2015 Beach to Beacon 10K Race Recap
Disclosure: As part of the Cabot Fit Team, Cabot Creamery covered my travel expenses for the 2015 Beach to Beacon 10K. I was not compensated to write this post.
(Here's Part 1 of my #CabotFit Maine Trip - along with recipe for Apple Cheddar Oatmeal Squares.)
Last year, I kidded that it was the year of "Will Run For Food" for me. Later that year, I had two different running injuries and thought "Well, my long race days are over."
While I've said good-bye to half marathons (and honestly, I'm perfect happy about this) and I've probably run my last 10 miler (Broad Street Run, I love you but you are too crowded plus you are now a few miles over my comfort zone), 10Ks are my preferred distance these days.
That said, with the hot and humid weather of late and other travels cutting into my run days (I won't even call it training), I was aiming to truly run for fun vs. speed for the Beach to Beacon 10K as part of the 2015 Cabot Fit Team.
Quite frankly, I was honored to be participating on any level as this is an exclusive race founded by Joan Benoit Samuelson, 1984 Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist. It draws elite runners from all over the world - and sells out in UNDER 5 MINUTES, year after year.
Not to mention, its location - the gorgeous Maine coastline.
Ironically, this strategy of "just enjoy it" on race day got me a new PR (51:09 minutes - whoot!)
(I truly think my new Newton kicks had something to do with it - I'm a total convert now. Disclosure: the Cabot Fit team members receive a complementary pair of Newtons a month before the race to test out.)
The race started at 8 a.m., the sun was out and it felt HOT - despite being 10 degrees cooler and less humid than what I was used to in Philly.
I don't run with a phone so I don't have photos along the race route but Anne and Kelly do - worth checking out.
For only 6,500 runners and a shorter race, the crowds were wonderful - lots of people and kids out - along with a few hoses and sprinklers which were glorious. There were also water stations at every mile - another perk as I dumped a few cups on my head at each mile.
This is a bit of a hilly race, which was a mental block for me because a) I don't do hills and b) the biggest ones came at mile 5 - ugh. But once I reached them, the hills were fairly short and each one followed by a nice downhill stretch.
Finish line photo courtesy of Regan Jones, our race sherpa and CabotFit Team official race photographer.
Race sherpa/photographer in action.
This shaped up to be one of the most memorial races of my life for the atmosphere, the location, being able to represent dairy farmers AND for how amazing each of my team members did.
We had PRs, first time runners, a runner with an injury and every single #CabotFit runner crossed that finish line in conditions that had some of the elites collapsing at the end.
So proud of these ladies.
And another reason, every race after this one will pale in comparison: getting to cool down by jumping into the Atlantic Ocean by way of Higgins Beach post-race.
Of course, this was the only cloud cover of the day - the water was darn cold but actually felt fantastic once your body went numb got used to it.
After our ocean dunk, lobster roll #2 from Higgins Beach Market was calling my name!
Another shout out to the Cabot crew: onsite Sara & Regan- (you may also know them as @CabotRD on Twitter) - gave us the VIP treatment and made sure the entire trip and race went off without a hitch. And offsite, Caisil did much of the leg work prior to the trip. Thank you ladies!
Congrats on the new PR! Being on the team sounds like fun! I ran a 10K today, too, while on vacation in Leadville, CO, and had a fun race day, too.
I'm off to check out your post - I'd be curious to run in CO - I never have and would wonder how the higher elevation would effect me 🙂
I love that there's actually proof that I do work 🙂 Sometimes behind the scenes feels a little like #SheWasntReallyThere 🙂
I guess I'm gonna have to spring for some new Newtons... you guys are making me believe!!
Had to give a photo shout out to our favorite Sherpa!
Congrats on a PR! 10K is definitely a great distance- challenging but you don't need weeks of intense training... I actually have only done 10k races as part of triathlons so I need to find one to do where I'm just running.
Yes - those are my new favorite. Have you ever done the Philly 10K? It was new last year and a lot of fun. Though this year it was $64 and I just couldn't justify that fee for only a 10K - lol~
Another terrific recap! You truly look like you're embrasing your strategy of "just enjoy it"! I am jealous of your smiling faced photos! Thanks for being such a marvelous Cabot Fit Teammate!
I ALWAYS have a grimace in race photos so this race I vowed to smile whenever I spied a photographer - lol.
I have never traveled for a race, but I like to keep up some sort of regular exercise on vacation. Like going to the treadmill at the gym for 30 minutes each morning or taking long walks after dinner.
I'd love to get a long walk after dinner into my routine - especially before Daylight Savings is over.
Congrats again on that PR! 🙂 So fun spending the weekend with you - see you soon for Blog Brulee!
Right back at you on the congrats for the PR - you crushed that race! See you in VT next month 🙂
Congratulations on the pr
Thanks much Sydney!
We stay local. We have kids, so traveling with them is always problematic, especially when there is no light at the end of the tunnel for them.
I try to exercise on vacation with walking a lot while sightseeing, pool workouts, or workouts in the hotel room. My twitter is @jessicanjzee (I put the wrong thing)!
I don't do the running thing, but I do hike a lot on vacation. Birdwatching takes us to some pretty remote and rugged areas some times.
I usually only run locally. I do try to still exercise when I am on vacation. I love hiking in the mountains on vacation.
I've traveled to quite a few races and look at them a racecations. The last cruise we went on was 8 days and I logged 100 miles, mostly on a treadmill!
Love the term "raceactions" and 100 miles in 8 days mostly on a treadmill is darn impressive anywhere you do it!
Yeah, all the food I ate gave me the energy but the problem was I still gained 12 pounds! I have quite the sweet tooth and once I get going its hard to stop. It came off quickly but not easily...still it was totally worth it!
Looks like fun and looovvveee cabot!!
Love seeing Maine pics! I great up there and took wedding photos at Ft. Williams!
What a beautiful area to grow up in and have wedding photos as a backdrop!
i'm a walker so i always walk regardless of whether i'm on vacation or not.
We love to hike, so our vacations generally do involve exercise.
I love to run on vacations to see the area!
I try to exercise during vacation.
Yes I always exercise on vacations!