Chasing the Bourbon Derby Half-Marathon

On June 14, 2015 By The Running Griffin1 Comment

Once a year a group of my childhood friends and I head away for a long weekend to partake in some food, craft beer, baseball game and a little bit of culture. This year we made our way to Kentucky and took in the cities of Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky and ticked the state off our bucket list of states to visit. The past several trips, my buddy Matt and I have also completed a race while on the trip ranging from a 5K in Pittsburgh to the Flying Pig Half-Marathon in Cincinnati. This year, our trip coincided with the Bourbon Derby Half-Marathon in nearby Paris, Kentucky so Matt and I made our way to the starting line yesterday morning for the race.

The race started bright and early at 7:30 AM which was a blessing in disguise given the weather and rather hot racing conditions. Matt is a local Bluegrass Runners member and was chatting with some other runners who noted the race was hilly and in the sun for a good chunk of the race; and they were not kidding.

The course was one of the most beautiful half-marathons I have tackled running past miles of farmland, huge mansions and horse barns, horses running free and some of the most idyllic American countryside you can imagine. In the 8th mile you ran past a fountain with a massive, impressive horse barn off in the distance behind it which made for one of the finest backdrops I have seen. I’m not much of a horse enthusiast, but seeing horses running free behind acres of fencing really was quite a sight and made the race aesthetically quite appealing.

The sun shone bright overhead and at race time the temperatures hovered at 80 degrees. The whole course was a challenging mix of hills that simply put didn’t seem to ever stop. Just as soon as you climbed one rolling hill and made your way down the other side you were greeted with another hill. About half-way through the run I made the decision to dial back a bit having just come off another half-marathon preceded by a marathon three weeks ago and wanted to just enjoy the race and finish. I could feel I had little in the tank and the mixture of the heat and hills took a rather tough toll on me out on the course.

The race support was absolutely dynamite with all turns well marked and volunteers handing out water and a local energy drink Swords along the way. Even though, like the runners, the volunteers were baking in the heat they handled their duties at each stop with a smile and a push to keep chugging along. The people who partook in this race also were a great group and it was nice pairing up with runners up and down each of the hills encouraging each other along.

Coming into the finish line, a great crowd of locals cheered you into the finishing chute as you made your way past one more farm complete with cows and a barn. The supporters cheered each and every runner into the finish line and a post-race setup of water, fruit, granola bars and local goetta sliders helped runners refuel to their desire.
I finished the Bourbon Derby Half-Marathon with a time of 2:09:38 or 9:54/miles. It was a much slower than normal going for me but with the heat and hills coupled with muscle fatigue from all the recent long runs, I was glad to just hoof it into the finish line and grab my finisher’s medal. I have a couple weeks off until my next long run to allow for some recovery time and will be looking to race some shorter races soon.

Great Time Running the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon

On June 8, 2015 By The Running Griffin3 Comments

Yesterday morning was an absolutely great day to tackle the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon in the Woodstock/Quechee area of Vermont and the ideal race conditions made for some really good running. I have run the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon twice previously and shaved 12 minutes off my PR there finishing with a time of 1:47:42 good for 8:13/miles.

The Covered Bridges Half-Marathon is consistently ranked one of the top most-scenic runs and the fact that the race sells out in record time is a true testament to the desire of many runners to get into this race. The course takes runners through some idyllic New England streets, along a brook, through the woods and even over a covered bridge indeed. The race kicks off bright and early at 8:15 from Suicide Six Ski Area and takes runners along 13.1 miles of truly some of the best scenery you can find. Though I was hoping to see a moose or a bear with a trout in its mouth along the course, nothing could disappoint when running this course and the fan support is of the highest caliber with people cheering, ringing cow bells or busting out some beats on pots and pans or old paint buckets.

The night before the race we opted to carbo-load at Harpoon Brewery just down the road in Windsor and enjoyed food, a pint and live music with the fresh Vermont air really making you consider to grab the real estate listings before heading back home. A microbrew around a fire pit with some live music playing is about all this runner needs to get into a good pre-race mindset, that’s for sure.

The race directors for the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon do a really nice job getting the logistics right from busing runners to the starting line where number pickup takes place to funneling runners into the chute post-run to gather the race medal and tech-shirt. Live music is present on the course ranging from polka bands to drum corps and a band rocked the finish line after-party where runners could refuel with plenty of snacks and fresh offerings for those over 21 from our friends at Harpoon Brewery. The only down side to the post-race party was the line for the massage tables was moving at a snail’s pace and there weren’t enough hands to keep up with the demand.

The Covered Bridges Half-Marathon is sort of a bucket list race that those who love running and those that love the half-marathon distance need to tackle. Registration sells out fast so you need to be sure to follow the race on Twitter and Facebook to ensure you don’t miss registration announcements.

Register Today for the Metro 10 Road Race

On May 31, 2015May 31, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

On August 22nd the place runners will want to be is Albion, New York for the Metro 10 road race. The Metro 10 race is designed to bring the Buffalo and Rochester communities together to celebrate the differences of the two cities and will have runners representing the city closest to their heart in a spirited competition where every runner’s time counts. Having just run the Buffalo Marathon, I can certainly attest to the amazing running spirit running through Western New York and the Metro 10 is a race you are not going to want to miss.

The 10 mile course of the Metro 10 goes through a historic downtown, an apple orchard and along the historic Erie Canal on three surface types. If tackling the full 10 mile course is too much for your running regimen right now, then the relay option with two and four person teams is a perfect way to still participate in this race that is sure to be a great time! In addition to the opportunity to taste victory, runners will have the opportunity to eat some of the foods that made the Buffalo, Rochester and greater Western New York area famous and listen to some of the region’s best musicians including the headliner Up2Somethin’, a popular regional party band.

