On Sunday morning it was off to Middleborough, Massachusetts for the Sacred Heart Food Pantry 5K. The Food Pantry 5K Run/Walk is an important fundraising effort organized by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to support the Sacred Heart Food Pantry. It provides an opportunity for walkers and runners to participate in the mission of feeding the hungry in the communities we serve, while raising awareness of the challenges faced by the nation’s needy.

The race directors could not have asked for a more perfect day for a run. The sun was beating down and the skies were clear for the race and race time temperature was quite warm for later in September. A sea of runners and walkers flocked to the starting line and the race was nicely chip-timed to allow for accurate race results. Kudos to the runners and walkers along with the sponsors for raising more than $12,000 to combat hunger in Southeastern Massachusetts.

The race course started with a rather drastic downhill first half-mile which basically is a good foreshadowing of things to come later in the race. The race then hit the side roads surrounding the school that served as the race start and finish. It was great to see one of the TIRs out on the course cheering on the runners. As you made your way through the final mile it was back into the school grounds to tackle the reverse path of the downhill start. The hill certainly seemed much more pronounced on the last half-mile of the race than it did at the start and each step really needed an extra push of the will.

I finished the Sacred Heart Food Pantry 5K with a time of 23:21, good for 7:32/miles. For a back to back race weekend coupled with a tough course and hot temperatures, a good race result in my book!

You always have to love when a race is held in your town requiring absolutely no travel! This morning was the First Annual Bridgewater Police Department 5K and the race went off without a single hitch.

The race started and finished at the Bridgewater Police Department and featured a one mile kids race which was held 30 minutes prior to the 5K kicking off. The race was a beautifully flat course for most of the run with a couple of very gradual inclines held for the final mile of running. The course was nicely marked along the way and as runners made their way into the historic Bridgewater Common area the police held traffic so runners could run without obstruction. Local business ServPro of the Bridgewaters sponsored a water stop half-way through the run. The Bridgewater Police Department was out in force along the race course with cruisers, bike patrol and motorcycles patrolling the route ensuring runner safety.

Bridgewater Chief of Police Chris Delmonte and Race Director Rebekah Caylor deserve a huge amount of credit for putting on a remarkable first annual run; I look forward to the 2nd Annual Bridgewater Police Department 5K already.

I ran the 5K course quite well and certainly familiarity of the course always helps. I finished the race with a time of 22:14, good for 7:10/miles. Mrs. Running Griffin also blazed the course today with a PR time of 27:18, good for 8:48/miles.

On Sunday morning it was off to Taunton, Massachusetts for the Miles with the Mayor 5k. The race took place nice and early on Sunday morning but the heat and humidity hung around later into September to add an extra challenge to the race. After a night before of wedding fun, hitting the pavement was a good way to dust off the cobwebs and move without the need of a Pitbull song blaring.

The race is sponsored by Taunton Mayor Tom Hoye and this third annual race is a nice community event that helps to raise funds for the Mayor’s Worthy Cause  account. All proceeds from the Miles with the Mayor go towards the Mayor’s Worthy Cause account, through which the Mayor supports a wide array of worthwhile events and activities, such as scholarships and the Christmas Parade and which benefits Taunton citizens of all ages.  The Mayor’s Worthy Cause account, whose sole purpose is to improve the quality of life and bring joy to each and every citizen, is supported by both businesses and individual donors.

The race started outside of a park that had a DJ, events for the kids, sponsors and copious amounts of water and snacks available post run. The race took to the streets of Taunton and twisted and turned through residential roads before entering the grounds of Taunton State Hospital. After a stretch through the State Hospital grounds, the race then hit the roads again heading back toward the finish line. It was rather warm out on the residential roads and a water stop on the course could have done wonders. The Taunton Police Department did a great job patrolling the course for their boss’s charitable road race.

I finished Miles with the Mayor 5k with a time of 23:23 good for 7:32/miles.

After a great day of running in Holyoke, Massachusetts the day prior, on Sunday of last week it was off to Abington, Massachusetts for the Jeff Coombs Memorial Road Race. This race is held annually in memory of Abington resident Jeff Coombs who died in the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

The Jeff Coombs Foundation was formed to assist families who are in financial need because of a death, illness or other situation that challenges the family budget. It also provides emotional support to families by funding special outings and fun events. Committed to education, the foundation helps fund enrichment programs in the Abington Schools, and awards scholarships to graduating college-bound seniors and students in private high schools.

The foundation was created in response to the incredible outpouring of support Jeff’s family received after he was killed on Flight 11 in the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks. Christie, Jeff’s wife, and their kids, Matthew, Meaghan, and Julia, wanted a way to “pay it forward.” They began raising money to help others in November, 2001. Since then, the Foundation has raised and distributed about $50,000 a year in Jeff’s memory.

The race is an out-and-back loop and takes runners through the streets of Abington. The first mile is a noticeably downhill stretch which then suddenly makes you realize that the next mile is likely going to be a rather uphill stretch; which is quickly confirmed. After finishing up the second mile it is then a flatter stretch heading back into the finish line. The Abington Police Department did a really nice job ensuring that traffic did not interfere with the race.

One of the highlights of the day was being able to meet Boston Marathon hero Carlos Arrendondo who proved to be as gracious and humble as we all have heard of him to be.

After runners crossed the finish line we were met by a sea of volunteers handing out bottles of water and were then sent back to the post-race festivities which included food, drink, sponsors handing out goodies and raffle prizes a plenty. A DJ, guy on stilts, bouncy houses and other things made foe a great post-race event.

I finished the Jeff Coombs Memorial Road Race with a time of 22:29, good for 7:14/miles.

There are cities and towns across the globe that every March attempts to turn their town green and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. However, while many cities and towns try hard to resemble the Emerald Isle there is no place that does it better than Holyoke, Massachusetts. With a weekend each March complete with a road race and massive parade, Holyoke, which historically was known as Ireland Parish is a great place to spend St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

To celebrate the half-way point to St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Holyoke became home to the Half Way to St. Patrick’s Day 5k today. The race was organized by the same group that runs the 10k race in March and a huge kudos goes out to the committee for organizing another spectacular race celebrating Holyoke’s Irish heritage.

The race started at the Holyoke Lodge of Elks and the starting line was complete with Irish music, bagpipers and a singer who sang both the Irish and American national anthems. Runners headed away from the Elks quickly through a residential neighborhood, up a decent little incline before descending onto the dirt paths of Ashley Reservoir. The reservoir is home to other great races such as the Talking Turkey and the Daniel Boyle Road Race. Upon entering the reservoir, runners ran under a Holyoke Fire Department hook and ladder displaying a giant American flag.

The race then took runners through the reservoir just as a few drops of rain fell onto the runners. A water stop was at the halfway point and the finishing stretch featured the traditional uphill climb back into the area in front of the Elks. The Easthampton Fire Department helped out the town next door with another hook and ladder near the finish line displaying the Irish flag.

I felt quite strong running back in the hometown today and finished the Half Way to St. Patrick’s Day 5k with a time of 20:27, good for 6:49/miles. I certainly look forward to participating in this race again in future years!