Tag: 5K

Marathon to Marathon: Final Year!

On By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

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As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. This is the final year for the Marathon to Marathon so don’t miss your opportunity to run a great race!

This year is the 22nd annual (and final!) Marathon to Marathon which will be held on June 10, 2017! This Heartland USA Classic is USA Track and Field Certified and Sanctioned, is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, and attracts many athletes from in and around the state of Iowa. Runners are encouraged to toe the starting line in Storm Lake, Iowa and race the course that finishes in the perfectly named Marathon, Iowa.

Come and enjoy small town friendliness and big time fun. The course will have aid, Gatorade, and water stations available every 2.5 miles (stations are closer towards the finish line) and fresh fruit is on the course with GU Energy Gel available at mile markers 10, 15, and 21. All registrants will receive a Dri-Fit shirt as part of their registration fee and medals will be awarded to all marathon finishers.

In addition to the full marathon, the Marathon to Marathon also features a marathon relay option, a half-marathon and a 5K race, as well. Be sure to check out the race site for more details about the race options.

To register for the Marathon to Marathon, please click here. You can also “Like” the race on Facebook by clicking here for additional information about the Marathon to Marathon!

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Franklin Turkey Trot 5K

On By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

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Before the onset of pumpkin pie and a recliner in front of the television, it always seems like a pretty good idea to get a run in on Thanksgiving morning. Just like a base can neutralize an acid, a healthy helping of stuffing and mashed potatoes can also be neutralized by tackling a road race prior to the gorge-fest.

Yesterday morning we loaded up the SUV with the kids and babysitter in tow for an early 8AM kickoff at the Franklin Turkey Trot 5K in Franklin, Massachusetts. All proceeds from this race benefits the Franklin Food Pantry and in addition to the hundreds of cans of food that were donated at the race the race raised over $16k in donations for the Franklin Food Pantry.

The race kicked off at the Church of Latter Day Saints parking lot and headed down one of the most glorious downhill starts you can find in a 5K road race. As the legs were kicking quickly down the hill all of a sudden the thought about how terrible of an uphill that hill must be which then led to the realization that running back up the hill was a very real possibility.

The course took runners through a residential neighborhood that included a nice hill mixed into the course and a water stop around the two mile marker.

As I made my way back toward the main road the realization of having to tackle the same glorious downhill start as an aggressive uphill finish came true. As awesome as the downhill start was the uphill finish was equally intense and really burned up the legs on the uphill stretch. At the crest of the hill a quick turn into the finish line brought the end of the race to a close.

The Franklin Turkey Trot 5K was an absolutely great race and is one that runners should definitely consider for future Thanksgiving mornings. I finished the Franklin Turkey Trot with  time of 25:54, good for 8:21/miles. And yes, after tackling that beast of an uphill finish that piece of pumpkin pie tasted even better!

 

 

Great Running at the Tory Row 5K

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After a great Saturday race at the Duck Dash 5K for Camp Wonder it was off to Cambridge, Massachusetts on Sunday morning for the Tory Row 5K. A nice running contrast between the two days where Saturday’s run took place in winding residential roads whereas the Tory Row 5K took place in the heart of downtown Cambridge and the early morning race was graced with some much warmer temperatures than were present at Saturday’s run, as well.

The Tory Row 5K starts right in Harvard Square and kicked off nice and early with a 9:30 AM start time. The race featured an out-and-back course that took runners along a gradually  inclined course that led runners into a looped side street section of Cambridge and outside of the Harvard Square hustle and bustle. The course is a USTAF certified 5K course and mile markers were present at each one of the miles along the course and a water stop was at the half-way point thankfully as the warmer temperatures made the water taste all that much better.

Funds from the Tory Row 5K benefits the Cambridge Camping Association. CCA offers affordable day camps and overnight partner-camps, which provide engaging and enriching experiences to children with limited access to these opportunities.

I finished the Tory Row 5K with a good finishing time of 24:02 or 7:44/miles.

Post-race runners were able to sample the offerings of Wachusett Brewing Company, Jack’s Abbey and Shacksbury Cider along with Spindrift seltzers.

The Tory Row 5K is a great race and is certainly one you will want to check out next year. Be sure to “Like” their Facebook page by clicking here to keep up to date with alerts on next year’s race.

 

Rye by the Sea 5K & Duathalon

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Registration is now open for the Rye By The Sea 5k & Duathlon which will be held on June 4, 2016 in Rye, New Hampshire. This is the 20th annual running of the Rye By the Sea 5k and Duathlon which benefits Annie’s Angels Memorial Fund.

The 5K race has a very reasonable $20 entry fee with a tee-shirt included. The duathalon registration fee is $40.

Annie’s Angels is dedicated to helping families struggling financially with the challenges of life threatening diseases and disabilities by connecting neighbor to neighbor and friend to friend in a caring fundraising network.

With the race benefiting such a great cause, let’s pack the starting line of the Rye by the Sea 5k. Click here to register for the race!

Race Recap: West Island 5K

On By The Running Griffin2 Comments

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Thankfully today’s race kicked off at 11AM which allowed me to take in my 8 year old’s soccer match that started at 8AM. Perhaps seeing her take the pitch and have a strong game was the motivation I needed to go out and have a good run today!

I left soccer and made my way to Fairhaven, Massachusetts for the West Island 5K. West Island is a great beach community of Fairhaven that has charming homes along the water. The race starts right next to the community center and a general store that sells the essentials needed for beach living.

I ran the West Island 5K in 2013 and many of the memories I had from that race came true again today. The course starts on a very nice downhill trajectory prior to making a left hand turn into residential roads. As runners make their way out to the tower along the water pictured in the medal above, a water stop is present and allows runners to quickly take some water before heading toward the Mile 2 marker. The final mile is a rather gradual climb heading back toward the finish line on this out-and-back course. I remembered when I pulled up to the race that the final .2 miles of the run features that downhill that was so enjoyed on the way out but becomes far more noticeably uphill given there are not as many people around as there were at the start. I put my head down and made my way up the hill and blasted into the finish chute feeling pretty good overall.

I finished today’s West Island 5K with a time of 23:25, good for 7:32/miles. Knowing I felt pretty strong along the course, it was nice to see that hard work pay off as I improved my 2013 time by 22 seconds.

Be sure to “Like” West Island 5K on Facebook by clicking here as this race is a great race you will want to add to your 2017 race schedule.