Tag: Road Race

Wampanoag Road Runners Flat 5K

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What a difference a week can make! Last week it was -4F as I raced the Paddy Kelly Road Race in Brockton, Massachusetts and this morning it was in the 50’s as I made my way to Foxboro, Massachusetts for the Wampanoag Road Runners Flat 5K. The Wamps put on this race and the Old Fashioned Ten Miler on the same day and though in the past I have taken part in the Old Fashioned Ten Miler a busy personal calendar today had me sign up for the 5K race instead this year.

The race started about five minutes after the 10 miler did and featured far less runners than the 10 miler does. The 5K race loops through some residential neighborhoods of Foxboro and is a rather flat course as the name suggests. In the second mile some beautiful older homes lined both sides of the race course and made for some nice architecture to look at as we ran along.

The course was well marked with mile markers and volunteers at each turn and a the race schwag included some snacks and Darn Tough socks. This race is a real gem particularly since it is held in February when races can be tough to find. The race organizers lucked out this year with ideal weather and it was a great day for running.

I finished today’s race with a time of 24:35, good for 7:54/miles.

Saint Bridget School PTO Freaky Family 5K

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Fall was certainly in the air yesterday morning as we made our way over to the Saint Bridget School PTO Freaky Family 5K in Abington, Massachusetts. The race kicked off nice and early at 9AM and our oldest daughter took part in the kids’ run half-mile race before the main 5K event. The kids run participants were each awarded a great pumpkin medal which was a nice touch. The race is complete with several raffles, a bouncy house, a playground for the kids and a nice post-race spread of food.

The race course was largely similar to other Abington runs such as the Abington Police Department 5K and the Sgt. Daniel Vasselian Memorial 5K. The course is a nice loop that takes runners through the streets of Abington and for Halloween the appropriate course through a cemetery. The race announcement told runners to be on the lookout for ghouls and goblins while running through the cemetery so I was convinced people would be jumping out from behind trees or something and sprinted my way through that section but thankfully did not see anyone jumping out.

After the first 2 miles of the run you make your way up a rather nice, gradual incline that stretches for about a half-mile. After making that climb it is a slow, downhill grade before making the final right hand turn onto the final road of the race. The last stretch is flat and fast and allows runners to give it one final kick into the finishing chute.

I finished the Saint Bridget School PTO Freaky 5K with a time of 23:53, good for 7:41/miles.

Register for the Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run

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Registration is open for the Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run which will be held in Salem, Massachusetts on November 26, 2015. This race is the largest race on the North Shore and is one that you certainly want to take part in! It was voted Best Holiday Race 2012, 2013 and 2014 by North Shore Road Race Guide.

Proceeds from the 12th Annual Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run on Thanksgiving morning benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem. This race will feature close to 2000 runners taking part in a Thanksgiving morning run ideal for burning a few calories before the turkey and trimmings hit the table at your Thanksgiving dinner. With an early start time of 8AM this is race will allow you to have a great run and earn that extra piece of pumpkin pie!

The first 1500 participants get long-sleeved Brooks tech shirts. You can register for the race by clicking here.

You can also “Like” the race on Facebook by clicking here.

7th Annual Bernie’s Run

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On Sunday, it was a late morning kick-off at 11:30 AM for the 7th Annual Bernie’s Run. The Dedham Education Foundation (DEF) and The Village Manor once again teamed up to host the 7th Annual Bernie’s Run. The race is a great opportunity to walk or run the 3-mile route, participate in a fun community event attended by hundreds each year, and to provide much-needed support to Dedham’s schools. The race was a Grand Prix race for the Thirsty Irish Runners this yea and amongst the sea of green runners there were hundreds of other runners, many of them quite fast!

The race course is a quick 3 mile route that takes runners first away from The Village Manor and into an industrial park for the first mile. After that, runners pass by The Village Manor and then head into the residential neighborhood surrounding the local pub. A quick hill is in the second mile and neighbors along the route come out of their homes and cheer runners along.

The race finishes up back at The Village Manor for a nice block party complete with food, beer, a massage tent and a DJ. The race is very well organized and results are posted minutes post-race alongside the outdoor wall of the pub.

I finished Bernie’s Run with a time of 22:00, good for 7:20/miles. After having run 8.5 mils earlier that morning, a result I am quite pleased with!

Country Heals 5 Miler: Running for Cailin

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On Sunday, we packed up the SUV and took the kids and babysitter down to Wompatuck State Park in Hingham, Massachusetts so we could take part in the Country Heals 5 Miler. Though it was a crisp 34 degrees when we left home, by the time the race kicked off the sun helped warm up the fall air and made for a beautiful run through the State Park on some great paths that featured a good mix of flat stretches and both up and downhill sections. On the race course, country musicians were mixed into the course and played tunes as runners made their way by.

Many of my readers know about our personal connection to Tufts Medical Center and The Floating Hospital for Children. Beth Ann was admitted to Tufts Medical Center when she was 25 weeks pregnant with severe preeclampsia. After spending 7 weeks in the hospital with my 3 year old daughter Caroline and I at home, Beth Ann ended up delivering our daughter Cailin at 33 weeks. Cailin weighed 2 pounds 13 ounces and required the services and amazing care of the NICU at Floating Hospital. Cailin then spent 5 weeks in the NICU until she beefed up to 4 pounds. Without the dedicated doctors and nurses at Tufts Medical Center and The Floating Hospital for Children our family could look quite different today and ever since this experience we have looked for ways to give back including running the Boston Marathon and this race.

My parents joined us in Hingham today and took part in the 3 mile walk. The kids were able to hang with the babysitter and hit up the bouncy obstacle course, obtained balloon animals and were able to snack free samples that were being handed out.

At the end of the race, runners were able to enjoy a huge cookout and live country music including the up-and-coming country artist Chase Bryant and other acts. With the sun shining down, it made for a great event and a boatload of money was raised for Tufts Medical Center and The Floating Hospital for Children!

The timing may have been a little bit off for some runners but my official time was 39:46, good for 7:57/miles in the five mile race.

This is definitely a race that we will be back at in future years either as a runner or as a volunteer. If you’d like to make a post-race donation to Mrs. Running Griffin’s page, please feel free to do so by clicking here.