Latest reviews by Becky Clayton
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It’s time for my three-phrase, post-race summation! For the Monster Mash Marathon on Saturday, October 20, 2018, I’d like to use the following—solitary slog, poop (not my own), and lost Gu.
Since hubs had to pick up the Mature Kindergartener (MK) [because really, she’s no longer a toddler, nor angry, and is growing up way too quickly] on Friday from school, my awesome Smyrna Clayton Running Club friend Jenn picked me up to go to packet pick-up around 3:30 p.m. (Thank you, thank you, thank you!) Jenn was running her first half marathon, so I was wicked excited to be able to support her.
Like last year, packet pick-up was very simple and quick! This year’s t-shirts for women were pink with white lettering/images, I got a giant-sized Kit Kat, some Hammer gels, and a nifty race magnet. I was so looking forward to the huge Snickers like last year, but maybe others got that! (Jenn, what did you get?!) And I was glad to get another magnet, because my half magnet from last year fell off the car. Grumble.
I thought it was interesting that my last year’s half marathon bib number was 252, and this year’s full was 152. My house number growing up was 252, so I have an affinity for 5s and 2s. (I’m weird. I know.) There was a number on the back of the bib as well. Mine matched my bib number on the front, but Jenn’s didn’t, and others’ didn’t as well. I can’t figure out what that was.
I also received a wrist band that I was told would get me onto the race track on race morning. (Because if you recall, the race starts on the Dover International Speedway, where you run the first mile on the track itself!) I’m not 100% sure why the wrist band was necessary, since no one ever checked it. And I don’t think it was to redeem beer at the end of the race, but who knows?
I went home and laid everything out that I thought I’d need. I pinned my race bib to my black capris, charged my headphones, pinned on my Gus to my Tivuzo running pack, and so on.
During my lunch break earlier, I ran out to get some Gus, because I knew I didn’t have enough for the race. I got six total at Dick’s Sporting Goods at our local mall. I wish I had gotten to a local running store, because Dick’s Gu flavor options weren’t the best. I went with Blueberry Pomegranate (Roctane), Tri-Berry, Chocolate Outrage, and Vanilla Bean. I had a Toasted Marshmallow one as well, but I wasn’t too sure that would sit well with my stomach. My normal routine is to have an Espresso Love Gu first, since I don’t eat or drink anything before the race, so it’s kind of like having my morning cup of coffee. But alas, that wasn’t in the cards this time.
I’ve heard iffy reviews of the water stops/aid stations at this race, and I was nervous that I wouldn’t have enough water along the course, so I brought my Orange Mud hand-held water bottle with me. I’ll be honest, I’ve never run long distances with this hand-held. I was sure that I’d hate it, or it would become annoying. However, I knew that I didn’t want to bring my hydration pack with me, so this was my next-best choice.
I also brought throw-away gloves, my Race Advisors #GoSpeedy headband, a visor, and a trash bag (more on that in a sec). Last year I remember it being very sunny, so I figured I’d need the visor. I really need to invest in some Goodr sunglasses!
When I woke up at 5:30 a.m. on race day, the first thing I heard was rain pounding the roof. I had been eyeing the weather forecast all week, but the chance of rain looked fairly low to me. Sigh. I got my stuff together, slathered myself with enough Body Glide to choke a horse, and then grabbed a trash bag to create a makeshift poncho. One of the worst things that can happen to you during a long run is getting wet, which in my mind equals gag-inducing chafing!
Jenn picked me up around 5:45 a.m. (because Tom was supposed to take the MK to a Girl Scout even before coming to meet me at the finish line—thanks hubs, even though the MK didn’t go because she had a cough), and off we went! There was zero traffic along the way, and we had ample parking at the stadium. We sat in the warmth of the car for a little while until we used the bathroom (an actual bathroom, people) and crowded around Miles the Monster before race announcements started.
Thankfully by that time, the rain had all but stopped. Everyone was herded into the stadium to line up at the starting line, and Jenn and I lined up behind the 2:30 pacer. I wanted to run as much of the race with Jenn as possible. Running on the racetrack wasn’t quite as bad I remembered it to be last year, and it was fun to see a few spectators on the sidelines.
