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.

2015 TCS NYC Marathon

On November 2, 2015 By The Running Griffin1 Comment

This weekend was the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon weekend and I made my way to the Big Apple on Friday morning to take in the scene and tackle the 26.2 mile course through the five burroughs of New York. The entire experience was one I will never forget.

On Friday afternoon, I hit up the race expo to pick up my bib number, shirt and bag of goodies. For those who know me, you may be surprised to know I also sprung for a marathon jacket and will wear it proudly going forward. The race expo was a really well orchestrated event and there were a lot of familiar faces at the expo in terms of running vendors including The Running Griffin sponsors Honey Stinger and Sparkly Soul!

Thanks to the magic of Twitter, I was able to find a shakeout run with Bart Yasso at Paragon Sports on Saturday morning. A great group of runners hit the store at 8AM and made our way out into the streets for a 3 mile warm up run. It was a great way to meet some other runners who would be tackling the marathon the next morning. After the run, I made my way over to a great outdoor market and then went to the World Trade Center Memorial. Having never seen the memorial before, it was amazing how quiet it was at the memorial; you could literally hear a pin drop. I was able to find Ace Bailey’s name on the memorial and decided to focus on all the good that has come out of tragedy, particularly with the Ace Bailey Children’s Foundation, for which I have been a supporter for the past five years.

After a nice pasta dinner Saturday early evening I made my way back to the hotel and went to bed nice and early to rest up for the big day.

Sunday morning was now upon me and I hopped in an Uber to head to the Whitehall Terminal where the Staten Island Ferry shuttled runners over to Staten Island. Though there was a little bit of a delay boarding the ferry, trying to transport that many people is no yeoman’s task and all things considered it went quite smoothly. After the ferry ride, a bus ride took us to the starting area. The starting area was remarkably well organized and featured plenty of space, port-o-potties, coffee and more! Before I knew it, my wave and corral were being called and it was time to tackle the course.

Once the starting cannon went off, it was onto the Verranzano bridge lower deck. Running on the bridge was quite an experience but then hitting the first wave of crowds in Brooklyn was all the better. My favorite section of Brooklyn was early in the run when revelers were having an old school block party while blasting “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.” I can imagine that on this day, there is probably no getting sick of the Beastie Boys on repeat.

For the first half-marathon I ran the race pretty well, actually picking up negative splits at some points. But with about 10 miles to go the legs started to get sore and tired. No matter how much fluids and energy I was taking, it seemed a little harder to keep pushing along but I was determined to get there.

Heading up the road before making a turn into Central Park was a gradual incline that certainly made itself known on the legs. Once inside Central Park, knowing there was just two miles to go a renewed sense of energy was present and I started to run a little bit better. The last mile the emotion of knowing the end was just down the road made each painful step a little easier and crossing the finish line was amazing. Though this was my seventh marathon completed, there is something about crossing the finish line that is always moving. Having a volunteer place your medal around your neck simply can’t be beat.

The people of New York and the spectators who ascended upon the city for the race were, simply put, amazing. The crowds of people cheering you along seemed to never stop. Revelers were cheering the entire way, sanitation workers clapped you along, police officers were waving and dancing as you ran by. The signs along the course included a plethora of “That’s what she said” related signs mixed with a healthy dose of Donald Trump related signs inclusive of “You will hit the wall at Mile 20. We should get the Mexicans to pay for it” and “I’ve never met a marathoner, but I am sure they are good people.”

The music on the course ranged from DJs to high school marching bands, a Latino church choir to a gospel choir at a Baptist church, rock bands to bagpipers, solo performers to a Japanese drum line. The music demonstrated the diversity of each runner tackling the marathon course and it helped push me along.

I finished the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon with a time of 4:48:24. It wasn’t my worst marathon, but certainly wasn’t my best. But you know what, I finished. I completed the NYC Marathon and am still standing and still able to blog about my experience today. Thanks to the good people of New York City for making it such a great experience!

Cape Cod Marathon Relay

On October 30, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Last Sunday morning it was an early departure to head down to Falmouth to take part in the Cape Cod Marathon Relay. My running club, Thirsty Irish Runners, had five teams entered into the relay race with five runners on each team to tackle a leg of the 26.2 mile course. The weather was absolutely perfect fall weather running conditions and myself and four teammates packed into a car and made our way out onto the course.

