On New Year’s Day it was up nice and early to head over to Norton, Massachusetts for the 4th Annual FOP Post #28 Frozen Five Mile Run. This race is a great five mile race perfect for kicking off the new year in stride. The race is an excellent, rolling course through Norton and registration comes complete with a tee-shirt and a hot breakfast awards ceremony after the race.

I have run the Frozen Five Mile run a couple of previous years and this year’s race featured some of the finest weather you could ever ask for on a January 1st race morning. Long sleeves, a hat and gloves complemented shorts for the run and the conditions were excellent. Not a bad way to start off the running year!

I felt pretty strong the first half of the race but admittedly probably went out a bit too fast, particularly in light of having a celebratory New Year’s Eve Double IPA of 10% the night before. About half-way through the race my pace was noticeably dialing back some. I felt okay throughout the race but knew I wasn’t at the top of my game and had a difficult time having the legs loosen up in the second half of the race.

I finished the 4th Annual Frozen Five Mile with a time of 40:27, good for a pace of 8:05/miles. Not a bad overall time to kick off the New Year and it was great to start the 2016 running year off with a well-organized and enjoyable five miler!

This April 24th, please join me in the West Island section of Fairhaven, Massachusetts for the West Island 5K. I competed in this race back in 2013 and am looking forward to heading back to the race again this year!

The West Island 5K is a great race through the beachfront West Island neighborhood and the race director does an amazing job putting on a top-notch race. If you are looking for a 5K that is fast, flat, and family-friendly then the West Island 5K is the one for you! The course features an out and back course that starts with a quick downhill and ends with a challenging uphill to the finish. Plan an escape to southeastern Massachusetts and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic ocean views during the race.

All proceeds go to the Fairhaven High School Cross Country program and to the non-profit, Strive and Achieve.

You can register for the West Island 5K by clicking here. Please also be sure to check out the race’s Facebook page here.

See you on April 24th at the starting line!

The Running Griffin is pleased to be partnering with the Marathon Park Prep Half-Marathon to offer all of our readers a discount code for this upcoming half-marathon.

Set in mid March, the Marathon Park Prep Half 13.1 mile race is the perfect prep race for the Boston Marathon. The MPP Half-Marathon winds its way along a 13.1 mile figure 8 course through the town of Ashland Massachusetts.

The half-marathon course is a mixture of flats and hills, at some points running parallel to the Sudbury River and at others skirting Ashland State Park. The route includes the stretch of the traditional course that Boston’s spring marathon follows through the town of Ashland, about 25 miles west of Boston. The 5K course shares some of these features. With its picturesque and challenging course, its veteran organizers, Squanto Productions of Natick Ma, a spring pre-marathon event competitive runners crave, easy access by public transportation with the Ashland stop on the Boston-Worcester MBTA line just steps away from Marathon Park as well as plenty of free parking nearby.

Each year a portion of the races proceeds go towards making improvements in Marathon Park and the development of a museum nearby dedicated to “The Ashland Era”.

To register for the Marathon Park Prep Half Marathon, please click here. All readers of The Running Griffin are eligible for a $10 discount and should use the code rg2016 when checking out.

There’s still time to register for the  MA FOP Lodge #28 Annual New Year’s Day Frozen Five Mile Run. Join The Running Griffin at the race and start off the New Year with a great five mile race to kick off a new season of running in stride.

This race helps to support the Fraternal Order of Police (a charity organization) and comes complete with an ALL YOU CAN EAT breakfast after the race for only $25.00.

Trophy for first place overall Male and Female winner. Awards given to first and second place Male and Female in six (6) different age categories, 0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60+. Water station and timing provided. T-Shirts will be provided to all PARTICIPANTS. Bring a guest for breakfast at no extra charge!!! (Just not the whole family!!!!)

Register for this race online by clicking here and I will see you on New Year’s Day!

Today was Walter’s Run in West Roxbury, Massachusetts and who would have thought we’d be graced with temperatures in the mid 50’s for a race that hands out free gloves. This race is put on annually by the Parkway Running Club and is a fan favorite when it comes to 5K races in the Greater Boston area in December.

The course is a good, challenging 5K course that features a humdinger of a hill in the third mile that is not for the faint of heart. Today, my calves were tight the entire race and my shins had some interesting twinges of pain while running. Nothing too terrible, just more of an annoyance than anything.

I ran alright today but certainly not my best showing of 2015. I finished Walter’s Run today with a time of 25:05 or 8:05/miles.