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.

Gotta love local racing! Traveled less than a mile today to the Williams Intermediate School in Bridgewater to take part in the Frances Morast 5k to Beat Ovarian Cancer. Held in conjunction with Ovations, which has raised over $1.5 million for ovarian cancer research, the race is held in memory of Morast, a teacher within the Bridgewater school system who passed away from ovarian cancer. A great turnout was present at the event and with a crisp fall air the morning was perfect for a 5k.

This year was the first time there was a 5k run component as the past 3 years have been a walk alone. Adding the run to the event was a great idea to bring out more participants. The race ran from the Williams Intermediate School toward St. Thomas Aquinas Church and then down Main Street back toward historic downtown Bridgewater. After running through Central Square it was a quick sprint down South Street to get to the finish line back at the Williams School.

As of current, the race raised a mighty $12,275 in donations to help find a cure for ovarian cancer. A portion of the proceeds also are being donated to the Citizens Scholarship Fund which provides a scholarship in Morast’s name to a graduating senior.

I finished up the run in fourth place overall with a time of 24:13 or 7:47/miles.

 

Register today for the 1 Step Closer 2 Home 5k to be held in Norton, MA on Saturday, November 5th. The race starts and finishes at the New Testament Baptist Church located at 1 New Taunton Avenue in Norton. There is a kids’ fun run that kicks off at 8:30 and a 5k walk that starts at 8:45 followed lastly by the 5k run which starts at 9:15AM. An awards ceremony will follow the race at 10AM.

Proceeds from this race will be used in two ways. 1 Step Closer 2 Home reinforces the notion that the world should be a place where all children are valued and should be allowed to grow up happy, safe and healthy. An Adoption Assistance Fund will allow prospective adoptive families to file an application with New Testament Baptist Church for financial assistance with their adoption expenses. The other beneficiary of the proceeds from this race will be the Casa Bernabe orphanage in Guatemala where a local mission team is dispatched to annually to assist the orphanage.

To register for this 5k and help support these great causes, please click here. To see the race course, click here.

I have always seen different shoe inserts at different race expos and never really thought I needed them for my own running adventures. To me, it seemed as though perhaps my own running sneakers were good enough and that a sneaker insert was more for someone with some sort of strange knee or foot related ailment.

Recently, I came across Sof Sole’s FIT insoles and decided to give them a try. My race yesterday was the first time I had run with them in and must say the difference was quite remarkable. After fitting the insoles into my racing sneakers, I put the sneakers on and immediately realized an extra level of cushion that embraced both of my feet. Though the sneakers at first seemed as though they might feel a bit heavy, in fact while running the race my feet were supported by the Sof Sole FIT insole and the typical pounding of the pavement that often times beats away at you during the course of the run was dramatically lessened. Post-race my feet felt strong and my legs seemed as though they had a little extra kick in them sprinting into the finish line.

In addition to the Sof Sole FIT insoles, I also recommend that you check out their Anti-Friction Performance socks which are absolutely ideal for runners. I have been using these prior to the insole usage and must say that whether running outside in hot weather or when running and walking on the treadmill at the end of the day, these socks are some of the best around. These socks allow your feet to breathe and hold up nicely on pavement, trails or treadmill surfaces. Another great product from the people at Sof Sole!

Didn’t have to travel far today to get a run in. Headed over to Bridgewater State University for the September 11th 5k Run/Walk which kicked off at 9AM. Following a brief 9/11 memorial service of some music, quick thoughts and moments of silence, a good turnout of BSU students, faculty and local residents took part in the community run.

The 5k was organized in a sort of fun-run fashion and was not a timed course. Mile markers were present at each of the miles and two water stops were staffed along the course. Even though the course was not timed, I felt pretty good running out there today and  a beautiful early fall morning made for ideal running conditions. Miniature American flags marked the turns along the course and the event was a great way to bring the community together. A run around the Bridgewater State campus really highlighted some of the remarkable growth the university is undergoing but also means that a run up Great Hill is of course a given.

What was nice about the race is that it was a $10 donation to participate and the funds raised will be put to good use. Fifty percent of the proceeds will be donated to Homes for Our Troops, which provides housing to soldiers returning home from war, and the other fifty percent will be donated to the Bridgewater Emergency Fund, which provides food and fuel assistance for people in Bridgewater that might need it.