I was glad I brought my visor, layered up, and brought gloves, but it surprisingly wasn’t as cold as I thought it was going to be. I shed the gloves and trash bag after the first mile as we exited the track.
Jenn and I chatted along the way, and it was so nice to have someone to run with! We saw our fearless SCRC leader around Mile 5, which was awesome. We also saw another SCRC member, Kathleen, who made a sign for us that said, “Run, Jenn, Run! Run, Becky, Run!” etc. That made us both beam!
I stayed with Jenn for the first eight miles until the half and the full courses split. After that, I ran primarily by myself for the rest of the race. More often than not, I was completely alone, which was a little spooky. I was armed with plenty of Another Mother Runner, Marathon Training Academy, and Run, Selfie, Repeat podcast episodes plus a music playlist, but it was odd to be completely alone for long stretches of road.
For the most part, you’re running alongside cornfields, rural houses, and farmland. Oh, and trying to dodge horse poop most of the time.
The course was marked with orange arrows (stickers), some cones, and of course used amazing volunteers to help steer you in the right direction.
At one point I saw miniature horses in a field, and I literally said out loud, “Hi, horsies!” I think I was just grateful to see another living thing along the course haha.
There were two areas that were out-and-backs, so during those points I could see runners in front of and behind me. At one point, I saw the 5:00 pacer well ahead of me, and the 5:30 pacer/group were quite a ways behind me, so I knew I was plodding along at an expected pace.
I took one Gu every four miles until Mile 16. I have no clue what happened, but I lost two of my six Gus along the course somehow. Ugh! I knew that some of the aid stations were supposed to have Hammer gels, so I didn’t worry too much. I’ve never used that brand before, but my body seems to react OK to most gels/Gus, so I thought it would be fine.
At the Mile 16 aid station, I was pleasantly surprised to see one of the MK’s former preschool teachers, Ms. Susan! I was so happy to see her! That happiness quickly faded, however, when she told me that they had run out of Hammer gels. WHAT?! The volunteers kindly offered me Pop Tarts, granola bars, and other treats, but I wanted a gel, darn it. I begrudgingly grabbed a granola bar, knowing that I’d need something later on.
At the next aid station they didn’t have gels either. Nor did they at any other stop along the course. Thankfully they had water, and even some water pitchers so that it was easier to fill up my hand-held, but having no gels was ridiculous.
As I choked down one of the dry Nature’s Valley granola bar pieces, I wondered how trail runners eat actual food during races! I guess you get used to it, and maybe you’re running slower than for a road race in some spots, but it just seems like a huge feat to me. Kudos to you, trail runners who eat food while running! I had one half at Mile 20 and the other at Mile 24.
Between Miles 20 and 23 seemed like the longest miles of the race. I wasn’t in any pain, but I did take longer walk breaks, and at that point I was getting antsy to finish.
Around Mile 25, I was running behind a mother who was joined by her son for the last bit. It was so heartwarming to see, and I apologized to them for running/walking so closely behind, but I was using them as motivation. They introduced themselves, and we chatted for a few minutes. I turned on “High Hopes” by Panic at the Disco, picked up my tempo, and finished the race strong and with a smile on my face.
It was so good to see my husband and daughter at the finish line, earn my HUGE medal, and wrap myself in my “cape” a.k.a. the silver thermal blanket.
Although I wasn’t starving, I was looking forward to the post-race food. I didn’t see any bottled water at the end (which you’re normally given), nor did I see any food in sight. I sort of remember this from last year, but it wasn’t as important to me after running the half last time.
This time, all I wanted was a bottle of cold water and a soft pretzel. Nope, that wasn’t going to happen! Instead, they did give Grotto pizza and beer to all finishers. It was a bit underwhelming, and we didn’t stay long because there really wasn’t anything else to do or eat.
Before leaving, we ran into another friend, Jennifer Accord, so we chatted with her for a few minutes. The MK wanted to run around Miles the Monster a few times, etc. but I was ready to go home, take a hot shower, and take a nap!
Overall, I would run this full again. You just have to be prepared with your own nutrition, come armed with music/podcasts, and bring your own post-race food and drinks.
