To all of our supporters and competitors,

Due to a number of circumstances, we regrettably have made the difficult decision to postpone the 2018 edition of Race the State.

After three successful editions of Race the State, we have been searching for ways to improve the competitor experience, increase the number of commercial partnerships and grow the overall number of entrants. We ultimately have taken the hard decision to postpone this year’s race while we continue to work on these areas so that we can run a financially sustainable event that also provides a top-level experience for our competitors.

With high demand for the race, organizes share in the disappointment of the postponement, but are determined to work towards the 2019 edition of this uniquely Rhode Island race! While you are all on the treadmill or in your kayaks training for 2019, we will be burning up keyboards and cell phone plans to ensure that the race returns bigger and better.

Sincerely,
Julianna Barbieri & Hugh Piggin
Race the State Co-Founders

**If you have already registered for this year’s event, we will contact you individually to determine if you would like a refund or to have your entry fee put towards the 2019 race. All discounts offered for the 2018 race (i.e. past competitor and volunteer) will be honored in 2019.

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Congratulations 2017 Race the State Competitors! View this email in your browser Congratulations 2017 Race the State Winners & Competitors Wow! Yesterday was a stunning day for the 3rd edition of Race the State sponsored by Bank Newport & Ocean Point Insurance! 19 individuals and 28 teams totaling 150 people took to the course yesterday to try and be the fastest across the state of Rhode Island.  Mother Nature gave us a small break in the humidity and some might have said it was even a bit chilly at the 5:30am start, but it turned into a spectacular day across the state. A brisk morning to watch the sunrise coming up over South Shore Beach in Little Compton And they’re off! Shortly after 5:30am, the field sets off on Leg 1 a 4.4 mile run from South Shore Beach to Taylor’s Way in Little Compton. Sunrise over the West Passage of Narragansett Bay at the finish line of the Kayak. Leg 1 – 4.4 Mile Run Team Bodies by Bacon coming into the finish of Leg 1 BankNewport Wave Hogs taking 2nd overall in Leg 1 with a time of 28.07.5 4-Person Team Octopus killed the 4.4 mile run with a total time of 27:08.8 – that’s a 6:10 minute/mile pace! Followed less than a minute later with a time of 28:07.5 was the 4-person team, BankNewport Wave Hogs. Coming across the line first for the individuals was Don Sullivan with a pace of 6:36/mile! Leg 2 – 2.5 Mile Paddle Onto the paddle across the Sakonnet River. This section of Race the State has varied all three years of the race. This year the course took competitors from Little Compton to 3rd Beach in Middletown. It was a breezy morning, but nothing too challenging for the competitors as they worked their way across. The fastest time across went to 4-person team Hot Club Harbor Seals completing the course in 41 minutes 15 seconds. Followed closely behind was the 2-person team of The Old Salts with a time of 42:59.8. Leg 3 – 7.3 Mile Run Hot Club Harbor Seals II flying on the run! BankNewport Wave Hogs cruising by 1st Beach in Newport. The 4-person teams killed Leg 3, taking first, second and third for the top times overall! Lighting up the 7.3 mile run from 3rd Beach to Fort Adams was once again Team Octopus who ran the course in 41:45.5 a pace of a whopping 5:43/mile! Followed very closely behind was the Hot Club Harbor Seals II with an overall time of 48:22.4 and in 3rd was the BankNewport Wave Hogs clocking in 10 seconds later with a time of 48:32.5! Leg 4 – 5.6 Mile Kayak Taking competitors across Narragansett Bay, with a quick stop in Jamestown, is Leg 4 the 5.6 mile kayak! Local Jamestown resident and top surfski paddler is Tim Dwyer, part of this year’s 5-person team Gansett Gang. This was Tim’s second year racing in race the state (he was on the winning 4-persont team in 2015) and no surprise he obliterated the kayak with a total time of 56:48.5, that’s a pace of 10:09/mile! And he took just over 6 minutes off his time from 2015…he was soo fast our team of photographers didn’t even manage to grab a picture of him! 5-person Team Awdy wasn’t too shabby though they came in second on the kayak with a time of 1:04:19.5 and in 3rd was the 4-person team Sorry Kate with a time of 1:11:04. Leg 5 – 28.5 Mile Bike The final miles of Race the State are usually very speedy except for a few minor  hills! This year, we were joined by some very special riders. 