This past weekend it was off to the coastal community of Marshfield, Massachusetts for the Beach and Back Half-Marathon. Though I keep pounding the pavement with good regularity, this was going to be one of my longer runs in quite some time so I was excited to stretch the boundaries some and tackle a half-marathon.

Shoutout to the race for giving out a hooded sweatshirt as the race swag for the half-marathon. A nice addition to the post-run wardrobe rather than another tee-shirt!

Mrs. Running Griffin decided to run together for the race to keep each other company, be able to push each other at the right times and catch up while out on the run. The weather the morning of the run was overcast and temps were not too cool and not too hot; it could be argued that these were some pretty awesome running conditions for a half-marathon.

The race kicked off a bit behind schedule but then once out on the course the half-marathon was a great run. The course wound throughout Marshfield and had some nice residential stretches, some waterfront runs and a good hilly section mixed in right around the halfway point of the run. There was plenty of water out on the course and each mile was marked. Because the half-marathon went through some residential neighborhoods, local residents were out cheering on the race course at certain spots along the way.

The Beach and Back Half-Marathon was a nice race and I would definitely recommend running it if you are looking for a half-marathon next year. Mrs. Running Griffin and I finished the race with a time of 2:22:45, good for 10:53/miles.

Mission MSA will be running three in-person half day community walks between September 22nd – October 5th. We’re looking to create a planning committee for each location to help our vision come to life and bring hope and awareness to Mission MSA’s work and those affected by MSA. This fundraising walk will bring our MSA community together across the country for a half day of togetherness and connection and bring in contributions for a good cause.

We want to be sure to involve our MSA community as much as possible, and we’re looking for people interested in partnering with the Mission MSA Staff to plan, organize, and execute our 5k walks. If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, please look at our opportunities to participate below!

Location and Dates:

• San Diego – September 22, 2024
• Dallas – September 29, 2024
• Chicago – October 5, 2024

Time Commitment: On average, 3-4 hours per month with the majority of the work a month prior to the event.Committee Roles and Responsibilities:

• Site-Specific Team Volunteer Lead: As the Site-Specific Team Volunteer Lead, you’ll serve as the primary point of contact for on-site planning alongside Mission MSA staff. Your role involves managing logistics for day-of support, fostering engagement, promoting participation within the MSA Community, and igniting enthusiasm for our cause. If you’re passionate about raising awareness for MSA and skilled in coordinating events, this role is perfect for you. Additionally, you’ll provide essential support for financial aspects related to the event.
• Co-Lead: As a Co-Lead, you’ll work closely with other members of the planning committee to ensure the success of our community walks. Your role involves collaborating on various tasks, sharing responsibilities, and offering support wherever needed. If you thrive in a collaborative environment and enjoy contributing to a meaningful cause, this position is ideal for you.
• Sponsorship Lead: Are you well-connected within your local community and skilled at initiating conversations about potential partnerships? As the Sponsorship Lead, you’ll leverage your network to secure sponsorships and partnerships for our event. Your role is crucial in helping us fundraise effectively and ensure the success of our mission. If you’re enthusiastic about building relationships and passionate about supporting our cause, this role is a perfect fit.
• Silent Auction Lead: As the Silent Auction Lead on the committee, you will oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of the silent auction portion of our community walks. Your role is instrumental in securing valuable auction items, maximizing fundraising opportunities, and ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for participants. If you have a knack for organization, excellent communication skills, and a passion for fundraising, this role offers a great opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

If you are interested in volunteering, please click here.

Each year instead of purchasing Christmas gifts for one another, my brother and I book a trip to a new city to take in a sporting event, eat some local food, load up on local coffee and enjoy a new spot. This year, we opted to take in a soccer match in Raleigh, North Carolina and made our way to a new city this past weekend.

Looking for a road race to do while in North Carolina, I came across the Bridge the Gap 5K in Raleigh which kicked off bright and early at 8AM on Saturday morning. As an early bird, I love a good, early road race and a quick Lyft ride from the hotel to the starting line brought me to the grounds of a local Baptist church where the race kicked off and finished at.

There was a good group of walkers and runners alike at the starting line before the race started; a nice community event, for sure, welcoming participants of all speeds.

The race left the church grounds and then quickly made its way onto Greenway Path, a nice wooded bike path of paved terrain taking runners through the path and a few wooden bridges before the course dumped some residential side roads. The overall terrain of the course felt a touch hilly with a few good hills mixed into the route for good measure. Though the race started early at 8AM, there still was a touch of humidity in the air that aded a nice challenge but was nicely addressed thanks to a water stop on both sides of this out-and-back course.

I finished the Bridge the Gap 5K with a time of 26:43, good for 8:37/miles. A little slower than I would have liked but not terrible given the hills, humidity and late arriving flight the night before.

The Bridge the Gap 5K is a fundraiser for the non-profit organization Refugee Hope Partners. To learn more about their work, please click here.

Yesterday it was back to the West Island section of Fairhaven to take part in the West Island 5K once again. It has been a number of years since I last ran this race but with an open Sunday morning on the calendar it was great to make my way back to this waterfront little community to participate in the 5K race that calls West Island home.

Funds from this road race go to benefit the local West Island community and also helps to support cross-country teams at Fairhaven High School and funds scholarships for local students, as well . This oceanside community is a great little area and some of the locals head out onto the course and cheer runners on along the way.

It can be deceiving how gradually downhill the first mile is only to then realize in the final mile of the race you are generally climbing each step of the way. As runners make the final right hand turn on the course you then are smacked by a nice, uphill finish that isn’t for the faint of heart but runners had a great day to tackle the hilly finish and throngs of supporters cheering you along up the hill never hurts!

The first mile I definitely enjoyed the downhill start a bit too much and needed to pace myself more in the second and third mile. Fortunately, I was able to balance things out a bit and ran the second and third miles at a bit more of a measured pace. I finished the West Island 5K with a time of 25:52, good for 8:19/miles.

In 2012, Jared Campbell decided to run up and down Salt Lake City’s Grandeur Peak for 24 hours, to raise money for air quality advocacy work. The following year, a few friends joined in. The next year: even more. After 11 years, Campbell’s solo project has morphed into Running Up For Air: a worldwide movement with dozens of races, hundreds of runners and tens of thousands of dollars raised around the globe. This is a story about how running builds community that can jump-start change far beyond the trails.