Tag: Running

Race Recap: Paddy Kelly 10K

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The Paddy Kelly 10K is an iconic race held in Brockton, Massachusetts through the historic and beautiful park roads taking runs through a hidden gem of a course in the heart of an urban location. The race for years was held in February but after a slew of some challenging winters the race was moved to now be held in March. The race is organized by the Colonial Road Runners who do a great job with this annual favorite for many runners in the region.

This morning, we reminisced that the first time that I had ever run this race was when Mrs. Running Griffin was just about to give birth to our oldest daughter who is now 18 years old and ready to graduate high school. My does time fly!

The 10K race kicked off at 11AM and brings runners through D.W. Field Park which traverses through Brockton and nearby Avon, as well. It’s a really pretty park area with paved roads alongside various parks, water and even a historic tower that you get to after you make your way up a substantial uphill section just past the first mile marker. The course has some fair hills mixed into it and as 10K races go the overall feel of the race is moderately challenging but fair.

There were a couple of water stops out on the course which is always needed on a 10K route and at the stretches where you need to cross any roads with traffic to enter a separate part of the park system there is both volunteers and officers from the local police departments there to help you along the way.

My legs, namely my calves and then my shins, were ridiculously tight today despite me having on some compression socks. Sure, I have been out pounding the pavement a lot lately but the legs just felt like cinder blocks at certain parts of the run. In the final two miles they felt the best and seemed to loosen up some but I’m certainly going to be icing up the ol’ legs for the rest of the day today.

I finished up the Paddy Kelly 10K with a time of 59:16, good for 9:27/miles.

Race Recap: Raynham Knights of Columbus 5 Miler

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Always love when a road race is just down the road. Yesterday it was about a seven minute drive over to the starting line of the Raynham Knights of Columbus 5 Miler held in Raynham, Massachusetts. This road race benefits local charities supported by the Raynham Knights of Columbus.

The race was postponed a few weeks due to a snow storm hitting the area a few weeks prior and yesterday morning featured no snow left on the ground but some chilly temps in the area at the start of the race. That said, it’s still March so running in thirty degree temperatures in New England is certainly to be expected.

The course for this race is quite familiar as a good chunk of it is part of the same route as the Monday Night Fun Runs that are sponsored throughout the summer by the Colonial Road Runners. Plus, because we live just down the road it’s a familiar area for training runs. A brilliant uphill start takes runners up the hill at King Phillip Street and it’s nice to get the major hill out of the way so early into the run. For the rest of the run, most of the running is along residential roads with gentle rollers mixed in but nothing too substantial. I must say, the race organizers do a remarkable job having volunteers at turns along the way and police crossing runners at a few of the trickier intersections for the race.

I was pleased to learn that I came in first place in the 40-49 age group bracket during yesterday’s run and finished up the race with a time of 44:51, good for 8:58/miles. Sure, the field was a bit light than some larger races but banging out a first place finish is never something to sneeze at so I’ll take it, proudly! Not a bad morning of running!

Frozen Pilgrim Road Race

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If you live pretty much anywhere in the United States you are probably in the midst of some downright frigid temperatures and many of us are being walloped by a snow storm right now. Might not be easy to define this as “running conditions”but this morning it was off to Marshfield, Massachusetts to run the Frozen Pilgrim Road Race before about 2 feet of snow hits the region.

This race is the January Grand Prix race for the Thirsty Irish Runners and the five mile route was going to serve as the distance for the series. However, wisely given the snow about to hit coupled with the temps being in the low teens at race time, yesterday the race director changed the race to a 3 mile course (which tracked to just about a 5K) and moved the race up an hour so runners could finish up the run and head home safely before the snow really starts flying.

It was cold, like real cold, out on the course so bundling up and including hand warmers in the gloves was a must. The race kicked off exactly at 9AM which is always appreciated by runners when races start on time. The course took runners around the high school and middle school grounds of Marshfield before heading out on a quick out-and-back stretch through a neighboring residential neighborhood. There were a couple little hills mixed into the course for good measure but most of the course the challenge was catching your breath in the cold more than worrying about traversing up steep uphills stretches. The snow started a bit earlier than forecasted with just flurries coming down while out on the course but upon heading home the race director absolutely made the right call changing the time and distance of the race as more snow started coming down quickly and the roads started to get covered.

