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.

The Running Griffin Welcomed to the Honey Stinger Hive

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The Running Griffin is excited to join the Honey Stinger Hive for the 2015 running year! Thanks to Honey Stinger for sponsoring The Running Griffin; looking forward to a solid year of running ahead!

Located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Honey Stinger makes nutritious and great tasting honey-based foods including energy bars, protein bars, energy gels, organic waffles, organic chews, kids specific snacks and our very own Organic Wildflower Honey. Fueling more than just the country’s top cyclists, runners, triathletes and teams, Honey Stinger products may be found at specialty sporting goods retailers, natural food grocers and honeystinger.com.

  • > Honey is rich in carbohydrates, making it ideal fuel for working muscles.
  • > Before exercise: When eaten before activity, it is released into the system at a steady rate throughout the activity.
  • > During exercise: Helps muscles stay nourished longer, delays fatigue.
  • > After exercise: Research shows ingesting a combination of carbohydrates and protein immediately following exercise refuels and decreases muscle soreness.

As a runner, we all need the right fuel to help us keep an active lifestyle and the Honey Stinger line is some of the best stuff around. The Honey Stinger Organic Waffles are a great snack to take on the go with you and are the only organic snack waffles available on the market.

Honey Stinger offers a complete line of products including the waffles, energy bars, protein bars, gel packs and even raw honey. Regardless of what your energy of choice is, Honey Stinger has the right fuel for you and their products offer runners healthy, organic options that will fit your running dietary plans.

For more information about Honey Stinger, be sure to check out their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.

Register for The Carmel Marathon Weekend

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Registration is open for The Carmel Marathon weekend and this is one race series you will not want to miss out on! The Carmel Marathon takes place on Saturday, April 18th in Carmel, Indiana and the weekend promises a full slate of race activities for every type of runner from beginners looking to tackle a 5k to marathoners looking to either qualify for Boston or to run their first 26.2 consecutive miles.

The 5th Annual Carmel Marathon Weekend will offer a marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, Horizon Bank 8K and the newly-added Stay Healthy Hamilton County 5K. All races utilize the same start and finish line allowing spectators to see the opening ceremonies and start then cheer as they finish. Finishers for all events will receive a commemorative medal. The finish line DJ will keep the area hopping with the VIP area and Beer Garden within the finish line view. There is also the Center Green, a beautiful grassy area to stretch your legs and relax just a few yards from the finish line area.

The main event for the weekend is the marathon race and the course is sure not to disappoint. The Carmel Marathon will attract elite women and men from around the Midwest to compete for the special purse. Last year’s event attracted participants from 40 states and seven countries! The Carmel Marathon Weekend will feature entertainment along the half-marathon and marathon routes with a variety of bands, DJs and cheer groups and a full listing of the performers can be found here.

The Carmel Marathon has charity runner options available for those runners looking to give back as they make their way through the 26.2 mile course. Details about the charity partners for The Carmel Marathon can be found by clicking here.

If you are looking to participate in a great race weekend, The Carmel Marathon is the one for you! Register today and be sure to Like their Facebook page and follow The Carmel Marathon on Twitter.

Register for the Marathon to Marathon

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Registration is now open for the Marathon to Marathon. This race is held in Iowa and takes runners from Storm Lake, Iowa to the appropriately named finish line of Marathon, Iowa. This Heartland USA Classic is USA Track and Field Certified and Sanctioned, is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, and attracts many athletes from in and around the state.

The Marathon to Marathon offers runners a reasonably priced marathon experience and the race weekend includes a  5K race, a half-marathon, a marathon and a marathon relay.

Please consider registering for this race today!

Event: Marathon to Marathon
Date: June 13, 2015
Races: Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, and 5K
Information: Marathon and 1/2 Marathon are USA Track & Field Certified & Sanctioned
Where: Storm Lake, Iowa to Marathon, Iowa
Contact: Lois Lind
P.O. Box 262
Marathon, IA 50565 Phone: 712-289-2246

Register Today for the Run Milton Half-Marathon

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Registration is now open for the Run Milton Half-Marathon. This race is sponsored by Milton Boot Camp and will take place on April 12th in Milton, Massachusetts.

The 2015 Run Milton Half-Marathon is the second annual race fundraiser for the Friends of the Milton Council on Aging (COA) Transportation Fund, which covers the cost of transporting seniors to and from medical appointments. The COA Transportation Fund raises money annually to offset the charges incurred for this important service to the town’s growing senior population.

The 13.1-mile race will take runners through the beautiful town of Milton, Massachusetts. The half-marathon has a reasonable entry fee of $55 which includes a tee-shirt and race goodie bag.

To register for the Run Milton Half-Marathon, please click here. Please be sure to also “Like” the Facebook page of lead sponsor Milton Boot Camp by clicking here.

Brrrrrr. Super Sunday 5 Miler in Cambridge

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There is no way to sugar coat it. It was freaking cold this morning as we made our way to the Super Sunday 5 Miler in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Layered up and trying to soak in every ounce of heat in the car before race time, the Super Sunday 5 Miler was the February Grand Prix Race for the Thirsty Irish Runners so the sea of green clothing was out in full force at the race. The race time temperatures were in the teens and when a cold wind blew through the area you could really feel the chill throughout your bones.

The race was hugely attended and was sponsored by Sanofi Oncology and Genzyme and benefited the Race Cancer Foundation. The race featured both a 5k and a 5 mile option and it was the 5 miler option that will make the bad foods that will accompany me to the couch while watching the Super Bowl a little less guilty.

The five mile course runs throughout Cambridge and for the most part is pancake flat. There are a couple of really minimal uphills mixed into the race but overall you are running on flat terrain for your five miles. The streets were narrow due to all of the blizzard snow still kicking around from earlier in the week but the course was well patrolled at intersections and except for a few pretentious snobs trying to aim for runners shins while driving the course was a decent loop through Cambridge.

The race had a nice post-race lineup of breweries pouring their craft offerings including some great local options like Backlash Beer, Clown Shoes and Notch Brewing. A band rocked out to some pretty classic rock anthem songs but due to the cold we opted to hit the road after having a beer and head back to the warmth of the car.

It took about the first two miles to feel my toes but I still maintained a rather nice pace of 7:46/miles with an overall time of 38:47. A great morning of running and fingers crossed a great evening of football viewing ahead. Go Pats!

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