GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon

On January 8, 2017 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Registration is now open for the GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon, a Toronto tradition since 1977. The Marathon is expected to draw upwards of 2,500 participants in a downhill course that is fast and scenic!

The marathon course is fast, downhill, and scenic. Starting at Mel Lastman Square in North York and finishing at Ontario Place, the marathon winds through many of the City’s great neighborhoods. This Toronto favorite is one of the fastest courses you will find anywhere and is a great qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

In addition to the marathon, there is also a half-marathon, 10K, 5K and marathon relay providing some great race options for runners looking to tackle all kinds of challenges.

The main charity partner of the GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon is the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Over the years, run or walk participants have raised more than $7.5 million for The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation!

Runners will receive a technical running shirt and bib with their registration.

As well as entertainment at each aid station, additional “Entertainment Stations” featuring a variety of music or cheering will be located along the course to help keep you motivated and get you to the finish line.

At the end of the race, runners will be able to refuel at a food tent at the finish line and indulge with massages provided by registered massage therapists and physiotherapists.\

For more information about the Toronto Marathon, please visit their website by clicking here. You can also “Like” the race on Facebook by clicking here and can follow the Toronto Marathon on Twitter here.

Marathon to Marathon: Final Year!

On January 7, 2017 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

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As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. This is the final year for the Marathon to Marathon so don’t miss your opportunity to run a great race!

This year is the 22nd annual (and final!) Marathon to Marathon which will be held on June 10, 2017! This Heartland USA Classic is USA Track and Field Certified and Sanctioned, is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, and attracts many athletes from in and around the state of Iowa. Runners are encouraged to toe the starting line in Storm Lake, Iowa and race the course that finishes in the perfectly named Marathon, Iowa.

Come and enjoy small town friendliness and big time fun. The course will have aid, Gatorade, and water stations available every 2.5 miles (stations are closer towards the finish line) and fresh fruit is on the course with GU Energy Gel available at mile markers 10, 15, and 21. All registrants will receive a Dri-Fit shirt as part of their registration fee and medals will be awarded to all marathon finishers.

In addition to the full marathon, the Marathon to Marathon also features a marathon relay option, a half-marathon and a 5K race, as well. Be sure to check out the race site for more details about the race options.

To register for the Marathon to Marathon, please click here. You can also “Like” the race on Facebook by clicking here for additional information about the Marathon to Marathon!

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Rye By The Sea 5K & Duathalon

On January 6, 2017 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

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Registration is now open for the Rye By The Sea 5K Road Race and Duathalon which will be held this year on June 3, 2017 in Rye, New Hampshire.

This 5k walk/run and duathlon (5k run + 17 mile bike + 5k run) takes participants through beautiful conservation trails and along the scenic coastline with views of the Atlantic Ocean while moving through the towns of Rye and North Hampton, New Hampshire. This is a great tune up race for duathletes and triathletes alike!

Proceeds from the Rye By The Sea race series benefits Annie’s Angels. Annie’s Angels is a non-profit that helps the community through its grant program. Grants awarded through Annie’s Angels are not limited to a specific type of expense. In addition to paying medical bills, grant money may be used for a variety of purposes such as purchasing medical equipment, buying gas to commute to and from treatments, catching up household bills, and even covering the cost of a special needs camp.

The second way Annie’s Angels gives back to the commnunity is through their Fiscal Sponsorship program. Annie’s Angels can step in as fiscal sponsor of a fundraising event. Fiscal sponsorship includes handling bookkeeping duties, preparing deposits, and taking care of IRS reporting. Annie’s Angels is a 501(c)(3) charity, and therefore is not liable for the same taxation that an individual would be subjected to without the fiscal sponsorship.

For more information about the Rye By The Sea 5K and Duathalon and to register for one of the race options, please click here. For more information about all the work Annie’s Angels does within the community, please click here to “Like” the non-profit’s page on Facebook.

The Hogeye Marathon: It’s a Pretty Pig Deal

On January 5, 2017 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

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Registration is now open for The Hogeye Marathon series and it’s a pretty pig deal that you go and register for this race today! The Hogeye will take place on April 8, 2017. The Hogeye Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier so if you are looking for a race to qualify for the 2018 Boston Marathon this one is for you!

This year marks the 41st year that The Hogeye has been run and features full marathon, a half-marathon and a marathon relay. In addition to the marathon series of races, there is also a 5K option which makes The Hogeye the perfect event for runners of all abilities.

This year’s race has a new course and runners will be running in Springdale, Arkansas as they tackle their respective challenge. The new course will take runners past the city’s five major parks and, as in previous years, will include a portion of the Lake Fayetteville Trail. The course will be run primarily on Springdale streets, but sections will run through Johnson and Fayetteville, and a small portion of the 26.2-mile course will take place on the Razorback Greenway.

The Hogeye has some of the most reasonable registration fees around with the marathon priced at $80 and the half-marathon running $60.

All marathon and half-marathon finishers will receive a medal upon completion of the course. Tech shirts are also provided to all runners as part of the entry fee.

For more information about The Hogeye Marathon, please click here. Be sure to give a “Like” to The Hogeye on Facebook by clicking here.

MAFOP Lodge #28 Frozen Five Miler

On January 3, 2017 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Kicking off the New Year right, it was off to Norton, Massachusetts on New Year’s Day for the MAFOP Lodge #28 5th Annual Frozen Five Miler. Kicking off bright and early at 9AM it was time for runners to shake off the New Year’s Eve cobwebs and to toe the starting line for a five mile race that features a great course, a nice post-race meal and serves as one of the finest New Year’s Day races you can find.

The course had a good sheen of some black ice along the route due to some heavy rains and cold, winter temperatures the night before which added a nice additional element for runners to contend with at certain spots along the course. The course overall seems to climb more than it has any downhill spots and serves as a really nice, challenging race to start the year off with.

I finished the MAFOP Lodge #28 5th Annual Frozen Five Miler with a time of 42:10, good for 8:26/miles. I felt strong on the course and was pleased overall with this time given I have been dealing with some plantar fascitis issues causing me to seek the assistance of physical therapy recently. Keep on fighting through and keep on running!