Registration is now open for the Genesis Battlegreen Run which will be held in historic Lexington, Massachusetts on November 4th. Runners can choose from either a 5K or 10K course route and all proceeds from the run go to benefit local charities including Habitat for Humanity, the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at Mass General Hospital, scholarship funds and more!

Since its inception in 1996, the Genesis Battlegreen Run has been established as one of the most popular road race events in New England. This race event is unlike any other racing event from start to finish. Rene Rancourt, voice of the Boston Bruins, sends the runners along their way with a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, accompanied by musket fire, courtesy of the Lexington Minutemen. Another signature component of the racing event is the post-race buffet, which includes a variety of food options generously donated by many local restaurants and food vendors.

This event, which has become a Lexington tradition, offers a beautiful course that will challenge runners and walkers alike. After the race, join participants, friends and family for entertainment and a taste of our local food fair!

To register for the Genesis Battlegreen Run please click here to register online. For more information about the Genesis Battlegreen Run Foundation, be sure to check out and “Like” their Facebook page by clicking here.

 

The importance of fueling appropriately before, during and after a tough run is always talked about and sometimes we do ourselves a disservice by knowing we should do more but fail to actually take the steps to do so. Reasons can run the gamut but if you are anything like me it probably has a lot to do with being on the go and not really finding a great option that combines an effective solution with something that doesn’t taste like the bottom of a shoe.

I recently checked out the Protein Energy Meal from Roots of Wisdom and have been impressed with the functionality of the protein shake and the taste of the product and highly recommend you give it a shot!

The goal of Roots of Wisdom is to provide a foundation in leading a mindful life and achieving mind/body happiness. The products are a combination of ancient Ayurvedic wisdom and the latest modern nutraceutical science, which allows one to reach a healthy state of balance. The Roots of Wisdom difference is PranaForce Activation through its synergistic herbal formulations, which increase and facilitate the flow of Pranic Vital Force (Chi in Chinese medicine, the primal life force, the subtle energy and guiding intelligence behind all mind body functions). This which leads to greater mind body awareness.

Some of the advantages of Roots of Wisdom products include:

• Always 100% plant based full of vital Prana Force.
• Always Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly
• Always Gluten Free
• Always Non-GMO
• Always free of artificial ingredients and preservatives

The Chocolate Protein Energy Meal is a tasty option that is packed with 20 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber therefore the shake does a great job filling you up and providing you with some amazing energy and nutrients to both power through the day and to recover after a good workout. The shake can help ease inflammation and boost the immune system therefore with the winter months ahead , now is a great time to start getting the Roots of Wisdom product into your routine.

If you are in the market for a great option for an energy and protein meal, definitely check out Roots of Wisdom. For more information about their line of products, please check out their website by clicking here.

When I was told the course was hilly, the half-marathon was one of the toughest around and that others have noted the half-marathon is “no joke” of a race one thought came to mind: Sign me up!

On November 11th, join me in Monson, Massachusetts for the Monson Memorial Classic Half-Marathon. The half-marathon course has been raved about by prior participants and they will tell you that the race will both delight and challenge you all at the same time.

The Monson Memorial Classic road race was started in 1996, shortly after the deaths of Kelly Waldron and Kathy Waldron Perry. These sisters died eight months apart from different types of cancer. Kathy suffered with melanoma, and Kelly had breast, bone, and liver cancer. They were wonderful, loving people. This race is in their memory, and past proceeds have gone to American Cancer Association of Western Mass, American Lung Association, Quaboag Valley Hospice, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year we are giving proceeds to Griffin’s Friends.

In addition to the amazing course, the Monson Memorial Classic features great food and music at the post-race party! Additional race amenities include long sleeve tech shirts for the first 200 to register for the half-marathon, ale glasses for those who register for the half marathon  and finisher medals to all half-marathon finishers. For those elite runners who read The Running Griffin, there is also prize money available for top finishers!

As an added bonus, the first 100 runners who sign up for both the Monson Memorial Classic and the Amherst Half-Marathon will receive a $10 gift card for the iconic Tree House Brewing!

To register for the Monson Memorial Classic, please click here. Be sure to also “Like” the race on Facebook here. See you in Monson in November and let’s get ready to tackle some hills!

After a good, tough race there is nothing better than finding a refreshing way to take that sweat from your brow and clean off the dirt that may have kicked up on your legs. Now, thanks to our friends at On The Go Towels there is a great option for cleaning off post-race and adding that cool and fresh feeling back after a tough workout.

On The Go Towels are cool, moisturize and deodorize and leave you clean and refreshed in a matter of seconds. Conveniently folded into individual packs small enough to fit your pocket, you can take On The Go wipes anywhere! They are great to keep in the glove-box of your car and ideal to throw in your gym bag with your running sneakers and change of clothes.

On The Go Towels are made in the USA with the highest commitment to quality. Formulated with safe, natural ingredients like aloe vera, ginseng, green tea, witch-hazel and cucumber extracts, On The Go Towels are safe to use on all skin types.

The On The Go Towels can be purchased either directly on their website by clicking here or can be purchased on Amazon or Jet.

With the Labor Day long weekend affording most of us with an extra day to enjoy the final throes of summer, it was nice to be able to sneak in a Monday morning race on Labor Day. It was off to Marshfield, Massachusetts for the Marshfield Hills 5K.

As you can tell by the name of the race, I assumed there would be some hills mixed into the race and some co-workers who have run the race in the past noted it was indeed a hilly course. But with a blast of heat and humidity mixed into the morning, the hills on Monday morning took an extra toll on a course that was hilly but very scenic throughout.

The race started and finished right next to the Marshfield General Store, a classic New England style general store that is now owned by The Office star Steve Carrell and his wife. The general store features the normal general store goods you would expect to find coupled with a little room of Dunder Mifflin and The Office gear, as well. Jams, local food, convenience items, coffee, beer and wine all make the general store both functional and quaint and it was a neat place to kick off a race from.

Though the course overall had some challenging hills mixed into the route, the final mile of the race is where the true test of the legs kicked in. The uphill grade was rough and was amplified well by the heat and humidity. Most of the course was in the sun so little reprieve was offered and the race could have used an extra water stop on the course as the only one available was one hosted by a farm along the course. It was hot and two water stops would have been ideal.

There was some nice neighborly support along the race course and the finish line in front of the general store finish line was pretty well packed with supporters. On the final hill heading toward the finish, some of the locals cheered runners along to help each step up the hill.

Not my best day of racing but a really tough course and some rough running conditions out there so I was pleased to finish with a time of 26:05, good for a 8:23/minute overall pace. Would highly recommend this challenging and scenic 5K course in future years for those looking to push themselves a little bit and who want to enjoy a nice Labor Day weekend run!