Yesterday I took place in the Holyoke Police Foot Pursuit 3.5 Mile Race which started and finished at the Holyoke Elks Lodge 902. The race takes you out along the packed stone and dirt path along Ashley Reservoir therefore, for the most part, the race is pretty flat except for a slight uphill finish the last half-mile.

The organization of the race was extremely well done from start to finish and about 350 runners made their way out for this inaugural race. After the national anthem was sung, a Holyoke police officer in a cruiser parked at the starting line made a call to police dispatch advising that the Holyoke Police Department was in pursuit of 350 runners who thought they could outrun the HPD. After permission to chase was granted, an officer fired off some shots to start of the race. Runners headed out along the 3.5 mile course and any runner that crossed the finish line before the first Holyoke police officer that did received a special medal.

There were different law enforcement teams that ran the race and a police academy class that ran together in police academy fashion was a nice touch to the race.

The race shirts were extremely creative for this race complete with a running pig logo on the front and a badge with all the race sponsors listed within it on the back.

I completed the Holyoke Police Foot Pursuit 3.5 Mile Race in 26:57 or 7:42/mile.

Today was the 28th anniversary of the James Joyce Ramble. The James Joyce Ramble starts off at The Endicott Estate in Dedham, MA and runs throughout Dedham for a 10k course.

The course has some pretty difficult uphills, especially as you make your way through the campus of the prestigious Noble & Greenough School.

What makes this race a really great race is that along the entire course there are folks dressed up in period clothing reading from James Joyce novels. Perhaps it could be a passage from Ulysses you hear at one turn or some words from Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man at the next, but having folks reading as you race by is really a unique thing.

The weather today was perfect for a race and finishing back at The Endicott Estate there was plenty of vendors to check out and food/drink to enjoy. A UFO from Harpoon Brewery tasted really good after the 10k race today.

Finished the 10k James Joyce Ramble today with a chip time of 52:14 or 8:25/miles.

The Thirsty Irish Runners are bringing back the Dedham Four on the Fourth this year. The race will take place on the 4th of July and starts at 9AM which provides you with plenty of time post-race for the family cookouts and fireworks. With a low pre-registration fee of $20.00 and cash prizes awarded, this race is going to be one you won’t want to miss. A post-race BBQ will also be available!

All proceeds from this race will be donated to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

PDF Race Application

Active.com Race Registration

No I didn’t run into the white Canadian reggae music phenomenon of the 90’s best known for his song Informer. Rather, this Easter weekend it actually was snowing in Greenfield, MA.

This Saturday was the NELCWIT 5K Race Against Violence and the weather was a bit out of the ordinary for a late April race. Heavy rain mixed with snow and hail was the weather in store for this chilly Saturday race and the weather did not let up for the entire race. The race started at the YMCA in Greenfield and took you out of the downtown Greenfield area through a relatively residential neighborhood. Some tough terrain through a dirt access road near a pond made for some pretty interesting Easter hops over some puddles but once through this stretch the race finished on a predominantly downhill terrain heading back toward the YMCA. After a quick little up-hill in front of the courthouse and then onto the sidewalk at mile 3, a quick sprint to the finish ended of the race.

Final time was 24:23 which is 7:50/miles.

After such a cold and rainy race, coffee was much needed. Thanks to Greenfield Coffee for doing the trick!

About NELCWIT:

Since 1976, NELCWIT has been working to build safety, justice, and dignity for all.  Serving Franklin County and the North Quabbin region of western Massachusetts, we offer safety planning, advocacy, and support to anyone who has survived domestic or sexual abuse, and prevention education for our community, especially area youth. We are now 35 years old! Since 1976, our programs have helped over 14,000 women, children, and men.

Here is a message I received from the Parkway Running Club about the Walter Burgess Scholarship to the American Running Camp:

Walter Burgess Scholarship – Apply Now!Deadline May 19, 2011

The Parkway Running Club sponsors young runners every year by offering scholarships to the American Running Camp(ARC). All past recipients have raved about the experience!If you or anyone you know might be interested, please go to our website to apply for a Walter Burgess Scholarship to attend ARC this summer, August 1-6. We really like to support local runners. Please feel free to forward this to friends, family, schools or organizations with high school or college runners who may be interested. PRC looks forward to supporting another group of enthusiastic runners this year! Thanks! The Parkway Running Club