5 Special Olympians from Special Olympics RI rode the final miles of the bike course and got a resounding welcome from the crowd at the finish! Elsewhere on the bike course, with a total time of 1 hour 12 minutes and 34 seconds, at a pace of 22.65 mph, 5-person team Gansett Gang were first across the finish line with an elapsed time of 4:27:10! Our first individual across the line was Don Sullivan, clocking in at an impressive 5:15:50. Competitors streamed in throughout the day and we’re happy to report everyone who started finished the course – well done to all who competed! The Finish – Time to Party! A great afternoon in Westerly celebrating all of the competitors with great food, beer from Mighty Squirrel and wine from FitVine along with support from our platinum sponsors BankNewport and OceanPoint Insurance and race sponsor Balise Subaru! Clockwise from Top: 5-person team Gansett Gang, Jennifer and Leann Bertha with their new Thule Trailer Hitch Mounted Bike Rack Courtesy of Balise Subaru, Cheers to 50! with their amazing gold shower caps, some of the great prizes, two of the top male finishers Scott Samuel and Don Sullivan. More Photos on our Facebook Page – Click to View THANK YOU! Race the State would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and partners and we want to thank our Platinum Sponsors BankNewport and OceanPoint Insurance and race sponsor Balise Subaru. Be sure to like, follow, share and patron these terrific Rhode Island companies!   And a round of thanks to the groups and organizations that provided us with some terrific prizes for our top finishers in each division.  NBX Bikes WHJY & Coast 93.3  Paddleboard RI Newport Shipyard  Lemon & Line Sailors for the Sea Hammer Nutrition Energybits North Sails Bike Newport AND last, but certainly not least, Race the State would not be possible without the hard work of our entire team and our volunteers. A huge thank you to the following people: Clean Ocean Access, Sailors for the Sea, Ilana Coenen, Heather Ruhsam, Polly Chorlton, Steve Schonning, Sally Halpin, Bruce & Anna Barbieri, Doug Patten, Kris Matthews, Liz & Eric Nittman, Blaise Erker, Lorraine McKenna,Tyler Mason, Patty Vehmeyer, Ben Barbieri, Tasha O’Hara, Leo & Jessica St. Denis, Scott Beaker and the team of BankNewport & OceanPoint Insurance volunteers spanning the course! RESULTS Individual Men 1 DON SULLIVAN 5:17:50.0 2 JOSHUA MASON 5:23:35.8 3 SCOTT SAMUEL 5:26:05.0 4 BENJAMIN YANNI-LAZARUS 5:35:17.7 5 SCOTT MADDEN 6:02:33.4 Individual Women 1 JOAN FLUETTE 8:16:03.2 2 JANUARY DAVIDSON 8:16:22.3 2-Person Team 1 The Old Salts 5:02:27.3 2 Sunday Epic Tri 5:58:54.5 3-Person Team 1 Team Hot Pants 5:33:45.0 2 What were we thinking? 6:01:34.7 3 YoGUTS 6:50:39.2 4-Person Team 1 Hot Club Harbor Seals II 5:03:27.2 2 Team Octopus 5:22:52.2 3 BankNewport Wave Hogs 5:25:53.3 4 Sorry Kate 6:10:45.2 5-Person Team 1 Gansett Gang 4:27:10.0 2 Y_knot 5:15:00.7 3 Tag You’re It 5:17:35.7 4 OceanPoint 5:18:53.5 5 Portsmouth Dads 5:21:59.7 Full Detailed Results can be found HERE FUN FACTS ABOUT THE 2017 RACE THE STATE 3-Person Team Hot Pants was the only all-Female team in the 2017 Race The Hot Club Harbor Seals II won the 4-person team both in 2016 & 2017! 5-person team Y Knot’s kayaker couldn’t get enough of the course. After taking a break, Pat Sheehan turned around and paddled back! Our oldest competitor was on Team Youngish! At 74 Malcom Starr is an inspiration to all of us! Both 2-person teams were originally individual entries, but one person on each team had a late injury so they recruited their support member to jump in and race with them…now that’s dedication! We heard that one of the runners on the BankNewport Wave Hogs is a nationally ranked middle distance runner! We’re not surprised based on those fantastic run times! We had a number of parent/child combos on teams, BUT only one set of family members to each run solo. Dad, Scott Madden and son Dylan Madden took on the entire course, with dad placing 5th and son in 8th! Well done!

The post 2017 Wrap Up! appeared first on Race the State.

