The 3rd Annual Shipyard Old Port Half was set to be
one of the best races on my calendar of the year! I was super excited and was itching to run a
good race, expecting to PR as I had been working on speed the past month and
hills the month before….so I was bound to improve on this nice, cool, flat
course! Right? It had been brutally hot
in Florida and I was ready for a nice cool escape in one of the Northernmost
states! Little did I know…
Registration
The low cost and small town race (limit 3,000) was a definite
factor of signing up early! They provided a promo code as an incentive as well.
There were also options during registration to keep the cost down….such as ‘opting
out’ of receiving a shirt. If you wanted the shirt, you paid an additional $15.
The race entry already included a complimentary water bottle with logo at the
finish line, and I hardly ever wear race tsirts, and of course im all about
saving money, so I opted out. (later, I did find myself a little jealous not
picking one up with my bib, but they had options to buy after the race as
well). Besides the free water bottle at finish, the low cost registration came
with some more awesome perks!...an After Party with a live band… 2 free local
Shipyard beers....free pizza, as well as free sampling from local vendors with
ice cream, yogurt, ice tea/soda pop…free massages at the finish line…a scenic
course that ran along the water the majority of the race….a small sized race
capped at 3,000 runners, free race pictures….I mean, what wasn’t there to
Love?! Sounded perfect!
Communication
The website was full of all the information needed for race day.
Facebook page was utilized, but I would have liked to have seen more participation
getting the runners involved. Answers were also quickly answered on the site.
Emails were sent with updates as the date drew closer.
Packet Pick
Up
I flew into Portland the day before the race, arriving about 1p.
I had been a little sick the week before with a 3 day sinus headache and sore
throat. I had been taking all kinds of meds trying to kick it in the butt ASAP,
so apparently it left my brain a little hazy. After checking into the hotel, I
headed straight to pick up my ‘race packet’, which was a mile and half walk
away. Well, apparently I read the info wrong and they stopped pick up at 2p. I
arrived by 222p. They had offered Friday pick up, and Race Day pick up as well,
so I wasn’t stranded. There was no Expo, but Fri and Sat were held at the local
race store if you had the urge to buy. Frustrated, tired, hot (it was almost
80) and already getting blisters from the 3 mile walk (Converse flip flops are
not made for walking!), I stumbled around the Waterfront to find an early
dinner….Dimilios (a restaurant on a boat) lobster roll it was!
The Start
The race wasn’t set to start until 730a, despite the very (I
mean VERY) early sunrise of 5am! I found this a little strange as most races
start with the sunrise.
The race had both a half marathon and 5k, both starting at
different times, and on different courses, but had the same finish line. There
was a cut off of 3,000 runners, yet only about 2,400 runners participated, with
a large part dropping down to the 5k. About 1,800 completed the half.
Because I did not receive my bib the day before, I had to make
sure I arrived early enough to get it before the race. I majority miscalculated
the time, leaving the Holiday Inn a little before 6 to walk about a mile to the
Ocean Gateway Terminal (not to be confused with the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal as
some of us out of towners were!) It was a breeze to get my bib and beer
bracelet, and I still had over an hour to wait. I walked around and used the
porta potties (which was pretty quick despite the awkward positioning of the
lines at a fence).
The race used an open corralling system…meaning they had Pace
Signs up and you used the honest system to place yourself with your anticipated
pace. There was a cut off time limit of 3.5 hours, yet no pace signage passed
11minutes.
They held a Zumba warm up which was a bit fun and unique, but
not many participated. The lineup was on the pier which is neat, but was
extremely crowed. People had to push their way through the crowd to get to the
back. There was a delay in the start keeping us claustrophobic for entirely too
long. There was no National Anthem like most big races. I quickly learned my Ipod
had a dead battery despite my efforts to charge it through my tablet the night
before. The sides of my calves were tight from walking around in flip flops the
day before. The start was completely in the shade, which made it hard to tell
what was yet to come.
The Course
The course ran down Commercial St at the downtown Waterfront towards
the West Promenade and then back towards the East Promenade, each with a hefty
sized hill, and then around Back Cove and back to the Pier where we started. Right
away you were thrown into the stench of the ‘working waterfront’ (lots of
piers/wharfs with fishing/lobster boats). The second half we got to run by,
view and smell a water treatment plant! Both of these we got to experience
twice!
There was an amazingly steep hill right about M2.5-3, and I had
flash backs of San Francisco! Although the entire race is practically next to
the water, you really only get a view of the water around Back Cove….which
seems like a lake, but I guess it’s a bay? The majority of the race is in the
sun with little shade. Sidewalks and trails are used for a good portion of the
race….which leads to tight quarters. The trails in the parks were open to
public use as well, which included bikers, dog walkers, and baby strollers….all
pace killers.
