Rhode Island- Half Marathon #3 for ( 6 for 26')
Era of…………….WTF………………..joy and resistance
Rhode Island Half Marathon Race Recap
I'd been on the fence about doing the Rhode Island Half Marathon for a while. But when several of the BGR ladies signed up and our CEO, Jay El, was coming in to run it, I started warming up to the idea. It was close, too — a quick 45-minute drive. So I signed up.
This knee of mine had me second-guessing that decision almost immediately. I did my usual ritual: anti-inflammatories, Ben-Gay, Icy Hot, and herbal treatments. My run last week around Horn Pond gave me some hope. I did 4 miles of interval runs and my knee held up. I know that's a far cry from a half marathon, but it was something.
Then, to add insult to injury — it was going to be hot. Summer decided to show up early on race day. By 7 a.m., we were already in the high 50s to low 60s, with temps climbing to 78 degrees. That's too hot to run. The race organizers even sent out an email warning us about the heat and reminding everyone to carry extra water. Oh sugar.
The Iowan and I left at 5:10 a.m. and arrived in East Providence by 6:25 a.m. I'd meant to leave earlier — we were told parking near the stadium fills up by 6:30. Sure enough, we drove right into race-day parking traffic. This was a 2,000-person race.
Memories
This was my second state on my 50-states journey. Back in 2015, this race was called the Naussetts Half Marathon and was held in July. Hot as hell, and I finished in 2:09. That was eleven years ago. I knew I wouldn't be hitting that time again.
Something new I've been doing is wrapping my leg in KT tape. It worked at my last half, and I was hoping it would work here too.
One of the best things about being so close to Boston is that so much of my running family shows up for races like this — LiveFitArmy, Pioneers, BGR, Heartbreakers. I saw so many familiar faces, and some great new ones. And then came the bonus surprise: Jay El, BGR's CEO, was there. She's on her own 50-states journey.
I remembered this course having a hill at the start and another at the end. I was ready.
We ended up starting at 7:30 a.m. I think we should have gone off at 7 to get a little ahead of the heat, but here we were.
My plan: run a mile, then start intervals — 3 minutes running, 1 minute walking. I ran into Meg, who told me she was doing 4:1. She's clearly in better shape than me, because I watched her cross the finish line well before I did.
Despite the heat, I felt strong. This was a good course — a nice mix of urban, suburban, trails, and views, with just enough incline to keep it interesting. And unlike last time in Maine, my knee didn't give out. That alone felt like a win.
I kept up the intervals for a while before the heat started winning. I need to figure out a better strategy for running in the heat. Balancing water, electrolytes, and Gu is its own kind of race.
1619
I intentionally made sure my bib number was 1619. I had just seen Nikole Hannah-Jones speak when I decided to enter this race, and that number felt right. I was thinking about the struggle — the ongoing fight we are all in as fascism, white supremacy, and unchecked capitalism continue chipping away at voting rights for Black and Brown people.
It may have been chance and circumstance, but today also marked the 72nd anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education — the unanimous Supreme Court decision that ended legal racial segregation in schools. And here we are, somehow sliding back toward that same place.
Running is more than running. Out on that course, I was reminded that I need to protect my health and my joy — because the fight ahead is going to be long and hard, and things will likely get worse before they get better. Running is a beacon of hope.
My time: 2: 35:13; Pace 11:51