23 Days ’til Race the State! 23 days and counting until the 3rd edition of Race the State sponsored by Bank Newport & Ocean Point Insurance. This is definitely a race you won’t want to miss – we’ve surpassed all registration numbers from 2015 & 2016, plus we are very excited to tell you about all the giveaways and prizes we have in store…so if you’re not registered Sign Up Today! Not ready to race? If you’re not quite ready to race, volunteer and you can save 50% off next year’s race registration. To sign up to volunteer, click HERE   We’re giving away a Thule Trailer Hitch Mounted Bike Rack! Thanks to race sponsor, Balise Subaru we are entering all competitors in this year’s race to a drawing to win a Thule Trailer Hitch Mounted Bike Rack (retail value: $370!)   Click HERE to register now!   WHAT YOUR REGISTRATION INCLUDES Registration for Race the State Includes: Signature T-Shirt for You & Your Support Team Member (2 & 3 person teams receive 1 support team shirt, 4 & 5 person teams receive 2 support team shirts) Entry into a raffle to win a Thule Trailer Hitch Mounted Bike Rack (a $370 value!!)  ENERGY bits samples  ENERGYbits® are tiny tablets of algae, a sustainable eco-friendly crop so nutritionally dense, it eliminates fatigue and hunger instantly.  Bank Newport & Ocean Point Insurance Bag  Commemorative Race the State sticker HAMMER Nutrition Gels and Endurolyte packs to keep you in top form on the course Finish Party featuring Mighty Squirrel Beer and FitVine Wine for all entrants, family, friends and support crew in Westerly! Click HERE to register now! Entry Fees: $140 – Individual $109 – 2-person relay $96 – 3-person relay $85 – 4-person relay $70 – 5-person relay *All fees noted are per person*   Follow Race-The-State for the latest news & updates! Register Here

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! Calling all Volunteers! We’re looking for locals across Rhode Island to help us out on Race Day on August 6th! Volunteer for as few as 2.5 hours and get a sweet Race the State t-shirt AND if you get inspired by the athletes and want to sign up for next year’s race you’ll and receive 50% off your entry. Interested? Click HERE for more details!     Facebook Group Have questions about race day? Want to connect with other competitors? Head over to the Facebook Group and post a message. If you’re looking for race day transport or teammates or general inquires, the Facebook Group is the best place to get answers. Click HERE to join the group.     2017 COURSE Leg 1: 4.4 Mile Run–Little Compton Leg 2: 2.5 Mile SUP–Little Compton-Middletown Leg 3: 7.6 Mile Run–3rd Beach Middletown to Fort Adams, Newport Leg 4: 5.6 Mile Kayak–Fort Adams to Narragansett with a portage in Jamestown Leg 5: 28.5 Mile Bike–Narragansett to Westerly CLICK HERE for an interactive course map to plan your training.     Equipment Rentals Don’t have a kayak or a paddle board? Don’t worry! We have a few different vendors that will be offering race day rentals including Rhode Island Paddle Sports, East Coast Paddle, Paddleboard RI and The Kayak Centre. Some of the vendors include drop off and pick up. Check out the options here: http://race-the-state.com/category/rentals/     Race Day Info for Competitors We will be providing a more detailed ‘Race Bible’ in the next couple of weeks to all registered competitors, however we want to call your attention to a couple of notes: The FAQ and Logistics page of the website are up to date. We’ll be adding transition zone information in the coming days. You can access those pages HERE and HERE Please remember you will need to have a life jacket on both the paddle and kayak legs and you will be required to wear it. If you’re not comfortable with a vest jacket, we recommend a belt pack life jacket. Packet pick up will be on Friday, August 5th from 1p-6p at Bank Newport’s corporate headquarters in Middletown and Saturday from 2p-5p in Narrgansett at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography. If there is an extenuating circumstance that will prevent you from picking up your packet on Friday or Saturday, please contact Julianna@ Please remember that you will need to provide proof of prior paddleboard experience by way of showing us that you’ve competed in other paddleboard races or communicating with our race director about your prior SUP/prone experience.     SUPPORT TEAMS Everyone competing in the race will need a support team. Because your support team is extremely valuable to your success. We will be outfitting your support team member with a custom Race the State t-shirt!

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Tim Dwyer’s Secrets To Staying Ahead

In 2015, as part of Team Kettlebottom, the 4 person relay winning team, my kayak leg was about 20 minutes faster than the next competitor for several reasons.

I expect that significant time gap to shrink as people learn how to paddle better, use the right gear and paddle fast boats. Most people paddle kayaks that are too short, too wide, too heavy and too slow to be either enjoyable or competitive. Paddling fast on the ocean is an awesome workout and addictive.

