, as a relay, does not afford you the luxury of knowing exactly when your leg of the race will start. This can cause some anxiety for those who have pre race bathroom jitters as I do. Do your prerace transition area recon and know where the nearest port-o-john is, or if none, do yourself a favor and pack some TP in your kit, it’s much less stressful than looking for the nearest available properly sized leaves…

Transition 1

Once your teammate has come off the SUP it’s your job to remember to transfer the timing chip. Don’t expect your winded and exhausted teammate to remember to take it off and hand it to you. Nothing worse than getting through your run and reaching the Ft Adams transition only to have your relay teammate asking where the chip is. Ugh…

The Run – Strategy

While the nature of the race is an endurance effort, it is critical to pace properly yourself within a small or nonexistent running pack. I never saw another runner the whole 12.3 miles last year after the Sandy Point hill. It takes some practice and mental toughness to run at 100% race effort by yourself and without pacing runners. It’s very easy to let up ever so slightly with no other runners around.

On the other hand you also can’t run looking over your shoulder the whole time. Faster runners undoubtedly will catch you and pass you, do not get into a drag race when it happens. Stay in your zone and ignore them, run your race not theirs.

Once on the road, cars, dogs and pedestrians will not be giving you special racing room as they will have no idea you are in a race. You will look like every other Sunday jogger who stops at intersections and looks both ways before crossing. When you dash across the road make sure you have the opening you need.

Back to hills, there are 4 hills that will get your full attention before the race is over. Everyone knows Purgatory Hill at Surfers End which is minimized somewhat by the left turn onto Tuckerman part way up. Memorial Hill is next, watch the cobles past the entrance to Cliff Walk. Once on Ruggles the steep dip and Rogers Highschool Hill thereafter will get your heart going but it’s way too early to think about kicking it home from here. Regain your rhythm and hold on as you still have over a mile and one last sneaky badass hill at the Ft Adams entrance yet to come.

Finally you turn right into Ft Adams feeling the elation of being almost done. However this glow quickly fades as you start to feel the hill that you didn’t even know was there start sapping the last energy from your legs. You will feel like you are running in quick sand and your HR will be redline by now. Power through this with head high past the Ft Adams guard shack and you will see the finish down on the beach. It’s all downhill from here…!

Come visit the Race the State booth at the The RACE-MANIA Summit & Expo! Designed to educate, equip and excite endurance athletes at the start of a new season, RACE-MANIA offers attendees seminars, clinics, workshops, competitive events and an expo with 80+ exhibitors!