This weekend’s Mick Morgan’s Annual 5k Road Race had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This 5K race kicks off at local Irish pub Mick Morgan’s Sharon and raises funds for HESSCO Elder Services.

Health & Social Services Consortium, Inc. (HESSCO) provides care, support and solutions for adults 60 and older, persons living with a disability and their caregivers to maintain safe, independent living at home in the community.

To learn more about HESSCO and to find out ways to support their efforts, please visit their website by clicking here.

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing our world to be turned upside down. As runners, we have seen races small and large be either postponed or cancelled outright. Tough decisions need to be made by Race Directors and it’s up to us to support those tough decisions and stand with those Race Directors making a decision no one envies having to make.

So many races today are now significant fundraising endeavors for non-profit organizations. For races that are being cancelled, unfortunately non-profit organizations will be losing out on significant funds aimed at supporting their endeavors and noble causes. For some small non-profits, a road race is a great way to infuse a significant amount of funding into an organization and with races being cancelled clearly funding for non-profits is going to suffer.

If you know of a road race that was being held in support of  non-profit organization that has been cancelled, please let me know. I would like to share information about that non-profit to help gain exposure for the work they are doing and potentially have readers donate to an organization they might see they support.

Please email me (therunninggriffin@gmail.com) details and I will post as many organizations and races as possible to help spread awareness.

Hope everyone remains healthy and safe during these crazy times.

On March 21st make your way out to Ireland Parish, now known as Holyoke, Massachusetts, and take part in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race! This iconic 10K race is a bucket-list run for runners and what better time to tackle the race than this year!

This 10K road race takes place on Saturday and is followed by one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country on Sunday. Holyoke’s rich Irish heritage comes out to shine this weekend as the city turns green for both residents and visitors alike.

The 10K course is a good, challenging course with some nice hills mixed in for good measure but the crowd support along the course is reminiscent of larger, iconic marathons or half-marathon races. Bagpipers, people cheering, even a quick beer table to refuel in the final mile all come complete with a really great course and all around fun atmosphere.

The race kicks off and finishes in the heart of downtown Holyoke and post-race merriment is aplenty wherever you look. Live Irish music and a pint have a unique way of making the miles logged all but fade away.

Having grown up in Holyoke, I have a certain affection for this race that I certainly want everyone to share in and am convinced if you sign up you will truly enjoy the run. I’ve run the race more times than I can probably count and this year both Mrs. Running Griffin and our oldest daughter will be tacking the course, too!

To register for the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race, please click here. Look forward to seeing you in the Paper City in a few weeks!

Registration is now open for the West Island 5K run and this is definitely a race to take in this April!

The race takes place in the West Island section of the coastal town of Fairhaven, Massachusetts and the course is USA Track and Field Certified featuring a mostly flat and fast loop throughout scenic West Island. Runners take off on a fast and downhill start and a sharp uphill incline into the finish line adds a really nice challenge into the race.  Each mile will be marked and a water station will be fully stocked at the 1.5-mile point. Throughout the course, local residents line the route particularly at the finish line cheering runners into the finish.

In addition to running a really nice course, runners can feel good about supporting a great cause when registering for the race as all proceeds go to the Fairhaven High School Cross Country program and to the non-profit, Strive and Achieve.

I have run the West Island 5K a couple times and highly recommend the race. For a previous race recap, click here.

Be sure to give a “Like” to the West Island 5K on Facebook by clicking here to keep up to date with race day details and additional information.

To register for the West Island 5K, please click here. Use discount code RUNCLUB5OFF to save $5 off your registration fee!