Here are some of my secrets of staying ahead:

1) my Epic V10 surfski kayak was the lightest, longest and fastest in the fleet

2) I use an ultralight Epic wing paddle

3) I practiced paddling the course in all conditions and was ready for wind and waves

4) I do about 15 surfski races from March through November and am race hardened

5) I get some coaching from paddlers better than me

6) I maintain a combination of strength training, cardio fitness and paddling year round

7) my forward stroke technique is efficient and practiced

8) my boat fits just right to take full musculoskeletal advantage

Train with Tim Dwyer & shave minutes off your kayak time!

For an introduction to some of these principles and to see what go fast surfski kayaks and gear look like, sign up for a 2 hour Intro to Fast Paddling which will be held on Sunday, June 4, at 10:00 by the Kings Park boat ramp in Newport.

Cost is $25 per person. Contact Tim at [email protected] to reserve a spot.

If you have one bring your own boat, paddle and PFD so we can talk about your gear how to get set up optimally. If you don’t you can still look at what others are using and learn a lot about gear.

Small group or private instruction/coaching available.

Q&A with Mike Giles, 2016 Kayak Leg Winner

How did you train for the kayak leg of Race the State last year?
I live in Cape Town and here, we are lucky. Surf skiing/paddling is still a growing sport and easily done. Credit goes to guys like Billy Harker,  who have pushed the sport to make it fun and exciting for all levels in not only Cape Town, but throughout the coastal regions. During the summer months, there are evening races on Tues, Wed, Thursday, Friday evenings and weekends are series races. That gets you out the water and having fun. If you manage 2-3 of those that’s enough training.

Would you do anything differently this year to be more prepared?
For sure. The course last year was great. It included a portage and then an uphill finish. Being able to transition quickly from paddling into running would save time. So definitely worth spending  time practicing the portage in/out and then incorporate a sick hill run at the end of the paddle.

Any cross-training recommendations for on land?
Although paddling is a cardio sport, it helps to do other cross-training. I try cycle, swim and run. Saying that, it is important to know your body’s neutral position to preserve posture. Having the correct posture and engaging the correct muscles helps with performance and injury prevention. Try mix up training with Pilates, Yoga or Gyro tonic. Newport has all of the above.

How was the kayak course last year?
The course was great and weather near perfect. I can imagine if the wind blows, it will be more challenging with a side swell.

Anything particular or unusual about the course that is important for competitors to note?
Like any endurance event, it is easy to go hard too early. Save something for after the portage and for the final hill run finish. The hill, although only a few 100 m, is challenging. Remember to have fun!

The post Kayak Training Guide appeared first on Race the State.

