Crane Beach Sand Stride

The Crane Beach Sand Stride is a 3 mile race on the hard-packed sand of Cranes Beach in Ipswich, MA.

Some of us run barefoot–which is pure joy on this sand–and others wear shoes. But we all have a terrific time!

Come! Run with me now…

(I took this photo, and the others below, while running.)

That was just a few snapshots, to give a you a taste. Now, come experience the entire race!

There are two ways to do this:

1) you can peruse a photo gallery on Facebook (tagging yourself and your friends)…

or…

2) you can immerse yourself in a full-screen HD video!

Photo Gallery on Facebook

You can view the entire race in a photo gallery on Facebook. (To tag yourself or your friends in these photos, first press “LIKE” on the the Run with Ken Facebook page. Then, as a fan of “Run with Ken,” you can tag yourself or your friends in these photos!)

Click on the image below to see the photo gallery:

HD video

Want to experience this race at its best, in full-screen high-def?

Go ahead!

Click Here to see the HD video!

Were you at this race–and if so, what did you like best about it? What could be improved?

(If you weren’t there, I hope these photos and HD video gave you a taste of the race…and I hope I’ll see you at a race next week.)

© 2011 by Ken Skier. All rights reserved.

AGN Turkey Tune-Up 5K

The AGN Turkey Tune-up is a scenic 5K around the “Great Neck”–a quiet peninsula jutting into the Atlantic from Ipswich, MA. There are many hills…but each time we reach a summit, we get a new view of the ocean.

“Go, Barefoot guy!” I hear from other runners and a few hardy spectators. They seem to be impressed that I’m running barefoot. This is my 21st barefoot race, all but four of them since Labor Day, so running barefoot is no big deal for me…but the cold temps and brisk wind have driven the wind chill down to the 30’s, making this a bit tough. Not tough on my feet! It’s just tough to be out here in this cold wind wearing only a singlet and shorts.

Brrrrr!

Fortunately, there’s hot chocolate after the race, and awards for some of my friends. Another beautiful day in Ipswich!

Come! Run with me now…

(I took this photo, and the others below, while running.)

All right! Let’s get to the good stuff–an HD video that puts you right in the middle of this race. Go ahead! Click the ‘Play’ button below. (And be sure to view the video in Full-Screen, so you’ll see the race in panoramic, high-resolution.)

Were you at this race–and if so, what did you like best about it? What could be improved?

(If you weren’t there, I hope these photos and HD video gave you a taste of the race…and I hope I’ll see you at a race next week.)

© 2010 by Ken Skier. All rights reserved.

Cranes Beach Sand Stride

I know there’s wind…but it’s sneaky. Just tip-toeing along behind us as we run through mist and drizzle on this long, long beach. You can hardly tell it’s there.

Wind? I’ve already put it out of my mind. I’m not even feeling it. Just filled with the pure joy of running barefoot on this packed wet sand, through puddles and streams of rippling sea water.

I am puzzled by one thing. Almost all the other runners are wearing shoes, and in a road race or trail race I would understand that. But this is a BEACH RACE! We’re running on the sand. Why wear shoes here? People walk barefoot on the beach all the time! So why are these runners around me in shoes? In those shoes and socks, they’ve got to jump over rivers of water and detour around small lakes. I just run through! But they’re enjoying this race as much as I am, and that’s all that matters.

Ah! The turn-around point. We’ve run a mile and a half down Crane’s Beach, and now we’ll run back to where we started. I check my watch. 13:21. Good! Slightly better than a nine-minute pace. On a typical 5K I’d expect a sub-nine pace, but running in sand takes a lot more work, so I’m pleased it hasn’t slowed me down much.

I follow another runner around the pickup truck that marks our turn-around point. As we clear the truck, something SLAMS me in the face. Like running into a wall! An enormous, invisible hand pushes me back to the pickup truck. No, you don’t! I lean forward and push against the wind, digging into the sand to make headway.

Like trying to push a piano.

So I lean down more, trying to get under it, but I’m six foot three and there’s no way I’m slipping under THIS wind.

Okay. So this is how it’s going to be. The wind snuck along in my shadow for a mile and a half, hiding, taking a free ride behind me–but now it’s leaning into me as I try to run back to where we started. Am I even moving? I dig one foot into the sand and hurl myself forward. Take THAT, wind! It gives a little. I work my arms a bit. A left jab. A right. Take that! and THAT! It doesn’t notice.

So I kick back hard against the beach and drive myself forward. Yes! It’s giving way. Still leaning on me. Pushing back. But giving way.

Oooff! It threw a shoulder into my chest. I don’t even think. Just head-butt it in the gut. Ah. It backs off for a moment. Okay then. I showed it.

Nope. It kicks a spray of sand in my face and I shut my eyes. Still sneaky.

A long struggle. Slow. One short hard step after another.

A mile. A mile and a half. I’m squinting into the wind and baring my teeth. Angry? No. Laughing! Laughing and shouting at the wind. I can’t imagine a better run.

Photo courtesy of Preston Curtis

© 2010 by Ken Skier.  All rights reserved.