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.

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!

Race Recap: Wrentham Turkeywacker 5K

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It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a turkey trot, right?

The past several Thanksgivings we have headed off to Disney World in Orlando, Florida but this year decided to stay closer to home so finding a 5K the morning of Thanksgiving was a must. This was going to be a full family-affair so all four of us woke up on Thanksgiving morning and made our way to Wrentham, Massachusetts for the Turkeywacker 5K.

The race kicks off at 8:30 AM which allowed the teenagers a bit longer to sleep in before we made our way up Route 495 to Wrentham. Perhaps best known for the shopping outlets there, Wrentham is just next to the perhaps more well-known Foxboro, home of the New England Patriots!

The Turkeywacker is a trail run and certainly running on trails adds a different complexity to a race than running on asphalt. Though we had a touch of rain the days leading up to the run, the course was in very good condition with only a few spots having a couple wet patches. As you can expect with a Thanksgiving Day turkey trot, there was a sea of families at the race as parents, children, aunts, uncles, grandparents and more toed the starting line before heading off to crush copious amounts of stuffing and pie.

I felt pretty good out on the course but knew pretty early into the race that the trail run terrain coupled with more than 800 runners hitting the 5K trail course was not going to result in any sort of PR for me out on the course. But that’s not what the run was about. The run was about spending time with Mrs. Running Griffin and our two daughters and having a good time out doing something healthy together and reflecting on all that we have to be thankful for.

I finished up the Turkeywacker 5K with a time of 28:31, good for 9:10/miles. All four of us had very respectable runs and celebrated hitting up one of our favorite coffee shops on the way home to warm up.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Race Recap: Pack the Pantry 5K

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The timing couldn’t have been better to run a 5K in support of a food pantry given the current state of affairs in our nation. The Randolph Pack the Pantry 5K took place last weekend in Randolph, Massachusetts and a nice crowd of runners toed the starting line to raise funds for the local food pantry. In addition to the dollars raised from the registration fees, a huge collection of non-perishable food goods were dropped at the starting line by race participants to then be delivered to the food pantry in Randolph.

I have run this race years ago and though the course was the same as it was in the past it was in the reverse order. The 5K route is an interestingly challenging course through residential roads with some pretty tricky hills mixed in for just about the whole race. The race course was expertly marked at each turn with volunteers and local police helping shepherd runners along the way at the busier intersections.

I love that my running club the Thirsty Irish Runners chose this race as our November Grand Prix race and it was great to see so many familiar faces at the race. Though we couldn’t have know the even more dire need that food pantries would have when selecting this race as our Grand Prix race the fact that our club gets out there each year to support some truly noble causes makes me proud to be a member. If you’re looking for a club to join, be sure to check us out!

Some days you have it while you’re running and other days you don’t. My calves simply couldn’t loosen up on the route and I felt tight just about the entire way. Though I generally love climbing hills while out on a run, the tightness that I felt out on the course was tough. Not exactly my worst running ever but certainly not my best and I finished up the race with a time of 29:22, good for 9:28/miles.

Big shoutout to Mrs. Running Griffin who cruised into the finish line and ended up second in her age division for the race!

Join Me at the Randolph Pack the Pantry 5K

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Next weekend it’ll be off to Randolph, Massachusetts to run the Randolph Pack the Pantry 5K. With the current state of affairs in the world coupled with us heading into winter here in New England, the need to support food banks is at an all-time high and I hope you will consider joining me at this race.

The race starts and finishes at the Randolph Intergenerational Community Center (RICC) and funds from the race benefit the local food bank. Runners are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the race to provide extra support for the food pantry in Randolph.

I have run this race before and the course is a nice, moderately challenging 5K course and running for a great cause on a fall weekend sounds like the perfect way to spend a bit of time next weekend.

Please consider joining me at the starting line and click here to register for the race.