May Update & Kayak Training View this email in your browser May News Update Leg 4 Kayak Training Guide Things are heating up in RI and it’s time to get back on the water and start your kayak training! We caught up with Tim Dwyer and Mike Giles, who had the fastest kayak times in 2015 and 2016, respectively, to get you some course tips and race prep advice! The kayak leg is a great way to make up time on other competitors. With proper training and technique, it can shorten your overall time significantly and boost your place! Plus, Tim Dwyer will be offering an Intro to Fast Paddling session on Sunday June 4th at Kings Park in Newport. Train with the best, and e-mail Tim for more details! If you missed it last month, we announced a start time change. Due to the Newport Jazz Fest, we are making a change to the race start time from 6am to 5:30am. This timing change will help minimize our impact with Jazz Fest traffic at Fort Adams and on the water. Please take note of how this will affect timing for the rest of the course, which can be viewed HERE. Register for Race the State Today! Kayak Training Guide Tim Dwyer’s Secrets To Staying Ahead: In 2015, as part of Team Kettlebottom, the 4 person relay winning team, my kayak leg was about 20 minutes faster than the next competitor for several reasons. I expect that significant time gap to shrink as people learn how to paddle better, use the right gear and paddle fast boats. Most people paddle kayaks that are too short, too wide, too heavy and too slow to be either enjoyable or competitive. Paddling fast on the ocean is an awesome workout and addictive. Here are some of my secrets of staying ahead: 1) my Epic V10 surfski kayak was the lightest, longest and fastest in the fleet 2) I use an ultralight Epic wing paddle 3) I practiced paddling the course in all conditions and was ready for wind and waves 4) I do about 15 surfski races from March through November and am race hardened 5) I get some coaching from paddlers better than me 6) I maintain a combination of strength training, cardio fitness and paddling year round 7) my forward stroke technique is efficient and practiced 8) my boat fits just right to take full musculoskeletal advantage Train with Tim Dwyer & shave minutes off your kayak time! For an introduction to some of these principles and to see what go fast surfski kayaks and gear look like, sign up for a 2 hour Intro to Fast Paddling which will be held on Sunday, June 4, at 10:00 by the Kings Park boat ramp in Newport. Cost is $25 per person. Contact Tim at [email protected] to reserve a spot. If you have one bring your own boat, paddle and PFD so we can talk about your gear how to get set up optimally. If you don’t you can still look at what others are using and learn a lot about gear. Small group or private instruction/coaching available. Q&A with Mike Giles, 2016 Kayak Leg Winner How did you train for the kayak leg of Race the State last year? I live in Cape Town and here, we are lucky. Surf skiing/paddling is still a growing sport and easily done. Credit goes to guys like Billy Harker,  who have pushed the sport to make it fun and exciting for all levels in not only Cape Town, but throughout the coastal regions. During the summer months, there are evening races on Tues, Wed, Thursday, Friday evenings and weekends are series races. That gets you out the water and having fun. If you manage 2-3 of those that’s enough training.Would you do anything differently this year to be more prepared? For sure. The course last year was great. It included a portage and then an uphill finish. Being able to transition quickly from paddling into running would save time. So definitely worth spending  time practicing the portage in/out and then incorporate a sick hill run at the end of the paddle. Any cross-training recommendations for on land? Although paddling is a cardio sport, it helps to do other cross-training. I try cycle, swim and run. Saying that, it is important to know your body’s neutral position to preserve posture. Having the correct posture and engaging the correct muscles helps with performance and injury prevention. Try mix up training with Pilates, Yoga or Gyro tonic. Newport has all of the above. How was the kayak course last year? The course was great and weather near perfect. I can imagine if the wind blows, it will be more challenging with a side swell. Anything particular or unusual about the course that is important for competitors to note? Like any endurance event, it is easy to go hard too early. Save something for after the portage and for the final hill run finish. The hill, although only a few 100 m, is challenging. Remember to have fun! Other Upcoming Events June 4 – Kayak – Intro to Fast Paddling, Kings Park, Newport, RIJune 4 – Run – Newport 10 Miler, Newport, RI July 1 – Run – Rhode Races Independence, Bristol, RI Register for Race the State Today! 2017 Race the State Sponsors and Partners Interested in becoming a sponsor for 2017? E-mail us for more information! SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RACE THE STATE! Help us to grow the race for its third edition in 2017! Refer a friend and get $15 if they sign up as an individual and $10 if they sign up for a team! You can earn up to the full amount of your entry fee!Here’s how it works: 1. Register for Race the State HERE 2. Collect your referral code 3. Give code to your friends and tell them to register 4. You get a refund!