The marathon relay course runs along with the runners tackling the full marathon and there is no loneliness out on the course as plenty of runners are on the course and there are fans cheering runners along throughout the course. The transition points for the relay are great for runners and spectators alike and the cheering at these points becomes quite loud. For relay teams, you can keep track of how many other relay runners you have picked off along the way making for an extra sort of incentive to run fast for your assigned leg.

I ran the third leg of the relay which was just shy of 6 miles of running. The route was moderately hilly with some decent elevation climbs mixed into the route. I always forget how hilly sections of Cape Cod really are with a healthy dose of rolling hills and more marked hills making up a nice chunk of my run. The best part of my leg was when we ran underneath a highway overpass and there was a string band made up of seniors playing folks music and jamming away as runners made their way past.

Marathon relays are a great team event and a perfect way to spend some time with some running friends. The Cape Cod Marathon relay is definitely a race that running clubs should look to send teams to next year to tackle a good, challenging course all while building upon running friendships and camaraderie!

4th Place Overall at the Crescent Classic 5K

On October 21, 2015October 20, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

On Sunday morning, it was a breezy and chilly morning in Bridgewater, Massachusetts as I made my way across town to Bridgewater State University for the Crescent Classic 5K. This race was sponsored by the Gamma Phi Beta sorority on campus and raised over $1000 for Girls on the Run.

The race was fully contained within the grounds of the campus and featured a fully paved course throughout campus. The race started near the Moakley Science Center and ran away from the center of campus before looping back in toward the campus center. After running up a nice hill just past the mile marker, it was down the notorious Great Hill that Bridgewater runners know all too well. Not knowing what the course entailed, running down the hill didn’t seem all that bad until there was a turn back around instructed sending runners back up the hill that seems to never end. Once cresting the hill, it was down the other side of Great Hill into the MBTA commuter parking lot and back through campus toward the finish line.

There was one snag in the race where the two lead runners were not instructed to turn back up Great Hill and ended up going completely off course. While knowing I was in fifth place for most of the race, I quickly ended up in third place heading into the last mile. The race organizers awarded first place to one of the lost runners since they crossed the finish first; a technical snag but not the end of the world.

The race results show me as finishing in fourth place overall but more importantly my pace on Sunday morning was quite strong finishing with a time of 21:56, or 7:03/miles. Perhaps it was the cool, fall breezes pushing me along but I felt really strong running on Sunday and was thrilled with one of my better race times this season!

Register for the Franklin Park Turkey Trot

On October 20, 2015October 20, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Registration is now open for the Franklin Park Coalition’s Annual Turkey Trot Run.

The Franklin Park Turkey Trot takes place on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th at 9:00 AM. Start your holiday with a 5K walk/run through the jewel of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace. Runners will run through beautiful woods, over an old stone bridge, and past picturesque ruins. Runners are encouraged to organize a family team to participate or cheer, all ages are welcome. Prizes will be awarded for different age category winners and the best costume! This is a chip-timed race with the starting and finish line at the Golf Clubhouse located at One Circuit Drive, Dorchester, MA 02121.

For more information please visit www.franklinparkcoalition.org or call 617-442-4141. Volunteers are needed to assist with this race so please call if you can help. Online registration is available at http://www.franklinparkcoalition.org/turkey-trot-5k/.

Saint Bridget School PTO Freaky Family 5K

On October 18, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Fall was certainly in the air yesterday morning as we made our way over to the Saint Bridget School PTO Freaky Family 5K in Abington, Massachusetts. The race kicked off nice and early at 9AM and our oldest daughter took part in the kids’ run half-mile race before the main 5K event. The kids run participants were each awarded a great pumpkin medal which was a nice touch. The race is complete with several raffles, a bouncy house, a playground for the kids and a nice post-race spread of food.

The race course was largely similar to other Abington runs such as the Abington Police Department 5K and the Sgt. Daniel Vasselian Memorial 5K. The course is a nice loop that takes runners through the streets of Abington and for Halloween the appropriate course through a cemetery. The race announcement told runners to be on the lookout for ghouls and goblins while running through the cemetery so I was convinced people would be jumping out from behind trees or something and sprinted my way through that section but thankfully did not see anyone jumping out.

After the first 2 miles of the run you make your way up a rather nice, gradual incline that stretches for about a half-mile. After making that climb it is a slow, downhill grade before making the final right hand turn onto the final road of the race. The last stretch is flat and fast and allows runners to give it one final kick into the finishing chute.

I finished the Saint Bridget School PTO Freaky 5K with a time of 23:53, good for 7:41/miles.