Fall was certainly in the air this crisp November morning as I made way to Norton, MA for the 1 Step Closer 2 Home 5k. This was the inaugural year for the 5k and the group that put the race together did an absolutely remarkable job.

The race started and finished at the New Testament Baptist Church and ran through residential roads near the church. The race course was a red and orange tree-lined course that had a good amount of rolling hills from start to finish but since it was an out and back in the back of your mind while working up the uphills you could relish heading back down them shortly. The race had good support along the course with water stops and miles 1 and 2 and walkers also went out on the 5k course about 30 minutes before the run so as you passed by the walkers they were able to give you a cheer.

I finished the 1 Step Closer 2 Home 5k with a time of 23:20 for 7:30/miles.

About 1 Step Closer 2 Home

I met with the race director Stacy prior to the race and she told me that several adopted children and adults registered to run today’s race.

1 Step Closer 2 Home is an adoption development program that works to ensure that this dream becomes a reality for all children.  One way it does this is through an Adoption Assistance Fund.  This is new to their program.  Starting in 2012, prospective adoptive families will be able to file an application with 1 Step Closer 2 Home for financial assistance with their adoption expenses.

Another way is their support of Casa Bernabe orphanage in Guatemala.  They send a mission team to the field each year to help the orphanage with a list of projects. 

If you are in need of a new pair of running shoes, here is a 40% coupon good at Reebok for next week! Just click the link below to print your Friends and Family Discount.

FriendsandFamilyCoupon

Mrs. Running Griffin checking in from the running trails here. As Kevin was previously booked to go and run a race in Fall River on Sunday, I was off to Stonehill College in Easton, MA for the James Wright Memorial 5k.

Held on the campus of Stonehill College, the James Wright Memorial 5k was a remarkably well organized inaugural race with over 250 runners and walkers taking part in the event. The course was a really fair running route with a hill mixed in around mile 1 and another near mile 2 and the racing took place for the most part on paved roads throughout the college campus. Perfect racing weather for a 5k with the crisp autumn air matching the aesthetic charm of a New England road race complete with trees changing leaves and the fall really setting in.

Post-race refreshments included oranges and water and the Yasso frozen yogurt truck provided a nice post-race treat!

The race was held in memory of James Wright and the proceeds from the race went to The James Wright Memorial Fund. James died of a heart attack at home on February 12, 2011 at the age of 25. James grew up in nearby Stoughton, MA and was involved in athletics including football and baseball. About a year before James passed away, he became involved in saving pit bulls from being euthanized. The James Wright Memorial Fund will provide financial assistance to a college bound student athlete from Stoughton and will continue to save defenseless dogs from being euthanized. In 2011, Sean O’Malley was presented the scholarship and is currently attending the University of Maine and seven pit bulls were placed in a permanent home this year.

I finished the 5k race with a time of 34:12 or 11:01/miles. I hope this race takes place again next year as I certainly would love to run it again!

 

Headed south down Route 24 to Fall River for today’s race, the FLY Foundation 5k. The race started in front of the Bank Five on North Main Street and finished in front of the Tap House Grille on South Main Street. The race took runners through an urban course that had a good mix of hills and flats and ran along the harbor and by Battleship Cove, which is the world’s largest naval ship exhibit located right here in Massachusetts.

There were two water stops along the course and for the most part the support of volunteers was spot on. At one point in the race, though, the front of the pack, which I was part of, was not told to turn and loop back at a certain section. Fortunately I was stopped just a few paces past where we were supposed to turn but some of the other runners ran a good .25 miles in the wrong direction before doubling back.

The finish of the race was quite a challenge as there was a humdinger of a hill that took runners past the Fall River Herald News office before turning back onto South Main Street for the finishing stretch.

A good post-race party took place at the Tap House Grille which boasted about 25 beers on draft and served up some delicious post-race pasta which really hit the spot.

I finished up the 5k with a time of 24:02 or 7:45/miles.

About The FLY Foundation

The FLY Foundation is a registered non-profit organization in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, providing support to young adults in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, aged 19-39, who have been diagnosed with cancer. The organization was founded by Bristol, RI residents Julia & Peter Saulino, following Julia’s lymphoma diagnosis at age twenty-nine. To date, The FLY Foundation has provided financial support to five local young adults undergoing cancer treatment.

 

Last Sunday morning it was off to the Dorchester section of Boston for the Firefighters 10k. The race started and finished at the Florian Hall and took runners along a 10k course out toward the campus of UMass-Boston along the scenic Boston Harbor. As with any good firefighter race, the race was paced by an antique fire truck and a Boston Fire Department boat sprayed water from the water cannons out in the harbor.

The course was relatively flat particularly while running along the UMass-Boston campus and past the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. A couple of quick inclines were on the draw bridge section of Morrissey Boulevard. The race was well supported in terms of ample water stops and details provided along the course.

After the race, a pretty nice party took place in the parking lot of the Florian Hall with water, oranges and bananas being provided along with both Coors Light and Sam Adams.

Finished the Boston Firefighters 10k in 52:54 or 8:32/miles.