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April News Update Ride, Baby, Ride! Leg 5 Bike Training Guide Plus 2017 Race Start Time Change   We’re just over 3 months to the start of the 3rd edition of Race the State and now with the warmer weather, it’s a perfect time to start your bike training. We caught up with Terry Halpin, who has been on the winning relay teams in both 2015 and 2016, to chat about the course and provide you with some race day and prep tips. In addition to being on the winning teams, Terry owns the fastest time at 1 hour 10 minutes and 33 seconds on the bike leg, that’s an average of 23mph! Also, due to the Newport Jazz Fest, we are making a change to the race start time from 6am to 5:30am. This timing change will help minimize our impact with Jazz Fest traffic at Fort Adams and on the water. Please take note of how this will affect timing for the rest of the course, which can be viewed HERE. And finally, we had a great time promoting Race the State at the first annual Newport Rhode Race last weekend! We raffled off an entry to Race the State to competitors and are pleased to announce that Valerie Pratt is the winner! Congrats, Valerie, see you on the course! Sponsor Spotlight Founded in 1919, Balise Auto is one of the largest retailers of new and used automobiles in New England with locations spanning Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Balise Subaru, located in West Warwick, RI provides customersthe most recent and relevant new models and carefully selected used cars. Their goal is that you will remember how you were treated: it’s part of the Balise mission to support you in every step of the car ownership process. Balise Subaru is ready to support their customers now, and for many miles down and around I-95. Register for Race the State Today! Cycling Training Guide Tips for crushing the bike leg of Race the State from Terry Halpin, bike course record holder at 1 hr 10 min 33 sec! What do you think of the course? The bike course is good; it has quite a bit of terrain to it – 900ft of elevation, I think. The hardest part about it is not to go too hard on the first hill.  Once you cross Post Road (aka Route 1), it’s pretty much “game on” all the way to the finish.It’s a beautifully scenic, rural course…going by the lake is especially nice. It’s a rolling hills course, which, for me, is pretty good. Maybe some people don’t enjoy that as much as I do. You have to maintain a pretty steady power output, and keep going along.The roads are in good condition mostly, [it’s] a little rough going over Chase Hill Road so you need to be mindful of that because you’re going quite quick going down the hill. But all in all it’s a very nice, scenic race. Anything on the course competitors should be aware of? If you do a reconnaissance mission on  the course, some of the hard turns become part of your memory and you’re able to anticipate them instead of being surprised. Generally speaking, the traffic was quite light, and I didn’t have any problems with that. How do you prepare for the race? The two years I’ve done it, I managed to recon the course a couple of times each year. I feel like its very important to know where the turns are and where you can accelerate and make the most of your available energy before you try to accelerate too quickly in an area where you’re going to have to slow down or turn. I can’t say enough how important it is to recon. The ride is only 29 miles, so for my recon I went out and back from the URI Bay Campus. It’s pretty critical, [the recon] will show you the steepness of the first hill, and force you to figure out how to manage your time going up that—it’s not where you’re going to win the race, but you can certainly lose it there. How many miles are you riding a week? 150-180 miles a week, mostly by myself. 2-3 days I’ll ride with a group, but mostly by myself.Any advice for first timers?The best thing you can do is try to find an aerodynamic position on the bike that you’re comfortable in. I rode a standard road bike, but made adjustments to the position and added a set of aero bars for a bit of aerodynamic performance and it seemed to work well for me. Anything you do to keep yourself motivated during long rides? Dream of what might have been… No, just kidding. For the race, it’s important to prepare for conditions of the day, as not being prepared will affect your motivation. If it’s dry and hot, bring enough water. I’d probably something to eat, maybe, 2/3 a way during the leg. I don’t, personally, have issues staying motivated for 30 miles, that’s less than a standard day on the bike, for me! Any suggestions for someone who doesn’t have enough time to do many long rides during a week? Anything that gets you time in the saddle. If you can increase your endurance, that is probably the best method of training. One is interval training, high intensity for short bursts, both increasing the intensity and lengths of the bursts over the course of a long period of time so your body because more in tune to running at threshold. Try and ride the mileage. If you can ride 2 hours on a stationary bike, if the weather’s not good, or you don’t have enough time to get outside when it’s light, that should get you through. And last but not least, enjoy it, have fun! Additional Training Tips Offseason If you’re in the Newport area, Pulse has the best spin classes around! Pulse will be entering five teams to Race the State 2017, so keep an eye out for them on the course! Know the Route The bike leg of Race the State takes competitors from South Kingstown to Westerly along back roads. The course is as straight as possible without having competitors go on busy traffic congested streets. There will be arrow signs on the course marking the way but it will pay to study the map beforehand to really know the route.  Facebook Tweet Forward Crossing Route 1 5.5 miles into the bike course, competitors must cross Route 1. Because the safety of our competitors is of the utmost importance, timing chips are setup on either side of the rode to pause timing to allow for a safe crossing. Police detail will also be present to stop traffic. Other Upcoming Events April 30 – Kayak/SUP – Run of the Charles, Boston MAMay 6 – Run –  Providence Marathon and Half Marathon, Providence, RIMay 13 – Bike – Rhode Kill Spring Classic, West Warwick, RIMay 20 – Multi Sport – Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle, Mystic, CT June 4 – Run – Newport 10 Miler, Newport, RI Register for Race the State Today! 2017 Race the State Sponsors and Partners Interested in becoming a sponsor for 2017? E-mail us for more information! SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RACE THE STATE! Help us to grow the race for its third edition in 2017! Refer a friend and get $15 if they sign up as an individual and $10 if they sign up for a team! You can earn up to the full amount of your entry fee!Here’s how it works:1. Register for Race the State HERE 2. Collect your referral code 3. Give code to your friends and tell them to register 4. You get a refund!

The post April Update – New Start Time & Cycling Training Guide appeared first on Race the State.

Tips for crushing the bike leg of Race the State from Terry Halpin, bike course record holder at 1 hr 10 min 33 sec!

What do you think of the course?
The bike course is good; it has quite a bit of terrain to it – 900ft of elevation, I think. The hardest part about it is not to go too hard on the first hill.  Once you cross Post Road (aka Route 1), it’s pretty much “game on” all the way to the finish.

It’s a beautifully scenic, rural course…going by the lake is especially nice. It’s a rolling hills course, which, for me, is pretty good. Maybe some people don’t enjoy that as much as I do. You have to maintain a pretty steady power output, and keep going along.

The roads are in good condition mostly, [it’s] a little rough going over Chase Hill Road so you need to be mindful of that because you’re going quite quick going down the hill. But all in all it’s a very nice, scenic race.

