Rocky Point 5K and Summer Racing Schedule

I've wanted to do a summer racing post for a while now, but I wasn't quite sure exactly what I was doing until more recently. My track season ended on a great note on June 11, and then the summer racing season was open.

Week of June 12: No races (not including New Englands). BRR was an option, but since I wasn't extremely interesting in competing I decided not to run. I had never been a fan of the 5K course, and the 5-Mile may be a little tougher considered I was coming off a hard race. I also hadn't broken in my only pair of trail shoes yet and had ankle discomfort from being stepped on in the 3200 the day before.

Week of June 19: No races. There were a few 5K options, but nothing that seemed worth it.

Week of June 26: I decided not to run Bottone, but instead to do Rocky Point 5K. Here's how it went.

Rocky Point 5K
June 25, 2016
10:08 AM EST

We arrived late...very late. The parking area was about half a mile from the start, but I still had to register before warming up. By the time I had done that and used the bathroom, I only had about 5 minutes to warm-up. This was a little worrying. I had eaten enough, but wasn't hydrated as much as I should've been. Did a very brief half mile, before strides. I did the strides on a side street as the start was at a slant. We waited an extra 10 minutes before starting, to wait for late registrants and bathroom users. I was worried my shoes were too loose but I didn't retie as I didn't know when we would start. I had a chance to scope out the competition, which was solid, but not quite as stacked as 2015. However, winning times were in the 18s in 2013 and 2014, so this was still faster than that. There were three I had to look out for, and a few other fast looking guys. The likely race winner would be Bronson Venable, and I would be near recent Hendricken graduate Dominic Parlato and Toll Gate sophomore (will be Junior) Nik Reygadas. Parlato was primarily a 3K runner in track, as he was best at the longer distance while Reygadas was the other way around, more a mid-distance guy. Typically, I'd say it's safe to say that Parlato would definitely beat me and I would definitely beat Reygadas, but I could surprise with a low 16s, and Reygadas could definitely be up there too, with a recent 16:40 at the Gaspee Days 5K.

My plan was to run a 5:10 first mile, stay strong the second mile, and hammer the final mile. This is what I usually do, so I figured it would apply here too. Of course, I really didn't factor in elevation which ended up affecting the pace.

Mile 1: They didn't do a great job with either pre-race instructions or shooting off the gun. They had a small wheelchair start a few minutes before us, and I wasn't sure if we were all starting together. We didn't, but when it came time for the main start the gun shot sounded like a misfire so it was confusing and I started a second late (not that it mattered, but it was odd). Immediately, Reygadas went out hard like always. I was monitoring my pace, it was high 5s going up the short first hill. We turned right and sped up. Going down warwick neck was fast. We stayed as pack of 4 (the four I mentioned earlier), with Bronson leading the group. I kept looking at the pace, and it was dropping down into the 4s. As important as it is to stay with the pack, I wasn't going to risk a fast first mile hurting my race. I slowed and backed off a little, letting a small gap form. Reygadas backed off with me, while Dominic Parlato stayed in second behind Venable. The gaps grew and after another turn, Parlato backed off Bronson's fast pace as well. Reygadas passed me, and I stayed right behind as we turn onto a walking path (right next to Bayside field if you're following the course map). There was a waterstop at the end. I took a cup, as my throat was dry. We crossed the first mile in 5:06.

Mile 2: Mile one was a little faster than I had anticipated, but it made sense with the downhill. Parlato had a least 10 seconds on us, and Venable was another 5-10 seconds ahead of him. As we made another turn, I took my first look back. No one was even close and I didn't have to worry about being caught by anyone farther behind. Mile 2 was many turns, as you can see on the map. I was getting a little tired and the pace was dropping. I passed Reygadas back and ran hard down a steep downhill, making a small gap between he and I. A few more turns and mile two was almost over. I was looking at my watch, and pace hadn't dropped off so much. I looked back and Reygadas had fallen back a bit. Mile 2 split was 5:12.

Mile 3: I was on a great pace, very likely PR. However, I was getting tired and I hoped not to fall of the pace this final mile. When we got on the Rocky Point path, it was scenic but I was too tired to enjoy it. I looked back on a really wide stretch and couldn't even see the next runner. I was now closer to second place than fourth, but he was still far ahead. With half a mile to go, I wanted it to end. I was really tired, pace was dropping a little, a now we were hitting the uphills. I felt weak going up the final quarter mile, and I didn't feel motivated to run it in hard until I saw the clock when I was at the three mile mark. I looked at my watch at about 16:00 and I knew I'd have to finish strong to get the PR. I picked it up at the very end, and crossed at about 16:28.

I wasn't sure if it was a PR, but later a results board show 16:28, a PR by one second. Later, I would find out in the results that it was actually 16:27. My watch showed 16:10 for 5K, as I got 3.16 for distance (likely because of the many turns). I went for a three mile cool-down with some of the top guys (which was a little tiring), then looked at the post race refreshments. Picked up $50 for the third place award, which was nice, and one way to earn back the $35 entry fee. Overall, pleased about the PR and will be looking for another one at Sailfest (7/10).

Week of July 3: We looked into another type of race and signed up for the 2016 Loon Mountain Race. It looks extremely difficult, but also looks like a lot of fun (when is racing in NH not fun?). Definitely going into this one underprepared but also running it for the experience of a mountain race and not for time or place or effort.

Week of July 10: Sailfest 5K in New London is one of the best 5Ks I've ever done, and last year I ran pretty well. Considering that I'm not doing many 5ks this summer, I wanted another chance to run 16:10s. This may be one of my hardest efforts this summer, as I'm going for a big PR.

Week of July 17: Iceland racing. Our family vacation this year is in Iceland, so why not race there? There's a road 10K on Friday the 15th that I'll run all-out, and a 10K/24K trail race that'll do easier and more for fun.

Week of July 24: Nothing right now. Two possibilities are Fat Clam Tri and Run with the Beavers, but I think it'd be better to take a week off and focus on Blessing.

Week of July 29: Blessing of the Fleet. Probably the most important race of the summer for me. I'm looking to improve significantly on what I ran last year, which was still a great race for me at the time (1:01:42, 53rd). I don't really care about place, but I don't just want to run sub-60, but be in the 58s.

Week of August 7: I'd like to use this a double race weekend. Saturday I'm doing the BI tri, which will be a fun event. Sunday I'm undecided- do I want to run Run 4 Kerri or do another Tri (Niantic Bay)?

Week of August 14: Another important race, the Bobby Doyle Summer Classic. I haven't determined any goals, I guess I'll see where my fitness is then.

Week of August 21: I'm seriously considering doing the Rhode Warrior sprint option, which is new for this year. The swim is a quarter mile, the bike is 8 mile, and the run is 4. It seems easy and fun, and well as being extremely close. I also probably have enough trimom credits to get in for free. (Cross country would either start the 15th or 22nd).

Week of August 28: I'd like to run Schonning again, mainly for the back-to-back win that I've wanted. This would be a rare time that I go for the win over the time.

That's my summer plans. Some are subject to change, while others I'm definitely doing. Of course, I'll also be running the fun runs, mostly Stonington and Westerly as tempos, but I'd also like to run one or two Groton or Chariho.