Author: The Running Griffin

If you are hoping for miracle running tips about how to go out and win the next Boston Marathon, then this website is not for you. I am in no stretch of the imagination an elite runner but then again not many of us are or they wouldn’t be called “elite.” What I am is a runner who has realized the joy of running. Whether it be a 5k race in support of a local cause or a half-marathon or full-marathon with the finish line seeming at times to never be in sight, running allows each of us the ability to sort of leave behind the rest of the world and focus on simply getting to the finish line. We might not win a trophy and we might not make a career out of running but what we are guaranteed is a certain friendship among running friends, better health and the endorphin filled pride each time we cross a finish line. This website will allow me to highlight different races that I have done, perhaps some that I plan on doing and maybe other running stories that I hope to share with runners like myself.

Happy Moose Juice Leads to Happiness!

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As runners, we all know the importance of refueling with healthy and effective options. Recently, I came across Happy Moose Juice and have been remarkably impressed with their entire lineup of options and post-run reaching for a Happy Moose to help cool off is a perfect treat!

Happy Moose Juice features cold-pressed juices made with heirloom produce. There is a nice variety of options available including juices, smoothies and wellness shots. What I love about Happy Moose Juice is that if you have questions about where your juice is coming from, they feature farmer stories right on their website! Can’t get much better (or fresher) than that!

The juices have a wide range of flavor options available and the Strawberry Fields (photo above), Blood Orange Bliss and Strawberry Yuzu Lemonade are some of my favorites but you honestly can’t go wrong with a single one. The smoothies include probiotics which are also good for the ever important gut health and the wellness shots are a concentrated blast of produce flavors jam packed with other goodies like ashwaghanda, turmeric or collagen peptides.

As if I couldn’t already love Happy Moose Juice enough, the company also does remarkable philanthropy work and is embedded in the fabric of their local community. Read more about some of their work here.

There are certainly other options out there when it comes to juice, smoothies and wellness shots but I would challenge you to find one better than Happy Moose Juice. Quality products, fresh products, community focused and downright awesome. Love these guys!

Check out Happy Moose Juice today and spin the wheel on their site today to save! You’ll also get free shipping on all orders $70+.

Join me in being happy with Happy Moose Juice!

Race Recap: Set the Pace 5K

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Let’s state an obvious fact: the world needs more road races that kick off at 9AM!

This morning it was off to Wompatuck State Park in Hingham, Massachusetts for the Set the Pace 5K which kicked off brilliantly on time at 9AM. Race conditions were quite nice at the start with temps right around 50 degrees and just a few sprinkles of rain while on the course but thanks to the race taking place on paths through the forest they really didn’t make a difference at all. The course is a really pretty course through a true gem of a State Park and runners traversed on paved paths the entire time. There is a nice mix of hills mixed into the course and the race had a water stop just about halfway through the race.

The race serves as a fundraiser for the Friends of South Shore Health Cardiovascular Care and it was great to see a nice contingent of runners and walkers toeing the starting line this morning to help support this cause.

The Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Center at South Shore Health has more than 10,000 patient visits per year working with more than 30 cardiologists, radiologists and vascular surgeons.  They specialize in the prevention, detection, treatment and rehabilitation of heart disease.

The Set the Pace 5K race was the May Grand Prix Race for the Thirsty Irish Runners and it’s always nice to catch up with my teammates while at the race.

I finished up the Set the Pace 5K with a time of 27:50, good for 8:57/miles.

Post race, it was off to Slacktide Coffee in Hanover for a coffee and the shaken iced smoked maple latte was downright incredible. Head over there and check it out!

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.

Shirley May France 10K

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Evening runs always offer a unique challenge as you work through the balance of the day ensuring you are eating right, hydrated and not taking on too many activities that will impact your run. That said, I do enjoy a good evening run every now and again and registered for the Shirley May France 10K which will be held on Saturday, September 19th in Somerset, Massachusetts.

This will be a new race for me so I’m looking forward to tackling a new course. The race is a fundraiser for local charities and the 2026 charity of choice is The Cure Starts Now – Somerset chapter. Led by Ken and Michelle Oheman in honor of their late daughter Selina, The Cure Starts Now raises money for research on pediatric brain cancer.

To register for the race, please click here.

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!