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.
Join me in Medway, Massachusetts on Saturday, October 4th for a nighttime run at the Medway Police Chase 5K. This run is being held at a new location this year but will still feature a nighttime race illuminated by the lights of police cars and the lights of runners out on the course. I have done this race twice and love supporting a local police department and the work they do and enjoy the different experience of running at nighttime.
Labor Day Weekend is here, and HOVSCO is rolling out epic e-bike deals! From August 26th to September 8th, take advantage of limited-time discounts, freebies and bundle offers. Perfect for commuting, running errands or weekend adventures.
HOVSCO is offering an incredible deal where if you buy an e-bike during the sale you’ll be eligible for a fee e-escooter. Be sue to check out the website to learn more about which e-bikes qualify for this amazing deal.
Every Monday night in Raynham, Massachusetts the local running club Colonial Road Runners hosts a 3.25 mile fun run taking runners on the same course each week allowing runners to get out and enjoy a nice evening run after the workday comes to a close. With the race kicking off each week at 6:30 PM, the run takes runners along residential roads of Raynham and many familiar faces are seen each week while out on the run. It’s just $2 to run each week and you keep your number for the summer and with the race timed and there being water and sports drink post-run you simply can’t find a better running bargain around!
I have been on the road a bit this summer so haven’t been able to tackle the weekly series each week but two weeks ago it worked out that I could run the race so off to Raynham I went. It was a very hot night that evening with temperatures just short of 90 degrees at the start so it was going to be a sweat-it-out sort of run for sure. The course has a good amount of climbing in the third mile which also had some nice shade present which certainly helped take a little bit of the punch out of the heat that night.
I finished up the Raynham fun run with a time of 30:07, good for 9:16/miles. Not a bad result particularly given the heat and the fact I ran earlier that morning, as well, and definitely hope to make it back out to another fun run in the coming weeks!
85% of streets in Bridgewater, Massachusetts has been run! Picked off another group of streets this morning and looking to get to 100% soon.
There are some remaining streets that I have never heard of but thanks to CityStrides I’m able to track and map out the remaining streets to finish up.
Can’t wait to have every single street in town run!
On Thursday night it was off to Bristol, Rhode Island to run in the Narragansett Summer Nights 5K. Bristol is about a 55 minute drive and the race takes place on the beautiful grounds of Mt. Hope Farm.
The race kicks off at 7:30 PM and the farm area is the ideal spot for an evening road race. A nice breeze coming off the ocean helped take a bit out of the sting of the heat yesterday and the venue provides a nice, family-friendly start and finish line. The course is a moderately challenging one with some rolling hills mixed in, some part of the run being done on grass, crushed stone and other stretches on paved trails through the grounds. The heat certainly took a toll yesterday but thankfully there were two water stops on the course that came in handy. The finishing stretch is a nice, gradual uphill into the chute that definitely pushes you to get up the hill as fast as you can!
For a good duration of the race, I didn’t feel my best and had a deep pain running across my stomach. It wasn’t clear if it was muscular in nature or something else but the pain was sharp and definitely impacted my ability to run well. These things happen; you can’t run your best every day. But still, I was a bit disappointed with my running yesterday.
I finished the race with a time of 29:12, good for 9:23/miles. Certainly not my best racing of late but finishing another 5K is never anything to frown upon.
The post-race vibes are absolutely dynamite at this race. I don’t drink so the two free beer tickets weren’t for me (Pssst, Narragansett. Please come out with a non-alcoholic option) so it was more water and free pizza for me. Shoutout to Piezonis for putting out some delicious pizza that hit the spot post-run. A little live music being played as dusk was setting in; truly a perfect summer night out there!
The Running Griffin 