The cold winter weather rolled into New England this weekend but the day could not have been better for the 1st Annual The Running of the Elves 5K held in Taunton, Massachusetts. Though the air was crisp and the wind was blowing pretty strong at points, the sun was out as runners made their way out onto the 5K course.

The Running of the Elves course took runners through residential neighborhoods of the City of Taunton. The course was for the most part rather flat with a couple of slight inclines mixed in for good measure. Volunteers manned a water station about half-way into the race and the Taunton Police Department did an amazing job patrolling the course in cruisers and on three motorcycles and on foot at the busier intersections.

Race organizers did a remarkable job getting the race off right on time which often times can be a challenge particularly for a race in its first year. A nice touch at this race was a bonfire that kept runners warm prior to heading out onto the course.

Throughout the race, I felt rather strong running and even when a stiff headwind kicked in I was able to hunker down and keep the legs moving pretty well. I could tell throughout the race I was going to finish in the Top 5 and therefore I turned my attention to focusing on my breathing and to push myself whenever possible. I finished The Running of the Elves with a time of 23:29, good for a solid 7:33/miles and good for 4th place overall!

The Running of the Elves has a lot to be proud of having run a great race for their inaugural road race. The race benefits PRIDE Inc. which is where the race kicked off and ended. PRIDE, Inc. is a non-profit organization providing quality vocational, alternative residential and social programs for individuals with cognitive, developmental and/or intellectual disabilities in the southeast Massachusetts area. Their programs and services work toward improving the quality of life for individuals of all abilities and their families. Their employment philosophy is that everyone who wants to work can work and be able to live in the most independent situation of their choice.

PRIDE Inc. offers employment services, adult foster care, PCA management, day habilitation, community day services, and work force training and also offers competitively-priced contract and packaging services for businesses wishing to support the work efforts of individuals with disabilities.

On Sunday morning it was off to the coastal community of Marion, Massachusetts for the 2016 Guard Oil Turkey Trot 5K. Located with a start and finish on the grounds of the prestigious Tabor Academy overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the race time temperatures were cool and overcast and the chill of the air could certainly be felt prior to heading out onto the course.

Sponsored by the Marion Recreation Department, the race features a relatively flat course that takes runners around the neighborhood circling Tabor Academy on residential roads and through the quaint downtown Marion section of town complete with historic churches, a general store, a small restaurant and houses that overlook the ocean. Running past a croquet field and tennis courts added to the idyllic charm of the neighborhood and certainly this spot must be prime real estate in the summer months.

Fortunately, my knee issue seems to be much better as it didn’t hurt too bad during this race but instead I seemed to be slowed a bit due to having given blood the day before the race. I couldn’t get much energy flowing but maintained a nice, paced run throughout the race. If it’s not one thing it’s another it seems. I finished the 2016 Guard Oil Turkey Trot 5K with a time of 26:52, good for 8:38/miles. Not a bad overall result, just not my best.

Anyone running a turkey trot Thanksgiving morning? Which one are you doing?

Whenever going out on a long run the question of whether or not to listen to music always sort of creeps into the minds of runners. Having to deal with earbuds can be a challenge and bulky headphones just aren’t comfortable while out on a run. Now, thanks to RoadNoise runners no longer need to worry about having the ability to listen to music in a safe and convenient way.

The RoadNoise vest includes a USB rechargeable, Bluetooth volume control/amplifier that provides great sound while running or cycling. You control volume by pressing on the front of your vest which comes complete with two vertical pockets in front that can each carry 250 ml. SoftFlask bottle, a dog leash or any other small accessory. The great reflective nature of the RoadNoise vest serves as an added bonus providing a safety feature allowing motorists to easily see you while running in darker conditions. With fall here and winter on our doorstep, this is a great bonus feature of the vest!

If you are planning on doing one of the overnight relay races, the RoadNoise vests would be a great item for your entire team to have out on the run! Not only will the reflective qualities allow for maximum safety but the music will help keep the mind and legs moving during the overnight stretch of the run.

Since the speakers play the music through Bluetooth technology, you do not need to worry about getting cords tangled and the setup with my iPhone was an absolute piece of cake.

I’d recommend ordering one size larger than the shirt your normally wear particularly if this will be placed over a winter running jacket in the upcoming months to allow for your normal pace without feeling as though you are carrying additional pounds on your body.

To order your RoadNoise vest, please check out their website by clicking here and decide which color and model is best for you. Please also give RoadNoise a “Like” on Facebook by clicking here and “Follow” them on Twitter by clicking here.

This past Saturday morning it was over to Norton, Massachusetts for the 1st Annual Thanks to Yanks Veterans Day 5 Miler. This race featured the same course as the FOP Post #28 Frozen Five Mile route so I was familiar with the overall course map having raced here a few times before. The race kicks off from a VFW Post and a ceremony prior to the race featured the national anthem being sung in front of a new flag display featuring the American flag and the flags of each branch of the military; a nice, patriotic way to kick off a race on Veterans Day weekend!

This five mile race is a great run through residential neighborhoods of Norton and features a really great course complete with a few gradual hills mixed in but roads that are not too crowded with vehicle traffic from start to finish. A water stop is at the midway point of the race and the organizers do a really nice job marking the course turns and mileage along the way.

Post-race, the Downtown Cafe provided pizza and boneless wings that many of the runners snacked on and commented how good they were but I opted for an apple and a cup of coffee along with my post-race water.

Proceeds from this race benefit Thanks To Yanks, a non-political 501(c)(3) organization (www.thankstoyanks.org) whose mission is to support military members, veterans and their families.  In 2015, over 94% of Thanks To Yanks donations went directly back to our military and Veterans.

I finished the 1st Annual Thanks to Yanks Veterans Day 5 Miler with a time of 42:29 good for 8:29/miles. Continuing to show improvement after injuring my knee and hope to be back to pre-injury form pretty soon!