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Ridley Creek State Park 25K Race Report and Video

Ridley Creek State Park 25K Race Report and Video

Published by Patrick Durante on October 21, 2024
The course was beautiful!

The Ridley Creek State Park run is back for its second year. They moved the race from June to October, and I am glad they did because it was a great way to end my running season. I have wanted to visit the park to explore the trails for quite some time but never got the chance. When my friend mentioned he would be running the race, I decided to sign up. My usual race review format involves answering three questions: what went right, what went wrong, and how either I or the race could improve.

What went right?

Since the weather was nearly perfect for racing, I didn’t need to carry much gear—just a small waist belt with one bottle filled with concentrated Tailwind. The temperature was 40 degrees at the start and reached a high of 70 degrees during the day, which meant we didn’t have to deal with the heat they apparently experienced last year. My kit included removable arm sleeves, a waist belt, one bottle with three scoops of Tailwind, a single granola bar, my hat camera, and compression calf sleeves. I knew I could easily run this distance and rely on the aid stations to keep moving quickly. A 25K race is short enough that it doesn’t put extreme demands on my body. The longer the race, the more food, water, and nutrients you need.

Don’t forget to punch your bib at the top of the hill!

Originally, I had set my pace at 9:15 per mile. However, as I progressed through the miles, I realized the favorable weather conditions allowed me to push the pace. My pacing was on point; although the first mile was a bit fast, I quickly adjusted by walking the hills and running most of the flats. Having completed several 50K races in the weeks leading up to this event, I knew I had the training necessary for this shorter distance.

What went wrong?

I loaded the course on my watch to aid in guidance on the course. I’m glad I did because I still got confused on a few turns. A large portion of the course doubled back on itself. However, this didn’t detract from the overall race experience. I enjoyed the course and the route, though part of me wonders if they could devise a better route through the park that includes more unique miles. They had plenty of people on the course to ensure runners went the right way and ample signage. There were just one or two spots where you had to slow down and look carefully to make sure you saw the trail markers.

On a personal note, I was doing strides during my taper, and I think I was doing them too fast, which caused some soreness in the week leading up to the race. In hindsight, I should have dropped the strides to avoid the added strain.

Hunting Hill Mansion

What could be done differently?

There wasn’t much I would change about my performance and actions for this year, but I do have some ideas for the race and the race directors for future events.

I loved the event, and your team put together an amazing experience that I will probably participate in again next year. I enjoyed the door prizes, the good swag, and the entertaining course. If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be to reduce some of the out-and-back sections and create more unique miles that explore different parts of the park. I’m not sure if that’s possible, as it was my first time at the park, but it would be a nice improvement to consider.

The second thing I would change would be to add age group awards. It’s great that all the young hot shots got prizes, but as a coach, I know that some people race to achieve an age group award. It can be something simple or inexpensive, but just having it to say you won is great for social media and helps promote the race. I loved the finisher mug they gave out, but it would be nice to also have an age group award that you can give to the person as they cross the finish line.

Final Thoughts:

Great race, great swag, and great course markings, but the course could use some adjustments. I liked the little hole punch hill to prove you went up it—that was a clever and unique touch that I hadn’t seen before in a race.

I made a virtual run of my race at Ridley Creek State Park, check it out below. I had some fun with all the twists and turns of the out-and-back course by poking fun with my AI image for the thumbnail.

AI Image Gallery for Race of “What way to do I go?”

I am… an ultrarunner?

I am… an ultrarunner?

Published by Patrick Durante on August 24, 2024

On a podcast, they talked about a simple meditation of asking yourself the question “I am?”. I had so many answers for who “I am”. It’s an interesting exercise to do on your next run.  Just say the phrase silently to yourself.  You will come up with many answers to the same question.  I am – “fast”.  I am – “running”.  I am – “here now”.  I am a husband, son, father, nerd. You get the idea. It didn’t stop, but lots of them were from different periods of my life.  Some goofy, like.  I am, “jumping over this rock”.  Some were about the present, future, or past.  It was a simple meditation to bring awareness to how you see yourself in this world, your life, and your mind.  It highlighted this image of WHO I thought I was.  

I’ve known that mental dialogue is critical to success in what we do, and what we think we are capable of.  My kids say, “I am” about a lot of things. “I am not able to open this”, or “I am not able to figure this out”, or whatever needs to be done. I always hear them say the words before or after the moment of failure.

As I kept asking myself “I AM”, this image of me standing in front of a classroom full of children appeared. I would ask the kids, there would be a pause, and then one of the children would blurt out, “Oh, I know, I know.”  “I am strong”, “I am funny”, or “I am grateful”.  This went on until I ran out of answers.  I was then blank, and left with just “I am.”  That left me with the idea that I am just a body, a person having a human experience on earth and nothing more.  I am here, now, moving through time and space.  I picked up “The Miracle of Mindfulness”, and the memorable story he tells is about washing the dishes.

“While washing the dishes one should only be washing the dishes, which means that while washing the dishes one should be completely aware of the fact that one is washing the dishes.”

… “The fact that I am standing there and washing these bowls is a wondrous reality. I’m being completely myself, following my breath, conscious of my presence, and conscious of my thoughts and actions. There’s no way I can be tossed around mindlessly like a bottle slapped here and there on the waves.”

Not washing the dishes to get to the cup of tea or TV show you will watch when done.  You are fully aware of what you do right now at this current moment because its a critical mindset to carry us through life.  

AI still has an issue with fingers…

As our lives get hectic, or distracted by technology.  The point we sometimes forget is that we are alive, and present in what we do, day in and day out.  Enjoying family, enjoying a workout, enjoying a race.  The older you get the faster it goes.

“Without noticing we’re doing it, we treat the future as intrinsically more valuable than the present. And yet the future never seems to arrive.”

You think retirement, vacations, weekends, or what’s next will be better than your current situation, but it won’t. If you can’t enjoy the current moment you’re in, those future items won’t bring peace.  I stay present when I run.  I listen to my surroundings and find new sights on things I’ve done a thousand times.  You would be surprised how much you might be missing out on if you’re staring at your phone, or listening to music.  Our minds were meant to rest, and not always have a podcast or music blasting in our ears. After two hours of this “I am”, I did eventually put my podcast back on. See what I did there, this all started because I heard it on a podcast. I was seeing if you were paying attention 😉 Are you crazy? Who can run for 4 hours and NOT listen to some music?!?! I’m just kidding, but have some boredom and downtime once in and while. You might receive a message the world is trying to tell you.  Get out there, get moving, and start answering the questions for yourself, “I am <insert answer here>”. Let me know what you discover in the comments below.