Though cold out there, glad we still tackled the race and the warm and comfy couch and the Patriots game this afternoons sounds absolutely perfect.

Finished up the Frozen Pilgrim with a time of 26:15 good for 8:45/miles.

To those dealing with the cold and snow with this storm, keep warm and safe and see you back out on the roads soon enough!

Race Recap: Winter Lights 5K

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Last night we made our way to Pembroke, Massachusetts for the 14th Annual Winter Lights 5K. This is the first year we have done the race since it moved to Pembroke from Plymouth so we were excited to check out a new course and tackle the race that kicks off at 6:30 PM and features runners wearing festive holiday gear and lights for the holiday season 5K.

Certainly not a knock against the race or the organizers but the Plymouth location was just so much better for the run. The atmosphere in downtown Plymouth for years had a different vibe to it as the downtown streets were closed off for the run, a small parade, Christmas tree lighting and more. The local stores and restaurants were packed with people and there were multiples the amount of runners as there were in Pembroke last night. That said, the Pembroke race provided a good course and runners all having a good time while out on the course.

The weather was interesting as there was a brief bit of rain earlier in the late afternoon and moisture in the air made for some tricky icy spots on the course that runners called out while traveling the route. Sidewalks and road shoulders were the iciest spots but there was a good amount of black ice along the way that you needed to be careful on while running to ensure you didn’t end up slipping on but runners took care of each other and called out icier spots as they noticed them.

The course for the Winter Lights 5K in Pembroke was a good one and the roads were nicely patrolled and controlled by the Pembroke Police Department ensuring runners had a good experience while out on the streets. There was a really steep hill in the back half of the race that made for some challenging climbing and a few rollers here and there were sprinkled in for good measure. Many residents along the route were out cheering the illuminated runners on, some adorning their own holiday gear; others with fire pits, food, drink and merriment out at the end of the driveway. For those Grinches who lived along the race route and didn’t come outside to cheer runners along, you missed a good opportunity for some holiday cheer and “Bah Humbug” I say to you.

Mrs. Running Griffin and I ran the Winter Lights 5K together and clocked in a time of 31:16, good for 10:03/miles. With some ice and hills, not a bad time at all for us running together along the way.

Race Recap: Fast Five Turkey Trot

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Yesterday morning it was off to Marlborough, Massachusetts for a little post-Thanksgiving run at the Fast Five Turkey Trot. Organized by the Highland City Striders, this race features a ten miler and a five miler option that both kick off at the same time and split off partway through the five mile course.

The race registration fee is each runner needs to bring fifteen (15) non-perishable food items to the starting line for their race entry; I couldn’t love this any more! With more than 200 runners hitting the starting line of the race, the race organizers stuffed three vehicles full of food to be donated to the local food banks at the Hudson Food Pantry and Marlborough Community Cupboard! 1.5 tons of food donated thanks to all the runners yesterday; awesome!

Mrs. Running Griffin and I decided to run the five miler together and stuck with each other during the run. This was more of a fun run sort of thing for us so never a bad thing to go out for a run with your significant other and have a nice workout!

The course was beautiful for the five miler and featured almost all residential roads with some fall foliage still gracing some of the trees but the transition between fall to winter fully in flight. There were even a few flurries in the final mile of the race that added to the winter feel. If you like hills, well, this course is a good one for you to check out in future years as there was a good amount of climbing throughout the five mile course. Not just rolling hills, either, but instead some rollers mixed with larger, more significant inclines along the way. It certainly felt like you were climbing more than descending but we both really enjoyed the route.

We finished the race with a time of 53:50, good for 10:46/miles.

Post-run we made our way to one of our favorite coffee shops Lost Shoe Brewing & Roasting Company and enjoyed some nice warm coffee to warm us up post-run and grabbed a bag of beans and their non-alcoholic hop water to head home with, as well!