The Cox Providence Rhode Races were held this past Sunday. I was able to take some hand-held video at the beginning of the marathon and half-marathon. The race was sponsored by Cox, Shape-Up RI, and Harpoon.

Our COO, Libby Isaacson, placed third in her age group for the Shape Up RI half-marathon with a time of 1:54:25. (She makes a brief cameo in the video around the 39 second mark.) Joe Luca finished the Shape Up RI half-marathon with a time of 1:52:41 and Leslie Kellogg finished with a time of 1:56:06. Bethany Calitri finished the Harpoon 5k with a time of 33:24.

Here are the overall winners of each race. Scott Leslie from Rutland, MA was the male winner of the Cox Sports Marathon with a time of 2:35:45 and Jennifer Edelmann of Boston, MA was the female winner with a time of 3:01:02. For the Shape Up RI Half-Marathon, the male winner was Phil Reutlinger of Old Lyme, CT with a time of 1:12:36 and the female winner was Diana Davis of Providence, RI with a time of 1:25:59. Winners of the Harpoon 5k were Chris Magill of Cumberland, RI with a time of 16:45 and Michaela Driscoll of Coventry, RI with a time of 18:36.

Results of the 2010 race can be seen on the Rhode Races’ website. The weather was perfect at the start of the races with the temperature reaching 80 degrees later in the day. Seeing such a large turnout of runners, walkers and supporters was encouraging.

Cox Providence Rhode Races are taking place this Sunday, May 2, with the starting line forming at at Kennedy Plaza. The Cox Sports Marathon and the Shape Up RI Half-Marathon start at 8am and the Harpoon 5k starts at 11:15am. Online and Mail-In Registration sites are now closed, but on-site registration is available at varying times at the Westin Providence Hotel and at the Cox Providence Rhode Races Health and Wellness Expo, going on today and tomorrow. This weekend will be a great opportunity to get out in the city and support family and friends running in the races with weather predicted to be in the mid-70s. That is great for the spectators, but maybe not for the runners.

The full marathon route will follow a path down through Riverside and past the Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, before returning to Providence. The Shape Up RI Half-Marathon will wind its way through Providence’s East Side and up Blackstone Boulevard into the Oak Hill section of Pawtucket and back to the plaza. The Harpoon 5K participants will run around the “Knowledge” District and back into downtown.

Course maps are available for the Marathon, Half-Marathon, and 5k online and they are marked with “Spectator Viewing Areas” for the best spots to watch the races. For runners, there are “Water Stations” and “Aid Stations” marked on the maps as well. A celebration will be held at the conclusion of the races with awards given for first place winners in a number of categories based on age and gender.

Several of the runners in our offices will be in the races – Libby Isaacson (2601), Leslie Kellogg (2681), and Joe Luca (2872) will be participating in the Shape Up RI Half-Marathon; and Bethany Calitri (5134) is signed up for the Harpoon 5K. So, find a convenient location and cheer the runners as they pass by you.

We are finally getting the statistics showing what I have been witnessing in our offices – activity in the last couple of months has been higher than the recent past.   Just this morning, Clear Capital reported that the Providence Metropolitan Area had the highest rate of growth in housing prices in the nation at 6.1% for the latest rolling quarter ending in February.

In more positive news, the Rhode Island Association of Realtors reported 395 sales in January, a 9% increase from January 2009. The median price rose 14% to $200,000, and days on the market fell 24% to 83.  Condo sales rose 28%, prices remained virtually the same, and days on the market rose 2 percent.  Multi-unit sales fell 21 percent, while price increased 21 percent and days on the market fell 36%.  While January is typically the slowest month for home sales, weather has been on our side unlike other parts of the country that have been paralyzed by record snow this season.

However, the housing market remains vulnerable with unemployment at high levels and consumer confidence lagging. When looking across the country, the housing market is flat.  We also have a long way to go to recover to the home values of 2006.  So, we are not out of the woods just yet, but clear fields are getting closer.

And if the trend is your friend, moving upward or even sideways is better than having a further contraction. Getting back to the activity level, our offices are operating at high levels in this traditionally slow time of year. Maybe it is all the rain we’ve been getting instead of snow. Hopefully, this will continue into the spring market.

What’s better during recession time than a free night out?

Gallery Night Providence offers just this.  Every third Thursday from March-November, galleries throughout Providence open their doors to the public.  The event offers free parking at 7 locations, “Art Bus” tours, and a central information booth which recently relocated to Regency Plaza on Greene Street.

Gallery tours cover Downtown, the East Side, West Side and Wickenden Street (home to our Providence office).  The next gallery night is June 12th.  For your first time, catch the Art Bus at Regency Plaza.  The bus runs from 5 to 9 p.m., with the final run at 8:40 p.m.

See you at Gallery Night!

Residential Properties is throwing a Condo Open House Extravaganza this Sunday, April 26th. We will be showcasing a home for every lifestyle. From hip to elegant, these homes include exposed brick buildings with original details, Greek Revival homes and Victorians. The Extravaganza covers the East Side and beyond – from College Hill to The Boulevard. Come see city living at its best!

Click here to view Open Houses.

Stay tuned for our next Extravaganza: “May Day Open Houses” coming May 3rd!