2026 Run to the Rock Half Marathon Race Recap

Race-cations have been an annual tradition with my running friends since 2017. We started in Corning, NY and then traveled to Montreal, and Brooklyn, NY.

In 2020 and 2021, my friends and I rented a house for 3 nights in Hampton Beach, NH and ran a half marathon (among other fun shenanigans.)

It was so much fun that the next year, we rented in Old Orchard Beach, Maine and we ran the Portland Half Marathon or Marathon Relay.

Three years ago, we stayed in NYS and rented a house in the Finger Lakes Region. We all raced different distances (5k, 13.1, 18 mi) and enjoyed ourselves (despite some rain.)

Two years we had fun during our time on Cape Cod.

And last year, we traveled to Lake Placid, NY.

We rented a house in Plymouth, MA this year.

So I signed up for the Run to the Rock Half Marathon (HM #79) in Marshfield, MA for several reasons:

A race-cation.
Both Judy (who moved away) and Deirdre (who is moving away) would be able to go on this weekend.
My friends would be racing with me.
There was a 5k and 10k option in addition to a half marathon.
I was anxious to run the distance that I hadn’t run since April.

About the race:

Marshfield is the home of the famous Daniel Webster and his son Fletcher along with Edward, John and Josiah Winslow. It’s also had it’s share of fame from Steve Carell and sports figures from the NHL, NFL, MLB and MLS as well as a Kennedy.

The 5K is primarily a flat course that takes place around the school and a quiet neighborhood on an out and back course. The 10K will take you out towards the Pine Street area with a trip through a beautiful, low traffic neighborhood with just a couple of hills to allow you to use some different muscles along the way. The 1/2 Marathon will take you on an adventure into North Marshfield, up as far as the North River along Union Street. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jNiRnHzXAk

Half Marathon Training:

If you follow my posts, you also know that I am not strict about following a training plan. But I do run shorter distances several times during the work week.

And on the weekends, I try to do my Long Run. Usually most of my miles are with one or more of my running friends or part of another race; This year, I had an additional challenge – sore right Achilles. Long runs: 8m, 10k, 10m, 11m, 12m, 5k

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

My taper consisted of 5k race and 3 short runs during the work week.

We carpooled and left for Massachusetts early on Friday morning. Our first stop was for lunch in Wakefield, MA (north of Boston) where one of our running friends had recently moved.

Next stop was race bib/shirt pick up in Marshfield, MA. Little did we realize how much traffic we’d hit through Boston and heading toward the Cape on a Friday afternoon. Hours later we did arrive and got our bibs/shirts

and then finally headed to our rental in Plymouth, MA.

After settling in, we walked into town for dinner. (Unfortunately we chose an Italian restaurant that did not have pizza – my go to pre-race meal!)

Finally #flatmes were organized and we headed to bed early (though I never can sleep the night before a race.)

Race Day:

And yes, not much sleep but happy to be racing that morning.

I had my usual coffee and oatmeal pre-race breakfast.

Sorry to be a broken record about not having a time goal. But my goal for races these days is to FINISH happy (that is not injured and ready to do another.)

If I had to guestimate my time, it would have been between 2:30 and 2:45 (due to all the HILLS). Maybe even 3 hours if things didn’t go well.

The course:

Screenshot

it felt a lot worse that it looks here…

The race was held in Marshfield, MA at 8am. I ran the Half Marathon, 4 of my friends downgraded to the 10k, 2 to the 5k and 2 just cheered us all on.

There were about 250 runners in the half marathon which was the most popular of the 3 races.

We left at 6:45 am, arrived around 7:15 am and easily found parking. The race started and ended at a middle school. Those not running would arrive later to cheer us on at the finish line.

We quickly used the porta-potties (before long lines formed).

I took those arm sleeves off right away and carried then the whole race…

The weather was perfect – cool and sunny.

I really couldn’t give you a mile by mile update of the race. But I’ll recount what I do remember.

I followed my plan: walk/run/walk up the hill, sprint down it.

The problem was that it was un-ending uphills and not too many downhills.

That meant that I was walking a lot and more as the race went on.

All three races started at the same time so first there was a turn off for the 5k and then the 10k. The half marathoners continued on.

Besides all the hills, there were a few other issues with the course:

Traffic- the roads were open and often you had to run on the shoulder because cars were coming in both directions.
Course Marshals – not enough and so there were times where I wasn’t sure I was on the right road.
Not many slower runners – running alone at times and other times with 2 or three slower runners.
Mismarked course – apparently they missed a turn at mile 10 so we crossed the finish line at 12.6 miles.

The course was varied as when we turned around at mile 6.5, we didn’t return on the same roads until mile 10. That was nice.

There 7 water stops (many offered Gatorade) and I stopped at each one. I also took 2 salt chews before the race and ate 3 Gu during.

I was never really in pain during the race. My lower back ached slightly as did my neuroma but mostly I was running cautiously (trying not to upset my Achilles).

I had my Garmin set to show my mile pace but not my total time… I had no idea what my total running time was until I crossed the finish line (though I could tell by the split times that I was very slow).

As I approached the finish line, I spotted some of my friends (one even asked if I wanted her to run me in).

My calf started cramping and I wasn’t sure if I could run myself in…