2nd Annual Run for Jess

On September 6, 2015 By The Running Griffin1 Comment

On Saturday morning it was a quick trip over to the 2nd Annual Run for Jess in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Jessica Thurston was 27 years old when diagnosed with breast cancer, which quickly spread to her brain and liver. She passed away from the disease on 8/30/13 after a tough 2 year battle. All proceeds from this race goes toward the The Jessica C. Thurston Memorial Fund is a 501c3 Charitable Foundation, and with the money raised, they support local charities as well as breast cancer research.

The race course is a great 3.1 mile loop through residential roads of East Bridgewater and the race directors did a nice job moving the starting line up a bit so the race was a true 5K as last year’s race course was a touch longer than 3.1 miles. The race course is a moderately challenging route with a couple nice hills mixed in right around the first mile and then half-way into the race; nothing too terrible but noticeable for sure. Just like at last year’s race, the East Bridgewater Police Department did a nice job patrolling the course and keeping runners safe.

I finished the 2nd Annual Run for Jess with a time of 24:53, good for 8:00/miles. After still dealing with some quad pain from a soccer related injury, I felt good out on the course and was overall pleased with the result. This race is one that definitely could become an annual favorite and the cause it supports couldn’t be better!

Fort Taber 5K

On August 30, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Last night was a beautiful summer night and it was down to New Bedford, Massachusetts for the Fort Taber 5K. This race was co-directed by Charlie Breagy and two-time Boston Marathon winner Geoff Smith and took place right along the gorgeous New Bedford coastline alongside the Atlantic Ocean.

The race started at 6:30 PM as the sun was a little lower in the summer sky and the race time temps were just shy of 80 degrees. The race started off through some residential beach neighborhoods and some nice crowds of locals cheered runners on in the early part of the course. After running past the first mile marker, runners then made an about face and headed toward a bike path alongside the ocean. The salt water air was in full effect as we hit the second mile marker. The last mile of the run was past historic Fort Taber which added a nice, New England running element to the race. I had previously competed in another run at Fort Taber but this course was much better and allowed runners to gain a much better perspective of the fort’s importance situated right on the Atlantic.

After the race, runners were invited to The Pour Farm in downtown New Bedford for a free pint of Buzzards Bay Brewing‘s IPA which hit the spot after the hot evening run. After we had our pint, we crossed the street to the dynamite Mexican restaurant No Problemo for a killer burrito, chips, salsa and guacamole: all key ways to refuel in my book!

I finished the Fort Taber 5K with a time of 24:23, good for a pace of 7:51/mile. As this was the first running of this race, my hunch is that based upon the early success of this race the race will only continue to grow and I look forward to next year’s run.

RHS Dog Dash 2015

On July 29, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Registration is now open for the RHS Dog Dash 2015, a 5K race to support the Rockland High School Hockey Team in Rockland, Massachusetts. The race takes place on August 22nd at 9AM and is a great way to get an early morning summer run in and beat the midday heat all while supporting a great cause.

High school athletics is always a great mission to support as the importance of balancing education with extra-curricular activities is something that every student should have the opportunity to participate in. Though my hockey career was always of the street hockey variety, building the foundations of teamwork, discipline and cooperation on the ice are something we all can support.

T-Shirts are guaranteed for all participants that register onine. Awards for overall winners will be provided and there will be raffles to partake in race day, as well!

Top register for the RHS Dog Dash 2015, please click here. Hope to see a lot of runners at the RHS Dog Dash 5K supporting Rockland Hockey!

Register Today for the Roller Coaster Race at Six Flags New England

On July 24, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Join The Running Griffin at the Roller Coaster Race to be held at Six Flags New England just outside of Springfield, Massachusetts on Sunday, September 6th. For less than the cost of a theme park ticket, you can run either the 10k or 5k race and spend the day at Six Flags New England after the race!

The Roller Coaster race registration includes a park ticket and parking along with the race entry and all runners will receive a tech shirt and a finisher medal at the end of the race. The races kick off nice and early at 7:30 AM so you can make a nice day out of running and enjoying an amazing theme park. Runners will tackle a USATF-sanctioned scenic course through Six Flags New England and around and under some of their world famous coasters. Post-race refreshments and award ceremony follow the races.

To register for the race, please click here and be sure to note during the registration process when asked how you heard about the race that you saw it on The Running Griffin!

Please be sure to also check out the Roller Coaster Race’s Facebook page by clicking here and follow them on Twitter by clicking here.

Double Racing at the Harvard Pilgrim Finish at the Fifty

On July 5, 2015 By The Running Griffin1 Comment

On Friday evening it was off to the home of your New England Patriots for a race at Gillette Stadium known as the Harvard Pilgrim Finish at the Fifty. Last year the race night was absolutely stifling so this year temperatures in the 80’s made for ideal running conditions.

There is both a 5K and 10K option for this race with the 10K kicking off at 7PM while the 5K starts at 6PM. My running pals were tackling the 5K and I had signed up for the 10K but when one of them came down with some knee pain I decided to run both races in their honor.

The 5K takes runners on a quick loop of Gillette Stadium before heading back into the stadium to tackle the ramps all the way to the top tier of the stadium. Consider the run a sort of hill workout on steroids with a sea of running friends hitting the ramps along with you. A double edged sword of sorts runs through the mind as you make your way up one set of ramps as you know you will quickly be descending another set from the nosebleed section of the stadium onto the field. The 5K finishes right at the fifty yard line and New England Patriot star Nate Soldier was present high-fiving runners into the finish line.

I finished the 5K with a time of 24:44, good for 7:58/miles. Not too shabby for a course inclusive of climbing all those flights!

Having finished up the 5K, it was then time to make my way back to the starting line for the kickoff (see what I did there) of the 10K race. The 10K race features a much different course and leaves out the ramp ascents and descents and takes runners onto Route 1 briefly before then winding through mostly residential streets. Given the race is the Fourth of July weekend, neighbors use the course as a way to have little parties and cheer on runners and the support along the way mixed with the Americana feel really is perfect. After going through residential neighborhoods behind the stadium, runners then turn back into the stadium grounds on the Putnam Investments road and runners make a quick pass through the backside of the stadium before then finishing at the fifty yard line. Pat the Patriot is available for photos and runners can see themselves finishing the race on the Jumbotrons.

I finished the 10K with a time of 54:22, good for 8:45/miles. Knowing holiday cookouts were in the near future, running 9.3 miles the night before the 4th seemed like a good idea and I’m glad I did both races.

Post-race, a magnificent firework display took place and while we dined and refueled at CBS Scene’s patio we had a great view of the fireworks. A great night of running, food, drink, America and most importantly laughter with friends. This might become an annual tradition!