Registration is now open for the West Island 5K run and this is definitely a race to take in this April!

The race takes place in the West Island section of the coastal town of Fairhaven, Massachusetts and the course is USA Track and Field Certified featuring a mostly flat and fast loop throughout scenic West Island. Runners take off on a fast and downhill start and a sharp uphill incline into the finish line adds a really nice challenge into the race.  Each mile will be marked and a water station will be fully stocked at the 1.5-mile point. Throughout the course, local residents line the route particularly at the finish line cheering runners into the finish.

In addition to running a really nice course, runners can feel good about supporting a great cause when registering for the race as all proceeds go to the Fairhaven High School Cross Country program and to the non-profit, Strive and Achieve.

I have run the West Island 5K a couple times and highly recommend the race. For a previous race recap, click here.

Be sure to give a “Like” to the West Island 5K on Facebook by clicking here to keep up to date with race day details and additional information.

To register for the West Island 5K, please click here. Use discount code RUNCLUB5OFF to save $5 off your registration fee!

On Sunday, May 3rd I will be heading to Providence, Rhode Island to run the Providence Marathon. You  might think I am crazy to run another marathon but this year I have a good reason to run 26.2 miles. (Okay, I might be a little bit crazy, too)

My father, Mike, has been diagnosed with MSA, also known as Multiple System Atrophy. If you are like me, prior to my dad’s diagnosis I had never heard of MSA and so as we continue the  journey through the world of MSA I wander through the confusion as to what the disease is and have begun exploring the nuanced facets of a disease so few people know about.

The Multiple System Atrophy Coalition has a primary purpose of assisting researchers to find a cure. In the meantime, The Coalition also provides much needed patient and caregiver support, educational resources, and advocacy to create awareness and to fight for issues important to the MSA community.

My dad has always been there for me and now it’s time to do my part and I ask you to join me in trying to find a cure for MSA. I wish there was a simple answer with this disease; that with “x” treatment or with “y” pill he would be better but I understand it’s just not this simple.

Running 26.2 mile sure isn’t easy but when compared to what my dad and all those battling MSA are up again it pales in comparison. Pounding the pavement to raise awareness and funds for MSA; let’s do this!

So, will you join me in helping work to find a cure for MSA?

Please consider supporting my efforts with a donation today. Click here to donate online!

Woohoo! Proud to have been chosen as a 2020 Nuun Hydration Ambassador! Loved serving as an ambassador in 2019 and look forward to another great year ahead!

For more information about Nuun, please be sure to check out their website by clicking here.

Looking for a late spring run this year? Join me at The Providence Marathon in Providence, Rhode Island!

The Providence Marathon (formerly known as Rhode Races Providence) is returning on May 3, 2020 for another fun day of running through the heart of beautiful Providence, Rhode Island! Join thousands of runners across three distances and experience this scenic spring race with new ownership committed to making it the premier running event in the region. With all races starting and finishing right in downtown Providence, you’ll celebrate with a revamped after party featuring delicious craft beer, free food, great tunes, and some incredible race swag!

The race features something for runners of all distances with a full marathon, half-marathon and a 5K option available for runners.

To register for one of The Providence Marathon races, please click here.

See you at the starting line!

Happy New Year, running friends! Hope you have a great year ahead of meeting running goals, having fun, running in new places and supporting many great causes through charity running. Please keep in touch throughout 2020 so we can share running tips, race reviews and maybe even run together!

This morning Mrs. Running Griffin and I made our way up to Needham, Massachusetts for the Needham New Year’s Day 5K. We have not done this race before so were looking forward to tackling a new course. Race conditions were quite nice for January 1st and though I toyed with the idea of running in shorts, thankfully I kept the running pants on as there was a cool breeze that swept across the course from time to time.

In the first mile I had an added challenge of having to hurdle a young kid who tripped when two dog leases (one running, one on the sidelines) became tangled and took the young lad to the ground. Thankfully I was spry enough to avoid trampling the kid!

The course was a really nice run and took runners through mainly residential roads of Needham. The Needham community was quite nice and many houses were what we will just say are a touch out of our price range. There were some fans out on the course cheering runners on which is always a nice touch on a 5K course. Each mile was marked on the course and the only real drawback to the race was that there was no water stop on the course. I know it’s January and I know it is a 5K but to me each race should have a water stop on the course.

In the 3rd mile of the race was a nice hill that had an added element of strong headwind to contend with but I cruised along the uphill stretch quite well. Overall, I felt solid on the course and crossed the finish line with a time of 23:57, good for 7:42/miles. Not a bad way to start off the new year and look forward to some more good running over the next 365 days!