Headed over to Lakeville, MA this morning for Greg’s Run 5k that started and finished at Apponequet Regional High School. The race was the inaugural running of Greg’s Run and over 300 runners and walkers took part in the event. The race took you through a rather nice residential neighborhood of Lakeville and for the most part the course was pretty flat with a slight uphill finish. The race was remarkably well orchestrated and given the success of the first ever Greg’s Run 5k, I can’t wait to head back for next years event.

Today, I intentionally ran off-pace. Some might question who would admit to such a thing but I did it for the very best reason.

Greg’s Run 5k was Mrs. Running Griffin’s first race back since giving birth to our beautiful daughter Cailin. Mrs. RG, better known as Beth Ann, had quite the complicated pregnancy and was hospitalized with preeclampsia at Tufts Medical Center for about 8 weeks prior to giving birth to our daughter. Needless to say, for a runner the thought of being confined to a bed for two months is about the worst thing possible. But the unknown about both her health and the health of Cailin was far more of a mental weight that Beth Ann was able to carry better than anyone else I could imagine. When Beth Ann gave birth to Cailin (weighing in at 2 lbs, 13 oz) and we learned that Cailin was a healthy, little baby and then finally when Cailin was able to come home after spending about 6 weeks in the NICU at Tufts Medical Center and Brockton Hospital, Beth Ann decided that it was time for her to get her running legs back.

When Beth Ann asked if I would run with her this morning, how could I say no? Since we were apart for 2 months and weren’t able to get our runs in like we normally do throughout the summer, running with Beth Ann for her first 5k back was awesome. Yes I pushed her and told her at one point, “You beat preeclampsia, you can make it up this little hill” but seeing her cross the finish line in front of me was an amazing feeling!

So kudos to Beth Ann for beating me today, it will never happen again! My time for the day was 36:22 for a pace of 11:42/mile and Mrs. Running Griffin finished just ahead of me.

Greg’s Run Scholarship

The Gregory G. Misodoulakis Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established to help perpetuate Greg’s memory for future generations. Multiple scholarships will be awarded each year to a qualified Senior at Apponequet Regional High School who most embodies the fund’s established criteria:

• Volunteer work
  
• Contributes to the Apponequet community
  (Student government, Athletics, DECA, etc.)
• Interest in the Liberal Arts and/or History/Education
• Commitment to academic achievement
  
• Based on financial need

That’s right, your eyes are not deceiving you. I came in 2nd place overall today at the Hearts and Hands for Hope 5k in Brockton, MA today! The first place runner ran a mile in the 5/minute range therefore I gave him a good nod as we passed each other on the out and back course and told him good luck as there was going to be no catching him.

However, I did run a solid 7:07/mile race for a final 5k time of 22:03. I felt really good out there today and even with Tower Hill in the scenic D.W. Field Park mixed into the course I felt my feet and legs working in stride today.

Today’s race benefited Family and Community Resources, Inc. Family and Community Resources (FCR), Inc.  serves individuals and families whose lives are impacted by trauma at home, school, or in their community.  FCR is committed to providing the highest quality of community-based services including advocacy, support, individual and group treatment, case management and community education through its Domestic Violence, Victim Advocacy and Trauma Services for Children, Adolescents and Adults.

FALL RIVER, MA, September 9, 2011: The FLY (Financial Lift for Young Adults with Cancer) Foundation is pleased to announce an upcoming 5k Race & Walk on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 10AM.

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.

The 5k will begin at BankFive, 79 North Main Street, Fall River, MA and finish at The Tap House Grill 159 South Main Street, Fall River, MA, and will be held rain or shine.

Registration Details: A $25 non-refundable entry fee prior to October 16, 2011, $28 thereafter. Checks can be made payable to “The FLY Foundation” and mailed to the FLY Foundation 5K Road Race & Walk, c/o BankFive attention: Stephanie Melo Terra, 79 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720. Race day registration from 8:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at BankFive, 79 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720. Pre-race number pickup on Saturday, October 22, 2011 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at Tap House Grill, 159 South Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720.

You can download a race application here.

More information can be found online at www.theFLYfoundation.org or by contacting race directors , Stephanie Melo Terra (508) 642-7967 and Nelson Terra (508) 989-9680

Headed down to Hingham, MA today for the Melanoma Education Foundation 5 Miler. This 5 mile race took place at the absolutely beautiful Wompatuck State Park in Hingham and the race was part of the Grand Prix series for the Thirsty Irish Runners.

If you have never been to Wompatuck State Park and live in the general Boston area then you must head there for some of the greatest preserved open space around. With great trails both paved and off-road, the park is a great place to either have a race or some training runs at. A state run park like this makes you not gripe about paying taxes!

The course for today’s 5 miler was all on paved trails through the woods. It was an unseasonably warm and humid day in Hingham with temperatures reaching about 80 degrees and the humidity leaving the race shirt in need of a good ringing out post-race. The course was moderately challenging with some pretty good rolling hills throughout the course and a couple of dandy uphills to fend off. There were two quick downhills, appropriately marked with steep grade warning signs, that were in the 4th mile and brought you back down to the starting line grade.

I finished today’s 5 miler with a time of 43:56 for 8:47/miles.

About Melanoma Education Foundation:

• Educates middle and high school health teachers and provides them with free classroom materials and lesson plans.

• Provides complete information about early self-detection and prevention of melanoma in a user-friendly website.

• Conducts talks and facial skin analyzer screenings for area organizations and businesses.

By the end of the 2010–11 school year, the SkinCheck® Class was being taught in over 1,000 schools in 46 states.

A double feature of road racing this weekend with Sunday’s race taking place in Abington, MA. The Jeff Coombs Memorial Road Race was a 5k held in the town where 9/11 victim Jeff Coombs and his family resided. Like all of the victims of September 11th, Coombs has a remarkable legacy that can be read about by clicking here.

After the tragedy of September 11th, Coombs’ family created The Jeffrey Coombs Memorial Foundation.

The Jeffrey Coombs Memorial Foundation was established to provide assistance to area children, youths, and families, and to help fund enrichment programs within Abington schools. The non-profit, 501C-3 organization is in memory of Jeff Coombs, an Abington father of three who died on September 11, 2001 in the WTC Terrorist Attacks. Since the very informal creation of the Foundation in November of 2001, a dedicated and wonderful group of volunteers has raised more than $350,000 with eight road races, three auctions, two yard sales, three teen concerts and a Christmas sale.

Over the years the foundation has awarded numerous grants to Abington public and private schools to enrich the children’s education, 20 scholarships to graduating seniors and students enrolled in private high school, and assisted families in a variety of ways after they found themselves in suddenly difficult situations because of death or illness in the family. Because of the foundation that honors Jeff’s legacy as a loving father, generous friend and caring individual, families have enjoyed vacations and group outings, and received financial help to ease the burden of their current situation. They’ve also been granted small “wishes” to help them adapt to the difficult changes in their lives. Parents have been able to provide their children with the kind of holidays we all are fortunate enough to give our children, all in the name of Jeff.

The 5k race this year was the 10th annual race and started and finished at the Woodsdale School in Abington. An amazing turnout was present of runners and walkers alike and the race was an amazing way to pay tribute not just to Coombs but to all who lost their lives on September 11th. An actual piece of the steel from the World Trade Center was present at the race and a truck from New Jersey that pays tribute to the fallen emergency personnel was also present.

I finished the race in 24:23 or 7:52/miles and was truly touched by the remarkable show of patriotism and remembrance at the race.