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I’d like to sum this race up in three words as I’m wont to do: geese, poop, humidity. We’ll get to that in a sec.
I know it’s nearly a month later, so I first want to apologize for not writing a race review for the Fallen Heroes 5K from May 24, 2018 until now! To say that work has been crazy is an understatement, and I kind of lost my mojo there for a bit. Oh, and we were at Walt Disney World for a week. That’ll take the oomph right outta ya.
Anyway, last year’s race seemed very similar to this year’s race. It was hot and humid, with the potential for rain showers. Since this is an evening race, I was rushing to get hubs and myself out the door, pick up the Almost Angry Kinder (AAK), and head about 45 minutes to New Castle, DE, for the race. Despite my nagging to speed walk to the start line, we arrived with plenty of time. For some reason my anxiety was sky-high, so I apologize to hubs for cattle prodding him and the AAK around. We said hi to our Uncle Paul (DJ at American Pie Entertainment) who was announcer/DJ for the race, and I tried to encourage the AAK to do the kids’ fun run, but she seemed too shy. She rocked the Thin Mint 5K kids’ run previously, so I thought she’d be excited for this one. I don’t know why it hurt my heart a little, but obviously I had to let it go, because I don’t want to push her in any direction that she doesn’t want to follow.
I brought my new Orange Mud handheld bottle with me, and I was also nervous about carrying it during my race, since I’ve never used a handheld before. Overall, I love it, but I did have to switch hands periodically because they got too hot/sweaty. Does that happen to anyone else?
It was nice not to have to stop at the water stop though. Normally I don’t really drink water for a 5K, but it was wicked humid out, and I knew my body needed the hydration. I of course drank some nuun during the day on race day as well to stay hydrated.
I’m very familiar with the race course itself, having run the race previously, but also having in-laws who live in New Castle, so I’ve been there many a time. The course brings you from St. Peter Church, down local side streets, through The Strand (a ritzy part of “Old New Castle”), and out to Battery Park and the walking path there. The path is narrow, but it has just enough room to fit two people across. I love looking at the scenery and water there. The only thing I don’t enjoy is dodging geese poop all along the waterfront. Ew!
The course had one water stop just before the turnaround point, since this was an out-and-back course. I didn’t notice any porta-potties along the course, but I’ve never had a need for one during a 5K.
New Castle does an excellent job of making sure that runners are safe and not in harm’s way in traffic. The volunteers, police, EMTs, Good Will Fire Company, and so on were all very helpful and pleasant.
It turns out that this race is TINY. It had 220 participants overall. Oh, that may have been why I won an age-group award (second in my age group) for running a 30:19. There were only 13 women in my age group—hah! I was supposed to receive a medal, but they were apparently lost, so I was told I’d receive one in the mail. I just sent a follow-up message today, so we’ll see!
I think this race is run very well, there were plenty of bathroom options before the race, and the post-race food was excellent! They had pizza, wings, sports drink, water, and more. The only thing I did not see were soft pretzels, which made my tummy sad.
Overall, I'd highly recommend this race, and I'll be coming back next year!
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I’m going to sum this race up in three words: Rain, cold, COOKIES. On Sunday, April 15, 2018, I ran the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Thin Mint 5K in Wilmington, DE.
I ran this race back in 2014 and had an awesome time!
I had been keeping a side-eye on the weather the whole weekend, because I knew it was supposed to rain and come nowhere close to the over-eighty-degree weather of Saturday.
The location of the race also eluded me a bit, because the address was listed simply as “Lot E, Wilmington Riverfront”. Hubs knew in general where we were going, but without having a concrete address, it was confusing. Because of that, we left the house around 7:30 a.m. EST in hopes of getting there around 8:30 a.m. for a 9 a.m. start.
I registered the Angry Almost-Kinder (AAK) for the fun run, and I tried to hype her up beforehand. She had run one with me back in 2015, but this time I convinced her to run by herself. Kids’ fun runs are never long, and I knew she could cover the distance easily.
We didn’t hit any traffic going there, but when we pulled up to where I thought the race start was, there was no one around! We drove around the parking lot a bit, and I finally spied an ambulance and a couple of tables with volunteers—one of whom was my friend Suz! It was so good to see her, despite the weather and gloomy day.