There were several points in the race where I found myself at a
complete stand still waiting to get around people. The first mile was a
complete laugh fest with the herding system. They roped us in the middle of
Commercial St leaving both sides of the road open to traffic. There was not
enough space for every to run the pace they wanted. The ‘steep hill’ they
warned us about was also laughable as it had the smallest sidewalk and everyone
was walking. I, liking to run the hills to get them over with, was finding
myself frustrated pushing through.
Going into the race, I knew it was going to be warmer than
expected. July always is. But it was Maine. So there was no worries. ….Right?!
Wrong!! I did not realize just HOW hot
it would be until we hit about M2 with no wind and humidity over 70%. I had
forgotten sunscreen and my racing glasses (I hate wearing them anyways).
Thankfully I had my visor because the sun was glaring! Temps rose into the 80s
very quickly. Within the first few miles I knew this was going to be a brutal race.
Hydration
Stations
Water was spaced out entirely too far for a midsummer race. However,
the race did warn of exactly where they would be placed on their website. I
hate running with a water bottle. Its uncomfortable and is wasted energy. My theory
on races is, “I paid for the water. There should be enough of it!” (Especially
when a sponsor is a water company!)
By M3 after the hill, I was already looking for extra water.
Fortunately there were water fountains on the course (1 in the West Promenade,
the others around the trail of Back Cove). I utilized each one of them as well
as the stations. I started getting chills early on, which only meant one thing….I
was over heated and dehydrated. Each stop I took an extra water and dumped it
over my head and face to try to cool down.
Although it did not impact me, I did hear that stations had ran
out of water. The race director said he did not plan to have so many people
dump it on themselves. (Really?!)
At M9, I arrived at a station that had ran out of cups. The good
thing was a new supply had just arrived. Flash backs of 2011 Rock n Sole came
to mind, and so I held onto my cup for the rest of the race, just in case. From
here on out the rest of the stations were out of Gatorade. There was no GU
offered on the course. (I always bring 2
of my own so I was fine.)
All in all, there were lots of runners impacted by the heat. Lots
of stories of runners collapsing during and after the race. I had never seen so
many runners walking. And walking a LOT! Five runners were hospitalized and the
race made national news.
Volunteers/Sideline
Support
Each station was properly manned with enthusiastic and helpful volunteers.
There were plenty of medical and fire volunteers, however, I was disappointed,
as each time I passed them, I asked what the temperature was and no one knew. It
was well above 80, and any other race I have participated in, warnings are put
in place once temps reach this high.
Finish Line
Approaching the Finish was a joke. After a couple of hours of
just ‘wanting to finish already and get out of the sun/heat’ I finally saw the
13M sign. That would be .1 to go. However, after .1 or more, I came across the
3M sign. Say WHAT!?? That meant another .1 to go. Not really a huge distance,
but the sun not only physically drains you, but mentally as well.
I crossed the finish line and was handed a very ‘light’ water
bottle……because there was NO WATER in it!! I had to fight the crowd to make my
way over to a ‘water tub’ and wait in line to receive Water! All I wanted to do
was drown myself in the water, which is practically what I did. (Sorry for ‘wasting’
water Mr Race Director!)
They gave wet towels at finish line but didn’t make it noticeable,
so I had to track one down. They had a medic tent right at the finish line and
were giving runners IVs.
The Medal
The medal is original. Very nice! Does not have the date though…may
be a way for them to use again.
The Race
Directors comments
A few days after the race, the race director sent out an email
addressing all the situations that arose race day. I found it more appropriate
than trying to address each concern that people were posting on FB.
Shirts-apparently they ran 2 sizes too small, and they allowed
you to get a new one
Medals-apparently a couple boxes went missing and a few runners
walked away without a medal. The boxes were found shortly later and if someone didn’t
get a medal, they will get one
Water bottles-apparently they ran out at the finish line. If you
didn’t get one, you will receive one.
All in all, with them addressing each concern, I know that the
race director will take everything as a learning experience and better the future
races. With that said, its already been announced that walkers will not be accepted.
There is a survey they are encouraging racers to fill out.
Over All
Thoughts
I finished the race about 20 minutes slower than normal. I
absolutely do not love running in the heat to begin with, but I also do not
think that any race is worth putting your health into jeopardy. You must listen
to your body at all times. Know your body. Know your limits. Accept your limits
when under dangerous conditions. I could not have done anything different. I
was prepared for a good run….but under good conditions (weather and race supply
wise) But you cannot control the weather…and sometimes you cannot control the
race. When I was dripping wet at M3 and getting the chills in the blaring sun,
I knew I had to give in. It was a matter of survival, not a matter of a PR at
that point. Know your warning signs of heat related illnesses!
All in all Portland is a cool (but HOT) city. It is full of
Amazing restaurants! I had an Amazing lobster benedict for brunch after the race at 555. There are some really eclectic shops to explore as well!
I haven’t decided yet if I would recommend this race.
I haven’t decided yet if I would recommend this race.
13.37-2:43