Runners often know the pain and woes of chafing all too well. Chafing can be caused a variety of different ways ranging from the uncomfortable friction chafing caused by our running gear or the chapped skin sort of chafing most prevalent in cold weather running. Fortunately, thanks to Squirrel’s Nut Butter runners now have an all-natural solution to help alleviate chafed and chapped skin.

Squirrel’s Nut Butter a multi-purpose salve that works extremely well for preventing chafing and preventing blisters on feet and also helps restore skin chafed on the face, hands, body and feet.

Athletes will love this all-natural product perfect for ultra runners, marathoners, mountain bikers, road cyclists, triathletes, hikers/backpackers, endurance horse riders, nurses, river runners, fire fighters, chronic eczema sufferers, diaper rash, massage therapists, paws and noses on dogs and cats, mushroom hunters, motorcycle enthusiasts, and just people who enjoy softer skin. The all-natural ingredients include coconut oil, cocoa butter, bees wax, vitamin E oil and essential oils.

In addition to using Squirrel’s Nut Butter for my own running use, the all-natural and soft ingredients make this a perfect chapped lips/face treatment for the cold winter months we are currently in the middle of here in New England. My daughter has used the product on chapped skin caused during her soccer matches and we have been thoroughly impressed with the results.

To purchase Squirrel’s Nut Butter, please click here to purchase online. For more information about the Squirrel’s Nut Butter lineup of offerings please click here to check out their website and be sure to “Like” them on Facebook by clicking here.

Join The Running Griffin in kicking off the New Year right at the MA FOP Lodge #28 5th Annual New Year’s Day Frozen Five Mile Run.

Taking place in Norton, Massachusetts on New Year’s morning, this race is a great five mile course and is a great way to ensure you don’t procrastinate your running goals as you will be tackling a five miler on the first day of 2017. I have run this race in the past and this is one run you will not want to miss!

The five mile course is a very fair course with a couple hills mixed in and will challenge runners to push themselves throughout the course. Registration comes complete with tee-shirts, awards and a post run full breakfast all for only $25.00! The hot breakfast certainly has come in handy for both refueling and for warming up in past years. The race registration fee increases on December 16th so be sure to register today!

Runners can register for the race by clicking here.

Proceeds from this race benefit the Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #28 activities.

See you on New Year’s Day in Norton!

The cold winter weather rolled into New England this weekend but the day could not have been better for the 1st Annual The Running of the Elves 5K held in Taunton, Massachusetts. Though the air was crisp and the wind was blowing pretty strong at points, the sun was out as runners made their way out onto the 5K course.

The Running of the Elves course took runners through residential neighborhoods of the City of Taunton. The course was for the most part rather flat with a couple of slight inclines mixed in for good measure. Volunteers manned a water station about half-way into the race and the Taunton Police Department did an amazing job patrolling the course in cruisers and on three motorcycles and on foot at the busier intersections.

Race organizers did a remarkable job getting the race off right on time which often times can be a challenge particularly for a race in its first year. A nice touch at this race was a bonfire that kept runners warm prior to heading out onto the course.

Throughout the race, I felt rather strong running and even when a stiff headwind kicked in I was able to hunker down and keep the legs moving pretty well. I could tell throughout the race I was going to finish in the Top 5 and therefore I turned my attention to focusing on my breathing and to push myself whenever possible. I finished The Running of the Elves with a time of 23:29, good for a solid 7:33/miles and good for 4th place overall!

The Running of the Elves has a lot to be proud of having run a great race for their inaugural road race. The race benefits PRIDE Inc. which is where the race kicked off and ended. PRIDE, Inc. is a non-profit organization providing quality vocational, alternative residential and social programs for individuals with cognitive, developmental and/or intellectual disabilities in the southeast Massachusetts area. Their programs and services work toward improving the quality of life for individuals of all abilities and their families. Their employment philosophy is that everyone who wants to work can work and be able to live in the most independent situation of their choice.

PRIDE Inc. offers employment services, adult foster care, PCA management, day habilitation, community day services, and work force training and also offers competitively-priced contract and packaging services for businesses wishing to support the work efforts of individuals with disabilities.

On Sunday morning it was off to the coastal community of Marion, Massachusetts for the 2016 Guard Oil Turkey Trot 5K. Located with a start and finish on the grounds of the prestigious Tabor Academy overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the race time temperatures were cool and overcast and the chill of the air could certainly be felt prior to heading out onto the course.

Sponsored by the Marion Recreation Department, the race features a relatively flat course that takes runners around the neighborhood circling Tabor Academy on residential roads and through the quaint downtown Marion section of town complete with historic churches, a general store, a small restaurant and houses that overlook the ocean. Running past a croquet field and tennis courts added to the idyllic charm of the neighborhood and certainly this spot must be prime real estate in the summer months.

Fortunately, my knee issue seems to be much better as it didn’t hurt too bad during this race but instead I seemed to be slowed a bit due to having given blood the day before the race. I couldn’t get much energy flowing but maintained a nice, paced run throughout the race. If it’s not one thing it’s another it seems. I finished the 2016 Guard Oil Turkey Trot 5K with a time of 26:52, good for 8:38/miles. Not a bad overall result, just not my best.

Anyone running a turkey trot Thanksgiving morning? Which one are you doing?