Losing by 20 minutes

Last Saturday, I ran 13.1 miles around Colchester, Connecticut. I am proud that I finished the race. To honor the achievement, I wanted to recap my Colchester Half Marathon experience in this week’s newsletter.

6 months before race day

In August, I spoke to Rick and Charlie (from The Last Mile Racing) about the Colchester Half Marathon. A photo of our zoom is below.

Rick and Charlie decided to switch race registration to Run The Day due to the simplicity of our platform and our human-based approach to obsessing over customer support.

1 month before race day

I registered on Run The Day. I chose the no shirt option and paid with Apple Pay. Since my information filled directly from Google Chrome, the entire registration process took only a few seconds.

1 day before race day

I was packed for my trip, but still needed a place to stay. So I searched on Airbnb and found a nice cabin. It was 15 minutes from the race and only cost $89. Perfect! But when I went to book, the price increased to $230, more than double the original price.

Instead of paying 158% in fees on Airbnb, I settled for Hotel Tonight where I found a room at the nearby Microtel Inn for $98. After fees, the total cost was $107, which seemed reasonable.

It baffles me that the Airbnb cabin was listed for $89 when it really cost $230. Despite my frustration, it was a good reminder to work hard to keep Run The Day’s fees (which are only 5%-7%+$1) reasonable.

After making the 4 hour drive to Uncasville, Connecticut, I checked in and went to dinner at a local bar named Longshots. I ate wings and a bucket of sweet potato fries while watching the Cavs beat the Knicks in a NBA game.

On my way back to my room, I picked up toothpaste and a toothbrush from the nearby Stop & Shop. I also grabbed Gatorade and water, so I could be hydrated for the race.

Race day: before the race

I woke up early to get work done and loosen up my body. As the sun was rising, I walked to my car. On my way to the race, I stopped to grab coffee from Starbucks.

As I pulled in to Bacon Academy, I introduced myself to Rick and Charlie, who remarked that I was taller in person than on zoom. I then hung out with the bib pickup volunteers handling race check-in.

I was happy to see a familiar face when Jack from Jack McCoy Photography walked in. Thank you Jack for the great race photos!

Race day: starting the race

It was sunny and 28 degrees Fahrenheit as we started the race. I was right in the middle of the pack.

Race day: running the race

As I started running, I found several folks who seemed to be going a good pace. I did my best to keep up with them while pushing harder on uphills and coasting on downhills. I am not sure if this is the best way to run a race, but it is what I did.

Shortly after the start, I saw a runner breakout far ahead of the pack. I would later learn that this runner was Mario on his way to setting a course record.

I had heard the race was hilly, but I was not ready for how many and how steep the hills were. One hill at mile 6 was up an ice covered gravel road. Fortunately, Rick was standing at the top, encouraging everyone.

There was another steep hill at mile 8, which made me out of breath.

Every time I felt overwhelmed or wanted to give up, I thought about making my grandparents proud. They had spent most of their lives and raised their family in Connecticut.

I did not listen to music, take gels or check my pace. I simply thought about not stopping.

Running the 13.1 miles was a weird blend of serenity, peace and pain.

Race day: after the race

As I finished, the clock showed 1:29:55. After crossing the finish line, I high fived several runners who had finished just before me.

I quickly learned that I lost by more than 20 minutes. Mario Vazquez won with a time of 1:09:39, which broke the course record. Congratulations Mario!

After walking around for a bit, I checked out the incredible spread of food in the Bacon Academy Cafeteria. There was chicken cacciatore, lasagna, chili, pizza, cookies, ice cream and more delicious looking home made food. Unfortunately, I was not hungry. After running for 90 minutes, my body did not want to digest food.

Eventually, I drove back to Philadelphia while stopping every hour to walk around and stay loose.

I drove completely in silence. No music. No podcast. I felt like a certified psychopath.

A memorable experience full of pain

Running the Colchester Half Marathon was a memorable experience. I felt strangely connected to everyone running. I was constantly in pain during the race.

I tracked my run around Colchester on Run The Day’s mobile app, so I have a map to help me remember my journey.

I’m proud that I finished the race and I am grateful for Rick, Charlie, the volunteers and everyone who made the experience possible.