Winter is Here: Walter’s Run in West Roxbury

On December 8, 2013 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

The cold New England air set in this morning as we made our way to West Roxbury, Massachusetts for a great 5K called Walter’s Run. Walter’s Run was the final Grand Prix for the Thirsty Irish Runners and fortunately the race started at 11AM to allow a little bit of warming up to take place.

Walter’s Run starts at the YMCA in West Roxbury and is put on by the Parkway Running Club. In 2004, PRC started Walter’s Run to honor a very special friend and member, Walter Burgess. Walter passed away suddenly in November 2003 at the age of 40 shortly after having completed the Great Floridian Ironman Triathlon. Walter was an active PRC member, Club Secretary and Newsletter Editor. He was an amazing athlete, forever working out either at the Y, on his bike, or running on the roads. More importantly, Walter was an incredible friend and inspiration. He was always there to run the slower members into the finish line, to organize the marathon long runs or group ski trip, to cheer others on, or to give us a big smile after a training run or race no matter the length.

The Boston Globe Santa fund was one of Walter’s favorite charities that he donated to regularly, even as a child. To more fully demonstrate Walter’s love of community and running, they have expanded the organizations receiving proceeds from Walter’s Run to include the YMCA Reach Out Campaign and a fund to send deserving young runners to running camp using Walter Burgess Scholarships.

The course for this race is a nice 5K loop that takes runners through residential neighborhoods of West Roxbury. Along the way, even with the cold temperatures, some spectators cheered runners along including City Councilor Matt O’Malley and Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley. Between miles 2 and 3 is a monster hill that runners trudge their way up before heading back into another residential neighborhood before hitting a nice downhill finish. Though I have run this race and this hill before, the uphill today took its toll and it was tough getting up the hill with the colder air entering the lungs on each breath in.

Overall, not a bad day of running at Walter’s Run with a finishing time of 24:24 or 7:52/miles. Thanks to all the Thirsty Irish Runners for making it another great year of Grand Prix racing!

Cause for Paws 5K

On October 29, 2013October 29, 2013 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Pictured here are local politicians Margaret Laforest, Rep. Bruce J. Ayers, Rep. Tackey Chan, Fox 25 morning
anchor Sorboni Banerjee & Bourne Officer Lee Desrosiers with Quincy Animal Shelter Alum, Bourne K9 Officer, Dutch!

Hey there readers! It is Mrs. Running Griffin checking in with a race recap of the Cause for Paws 5K. As many of you know, The Running Griffin ended up in a walking boot after the Hartford Marathon therefore it was up to me to run the previously scheduled Cause for Paws 5K.

The race started in beautiful Marina Bay in Quincy. Before the race started most of the parking lot was filled with dogs and cats with everyone’s pets dressed up in their Halloween costumes. The race started in Marina Bay and went out of the residential complex and into the Squantum Point section of Quincy. For the most part the race was relatively flat with a couple of rolling hills mixed into the course. The weather was probably the most difficult part of the race as there was substantial winds rolling off the Atlantic harbor that morning which certainly added an autumn feel to the race and made the post-race latte all the better!

The race benefited the Quincy Animal Shelter. The race raised $27,000 for the Quincy Animal Shelter. For more information about the work the Quincy Animal Shelter does, please visit their website by clicking here.

I finished the race with a time of 31:04, which is good for 10:01 per mile.

Cosmic Run Boston

On September 16, 2013September 16, 2013 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Cosmic Run is a nocturnal, 5 Kilometer journey through the world’s most extravagant expressions of light, sound, and color. Run, walk, jog, or dance as you witness an electrifying world filled with towering LED and 3D-animated lighting elements, fluorescent-glowing color transformations, and heart-pounding dance music. Talented EDM DJ’s headline the cosmic finale, creating an after-party of epic proportions!

Cosmic Run is coming to the Boston area on October 19th to Raynham Park located at 1958 Broadway in Raynham.

You will become like the brilliant elements around you when you transform into cosmic colors that become luminescent under the night sky. Vivid lasers will set the path toward your exquisite fluorescent-color transformations.

With a race time start of 8PM, Raynham Park will be the place where you can push the limits of your imagination with the most electrifying experience on mother earth.

To register for Cosmic Run Boston, please click here. If you are interested in checking out other cities where Cosmic Run will be visiting, please click here. Lastly, you can “Like” Cosmic Run on Facebook by clicking here and you can follow Cosmic Run on Twitter @CosmicRun5k.

3rd Place Finish at the Frances Morast 5K

On September 14, 2013September 14, 2013 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

This morning was the Frances Morast 5K to Beat Ovarian Cancer in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, which just so happens to be where I live. The course is a nice and fast 5K course that takes runners through a scenic loop including the historic Central Square section of town. Having done this race in the past and having run these roads for the past several years, this race serves as a great run to push myself and see how I can fare against the competition.

Race time weather was ideal for running with the sun shining and the fall air settling into New England after a couple of hot and humid days this week. As we made our way out onto the course I felt really good and for the first half-mile found myself to be in first place. I checked my Garmin and saw I was running a nice pace but knew it was one I could not maintain for the rest of the race. Two runners passed me and I gladly let them glide along and fell into a comfortable stride I felt I could maintain for the rest of the race. After a brief neck and neck run with another runner about a mile and a half in, I kicked it up a notch and began to pull away. Coming back into the Central Square section of Bridgewater I knew third place was mine for the taking and continued to push it toward the finish line. After a brief encounter that almost landed me as a stylish hood ornament on Maple Avenue I continued a good coast into the finish line and finished the race in third place overall with a time of 22:13, good for 7:10/miles. This was pretty much the best 5k race I have had all season and I am quite pleased with the outcome.

The race is organized by the Morast family who lost Frances Morast, an educator in Bridgewater, to ovarian cancer. This annual race has raised over $100,000 for ovarian cancer research and for scholarships awarded in Fran’s honor.

Be sure to “Like” the Facebook page for the race by clicking here and join me at the Frances Morast 5K next year!

Charles River Center 5K

On September 4, 2013 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

On October 6th the Charles River Center will be hosting their third annual 5K road race and 1 Mile walk. The Charles River Center is a human service agency in Needham, providing services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism from Greater Boston throughout MetroWest communities. You can learn more at http://www.charlesrivercenter.org

This race has awesome sponsors! This race has had over 500 participants the last two years and they hope to do even better in 2013!

Mery Daniel, one of the Boston Marathon bombing survivors will be participating, and we are tremendously blessed to have the power of her advocacy for the folks that we serve. You can read more about Mery here. Mery’s husband Richardson has been a longtime employee of CRC and we stand in awe of their courage and determination. There is a place to make an additional donation directly to her during the registration process or in person on race day.

You can register for the Charles River Center 5k by clicking here. If you don’t run, you can walk in the 1 Mile Walk event.

This is a USATF certified course. The first 300 to register get a free tech-shirt and everyone gets a swag bag filled with stuff you’ll actually use! In addition to doing something that is cheap and supporting a great cause, you will easily be able to out-drink the cost of your entry fee with the ice cold FREE Sam Adams beer that is flowing at the finish line.