Race Recap: Hip Hop 10k

On August 22, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

This morning it was over to Easton, Massachusetts to take part in the Hip Hop 10k. This race is a Family Friendly 5K/10K run and 2 mile walk in support of Hip Dysplasia awareness and fundraising. The 10k race kicked off at 9AM which was a nice relief given the humidity at that time was pretty bad and going later into the day has already made it even more sticky. When crossing the finish line I was sweating more than an Ashley Madison account holder!

The 10k race course was a nice challenging run with some rather significant hills mixed into the route. Volunteers did an excellent job directing runners on the course and alerting traffic as to our presence. The much needed water stations on the course provided good relief and were mixed into the race at good times. The course takes runners through rather residential neighborhoods and started and finished at Oliver Ames High School in Easton. A lot of the course was quite similar to the Tiger Turkey Chase I have taken raced in the past.

As you are in the final mile there is a nice uphill climb that really pushes you not slow down before runners intersect with the 5k course and head back toward the high school for the finish line. While coming into the finish there was a band playing some great cover songs and plenty of spectators cheering you into the finish. The race directors did a really nice job organizing the race and there was plenty of water and food to partake in prior to leaving. Several raffles with some big prizes were available inside the cafeteria of the school and vendors setup at the finish line offered samples, massage, chiropractic and more.

I finished the Hip Hop 10k with a time of 51:16 good for a finish pace of 8:15/mile. With the humidity in full effect coupled with some tough quad pain I inflicted upon myself earlier this week playing indoor soccer a good showing at today’s run.

For more information about the work the Hip Hop 10k supports, check out their website here and be sure to “Like” the race on Facebook so you can plan on running this race next year.

Narragansett Summer Running Festival Half-Marathon

On July 17, 2015 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Is there anything better than cracking open a nice cold beer on a hot summer day? I submit not. But how does a beer taste on a hot summer day after having just run a half-marathon? Well, let me tell you.

On Sunday it as just a skip away to Easton, Massachusetts for the Narragansett Summer Running Festival Half-Marathon. The festival took place on the grounds of Stonehill College and featured a 5K and 10K race offering on Saturday with the half-marathon reserved for Sunday. In the past, all three races took place on the same day therefore splitting up the events was a great way to bring more people to the run and have better logistics around the weekend.

Though the half-marathon kicked off nice and early, last weekend was the hottest weekend of the summer and the heat did not disappoint. The course took runners through residential roads of Easton for the most part and part of the course was through trails of the Natural Resource Trust’s Sheep Pasture. The heat was certainly noticeable on the course but the race directors did a nice job ensuring that there was plenty of water and Gatorade on the course for runners. Right around Mile 9 I passed a snake in the middle of the road who met his maker likely due to some heat related issue and for a brief moment I thought, “Why couldn’t I be that snake, at least the race would be over for me.” But I continued on knowing that the finish line was in the near future.

At the end of the race, runners make their way back onto the absolutely beautiful Stonehill College campus through the roads of the college and a brief half-lap on the track around the football field.

The final stretch of the half-marathon takes runners up a hill that is quite steep and particularly painful given its placement around 12.9 miles into the half. But the booming voice of the announcer coupled with fans cheering, a band playing and the wafts of Narragansett beer floating through the air make pushing it into the finish line all the better.

Certainly not my best half-marathon time but due to the weather this was more of a survival sort of run with getting to the finish line being the main goal. I finished with a time of 2:10:58 or 9:56/miles. The past few years this race has featured some hot conditions but that’s part of the challenge. Let’s see what next year brings.

Tiger Turkey Chase in Easton, Massachusetts

On November 28, 2014 By The Running Griffin2 Comments

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! Yesterday presented New England with a cold and crisp Thanksgiving Day with some parts of Massachusetts receiving several inches of snow and icy conditions. The South Shore received merely a dusting that coated the grass but heavy rains led to some slick streets and black ice on corners. Yesterday morning, I made my way to Oliver Ames High School located in Easton, Massachusetts for the Tiger Turkey Chase to ensure prior to Operation Eat as Much Food as Possible I actually was able to get some caloric burn in.

The Tiger Turkey Chase is a 5 mile run and the cold temperatures didn’t keep any runners away as the crowd was an impressive showing for Thanksgiving morning. The race started right at 8AM and at race time most of the black ice had meted as the sun just started to warm things up a little bit but some crosswalks and corners still needed a bit of care taken when crossing over them.

The course for the Tiger Turkey Chase starts and finishes at Oliver Ames High School and makes its way through the neighborhoods abutting the school. The course was quite noticeably hilly with what seemed to be most of the hills going in the upward direction than downward. Right at the 4.5 mile mark there is a dramatically sharp incline as you make your way back into the school grounds that as you make your way up only makes you realize how much better that pumpkin pie is going to taste later on in the day.

The race course was nicely staffed by high school students and other volunteers keeping each turn marked and ensuring runners were kept safe. A water stop was available at the midway point.

Making my way into the finish line, a nice crowd of supporters was at the finish line cheering each runner into the chute and adding to the race atmosphere. I finished the Tiger Turkey Chase with a time of 38:48, good for 7:46/miles. The race was a great way to kick off a nice Thanksgiving and is one I would gladly recommend for future years.

The Tiger Turkey Chase benefits the Oliver Ames High School Cross Country teams.