Hearts & Hands for Hope 5k Run/Walk to End Domestic Violence

Date: Saturday, October 1, 2011

Location: Start/Finish at Raymond Elementary School (125 Oak Street in Brockton, MA)

Time: 9AM Registration, 10:45AM Kids 1/4 Mile Fun Run, 11:15 AM 5k Run/Walk

Post race party with free buffet at Mickey Malone’s Sports Bar at 347 North Pearl Street in Brockton. To register online or to download a printable application to mail in, please visit Family & Community Resources, Inc.’s website by clicking here.

October is Domestic Violence month, so the FCR hope is to raise awareness and funds to meet the rising need of women and children who seek services and counseling in order to escape the terror, physical abuse and potentially life-threatening harm they face each day. FCR is experiencing a 20% increase in demand for our services over last year, so  fundraising dollars are needed more than ever and your support of this race will go to help them provide the necessary services.

FCR Hope 5K Race Application

I have recently come across LARABAR and have been impressed by the results that they provide.  LÄRABAR is a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices. Made from whole food, each flavor contains no more than nine ingredients. Pure and simple, just as nature intended.

LARABAR does not have a sugary or processed taste to them and instead you know that what you are eating is actually good for you. My personal favorites include the Blueberry Muffin LARABAR and the Carrot Cake LARABAR. Enjoying a LARABAR allows you to have a nutritious and gluten-free boost of energy that does not leave you with a heavy feeling if used as a pre-run fuel.

LARABAR products are perfect for both runners and non-runners alike and are ideal for people on various sort of diets.

Certainly there are some amazing bars out there on the market and LARABAR ranks up there with some of the best. They are healthy and natural and are an absolutely great pre-race or post-race snack. Make sure you head out today and pick up yours today or log into their website and order them online.

The Abington, Massachusetts Tricentennial will be taking place in 2012 and today was the first of three races that will help to raise money for the town’s celebration. The towns of Abington, Whitman and Rockland all used to fall under the singular town of Abington but today they are three distinct towns and each of the three towns will be hosting  a road race and then a half-marathon to celebrate the 300th birthday.

Today’s race was in Rockland and started at the Memorial Park Elementary School. With Hurricane Irene approaching the area, it was good to get a race in today since tomorrow is likely going to be a wash, pun intended. The race started off at 9AM and the temperature was in the mid 70’s but as the New England saying goes, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” Pretty nice turnout for the race and the Colonial Road Runners handled some of the racing logistics.

The course itself ran through both downtown Rockland and then through some residential neighborhoods. It was a rather fair course with some pretty good uphills mixed into some down hills and some rolling flat terrain. Felt really good going out this morning and the humidity didn’t bug me too much today.

Finished with a time of 23:52 for 7:42/miles. Always love kicking an 8-minute mile booty.

 

There is nothing better than going for a nice evening run to help clear the brain and relieve some stress after a long day in the office. However, the last thing that you really want to deal with is having to worry about dodging cars while out for your nighttime run and thanks to Knuckle Lights my dark hour running has become much easier!

Knuckle Lights are quite lightweight and allow runners to have the safety and security of having double beams on each knuckle and are a great alternative to either having to wear cumbersome reflective vests or run with a flashlight. The Knuckle Lights fit perfectly right onto each knuckle and are no heavier than a standard running GPS watch.

For more information on Knuckle Lights or to find out how to order them, please visit their website by clicking here. Make sure you tell them that The Running Griffin sent you!

Traveled down south to Portsmouth, Rhode Island for the Common Fence Point 5 Miler. Race time was 10AM and the temperature was 85 degrees and the humidity was in pretty full effect. This race was part of the Grand Prix Series for the Thirsty Irish Runners and there was a great turnout of runners who braved the warm temperatures for this 5 mile race.

For the most part the course is a pretty flat course with two moderately steep hills mixed into the course. For a portion of the race you also run along a packed dirt road that brings you up to an area of beach houses and a yacht club. The course has some pretty nice views of Mt. Hope Bay and the Sakonnet River which certainly adds a good aesthetic charm to the race.

The heat coupled with the fact that my racing has been hindered a bit due to my wife’s hospitalization (thankfully she is now home and Baby Running Griffin is doing well in the NICU) sort of kept me off pace but I was glad to cross the finish line. Ended the race with a time of 44:52 or 8:59/miles.