It was drizzling and SO COLD. I hopped out of the car while hubs and the AAK stayed warm inside to grab my race bib and my goodie bag. I love this race, because you receive a free box of Thin Mints! For a split second, I considered taking my goodies and going home, but I knew I wanted to get in some miles and that I could tough it out. I went back to the car for a few minutes to warm up, but the fun run started at 8:45 a.m., so we got out and trudged over to the starting line.
The AAK is typically the smallest/shorted in the lot, and that day was no exception. She ran as fast as her little legs could take her though, and I was wicked proud of her! One woman behind us said, “The little girl in the green jacket has great form!” And of course I yelled back, “That’s my daughter!” with a smile a mile wide.
After the fun run, hubs and the AAK went to a local coffee shop to stay warm while I ran. I stood at the starting line in my jacket and the AAK’s pink kid gloves. I’ve never raced in a jacket like this before, but there was no way I was going to run in that wind/cold without something. I looked over and I heard, “Becky?!” It was my friend Stephanie, whom I haven’t seen in forever! It was great to chat with her at the start of the race. Senator Tom Carper gave a speech and rallied the runners and walkers. I loved his line of (don’t quote me here), “I ran a 10K as a warm-up for this race. If I can do it, you can too!”
I told Stephanie that I’d be behind her the whole way, and that’s exactly how the race panned out. It was drizzling, so freakin’ windy, and downright cold. Hubs asked that I text him when I had about ten minutes to go so that they could meet me at the finish, so in my mind I was looking for the two-mile marker as my signal.
We passed the one-mile marker, and I felt like I was going at a decent pace without too much effort. I didn’t have my Nike+ Run Club app on (per usual during races now), so I just ran by feel. I wasn’t trying to give it my all, and I felt great throughout the race. (Read: In my head I wasn’t spouting curse words or thinking I was going to keel over and die.)
Overall, the course was extremely flat and fairly well-marked. There was a race in the same location a couple weeks before, so we were advised to watch out for cones with arrows for this race and to ignore any other signage on the ground. At one part, we ran right along the river on a wooden boardwalk where I almost bit it due to not paying enough attention to the transition. Points for not falling!
As an aside, I give major kudos to the volunteers and supports that day, because no one had any business being out in that weather! Everyone was so upbeat and friendly!
I kept plodding along, hoping to see a two-mile maker. At one point, I saw a HUGE MOUNTAIN, oh, wait, we’re in Delaware. OK, teeny-tiny hill coming up. The volunteer at the top of the hill was awesome and announced, “There’s a half-mile decline!” which of course I took advantage of. If you’ve ever read a race recap of mine, I dislike hills with passion, so of course I cursed a little bit under my breath. Flat and fast my ***! But really, it was just a tiny hill and nothing I couldn’t endure.
Still no two-mile marker in sight, and the next mile marker I saw was a small, yellow, three-mile marker cone. I literally raised my hands in a “what the?!” pose as I passed it. I yelled out more to myself than anyone else around, “Is that really the three-mile marker?!” So much for giving hubs a heads up!
As I sprinted toward the finish line, I knew I had come in at just about 30 minutes (30:28 to be exact), and I congratulated Stephanie on coming in just a bit before me. It turns out that we both won second place in our age groups! I’ve never placed before in my age group, so I was super excited. Granted, I’m in a different age bracket now, and there weren’t that many people there, but I’ll take it!
I was soaked to the bone but happy as a clam! Go us!
And can you guess what I did that night? I ate nearly the entire box of Thin Mints! (OK, I may have shared with hubs and the AAK, but the box was gone that night.)
The course is gorgeous, relatively flat, and the race support was wonderful! I’ll definitely be back again next year.
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I ran the atTAcK Addiction 5K on March 3, 2018, which was a day before my 36th birthday. I love running this race, because typically we have cake and ice cream to celebrate my birthday at my in-laws who live in town afterward, so I have something to look forward to after racing!
