RI & CT

Saturday November 9 2019

Another double header – but less full on this time. A 5k road then 10k Trail.

First up was Rhode Island and the Pawsox Veterans Home Run 5K in Pawtucket. I flew into Providence after work on Friday and met Becca, who had been in NYC & Boston with work the latter part of that week. We stayed in a nice hotel in downtown Providence then headed out to the race, at the Pawsox baseball stadium, early Saturday morning. It was very cold – I even warmed up in gloves, but I think the temperature helped regulate my core and I actually ran a new PR (18.24) and placed 5th overall, 1st in 30-39 age group. The race finished with a loop around the baseball outfield and Becca was there to see me come in.

Finishing in the baseball stadium –

We went back to the hotel after awards to shower and warm up, then headed to historic Farmington, Connecticut – stopping at a stately home by the sea and some old tennis grounds en route. We stayed in a lovely Air BnB old farmhouse ran by a nice older couple – home to the former head of the Mormon Church!

Sunday November 10 2019

We had a nice big breakfast at the Air BnB then made our way to the Phantom Trail 10K race – just down the road at Winding Trails recreation grounds.

The course was long – approx 6.7 miles – and I clocked a time of 50.35. My 10K time was 48 mins which isn’t bad for a hilly trail. The going was tough, not technical per se, but the soft fine mud and sand covered by loose leaves and dense pine needles – made things slippy. The directional orange arrows were also spray painted on top of the leaves which was interesting.

Anyway, I ground out a race and was 2nd place overall in the end. A very serious and slightly douchey triathlon coach man in red beat me, just. I won a coat/key hanging board, which I gave to our nice Air BnB hosts.

Becca and then did some more local exploring then headed home to Charlotte from Hartford airport.

<p value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80">The race start –The race start –