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.

19th Annual Doyle’s Emerald Necklace Road Race

On April 13, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

After a long winter, heading out into the Jamaica Plain section of Boston yesterday was a most welcome venture. The sun was beating down and being able to wear short sleeves and shorts while running really felt amazing. The race was the 19th Annual Doyle’s Emerald Necklace Road Race and the race was a great spring run on what turned out to be a truly nice day.

The race is sponsored by Doyle’s Cafe which is a traditional Irish pub in Jamaica Plain. Following the race, the pub does a sensational job putting on a block party complete with a DJ, Sam Adams beer and food. Doyle’s holds the distinction as being the first pub that poured Sam Adams beer therefore having a pint there is sort of the ultimate beer drinker’s utopia after running a good five mile race.

The course itself is a beautiful 5 mile course through Franklin Park which is part of the Emerald Necklace chain of parks. The course is paved the entire way and even with a tough winter the roads for the most part were in pretty good shape. It was great to hear the Boston Police Gaelic Column playing heading out onto the course and close to the finish line as we made our way back toward the pub. I’m not sure if I am the only Irishman who has a strange reaction while hearing bagpipes where I get goosebumps coupled with an extra little kick in the legs upon hearing them play but it was a great touch for an awesome race. Race volunteers were at each mile marker and water was provided by course volunteers and by Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley.

I finished the 19th Annual Doyle’s Emerald Necklace Road Race with a time of 39:56 or 7:59/miles.

Grab Some Friends and Register for the 26.2 Challenge!

On April 8, 2015April 8, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Grab five your your running buddies and don’t hesitate to register for the 26.2 Challenge to be held in Plymouth, Massachusetts on Saturday, April 25th.

The 26.2 Challenge is a team marathon relay featuring an out and back style course where each leg of the race is the same distance. A team of six, you and five of your friends, will conquer 26.2 miles. While your team member is out running, you’re at the transition area with 1000+ like minded people listening to a DJ play the latest tunes and cheering on your friends as they come and go. After the race, you get your beer stein filled with craft beer from Mayflower Brewing and get to chow down on food from Zagat rated RooBar right at the finish line!

The beauty of this marathon relay is that it is a great race for runners of all calibers and more importantly is the ideal way to mix running with fun; isn’t that what it is all about? The 26.2 Challenge brings together all different types of teams. The distance for each leg is manageable at just over 4mi so you don’t have to be an ultra runner to take part. The divisions include; All Male, All Female, Mixed Gender, Running/Tri Club, Corporation & Crossfit. It’s great to see that this race also supports local charities doing great work right in the Plymouth area!

For more information about the 26.2 Challenge, be sure to check out their website by clicking here and “Like” the Facebook page by clicking here. The race has a RaceMenu page for registration that can be accessed here.

35th Annual Frank Nealon Boston Tune-Up 15K

On April 5, 2015April 5, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Yesterday morning it was off to Upton, Massachusetts for the 35th Annual Frank Nealon Boston Tune-up 15K. This race is organized by the Tri-Valley Front Runners and is one of the few wheel-measured 15Ks available in the Greater Boston area leading up to the Boston Marathon. The race takes place on a very scenic and quite rolling, hilly course that is well marked and all on the pavement. The course support is great with miles marked and water stops along the way.

Runners get a commemorative soup mug instead of the usual tee-shirt and post-race there is a healthy spread of different soups and snacks available. The soup inside the school ran out quite fast this year and it seemed as though the amount of crock pots they had with different kinds of soups was far less than last year.

The race day temperatures were in the 40’s and the sun broke through just in time for the race to kickoff. The running conditions could not have been better and the day made for a great day of running.

Last year I had a nice run at this race and finished with a time of 1:18:53 for the 9.3 mile race so I was glad to see I beat last year’s time with a finish time of 1:17:30, shaving more than a minute off my time and running a pace of 8:10/miles which for this distance and hilly course I am quite pleased with. Next season, if you are looking for a course that is a good Boston Marathon warmup race or if you just want to push yourself up and down some good hills, be sure to keep an eye out for registration for the 36th Annual Frank Nealon Boston Tune-Up 15K.

