An absolutely perfect New England fall weekend graced runners this weekend who toed the starting line at Pam’s Run in Wayland, Massachusetts. Pam’s Run was selected as the October Grand Prix race for the Thirsty Irish Runners and a great contingent of TIR green joined me at the starting line for the 10K race.

Pam’s Run raises funds for The Neighbor Brigade. Neighbor Brigade establishes and mobilizes networks of community-specific volunteers ready to help immediately and effectively when a crisis strikes due to illness, surgery, or tragedy. Services are currently available in 35 communities in eastern Massachusetts.

Pam’s Run is dedicated to the memory and legacy of Pam Manikas Washek, founder of Neighbor Brigade and a tireless champion for families facing sudden crisis. She founded Neighbor Brigade to help those in crisis manage both emergency and routine needs, with services provided by fellow community members.

The 10K course is a great run through tree-lined residential roads and then down a dirt road past an area known as Duck Pond Farm. This part of the course was amazingly idyllic and reminded me of stretches of the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon course in Vermont. There was a nice incline at the fourth mile marker which challenged the legs quite a bit and then another quick uphill sprint was in the final mile.

I finished Pam’s Run 10K with a time of 51:51, good for 8:20/miles. This race result was good enough for me to earn third place in my age division and though I had to leave before taking home the bling I’ll be sure to wear the honor of placing with pride!

The Sean D. Biggs Memorial Foundation will host their fourth annual “BIGGSteps Toward Cancer Prevention” 5K road race, a USA Track & Field sanctioned event. The 5K and 1-mile walk will both be held on Sunday, November 13, 2016, at Broadmeadow Elementary School in Needham. The 1-mile walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by the 5K at 10 a.m. Kids dashes for ages up to 12 will be run after the completion of the 5K. The event appeals to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities and includes family-friendly features such as a bounce house, music provided by PressPlay Entertainment, games and hot and cold refreshments. Proceeds from the BIGGSteps event benefit cancer prevention research and local organizations providing cancer treatment and care including Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center and Surgical Pavilion, Needham and Camp Kesem MIT, a free summer camp for children touched by a parent’s cancer.

Sean Biggs was a Needham resident who lost his battle with cancer in 2012. A devoted husband, father, brother, and son, his many accomplishments included qualifying for and running six Boston Marathons, traveling to four different continents, and a successful career focused on the environment and clean energy; all while remaining the most grounded and genuine person that most had ever met. In late September of 2011, Sean was diagnosed with cancer and received treatment at the BID Cancer Center. He fought cancer with the same amazing spirit that he lived his life.

“As we celebrate the second anniversary of the Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center and Surgical Pavilion, we are thankful for the Sean D. Biggs Memorial Foundation’s help in carrying on our mission to deliver high-quality cancer care in a community setting,” said Robb Friedman, MD, Medical Director for the BID Cancer Center.

Kesem is a nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders that supports children through and beyond their parent’s cancer. Kesem’s flagship program, Camp Kesem, provides free summer camp experiences to over 6,000 children across the country through chapters at 86 colleges and universities including Sean’s graduate school alma mater, MIT. “The Kesem experience provides children a community of children who understand them,” commented Kesem CEO, Jane Saccaro. “For many children, that community is the stepping-stone for improved self-esteem, communication and emotional skills, and outlook on life. Our partnership with the Sean D. Biggs Memorial Foundation is critical to our ability to support more and more children touched by a parent’s cancer – including right here in the Boston area.”

The focus of the 4th Annual BIGGSteps Toward Cancer Prevention event is to promote everyday ways people can reduce the risk of developing cancer. Participants will receive cancer prevention information and tips and the Foundation is seeking sponsors to provide a “Runner’s Sun Protection Kit” for those who register to run and walk. The kit will feature a sun-shielding performance hat, sport sunglasses with ultraviolet ray protection, sunscreen and sun-protective lip balm. Local businesses that have already

To register for the 4th Annual BIGGSteps Toward Cancer Prevention 5K, please click here. For more information about the Sean D. Biggs Memorial Foundation, you can also “Like” the Foundation’s page on Facebook by clicking here.

Registration is open for the Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run which will be held in Salem, Massachusetts on November 24, 2016. This race is the largest race on the North Shore and is one that you certainly want to take part in! It was voted Best Holiday Race 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 by North Shore Road Race Guide.

Proceeds from the 13th Annual Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run on Thanksgiving morning benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem. This race will feature close to 2000 runners taking part in a Thanksgiving morning run ideal for burning a few calories before the turkey and trimmings hit the table at your Thanksgiving dinner. With an early start time of 8AM this is race will allow you to have a great run and earn that extra piece of pumpkin pie!

