Rhode Island Race Deal - 2 Half Marathons for $70

Are you looking for a great gift for your favorite runner this holiday season?  Here are a couple of great races teaming up to give you a great race value for your buck.  You can race through the beautiful Blackstone Valley and along the shore of Narragansett Bay with this great package deal! 

The Navigant Blackstone Valley Half Marathon 

(8:00 a.m. May 4, 2014, Pawtucket, Rhode Island) 

and the Narragansett Bay Half Marathon 

(7:00 a.m. on August 17, 2014, East Providence, Rhode Island) 

Inaugural Race

They are offering a special combined race offer of $70. 

Yes...... that is two of the best and scenic Half Marathons

 in New England for just $35 each! 

(Princes increase January 1)

Simply select the two half marathon option 

when registering online at either website. 

www.navigantcurunningfestival.com 

www.nbhalf.com

I will be racing both of these races in exchange for promoting them. It will be the third time I am running the Navigant Blackstone Valley Half Marathon and the first time I am running the Narragansett Bay Half Marathon.

CVS Caremark Downtown 5k Providence RI

I love this race! The CVS Caremark Downtown 5k has a vibe all its own. I always feel at home.  It is the closest thing Providence has to a running block party.  I feel comfortable among the crowd talking to folks and taking pictures before the race and on the course. The movement of the runners through the city captivates and encourages me to look at the everyday normal in a different way.    

I think the smile on my face conveys how much fun I had today!

I stopped by Rhode Runner Inc on Thursday to pick up my race bib and shirt.  Most of the bibs were still waiting at the ready.  All that racing potential just sitting there waiting for runners to set it free!

This years shirt was a vibrant purple! 
It also came in women's or men's for the first time! 
Not bad for a local 5k!

The weather forecast for the day was rain and thunder.  Lucky for the 5k and 3k runners the storm moved through quickly and although the ground was wet and there were puddles on the course, it stopped raining before I had to get out of my car. :) After the storm clouds cleared I headed to the city side of the Capital and started taking in the race scene! 

Abbey Rhode was playing in front of the Capital.

The high school teams were gathering
here, there and everywhere before heading to get their team pictures taken for the costume competition.

The top of the street holding back the racers as they
pinned and prepped for their outing.

There were some great folks in the crowd who stood out!
This Hartford, CT, firefighter raced in his full gear!

Happy Birthday Kelli Mclellan!
What a great way to celebrate your day!

Charlie Breagy, race director,
up on the stage like a proud papa.

The race sponsors!

Here we go folks! 
Moving to the line and ready, set, go!

Crossing the Point Street Bridge!

This mom and son caught my attention.
They were taking care of each other and moving right along!

Runners rounding the corner near the I-Way!

Zigging and zagging our way back into town.
I love the green grass, brick red building, and blue sky
with the runners moving through.

Hello mile 2 and downtown Providence!

Up, up, up, and over the line!

Charlie taking pictures of the runners finishing!

Happy runner!

Taking pictures of the finishers!
#65 - U.S. Representative David Cicilline

 After the CVS Caremark Downtown 5k wrapped up the "kids" started warming up for the Tufts Health Plan High School Inspirational 3k.  

Bishop Hendricken boys stretching their legs. 

The corral was full of energy getting ready to hit the course!
The St. Mary's Academy Bay View girls
took on the course in their Patriots gear!

All in all it was an amazing morning.  I am all in favor of local races that start at 11:15 am.  I was able to sleep in and have time with the family before heading into town...and the chocolate chip pancakes served me very well (thanks to my hubby).  This is just one of those races that I will do every year.  How can you go wrong with a block party that takes it on the road! 

Falmouth Road Race Accommodations - I'm Camping

It is official! 

I am camping for my first racecation race! 

The campground is located 2 miles from the bus stop for our trip to the Falmouth Road Race start line.  

I have a really good setup tested 3 weekends ago during my daughter's soccer/tournament camping trip. 

The kicker is that I will only be out $33 bucks! 

Plus lots of other runners are staying at the campground.  

So it should be a great experience all around.  I asked for a site that would be quieter, and have been placed in an area that only has 4 sites.  How exactly will it all work out?  We will see, but I don't have to miss the expo, and I don't have to drive back home Saturday night to Providence!  I am really excited about the possibility of lower cost New England racecations!  

I wonder if I can find some other runners who what to make S'mores with me?

Racecation Runner - Taking it beyond the local

We all started somewhere and then we branched out! Most of us did it before we even thought much about it.  What am I talking about?  Road racing, one foot in front of the other, local, national, international!  And if we were going to travel for races why not stay a while and make a racecation out of it?  New towns, old towns, hotels, camping, restaurants, carry-out, and oh the expos! How could you pass up all that fun? 

Some of us meet up with friends at our destination races, others travel with them, and still others go solo (knowing full well that there will be plenty of folks to meet and hang out with).  Runners are a fun bunch and we generally know how to enjoy ourselves regardless of the circumstances...we are runners!

So let's here 'em! What are your favorite racecation destinations and races?

Not ready for Everest...how about a runDisney race?
WDW Marathon '13