Tuesday, September 11, 2018

USATF 5k road champs - preview


Providence 5k preview

This is a very nice course for a “city” race.  This is one super-flat course.  With the exception of the start/finish there really isn’t anything that will register as more than a bump.  Details on the course below.

As with any city race my first concern is parking.  There is plenty of information here:

I used the parking garage directly across from Providence Place which would be good in inclement weather.  On a nice day I’d aimed for metered parking (which should be free on a Sunday), it could be a little tricky with a myriad of one-way streets but worth the extra effort.


 There are also many off street parking areas:


Course profile:

Description:
Start on Francis street, the first 1/10th of a mile features a 17’ drop as you head down Francis and turn onto Memorial boulevard (Not sure about the Garmin results of this, not to be picky but it looked like 30’ and felt like it on the way back up!).  Bear right onto Dyer at 6/10ths and continue down Dyer which becomes Eddy St just before the mile.  Turn left onto Point street at 1.2 miles and a slight rise as you cross over the Providence river on the Point street bridge.  Right on S. Water street at 1.4 miles and left onto the access road at 1.6 and left onto Benefit street at 1.7.  There is a very slight climb here and a left onto Wickenden street which has a slight down and a quick right onto S. Water street at 1.9 miles.  Straight on S. Water for the next half mile as you head back to downtown Providence.  Cross back over the Providence river at 2.5 miles and turn right onto Memorial boulevard (now back on the out/back part of the course).  Continue up Memorial and turn right on Francis (just before the 3 mile mark) and work up the hill to the finish.

Here is my course profile making the climbs look a lot bigger (note the scale is between zero and 25 feet):






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