Anything on the course competitors should be aware of?
If you do a reconnaissance mission on  the course, some of the hard turns become part of your memory and you’re able to anticipate them instead of being surprised. Generally speaking, the traffic was quite light, and I didn’t have any problems with that.

How do you prepare for the race?
The two years I’ve done it, I managed to recon the course a couple of times each year. I feel like its very important to know where the turns are and where you can accelerate and make the most of your available energy before you try to accelerate too quickly in an area where you’re going to have to slow down or turn. I can’t say enough how important it is to recon.

The ride is only 29 miles, so for my recon I went out and back from the URI Bay Campus. It’s pretty critical, [the recon] will show you the steepness of the first hill, and force you to figure out how to manage your time going up that—it’s not where you’re going to win the race, but you can certainly lose it there.

How many miles are you riding a week?
150-180 miles a week, mostly by myself. 2-3 days I’ll ride with a group, but mostly by myself.

Any advice for first timers?
The best thing you can do is try to find an aerodynamic position on the bike that you’re comfortable in. I rode a standard road bike, but made adjustments to the position and added a set of aero bars for a bit of aerodynamic performance and it seemed to work well for me.

Anything you do to keep yourself motivated during long rides?
Dream of what might have been… No, just kidding.

For the race, it’s important to prepare for conditions of the day, as not being prepared will affect your motivation. If it’s dry and hot, bring enough water. I’d probably something to eat, maybe, 2/3 a way during the leg. I don’t, personally, have issues staying motivated for 30 miles, that’s less than a standard day on the bike, for me!

Any suggestions for someone who doesn’t have enough time to do many long rides during a week?
Anything that gets you time in the saddle. If you can increase your endurance, that is probably the best method of training. One is interval training, high intensity for short bursts, both increasing the intensity and lengths of the bursts over the course of a long period of time so your body because more in tune to running at threshold. Try and ride the mileage. If you can ride 2 hours on a stationary bike, if the weather’s not good, or you don’t have enough time to get outside when it’s light, that should get you through.

And last but not least, enjoy it, have fun!

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RACE-MANIA this weekend, Sunday March 26! View this email in your browser Stop by our booth this Sunday at Race Mania in Boston! RACE-MANIA Summit & Expo 915 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA Sunday, March 26 10am-5pm Register here If you’re in the Boston area, come visit us Sunday at the 2017 RACE-MANIA Summit & Expo! We’ll be setup from 10am-5pm and anyone who registers for Race the State at the RACE-MANIA expo will receive 15% off their RTS registration fee! We’ll also be raffling off a free entry to anyone who visits our booth.  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!  Hope to see you there! Register for Race the State Today! Registration Fees Increasing Soon! Registration fees will increase on April 1st. Register before midnight on March 31st to save some cash! Event Swag Men and Women sized t-shirts for you and your support crew! Plus all competitors receive Race the State pint glasses at the finish line! Training Guides Run Training Guide SUP Training Guide Stay tuned for more! Raffle Prizes All competitors have a chance to win prizes from: Balise Subaru Newport Boxfit and more! 2017 Course Map Did you hear the news? We’ve tweaked Legs 1, 2 and 3. The stand up paddle board is slightly longer and the run through Newport is a whole lot shorter. Check out the updated course for 2017 HERE Fuel Stations Hammer Gels, fruit, water and Hammer HEED sports drink will be available at all transition zones of the race! Post Race Party Competitors, friends and family are invited to the post race party at the finish line in Westerly, RI. Refuel with eats, Mighty Squirrel Beer, FitVine Wine! Upcoming Events A great way to train for Race the State is to race in other events leading up to August 6th. Check out these events this spring and summer that will be sure to gear you up for RTS 2017! Run RI Newport Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k – April 15th **friends of Race the State can receive a discounted entry fee for this race by using the code RACETHESTATE when signing up!** Newport 10 Miler – June 4th Newport Craft Brew Race – July 22nd 2017 Race the State Sponsors and Partners Interested in becoming a sponsor for 2017? E-mail us for more information! SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RACE THE STATE AND EARN CASH! Help us to grow the race for its third edition in 2017! Refer a friend and get $15 if they sign up as an individual and $10 if they sign up for a team! You can earn up to the full amount of your entry fee! Here’s how it works: 1. Register for Race the State HERE 2. Collect your referral code 3. Give code to your friends and tell them to register 4. You get a refund!

