Rebel Runners

7 Rebels ran the full 26.2 miles while 7 others made up relay teams to run past mansions and along the coast.

Saturday, October 18 was refreshingly cool. First half of the course covered gentle rolling hills along the coast, while the latter part of the race challenged us with hills and two-way traffic.

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Dar and I did the Breakers Marathon in Rhode Island as a relay this weekend. Here is my report...

The weekend started with a great drive up to Rhode Island Friday. The views and Foliage were nice and the company on the ride up was good. We arrived at about the same time as the others (there were fourteen in our party) and found the house that we were staying at to be nice and in a great spot as related to the race. We were to have dinner (Walton’s style) at the house on Friday night. As the BBQ started to heat the water for pasta a comment was made that possibly there was not enough food for dinner.

Well, this single comment touched of an awkward moment of silence and intensity that has not been felt since John McCain told his closest advisers he has decided to pick Sarah Palin for his running mate. The decision was made to get more pasta so yours truly and his darling went to pick up more pasta. As we were gone apparently a conversation ensued as to whether or not there was cheese for the pasta.

As you all well know the wrath of Dar can be a very bad thing so no one wanted to call her and ask her. Straws were drawn and apparently poor Claire drew the short one. She makes the call and asks about the cheese. In my mind I envision everyone else in a prayer circle praying for Claire, but as Dar hears Claire’s voice she is immediately soothed and explains that the cheese is there and a crisis is averted. I guess prayer circles do work! The rest of the night is uneventful and everyone makes it too bed in anticipation of the big day on Saturday.

Saturday was an early rise for all the marathoners and relay people running the first leg of the relay. As I said our house was well situated for the relay transition so I did not have to get up early. I headed down with some others to the transition spot around 9:15 or so and waited to cheer for the marathoners and get ready to run my leg of the relay. The first person I saw was Chris James. He crushed the first half and had a good run. He handed off his sash (more on the sash later) to Sharon and she started to run her leg of the relay. This also allowed Johnny Coco to start his leg of the relay. So now it is just me and Chris cheering for people, the next person we see is Ray Chris and he looks good and is having a good race.

Next to happen by is Wes and as always he is cruising right along and looks absolutely comfortable running his race. Next by was Rich. Now Rich was not enjoying himself quite as much as Ray and Wes. Apparently Rich was cold and proceeded to tell me and Chris how cold and miserable he was in no uncertain terms. Chris decides to offer Rich his shirt for warmth but Rich is too far gone at this point and gives A shell-shocked Chris a verbal beating the likes of which I have not heard since I tried to tell my parents that my sister was the one that put oatmeal in the VCR and not me. Rich decides he has vented his anger and starts running again.

Next by was Lori. There is no doubt she is the happiest person running that I have ever seen in my entire life. Running is her calling in life and you can tell just by watching her.

So now it is just me and Chris again and we are waiting for Dar so I can start my part of the relay. Chris and I were able to hash out any residual effects form his verbal tongue lashing and I even offered him a hug but he declined and seemed to get over the whole thing rather quickly. A few minutes later Dar came by and I was able to start my part of the relay. She handed me the sash I snuck a quick kiss and off I went.

My leg… The last leg of the relay was advertised as hilly and it lived up to form. The first few miles were along the coastline so the only thing I really had to deal with was the Sash strangling me. I decided this was no good so I took the sash off and carried it in my hand the rest of the way. The hills started shortly there after and lasted about three or so miles. A tip of the cap to all the marathoners as this was a long climb and I would not have wanted to do it in the middle of the marathon.

The course was ok but there was a lot of traffic on the course so it was not always easy to navigate around. The climbing finally ended around 23 miles and it was a decent down hill to the finish. There was one last climb just after 25 miles and I was glad I only had 12 miles on my legs at this point. It was short but steep. The race ended uneventfully and I felt good about my effort.

