2015 was the inaugural year for the Ocean State Rhode Race. It was competing with the Newport Marathon but had a solid turn out on a beautiful New England day to conquer a tough course. This was the second half of my back to back weekend and I was excited to see what the never-before run race had in store for my already worked out legs.

Location - Coming from my first race in Hartford, CT getting to Narragansett was a nice short scenic drive (~1.5 hrs). There are lots of places to stay within a short driving distance though they can get pricey. The small race didn't feature an expo. There was only packet pick-up that was easy to find with plenty of parking and quick to move through. You got your number, tech shirt and a goody bag filled with snacks for before or after the race.

Start - The start had tons of parking and plenty of Port-a-Potties. Race day number pick-up is available and the 7:30 marathon and 8am half start times make it a reasonable option. There's lots of room to run, stretch and warm-up with views of the beach and ocean. The race's smaller size made it easy for the marathon to go off while giving the half runners enough time to comfortably enter the starting chute and get ready to run. We went off right on time.

Course - HILLS! Rolling hills on the first half give way to some longer climbs with downhills that don't feel so downhill. My GPS watch claims I gained 509 feet of elevation of the race course. There are many soft turns as the race weaves through Narragansett past some gorgeous scenery and amazing homes. All of the hills do end with a slightly downhill finish that helps burning legs feel a bit lighter. The entire course was very well marked but many of the roads were not closed with only cones and the police department to help make drivers aware. Hopefully as the race grows there will be more full road closures.

Course Support - All aid stations were fully stocked and staffed. CarbBoom gels were given out around Mile 8 and each hydration station had both water and sports drink. The police department did a great job of keeping runners safe on a quiet morning without full or half road closures. Narragansett is sleepy during the off season and it's evident by the small number of people hanging outside to cheer runners on. It definitely helps to bring or find a run buddy for this challenging course.

Post Race - Food! Medals! I didn't stick around for long afterwards but after crossing the finish line I was really happy with what was there right away. The medals are nice and big with removable ribbons. I really liked it even before I noticed 10 days after the race it's also a bottle opener :). There were grapes, bananas, muffins, bottled waters, sports drinks and live results being posted just about every 5 minutes. Only the first place finisher in each age group was recognized but that, too, is probably due to the race's smaller size and will change as it grows.

The first running of the Ocean State Rhode Race was a big success. It was well done with great swag that's definitely deserved after powering through the tough course's 500 feet of elevation gain. I recommend checking this one out if you have the chance but make sure you get your hill repeats in first!