Beth Ann and I headed to Derry, New Hampshire to take part in the Boston Prep 16 Miler which is put on by the Greater Derry Track Club. Beth Ann asked if I would run with her today and I was of course, glad to do so.

The course itself has been described by many as being one of the toughest courses in the area and those folks would be correct. There is a great many hills mixed into the race as you go up and down scenic country roads in chilly New Hampshire. At the starting gun it was a balmy 18 degrees which made for some chilly temperatures and some extra layers of clothes being needed.

For the most part, the support along the course was quite good. Ample water, Gatorade and some Gu packs were distributed along the course. The volunteers all seemed quite glad to be out there helping, except for one peach who left a bad taste in my mouth.

One downside of the race was the failure to live up to race expectations. The race website advertised that all runners received a tech shirt, however, the shirts were tee-shirts, not technical shirts. This is pretty bad especially given the price of the race and is a cheap corner to cut.

That said, running with Beth Ann was great. Though at times she would tell me to just “go on” I committed to running with her. For all that Beth Ann has been through in the past year inclusive of two months of hospitalization due to preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome and delivering our daughter early many people would simply hang up their running sneakers and give up. But less than 6 months after all of this, Beth Ann is out there training for a marathon and is not just my hero but should be an inspiration to any runner or someone thinking of taking up running.

With that, nice job out there today Beth Ann! Just like you needed my encouragement on a couple of those uphills, there is so much more that I could not do without you!

One of the great races of January is the Weary Traveler 4.9 mile race in Bourne, Massachusetts. Just over the Bourne Bridge on Cape Cod, the Weary Traveler is typically a icy course and the weather tends to be pretty seasonally cold which makes for a tough but enjoyable race. Proceeds from the race benefit the Bourne Conservation Trust which is a private nonprofit land trust with a primary objective of acquiring land and leaving it in its natural state to: protect habitats, provide groundwater recharge, preserve rural ambience, and make it available for recreational and educational purposes

However, last weekend it was rather warm for January and the Weary Traveler course didn’t feature the standard icy turn here and there. A really great day for running and after the 4.9 mile race what is better than clam fritters, chowder and a cold beer?

The course is a moderately challenging 4.9 miles with some decent rolling hills mixed in throughout the course. I felt really good out there and noticed that the field I was running with usually is a ways ahead of me in other race.

Crossing the finish line, final time for the 4.9 mile race was 35:31, good for one of my best paces of late of 7:14/mile!

In New England, even though the temperature today reached 60 degrees, we are certainly not immune to the harsh elements associated with winter. Ensuring that you have the proper equipment when going out on a winter run is essential to guarantee that your body stays warm and muscles stay loose while out on a run.

I recommend you check out the company Skye Hide Arm Warmers. Skye Hide arm warmers designed specifically for the runner created with a four way stretch spandex material that breathes and moves with your body.

Their products are MADE IN THE U.S.A. – always the coolest and most unique patterns in arm warmers, they offer brand new prints monthly designed with a four stretch breathable fabric that moves with your body. The top of the sleeve has a nonslip one half inch elastic band that prevents them from slipping. Great for athletes when worn outdoors they provide added UV protection and aid in body temperature regulation by offering extra warmth on those early morning or late afternoon workouts fun for everyday wear too!

To check out Skye Hide Arm Warmers’ online store, please click here.

Headed just a short distance to Hanson, MA this morning for a great 5k race to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Shawn Osborn New Years Day Memorial 5k kicked off at 10AM and started and finished at Country Rentals. The owner of Country Rentals is running the Boston Marathon for the Dana-Farber team and has set out to try and raise $20,000 for the charity!

The race was very well organized and kicked off at 10AM on the dot. The course was a 5k loop through country residential roads with nothing too major in terms of hills; rather, the course featured more rolling hills throughout the course instead. There was great police presence at the intersections and the run also featured a 2 mile walk, as well. A water stop was just around the one mile mark and for a January morning run, though it was brisk at the start it warmed up pretty nicely along the course with temps getting up to the mid to high 40’s.

The race director announced that the awards ceremony would take place down the road at Venus 3 down the road and that each runner would receive a free beer complements of the restaurant!

Actually came in 2nd in my age division today and felt pretty good out on the course. Finished the race with a time of 23:08 good for 7:26/miles.

Happy New Years!