Hubs, the Angry Toddler (or the AT, whom will now be known as the Angry Kinder soon), and I plotted to leave the house by no later than 7:15 a.m. that morning, since it takes us about 45 minutes to get to New Castle from where we live. Typically I don’t eat before a race, but I made sure to pack lots of snacks (for the AT) and coffee (for the adults) for the drive. The AT was in happy spirits, and I was just grateful that we got out the door in time! The atTAcK Addiction 5K web site said that all individuals picking up their bibs should do so by 8:30 a.m., which seemed a little early to me. I typically pick up my bib on race day unless it’s for a larger race or a full marathon, so I figured as long as I got there about 15 minutes before the race, I’d be fine.
That morning was frigid. I’d like to think that I’m cut from hearty New England cloth, but man oh man was it cold. I begrudgingly suggested that hubs and the AT stay outside while I ran inside the gym to grab my bib, since the crowd was too large to fight with a stroller. (Side note: We don’t typically use a stroller anymore, but I was concerned with getting to the start line on time, and we parked a few blocks away, so I popped the AT in a stroller so that we could move more quickly. Plus it was so cold that I figured the quicker we got the AT inside, the better.)
The line for runners who had already registered was extremely small, so I got through the bib line in all of two minutes tops. Kudos to the volunteers for their well-oiled machine! Then I went back outside, but I couldn’t find hubs or the AT anywhere. As I stood hugging the side of the building to protect myself from the wind, I oogled at the crowds and teams gathered outside. I’d say around 80 percent of participants were not runners, which really goes to show what a great cause this race is for. Usually only us crazy runners would brave the wind and cold like this!
The race started just after 9 a.m., and I tried to situate myself at the very front of the pack. As you all are well aware, I’m not a fast runner, but I knew that since the majority of participants were walkers, that I’d want to get ahead of majority. Before we took off, I heard someone say that the wind would be at our backs most of the time. Spoiler alert: He lied!
I don’t normally even wear gloves or a hat for a 5K, but the wind was so brutal that I was wicked grateful to have what I did. I didn’t turn my Nike+ Run Club app on in the #NoWatchMe spirit of Tina Muir, but it felt like I was running in slow motion because I was so cold and the wind was whipping.
I knew the route well, because I’ve raced in New Castle numerous times, and the course brings runners around a residential/historical section called The Strand, through Old New Castle (the downtown area), out toward Battery Park, and along part of the trail in Battery Park.
I kept chugging along at what felt like a slower-than-normal pace, and my SOL Republic Shadow wireless headphones kept flap-flap-flappin’ behind me. They were a gift from hubs one year, and I desperately needed a new pair of headphones then, but I definitely need to get a different model/type—at least for racing. When I wasn’t trying to shield myself from the wind, I was literally holding my headphones with one hand so that they’d stay in place. It was extremely annoying, and if anyone has recommendations for headphones that stay in your ears and don’t have a lot of movement to them, I’m all ears! (Get it?!)
At a little after 2 miles, I hit a mental road block and stopped to walk for about 30 seconds or so. Physically I know I could’ve pushed harder, but once you stop to walk, it’s hard to get going again. I pulled off my gloves and hat, because I was overheating too. I kicked myself afterward for walking because of my chip time. If only I hadn’t walked, I would’ve come in under 29 minutes! But it was neat to come in 18th in my age group!
Hubs and the AT met me at the finish line, as I grabbed a few bottles of water and gave them the usual hugs and kisses. The AT never wants a smooch because, “Mommy, you’re sweaty!”
We went inside the gym to scope out the post-race food, which consisted of delicious soft pretzels, donuts, bananas, and more. I was really impressed with the amount and variety of the selection.
I would most definitely recommend this race to all, and I’ll surely be back next year!
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The Angela Ivory Memorial 50K/50-Miler was held on Saturday, January 20, 2018. This was the second year that I attended—and the second year that I had to leave early to attend our daughter's (lovingly called the Angry Toddler) friend’s birthday party. I’m not complaining whatsoever, because the party was a blast, and I got to ice skate with the Angry Toddler for the first time! I just feel like I still have this challenge to conquer at some point in my life.
I woke up at 7 a.m. EST on Saturday morning literally bargaining with myself to get out of bed. I just felt so warm and cozy, but I knew I needed to get in the miles for my 1,000-mile challenge, and I adore running at Killens Pond State Park where the race was held. I got out of bed, crept quietly downstairs, got dressed, grabbed my gear, and was out the door by about 7:20.
