Thank God the holidays are over otherwise the name of this website would need to be changed from The Running Griffin to The Rolling Gargantuan. Delicious ham, cookies of all shapes and sizes and microbrews that just needed to be sampled all helped me gear up for a long hibernation if necessary.

Now that the New Year is upon us, thankfully the impetus to shed the holiday pounds and hit the pavement again is back front and center. This morning it was off to the Back on My Feet 5k in Norwood, Massachusetts. This race was organized by Winged Foot Running and sponsored by Charles River Running and proceeds from the race benefits Back on My Feet.

The race started and finished at the Knights of Columbus on Nichols Street in Norwood and race time temperature was a chilly 21 degrees. There was a decent breeze from time to time which added a really nice tailwind on one street which turned to a noticeable headwind the last .3 miles or so. Prior to the race, the Back on My Feet running club present for the race encouraged all race participants to form a large circle, as they do every morning before they run, and recite a serenity prayer. This was a new and interesting addition to the race that certainly was unique and impressive. The race course included several of the same roads as other Norwood races such as the Norwood Turkey Trot and the Joseph and Rose Gilio Road Race that leaves from St. Timothy’s Church. For the most part the course was flat except for a gradual uphill section of the course between miles 1 and 2. A water stop along the course was just shy of the 2 mile marker and was perfect for those runners who needed a quick drink either because of the run or the festivities of New Year’s Eve the night before.

I finished today’s Back on My Feet 5k with a time of 24:31 which is good for 7:53/miles. Not a bad way to start off 2014 on the right  foot. Many miles to go!

About Back on My Feet

Back on My Feet (BoMF) is a national for-purpose 501(c)3 organization that uses running to help those experiencing homelessness change the way they see themselves so they can make real change in their lives that results in employment and independent living. 

The organization’s mission is not to create runners within the homeless population, but to use running to create self-sufficiency in the lives of those experiencing homelessness. The program’s success is measured by how many Members achieve independence through employment and housing.

Through dedication and hard work, Residential Members (those experiencing homelessness) earn the opportunity to create a new road for themselves.   Running leads to personal transformation and dedication to the program leads to access to training, employment and housing resources.  Through community and corporate support, the program strives to change the perception of homelessness.