For parents of young children, race organizers are putting the finishing touches on the Micro 10, a kids race, so that parents can expose their kids to the sport of running and ensure that when they get older they will be gearing up to run in the Metro 10!

Runners who register for the Metro 10 by June 13 will receive a personalized tech shirt with their bib number. Online registration can be completed here.

For more information about the Metro 10, please check out their website by clicking here. Be sure to also “Like” the race on Facebook by clicking here.

Buffalo Marathon 2015: Another Great Run in Buffalo

On May 25, 2015May 25, 2015 By The Running Griffin1 Comment

Another great Memorial Day weekend in Buffalo, New York for my second running of the Buffalo Marathon. I ran this race two years ago and had a great time in the City of Wings and this year headed back to Buffalo for another running of the race. This winter in Boston didn’t allow for optimal marathon training but I got to the starting line with a rather good feeling as to how the race would go.

The weekend’s activities started on Saturday with a 5K taking runners on some of the same roads that the next day the marathon and half-marathon would be run on. Fortunately for us we had an early flight out of Boston on JetBlue and were able to get to our hotel just in time to see the 5K runners go racing by. We walked down the final stretch of the 5K and made our way to the race expo to pick up our numbers and race schwag. The expo this year was much larger than two years ago and had a nice assortment of different vendor tables available.

With a need to carbo-load upon us, we hit up Cafe 59 right around the corner from our hotel and had an amazing meal of chicken parm with penne for me and parsley pesto cheese tortellini for Mrs. Running Griffin. The portions were huge and the entrees were $12 each and for scratch made food you really couldn’t beat it! If in the area next year for the Buffalo Marathon or if just checking out Buffalo, get to this spot.

The Buffalo Marathon and Half-Marathon starts bright and early at 7AM and for the first 13.1 miles the two race’s runners stay together on the same course. Mrs. Running Griffin ran the half-marathon and enjoyed her first Buffalo running experience while I tackled the full. The course was changed a bit from two years ago but definitely was for the better. The first six miles took runners out of the downtown area and through a residential section of Buffalo where both the fans and volunteers were absolutely top-notch. Runners made their way back into downtown around Mile 6 and then headed out toward the International Peace Bridge and along the water for a nice stretch. Running past the Buffalo Sabres Arena a momentary pause of how awful it must be to be a Sabres fan and not a Bruins fan rushed over me but I kept on trucking. In the last mile of the half-marathon, a lone police bagpiper played Amazing Grace which to most Irishmen causes biologically response of getting goosebumps immediately upon hearing it.

The first half-marathon for me went really well and in-fact I would have been on pace to likely PR the half-marathon if I hadn’t signed up to run another 13.1 miles after that. Up until Mile 16 I was running ahead of the 4:00 marathon pace and was feeling pretty good but the legs definitely started getting sore. One of my favorite parts of the race was running in Olmstead Park in Buffalo which is a beautiful section of parkland complete with walking paths, a golf-course and a zoo. There was one decent incline in the 17th mile that when you crested you were greeted by two Buffalonians playing a violin which was an eery mix of beauty and also feeling like it may be God calling you to the pearly gates all at the same time.

The one thing I can’t emphasize enough is the fact that Buffalo has some of the greatest race fans and volunteers you can find. The people out on the course are genuinely happy to see you, want to be out there cheering for you and encourage you along the way when you need it the most. The 24th mile waterstop has its own Twitter handle and the 25th mile waterstop is manned by Team RWB and the energy that these two stops give is exceptional and provided when it is needed the most. The last mile of the run is a great downhill finish down Delaware Avenue and back toward the central downtown area. The crowd at the 26 mile mark begins to really thicken up to several rows deep and the fans cheer your number and wave you into the finish line. It’s a great finish to a great race!

Handing out race medals this year were members of the military and players from the Buffalo Bandits (professional lacrosse team) and the Buffalo Bills. Jeremy Towne of the Buffalo Bills was one of the stars of the finish line and one person most marathoners likely from the area hobbled their way to for their medal.

Post-race, we made our way to Dinosaur BBQ to devour some some great wings, an awesome pulled pork sandwich and enjoyed a flight of local beers (along with about 3.5 gallons of water it seemed).

I finished the Buffalo Marathon this year with a time of 4:29:10. Buffalo is an amazing city that puts on a great marathon weekend and this race is one I would gladly recommend to anyone looking to run a great race. The race price is kept low but the amenities and fanfare is that of much larger races. If you are considering running a marathon or half-marathon next year, make your way to Buffalo and you won’t be disappointed. For more information about the Buffalo Marathon, check out their website by clicking here and be sure to Like them on Facebook by clicking here.

Register for the Day of Portugal 5K in New Bedford

On May 20, 2015May 20, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

The port town of New Bedford, Massachusetts will host the 15th Annual Day of Portugal 5K on Sunday, June 14th and this is one race you will not want to miss! This 5K race will take place in downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts and will offer runners a great course followed by free refreshments, coffee, pastries and lots of Portuguese food following the race! All runners are automatically entered to win merchandise prizes along with their entry, as well!

The Day of Portugal, Camoes and the Portuguese Communities is a worldwide event and is a national holiday in Portugal, commemorating the life of Luis Vaz de Camoes—Portugal’s greatest poet and recognizes the valuable contributions of the many other Portuguese Communities worldwide. The history of the Portuguese in Massachusetts and especially New Bedford, makes up an integral part of the history of this State. Today, New Bedford has the largest percentage of Portuguese population in the United States—more than 59% of the population of New Bedford claims Portuguese ancestry.

Plan to join in the celebration and participate in the Day of Portugal 5K! To register for the race, please click here to register online. To learn more about the entire festival, please click here. You can also “Like” the Day of Portugal page on Facebook here.