The Running Griffin Partners with Octane Fitness

On April 4, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

We are proud to be aligned with the latest in zero-impact running innovation with the launch of the new Zero Runner by Octane Fitness. As many runners can attest to, pounding the pavement over and over can take a significant toll on the joints and may lead to injuries, so it is imperative to have cross-training options available to help ensure successful running performance over time.

Due to the damaging nature of impact over time, runners try to manage impact by running on treadmills versus outside, or choosing to run on gravel or sand versus cement, for instance. And runners use ellipticals and other fitness equipment as cross-training devices to give their bodies a break from all that stress. But some runners shun cross training on machines because they say that nothing else feels like running, and they worry if they are really benefiting from different workouts.

What’s exciting is that more tools are available today to help runners cross train and manage impact better, yet still reap the performance benefits of running. These options offer excellent conditioning and running-specific benefits:

Zero Runner – The first-of-its-kind indoor training option that replicates a real running motion. It’s different than an elliptical, because it has knee and hip joints so that you can kick up your heel and activate your hamstrings – just like you would outside. And the heel kick is critical to a runner’s development. Unlike a treadmill, on the Zero Runner, you can really use your typical stride, which feels much more natural. And it has a gait tracer, which can help you monitor the health of your stride throughout runs. This machine is worth checking out, as it can help you prepare for longer races, incorporate active recovery and ultimately prolong your running career. See the details here.

Elliptigo – This is similar to the Zero Runner but it’s an outdoor option. It’s a cross between a bike and an elliptical that allows you to pedal in a running motion without any jarring to the joints. While it may look kind of funny, many people like this machine. That includes Meb Keflezighi, the 2014 Boston Marathon champion, and the first American to win the Boston marathon since 1985, who cross trains with an ElliptiGo. Check out elliptigo.com for more information.

AlterG – While this is typically only an option for commercial athletic training and rehab settings due to its hefty price tag (starting at $35,000), the AlterG is like training in outer space. It is an anti-gravity treadmill that unweights a percentage of your body so that you run on it carrying only a portion of your actual body weight, which significantly reduces the impact and stress to the joints. You feel lighter, and potentially faster. While it’s definitely not as accessible as the Zero Runner or Elliptgo, the AlterG is a great option if you ever get the chance to try one. Take a look at it here.

Be sure to check out the Zero Runner if you are serious about taking care of yourself and following a safe, proper training regimen. There’s just nothing else like it available, and it can revolutionize your training – whether you’re a recreational or ultra-competitive runner. See Octane Fitness on Facebook as well by clicking here.

Race Recap: Seagull Six

On March 29, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

This morning it was down to Cape Cod’s Wood’s Hole section of Falmouth for the Seagull Six Road Race. This race is put on by the Falmouth Track Club and is usually a huge showing for my running club as it tends to be one of our Grand Prix races. The course is a brutally hilly course with the entire first two miles consisting of a climb that is not for the faint of heart followed by a slight downhill and then some monster rolling hills. Even as you pass the Mile 5 sign you realize that you have just shy of 3/4 of a mile left to go (the race is 5.74 miles) but you know the climbing still is not done.

When arriving in Falmouth it was noticeably a couple degrees chillier than back home but the sun was shining bright and after the winter we have had here in New England running outside is an absolute joy right about now. I felt pretty strong for most of the race and the hills didn’t seem to bother me too much this weekend; perhaps coming off of a half-marathon and Holyoke’s St. Patrick’s Road Race‘s hilly course was a good thing.

Though I have run a better Seagull Six in the past, today’s race I can’t be too upset with as I ran strong and had a good time out on the course. I finished today’s Seagull Six with a time of 46:36, good for 8:07/miles.