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!!

The final race of the Thirsty Irish Runners Grand Prix Series took place today and it was off to Walter’s Run 5k in West Roxbury, MA. The race starts and finishes at the YMCA in West Roxbury and the race is organized by the Parkway Running Club.

Today was a beautiful winter day out there with race time temperature right around 35 degrees but the sun was shining down on the course. The course is somewhat similar to the summertime Corrib Road Race held right around the corner but the hills are in reverse order. There is a good uphill climb leading into and partway through mile 2 but there is a really nice downhill finish for the race.

Great post-race amenities with both food, beverages and raffles galore were available inside the YMCA.

I ran the race feeling really good out there and finished with a time of 23:46 good for 7:40/miles.

About Walter’s Run

In 2004, PRC re-named the race Walter’s Run (go to  www.WaltersRun.org for details) to honor a very special friend and member, Walter Burgess. Walter passed away suddenly in November 2003 at the age of 40 shortly after having completed the Great Floridian Ironman Triathlon. Walter was an active PRC member, Club Secretary and Newsletter Editor. He was an amazing athlete, forever working out either at the Y, on his bike, or running on the roads. More importantly, Walter was an incredible friend and inspiration. He was always there to run the slower members into the finish line, to organize the marathon long runs or group ski trip, to cheer others on, or to give us a big smile after a training run or race no matter the length.

The Boston Globe Santa fund was one of Walter’s favorite charities that he donated to regularly, even as a child. To more fully demonstrate Walter’s love of community and running, we have expanded the organizations receiving proceeds from Walter’s Run to include the YMCA Reach Out Campaign and a fund to send deserving young runners to running camp using Walter Burgess Scholarships.