Today only! Take advantage of $5 off registration fee for the Run for Jess 5K in memory of what would have been Jess’s birthday today.

The 6th Annual Run for Jess is in remembrance of Jessica Thurston, who passed away from breast cancer. Jessica fought her battle for 2 years but ultimately succumbed to the disease on 8/30/2013. Jessica was an an avid runner and lover of life. Please come join us on 8/31/2019 to remember Jess, and help support the Jessica C. Thurston Memorial Fund.

To honor her memory the Jessica C. Thurston Memorial Fund was established by her family and friends. By holding events throughout the year, and raising funds for breast cancer research it is our sincerest hope to one day put an end to this dreaded disease. We have also been able to support graduating students at the East Bridgewater High School with a scholarship in Jess’s name.

The Jessica C. Thurston Memorial Fund is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization.

I have run this race a few times since it started and the race is absolutely a must run for those looking for a great course, the ability to support a meaningful organization and the post-race picnic complete with food, raffles and a cash bar. To register today and save $5 off your registration fee, please click here.

After putting in a full day in the office one of the best ways to unwind is to go for a run! So yesterday after doing big things in the insurance industry it was off to South Boston for the Jim Kane Sugar Bowl 5K.

Two of my colleagues joined me at the starting line and tackled the run on what was a perfect night for running. Having run the Sugar Bowl in the past, this mid-July race has a propensity for being run on an absolutely scorching night but last night afforded runners temperatures that were in the low 70’s with a little bit of a breeze coming off the ocean and overcast skies that didn’t hurt either.

The Sugar Bowl 5K starts and finishes at the end of Carson Park right near the Boston Teachers Union building. The course is quite flat as runners make their way alongside the beach and the water and the road in the heart of Southie is closed down to all traffic for the race.

Last night I was feeling quite strong on the course and logged a sub-7 first mile and didn’t feel like letting up. I took the water on the course just past the first mile marker and around the two mile mark, as well, and wanted to keep up a good pace throughout the race. With the weather in my favor and with an overall flat course it was a good race to stretch the legs out on and focus on trying to maintain some speed.

I finished the Jim Kane Sugar Bowl with a time of 22:23, good for 7:12/miles. Last year I ran the race with a time of 23:07 and the year before that with some intense heat ran an 8:44/mile pace so overall some really nice improvement on this course over the past three years. I’l take it!

Thanks to Mrs. Running Griffin and my colleagues for joining me at the race!

Registration is now open for Pam’s Run and having run this race in the past I assure you that this is a great race you will want to check out. With both a 5K and 10K option, Pam’s Run offers something for every runner and coupled with the fact that the race benefits a great cause be sure sign up for this annual fall run today! This race is held on October 20th and discount entry fees are now available!

Run through the streets of Wayland, Massachusetts, Pam’s Run has an absolutely brilliant New England course and is a remarkably scenic fall run that is a must-run for those looking for a great course packed with autumn foliage.

All proceeds from Pam’s Run support Neighbor Brigade. Neighbor Brigade establishes community-specific networks of volunteers that can be mobilized to help residents facing sudden crisis manage day-to-day tasks such as meal preparation, rides, and basic household chores. Using web-based coordination tools, we manage recipient requests and the recruitment of volunteers to fulfill those requests sensitively, quickly and free of charge.

In addition to the 5K and 10K option, there are also kids races available so the event is truly a great morning of running for the entire family! After the race, food and live music is available for everyone to enjoy.

In the past I have run the 10K option at Pam’s Run and a previous 5 mile option, as well. Here is a race recap from the 10K so you can get a feel for what to expect and get excited for this race! Definitely one to add to your race calendar today!

To register for Pam’s Run, please click here. Be sure to also give them a “Like” on Facebook here.

 

The ALS Therapy Development Institute is the top non-profit biotechnology organization dedicated to developing effective treatments for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and are hosting the upcoming Race 4 Research 5K.

The Race 4 Research 5K will take place on Sunday, August 18th in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the 5K run and walk will bring together more than 400 participants from across the Greater Boston community each year. The event raises money and awareness for the fight against ALS. The ALS TDI Race 4 Research brings attention to the critical role scientific research plays in bringing us closer to effective treatments and a cure for ALS.

Race 4 Research participants will walk, run or roll through Technology Square, Cambridge’s biotechnology hotspot. As an added fun nuance to the race, dress in your nerdiest costume and join the chip-timed 5K road race or the  4-mile ALS awareness walk and wheelchair ride along the picturesque Charles River. Let’s celebrate the revenge of the nerds! Let your geek flag fly! Nerdy costumes are encouraged and awards will be given to the best ones!

Once you are done the run or the walk, join your fellow participants at an after party right at the finish line complete with snacks and beer!

I ran this race in 2016 and had a great time at the run. You can read a race recap here and I hope you will register and support this great cause!

To register for the Race 4 Research, please click here. Be sure to also RSVP for the race on Facebook here.

 

Three races in less than 24 hours? You know it!

After Wednesday evening’s Finishes at the 50 it was then off to Mattapoisett, Massachusetts on the 4th of July for the Mattapoisett 5 Miler. I have always heard good things about this race and have wanted to make the trip down to the coastal town for it and this year afforded me with just that opportunity. With a 9AM start time, the race allows for a good 5 mile run before the rest of the 4th of July festivities kick off and a great crowd of runners made their way to the starting line for the race. The race has a very reasonable $20 entry fee and includes a tee-shirt for all pre-registered runners.

To say the race time conditions were hot is an understatement. To say the air felt like an oven would have been offensive to ovens. It was hot, it was humid and it was oppressive. A real July 4th scorcher!

The race course did not disappoint. It was a perfect mix of hills and flat terrain that seemed at time to be more heavily slanted toward hills than flat sections. The people of Mattapoisett came out in throngs to cheer on runners and helped hand out water, helped spray runners and provided the motivational cheers needed at all the right times. One of my favorite groups was within the first half mile of the run where a group was offering runners full donuts on a tray calling them “power pills” and asking “Who’s hungover and needs a donut?” This group was funny and brought smiles to just about every runner going by.

Runners had the opportunity to run through some of the finest neighborhoods of Mattapoisett and the homes along the race route provided for some great things to look at along the run. A truly beautiful stretch of the run was just around the 3 mile mark where runners did a quick loop right along the ocean and around a lighthouse.

As previously noted, the heat certainly played a factor in the run and I took water at just about every official and unofficial water stop along the way. Having run 9.3 miles just a few hours earlier, I could feel the back-to-back racing in my legs but wanted to focus on hydrating properly and tackling the 5 mile race in a smart and efficient manner. There were several runners along the way and at the finish line being tended to by emergency personnel due to dehydration and I hope everyone impacted bounces back soon!

I finished the Mattapoisett 5 Miler with a time of 41:45, good for 8:21/miles. Not too shabby given the conditions and mileage raced the night before so I am happy to take that result! After the race, it was off to sit in the pool for a bit and let the water help loosen up the legs some.

Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July!