JP Morgan Corporate Challenge

On June 30, 2014 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Last Tuesday evening, eight of my co-workers and I took place in the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge in downtown Boston. The race is a jam packed 3.5 mile course that takes runners away from Boston Common, down Massachusetts Avenue, through Kenmore Square and then back down toward the Common where the finish line is located. The run is not really a race as packing 12,000 runners on such a short and narrow course is near impossible but rather serves as a fun way for Boston area businesses to show their corporate pride and compete against one another.

The Corporate Challenge allows both walkers and runners to take place in the event and for several participants the race is either their first foray into running or serves as an annual event to keep the joints honest. For those looking to PR the race, this is probably not the one for you as there are significant course bottlenecks along the way preventing you from running your true pace.

The weather on Tuesday night was perfect with the sun beginning to set around the post-7PM start time but there still being some heat in the air to help you burn a few extra calories. The course itself is pancake flat and brings runner along a historic and scenic boulevard in downtown Boston before runners make a u-turn at the iconic Citgo sign and head back toward Boston Common. The post-race amenities are always quite good with a fan favorite this year being the Yasso Frozen Green Yogurt bars that helped us all cool down.

I completed the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge with a time of 30:32 which was good for 8:43/miles. Thanks to my company teammates for joining this year and I look forward to having more co-workers join in 2015!

The McKeon Post Road Race

On June 17, 2014 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

On Father’s Day morning it was off for a nice morning run through Dorchester and Quincy, Massachusetts as I took part in the McKeon Post Road Race. The race is billed as a 5k race but even the race organizers note on the course map at the starting line that the race is really a 5k+ (though the official mileage is a bit of a secret). The race was part of the Grand Prix Series for the Thirsty Irish Runners therefore the sea of green was in full effect at the race.

The race starts in front of the Florian Hall, just next to the McKeon Post and finishes after runners complete an out-and-back loop right in front of the McKeon Post. The course has a rather smashing uphill start and finish as the course takes you onto the appropriately named Hilltop Street. Runners make their way under the I-93 highway and into Quincy and run through a residential neighborhood for a brief stretch before hitting a main road heading back toward the Post. The course is hilly, no doubt about it and runners need to conserve some energy to plan appropriately for the hill leading into the finish line. At race time, the sun was beaming down and summer was fully in the air therefore the water stops on the course came in handy even to just take the water and dump it on your head.

Needless to say, the timing of this race is a little hard to determine. I finished the race with a time of 25:27 which for a pure 5k would equate to 8:13/miles. However, the consensus amongst running friends at the race was that the course was 3.43 miles which would then mean I ran a much more realistic pace of 7:25/miles. Knowing those around me who finished around the same time that I did, this is far more likely or we all had off days.

The McKeon Post Road Race was a fun race with a challenging course but for next year, hopefully the timing falls in line with what the actual distance of the race is.

Register Today for the 4th Annual HussDog Jog

On June 10, 2014June 10, 2014 By The Running Griffin1 Comment

Registration is now open for the 4th Annual HussDog Jog and I hope to see you at the race this year! The HussDog Jog takes place this year on July 12th and has a great early morning start to help runners beat the heat!

Last year I participated in the run and was completely impressed by the organization of the race and look forward to this year’s event. Here is my race recap of last year’s run so you get a feel for what the race entails.

The 4th Annual HussDog Jog will commemorate the passing of Steven R. Hussey by bringing family, friends, and the town of Pembroke together in a celebratory 5k and 2 mile walk! Proceeds to benefit local brain injury and stroke centers. This donation will help keep Steven R. Hussey’s memory alive while helping to support those living around us who are in need!

To register for the 4th Annual HussDog Jog, please click here. I look forward to seeing you at the race!

Weekly Run: Dewpie’s Dash

On June 10, 2014 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

This week’s Dewpie’s Dash results are in and it was a little slower going this week than last. I felt really good in the first two miles but in the third mile had a tougher time getting up the hill and coasting back down the major hill leading into the 3 mile marker. This week I finished the race with a time of 24:51 or 7:39/miles for the 3.25 mile course.

It’s a Great Weekend for the Irish

On March 23, 2014 By The Running Griffin1 Comment

If you are an Irish-American and have never run the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race then you, my friend, are not truly Irish.

Historically, the city known as the Paper City hosted so many Irish immigrants that the city was called Ireland Parish. An old mill town by nature, Holyoke is a rough and tumble city that prides itself on its Irish roots each year the weekend after St. Patrick’s Day with a Saturday 10k followed by one of the nation’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parades on Sunday morning. Mix in pubs filled with people enjoying Irish music, corned beef and cabbage and fresh Guinness and you have yourself one heck of a weekend.

The 10k road race is a hilly challenge with the first 3.5 miles featuring runners climbing their way toward Holyoke Community College. Once there, just past the four mile marker the course takes a dramatic down hill swing where you can really let the legs go. Another small incline is just past Holyoke High School around the 5.2 mile marker and the last mile is another nice downhill to allow you to kick it into the finish line.

This race prides itself on the merriment along the course with fans packing both the starting and finishing line and crowds strategically placed along the course. Parties at houses lining the course play Irish music, a marching band was at the 3.1 mile marker, a bagpiper plays away just shy of 4 miles and spectators genuinely are excited to see the runners taking to the streets of Holyoke.

This year’s race featured Dick and Rick Hoyt at the starting line as they are the JFK Award Winners and will be marching in the parade on Sunday morning.

This year, the first 3 miles or so I was cramping pretty good and had a tough time pushing through it. I felt a little better once through the hills but this was one of the first races I have done in a while as marathon training long runs have consumed a lot of my time. I finished the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race with a time of 54:57 which equates to 8:51/miles. Last year I ran about 4 minutes faster but with marathon training in full swing and stomach cramps not a terrible result.

The winners of this year ‘s Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race both hail from Ethiopia with Menitsu Nebsi winning the race overall with a time of 29:42 and female winner Askala Merachi beating the women’s course record with a time of 33:14. Continue reading “It’s a Great Weekend for the Irish” →