It took roughly 25 minutes to get there, and when I arrived, I was greeted by at least ten cars lined up waiting to enter the park. This happened last year as well. I didn’t mind, but I knew I only had from ~8–10 a.m. EST to run before I had to leave for the party, so I was itching to start ASAP.
Finally a ranger opened the gates, and we all followed each other into the park. We set up the “aid station” on a central picnic table that included a ton of goodies like clementines, Doritos, cookies, water, and so on. We all said hi to each other, commented on how cold it was (~32 degrees F), and I eavesdropped as some folks caught up with each other/reminisced about other area races.
The race director, Gene, wasn’t there at the start, so around 8:30 a.m., a friendly veteran named AJ decided to officially start the race. Since this is a fat-ass race (free, no official timing or aid stations), we all took a group photo before we headed off. Some expressed concerns that they’d get lost along the trail, so AJ offered to run the first ~3-mile lap slowly so that others could follow and get the lay of the land. Since this was a 50K/50-miler, the 50K group would run about ten times around the trail loop. My Nike+ Run Club app showed that the loop was definitely less than 3 miles, so I guess if I were to do the 50K distance, I’d probably run more than ten loops just to make sure I really went the distance?!
Slowly doesn’t describe AJ’s pace in the least. I think he must have misspoken and said speedy instead, because I was literally the last runner in the pack, and I struggled to keep up. Granted, I’m a road runner who has always been in the middle to back of the pack, but sheesh! These runners looked like gazelles, and I looked like the lone hippo.
I think I had waited around too long in the cold without proper layers before the race, so my body felt stiff and frigid. I felt like I had no turnover power in my legs and like I was huffing and puffing.
I was fine with being the last one, but I was nervous that I’d miss the yellow trail markers. Another woman and I made a wrong turn once about three-quarters of the way around the first loop, but a friendly soul steered us in the right direction, and we were off again. I remember her from last year, as we got off track at about the same area with each other. You’d think we would’ve remembered or learned!
Near-fall #1 came a little bit before I finished the first loop. I literally flew into the air but somehow managed to land on my feet. Gazelle status achieved!
Repeat that at least two more times.
Oh, then comes the actual fall. That was somewhere in my second loop. I caught myself on my palms, quickly glanced backward to see if anyone saw, turned a lovely shade of dark red, and continued on my merry way. I wasn’t hurt at all, except for my pride. At that point, I went into trash-self-talk mode where I chastised myself for pretending to be a trail runner and for not knowing what the heck I was doing. I broke several trail running rules by using headphones and by using road shoes.
I tried to get out of my head by looking at the scenery and listening to the We’re Alive podcast. If you haven’t listened to it yet, you must!
All in all though, I was able to get in my 7 planned miles. It was a gorgeous morning, and you can’t beat the scenery. I had to do an out-and-back portion to get up to 7 miles total, so at one point I was running against the flow so to speak. I felt like every time I ran into a runner, I had to explain why it looked like I was going the wrong way haha. (“Not going the wrong way—have to get back for a birthday party!” I’d mutter.)
Before my last little jaunt though, I talked to the Gene the RD who apparently flies out from the west coast to put on this event. That boggles my mind! He is super nice and sets up a wipe-off board for folks to track their loops and such. He has a daughter named Rebecca and a son named Clayton, so I felt like we had a special bond.
I didn’t partake in the food/beverages during the race, but everyone brought a great spread of options. I think if I do it next year, I’ll bring a hand-held water bottle, a gallon jug of water, nuun, Gus, and maybe some trail mix or something sweet/salty that wouldn’t sit in my stomach like a lead ball. I’m not sure how else you figure out what to eat during an ultra, aside from trial and error during training.
If you’re looking for a race with no frills, very friendly folks, and don’t mind zero crowd support, no official aid stations, and no official bathrooms along the route, then this race is definitely for you. I didn’t feel unsafe at all, and in fact, I kind of relished feeling alone in the woods. It was quiet and serene (well, aside from the zombie noises from the We’re Alive podcast).