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!

To you and yours, a very Merry Christmas from The Running Griffin! Enjoy the ham today and then get back out there tomorrow!

Running a race on New Year’s Day is always a great time! Often times some folks are still shaking off the holiday festivities that went into the wee morning and it is inevitable that some new runners sprint off the starting line telling themselves that this is the year to add exercise back into their lives.

I’d recommend signing up the the Shawn Osborne New Years Day Memorial 5k to be held in Hanson, Massachusetts on 01/01/12. The race is sponsored by Country Rentals and the proceeds from the race go to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

To register for this race, please click here to sign up. First 500 registrations receive a tee shirt!!