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In response to previous editions’ competitor feedback, we have updated the first three legs of the course as follows:

Start – South Shore Beach, Little Compton

Leg 1 – 4.5 mile run from South Shore Beach to Taylors Lane Beach, Little Compton

Leg 2 – 2.5 mile SUP from Taylors Lane Beach, Little Compton to 3rd Beach, Middletown

Leg 3 – 8 mile run from 3rd Beach, Middletown to Fort Adams, Newport

From there the kayak and bike legs will remain the same. This course change allows for a more challenging SUP leg (from 1m to 2.5m) and a shorter second run leg (from 12m to 8m).

For a detailed map view, CLICK HERE.

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Welcome Back BankNewport & OceanPoint Insurance Plus Race the State Training – Run Edition     View this email in your browser       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.     Sponsor Spotlight Founded in 1819 and headquartered in Newport, BankNewport offers a full suite of loan and deposit products and services for families and businesses throughout Rhode Island.  In addition, OceanPoint Insurance Agency, Inc., a subsidiary of BankNewport, offers a broad range of property casualty insurance products and a full array of financial services.  With 16 banking offices and $1.4 billion in assets, BankNewport is one of the oldest community banks in the United States and, as a mutual organization, is committed to the financial success of its customers, employees and communities. Headquartered in Middletown, Rhode Island, OceanPoint Insurance, a BankNewport subsidiary, is a Trusted Choice independent insurance agency providing a broad range of property casualty insurance products, in addition to a full array of financial services. Tracing its roots back to 1863, OceanPoint Insurance is proud to serve the needs of clients from three full service offices located in Middletown, Barrington, and Coventry, Rhode Island, forming one of the largest independent insurance agency operations in southeastern New England. Register for Race the State Today!

Run Training Guide

Tips for crushing the run legs of Race the State!       Race the State 2016 Run Leg 3 Recap and Tips from Dirk Johnson, member of fastest team overall, Island Idiots       Prestart 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.       The Run – Course The hills are the hardest part of the run and it’s important to manage them. Adrenalin pumped, energetic and excited, you will want to gallop to the top amid the cheers of the fans lining the side of the road, big mistake! Stay in control here, yes you will spike your HR and yes you will have to recover once at the top, but just don’t blow up. Keep your breathing steady and do NOT go anaerobic this early in the race. 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. The Finish 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…!

Additional Training Tips Offseason: just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean you can’t run! But don’t take our word for it, check out these tips from a Boston Marathon winner on running in the winter. Know the Routes The first and third legs of Race the State are designated running legs. Before doing any road race it helps to familiarize yourself with the course. If you’re in the area, practice running the race course a few times leading up to the race. If you’re not, here’s a break down: The Sprint – the first run leg is a short 4 mile run. The course is straight and flat with only a few road turns that are clearly marked by signs and traffic police. There will be water provided at the start of the race and at the finish of this sprint leg, but not during. If you’re new to running, taking on this first leg as part of a team is a great goal to set for yourself and work towards!  The Long Haul – the second run leg is the leg that brings you from the SUP finish to the kayak start at Fort Adams. This is a big run, people, so train accordingly. The route is beautiful and scenic but along with the rocky cliffs of Aquidneck island come hills. We recommend running this route ahead of time or incorporate hill sprints into your training.       Facebook     Tweet     Forward         Run with a group: Get your friends to sign up for Race the State with you and make weekly plans run together and you’ll be less likely to back out! Speed training: do some Fartleks. Sounds funny, but does wonders for your speed. Grab a timer and get going. Unconventional speed training: run fast or the zombies will get you! This app is Pokemon Go! meets zombies meets Race the State training. Turn on the app and start running, listen to music as you normally would. When you hear the zombies chasing you, pick up your speed! Set up timed intervals or have the app surprise you with zombie attacks! Practice the transition: the second run leg comes after the SUP. Don’t let race day be the first time you run directly after paddle boarding!         Practice, Practice, Practice… Warm up for Race the State with some of these other local races: March 4 – Boldrdash Winterdash 5k, Exeter, RI March 19 – New Bedford Half Marathon, New Bedford, MA April 15 – Newport Marathon and Half Marathon, Newport, RI May 21 – Mystic River Run and Paddle, Mystic River, CT

Upcoming Events   March 26: Visit Us At Race Mania Summit & Expo Boston, MA 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!      Register for Race the State Today!

2017 Race the State Sponsors and Partners   Interested in becoming a sponsor for 2017? E-mail us for more information!     SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RACE THE STATE!   Help us to grow the race for its third edition in 2017! Refer a friend and get $15 if they sign up as an individual and $10 if they sign up for a team! You can earn up to the full amount of your entry fee! Here’s how it works: 1. Register for Race the State HERE 2. Collect your referral code 3. Give code to your friends and tell them to register 4. You get a refund!       Share     Tweet     Forward     Pin     Share

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