A huge congratulations to all the marathon participants as this was no easy course. Barb qualified for Boston, Trish ran a PR and even Rich managed to get it back together on the second half and finished decent. Ray, Wes, Lori and Tony all seemed happy with their times and content with their effort on the course.

All in all a good weekend. Partying after the race was fun as always with this group.
--- Vince

We all had a great weekend in RI. The house was large and perfectly situated to the finish of the race (as well as right next to a liquor store!). Rich hoisted the rebel flag as soon as we got there and it could be seen from far away. Which, of course, was great for me 'cause it helped me navigate back to the house! I know there were several attempts to get a good picture when the wind whipped it straight out but not sure if we ended up getting one or not. Thanks to Barbara for picking a great house!

We ended up discovering something about RI that none of us knew previously. We know RI as the smallest state and the ocean state but did you know that it is also the "lying state"?! Yes, this was confirmed after a race official told us the first half the course was "pancake flat" - NOT; We ordered pancakes on Sunday possibly thinking maybe they did have pancakes w/ hills - nope. We were told that there would be lobster at the finish - again another lie - and the water stops that were supposed to be every 3 miles - again - another untruth! So when playing trivial pursuit and the question comes up about which state is knows as the "lying state" you'll know to answer RI!

Okay, seriously, while there were hills throughout the entire marathon (yikes, even a sister hill to our paper mill - but longer!), it was really, really pretty. There wasn't a "bad section" through the whole race - the mansions (omygosh you have no idea - HUGE HUGE HUGE - like 120,000 SQ feet huge!), the ocean, the light house - really just very scenic!

They didn't close the streets so the 2nd half had you running on roads w/ no shoulders and there were cars coming both ways - honestly - this wasn't a problem for me - trust me - there were M&M's at one of the water stops - and I was one happy camper - and I was busily munching thru TWO fistfuls of M&M's so could have cared less about the traffic!

It was so great to see Claire with the blue/yellow hat (my first time seeing this as a runner) at the 1/2 way point!! It was great to get information on everyone else (uh...truth be told - I just wanted to know how Barbara was doing!!) AND I wanted to let Claire know that I had NOT walked yet :-) It was really awesome to finish and see so many rebels at the finish line. I really only expected to see my darling husband so it was a really great surprise to see everyone else.

Claire and Darlise ran along with me at the end - I was sooo pumped - I had no idea of time (gee - what a surprise) but couldn't wait to finish to tell everyone that I made it thru 26.2 miles with NO walking - this has only happened at one other marathon - and that was my first. I was super excited and then to actually PR -well, an added bonus for sure!

Major kudos to Barbara who definitely is so deserving of her BQ! I know, because I joined her many mornings at 5:30 (I think we even met earlier sometimes!) for speed work and mid week long runs. I couldn't hang with her schedule but she kept at it and isn't exactly a "morning person" and it so awesome that all that hard work paid off - I'm so proud of you - YOU SO ROCK!

As for the rest of the gang's performance - cripe - you guys are amazing - so consistent each and every run - I am so envious!

It was another great weekend and reminds me, once again,of how blessed I am to have found such great friends!

Rebel Marathon Results
Place Div/Tot Div Name Ag S Halfnet Pace Nettime Pace Guntime
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30 7/121 M4049 Olab 47 M - 1:37:13 7:25 3:16:52 7:31 3:16:57
41 13/121 M4049 Tuckin 46 M - 1:34:04 7:11 3:21:00 7:40 3:21:06
127 10/81 F4049 Loco 47 F - 1:49:26 8:21 3:41:34 8:28 3:41:49
175 51/121 M4049 Sit Down 44 M - 1:45:22 8:03 3:50:08 8:47 3:50:23
221 18/81 F4049 Barbara 44 F - 1:56:02 8:52 3:57:06 9:03 3:57:23
223 62/121 M4049 BBQ 43 M - 1:56:24 8:53 3:57:16 9:03 3:57:32
468 45/81 F4049 Screech 45 F - 2:13:31 10:12 4:44:11 10:51 4:44:28