The first 1600 participants get long-sleeved Brooks tech shirts. You can register here by clicking this link: https://racewire.com/register.php?id=6648

You can also “Like” the race on Facebook by clicking here.

You’ve spent your hard earned money on your exercise gear like Running Shorts or Compression Socks and now it’s time to put it to the test. After a grueling workout, you and your Lycra® containing gear are ready for a bath. By the way, Spandex is the generic Lycra® version. Lycra® is a brand name trademarked by DuPont.

After Your Workout

As much as we hate it, we’re all drenched in sweat after a good workout, which means our clothes are, too. If you don’t have time to wash your clothes right after your workout, or you’re too tired like me, then hang dry your workout clothes, making sure there are no wrinkle or overlaps. This prevents your gear from turning into a mildew breeding ground. Gross! It also helps prevent weird stenches from staying trapped inside your clothes.

Getting the Stink Out

The best method for remedying smelly gym clothes is to give them a prewash. Soak your Lycra® outfits in one part vinegar, and four parts water for at least 30 minutes before hand washing, or throwing them into the washing machine. Rinse your clothes thoroughly before washing them to get rid of any vinegar.

Some Dont’s to Remember

Do not mix vinegar and bleach ever! If your detergent contains bleach rinse out your vinegar soaked clothes before throwing them in the washer. Do not use vinegar in the rinse cycle of your washer if your detergent contains bleach.

Do not use heat for any of your Lycra® garments. Heat will destroy the elastic properties aka the Lycra® fibers of your outfits. Avoid the dryer, ironing and the sun. Remember: Heat is bad.

Do not use chlorine or bleach. This will destroy the fibers of the fabric and you will get “bag and sag” syndrome.

Do not use Fabric Softener. These are used to soften clothes and will make sure your expensive garment will never retain its shape. Avoid the fabric softener.

In the Wash They Go

Although it is said that hand washing is always the way to go, most of us don’t have time for that. Don’t fret though! It is safe for your Lycra® garments to go into the washing machine following these steps. First, make sure that all of your zippered garments are zipped all the way up to prevent the zipper track from snagging onto other fabric during the washing cycle. Turn your clothes inside out. Put delicate items into a mesh laundry bag, lingerie bag, or pillowcase to protect them (Definitely do this for Bib Shorts).

The Set-Up

If you are worried that a pre-soak just won’t cut it for getting all the smells out, you can put some vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser of your washer. This will make sure your washer will dispense vinegar in the rinse cycle. Always use cold water when washing your Lycra® garments. Heat will destroy them. Set your washer on the “Delicates” setting to prevent damage of your clothes.

Less is More?

Use less detergent than you normally would for your Lycra® clothes. While detergent cleans your clothes, you definitely don’t want a build up of it on your workout clothes. A build up of detergent will trap in dead skin cells and trap bacteria into the fabric. If you want to make sure your clothes last, try a detergent designed for washing workout clothes.

Finishing Touches

After the washing cycle has been finished, hang your clothes up, or lay them down flat to dry. Never put them in the dryer. Remember heat is not friendly to Lycra® clothes. Lycra® is a fast drying fiber so your clothes should not take too long to air dry.

Last weekend my brother, father and made our way to South Bend, Indiana to catch the Notre Dame vs. Michigan State football game. Growing up in an Irish Catholic household, so many Saturdays were spent at my grandparents house with a Notre Dame football game on the television and growing up in the movie Rudy generation sort of carved a special affinity for Notre Dame football and making our way to South Bend and watching a game there was nothing short of amazing.

The morning of the game, I noticed that there was a road race called the Game Day Chase that kicked off directly near campus and immediately in front of the apartment where we were staying. Though the morning brought some ferocious rains as I made my way over to register for the race, the rain actually broke just prior to the 5K kicking off and made for some nice running conditions.

The race took runners away from the Notre Dame campus and into some neighborhoods within South Bend. A great stretch of the race was on the East Bank Trail which hugged the St. Joseph River and made for some nice scenery along the race route. The course was overall hilly and a couple of rolling hills kept the legs honest during the run. There were ample volunteers and police officers patrolling the course and assisting runners at each turn.

As you made your way into the finish line, runners were greeted by the Notre Dame mascot and Notre Dame cheerleaders adding a sort of pre-football game feel to the race. A band played live music after the race while runners had post-race food and listened to the results being announced.

I finished the Game Day Chase 5K with a time of 24:05, good for 7:46/miles. The road race was a nice complement to an amazing trip and added to the overall charm of the entire long weekend trip.

Proceeds from the race benefitted the Kelly Cares Foundation. The Kelly Cares Foundation was established by Notre Dame head coach Brian and Paqui Kelly family to support organizations, initiatives and programs that closely align with the goals and values of the Kelly family. A strong emphasis has been made on three main pillars: Health, Education, and Community.