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Join me at Paddy’s Classic 5K

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Join me in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Sunday, September 27th for Paddy’s Classic 5K. After all, who doesn’t love a good old fashioned 5K kicking off at an iconic Irish pub?

Paddy’s Lunch is the oldest family owned pub in Cambridge. The atmosphere is timeless and has grown to become a home away from home to countless neighborhood regulars and new passers-by everyday. Paddy’s was started in 1934 by Patrick and Margaret Fennell, immigrants from Ireland. In the 1960s, the Fennell’s daughter Margaret “Peggy” Fennell Ryan took over the operation with her husband Harry “Bubby” Ryan. In 1998 Peggy’s daughter, Ruth Ryan Allen, took over and remains the current owner today.

This 5K race benefits the young girls of Cambridge with the Cambridge Girls Softball League and other girls’ sports teams are the primary recipients of the funds from the race. These great organizations work on team building, athletic skills, and strengthen the connection among physical, mental and social well-being of girls. Huge shoutout to the race organizers as over the history of the race they have raised over $130,000 for girls’ sports in Cambridge! As the dad of two daughters myself, a noble cause to certainly encourage some of my fellow runners to join me at the starting line to help continue to fund these causes!

After the race there will a block party outside Paddy’s until 7PM. Walden Street will be closed off to traffic and there will be a large beer garden, food trucks and a DJ. My younger days are well behind me and I might be back home asleep by 7PM but this race has all the fixings to be a really excellent time.

To register for the race, please click here to sign up. Look forward to seeing many of you alongside me in Cambridge for some running and some mighty craic on the 27th!

Recent Trail & Park Runs

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In an effort to mix up some of the running scenery, I have recently taken to some different trails across Southeastern Massachusetts and enjoy checking out new spots.

The World War II Veterans Memorial Trail in Mansfield, Massachusetts is a great trail that spans Mansfield and then heads into nearby Norton, as well. Though I had run the Mansfield stretch before the addition of the Norton side is a nice touch for the trail and an out-and-back run took me 6.2 miles along the trail. I hit this trail early in the morning and there was a nice group of walkers, runners and bikers taking advantage of the trail. I stopped and turned back in Norton but the trail continued to go on so I’ll definitely be back to this spot to check out the other portion of the trail soon enough!

The West Bridgewater Rail Trail is a nice out-and-back dirt trail that takes runners/walkers through a relatively shaded stretch of woodlands. While I was running the trail no one else was taking advantage of the trail though a walker with her dog showed up just as I was heading out. If you lived in the area, this would be the kind of trail you’d hit every day as it’s conveniently located and is in really nice condition. No paving exists on the trail; it’s fully a dirt path but is largely free from roots and rocks so makes it relatively easy to either walk or run on.

Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area in Halifax, Massachusetts is a real gem of the region. The trails here alternate between some dirt and some packed grass and features over 2,000 acres of ponds, marsh, swamps and retired cranberry bogs with several miles of trails perfect for walking and running. While on my long run here, plenty of birds graced the skies and a deer darted out in front of me while making a turn on a trail, perhaps wanting to race me on the run.

I also checked out the Massasoit State Park in Taunton, Massachusetts and ran an early morning 5K through the streets of the park. This park is run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation and includes campgrounds, a playground and plenty of trails for hiking. The streets were nice and empty as I got to the park early and if you need a spot to do a few laps and perhaps keep water and fuel at your car this park would be a great location for that. I’ll have to get back at some point to check out some of the trails within the park.

Race Recap: Raynham Knights of Columbus 5 Miler

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Always love when a road race is just down the road. Yesterday it was about a seven minute drive over to the starting line of the Raynham Knights of Columbus 5 Miler held in Raynham, Massachusetts. This road race benefits local charities supported by the Raynham Knights of Columbus.

The race was postponed a few weeks due to a snow storm hitting the area a few weeks prior and yesterday morning featured no snow left on the ground but some chilly temps in the area at the start of the race. That said, it’s still March so running in thirty degree temperatures in New England is certainly to be expected.

The course for this race is quite familiar as a good chunk of it is part of the same route as the Monday Night Fun Runs that are sponsored throughout the summer by the Colonial Road Runners. Plus, because we live just down the road it’s a familiar area for training runs. A brilliant uphill start takes runners up the hill at King Phillip Street and it’s nice to get the major hill out of the way so early into the run. For the rest of the run, most of the running is along residential roads with gentle rollers mixed in but nothing too substantial. I must say, the race organizers do a remarkable job having volunteers at turns along the way and police crossing runners at a few of the trickier intersections for the race.

I was pleased to learn that I came in first place in the 40-49 age group bracket during yesterday’s run and finished up the race with a time of 44:51, good for 8:58/miles. Sure, the field was a bit light than some larger races but banging out a first place finish is never something to sneeze at so I’ll take it, proudly! Not a bad morning of running!

Frozen Pilgrim Road Race

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If you live pretty much anywhere in the United States you are probably in the midst of some downright frigid temperatures and many of us are being walloped by a snow storm right now. Might not be easy to define this as “running conditions”but this morning it was off to Marshfield, Massachusetts to run the Frozen Pilgrim Road Race before about 2 feet of snow hits the region.

This race is the January Grand Prix race for the Thirsty Irish Runners and the five mile route was going to serve as the distance for the series. However, wisely given the snow about to hit coupled with the temps being in the low teens at race time, yesterday the race director changed the race to a 3 mile course (which tracked to just about a 5K) and moved the race up an hour so runners could finish up the run and head home safely before the snow really starts flying.

It was cold, like real cold, out on the course so bundling up and including hand warmers in the gloves was a must. The race kicked off exactly at 9AM which is always appreciated by runners when races start on time. The course took runners around the high school and middle school grounds of Marshfield before heading out on a quick out-and-back stretch through a neighboring residential neighborhood. There were a couple little hills mixed into the course for good measure but most of the course the challenge was catching your breath in the cold more than worrying about traversing up steep uphills stretches. The snow started a bit earlier than forecasted with just flurries coming down while out on the course but upon heading home the race director absolutely made the right call changing the time and distance of the race as more snow started coming down quickly and the roads started to get covered.

Though cold out there, glad we still tackled the race and the warm and comfy couch and the Patriots game this afternoons sounds absolutely perfect.

Finished up the Frozen Pilgrim with a time of 26:15 good for 8:45/miles.

To those dealing with the cold and snow with this storm, keep warm and safe and see you back out on the roads soon enough!

Race Recap: Winter Lights 5K

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Last night we made our way to Pembroke, Massachusetts for the 14th Annual Winter Lights 5K. This is the first year we have done the race since it moved to Pembroke from Plymouth so we were excited to check out a new course and tackle the race that kicks off at 6:30 PM and features runners wearing festive holiday gear and lights for the holiday season 5K.

Certainly not a knock against the race or the organizers but the Plymouth location was just so much better for the run. The atmosphere in downtown Plymouth for years had a different vibe to it as the downtown streets were closed off for the run, a small parade, Christmas tree lighting and more. The local stores and restaurants were packed with people and there were multiples the amount of runners as there were in Pembroke last night. That said, the Pembroke race provided a good course and runners all having a good time while out on the course.

The weather was interesting as there was a brief bit of rain earlier in the late afternoon and moisture in the air made for some tricky icy spots on the course that runners called out while traveling the route. Sidewalks and road shoulders were the iciest spots but there was a good amount of black ice along the way that you needed to be careful on while running to ensure you didn’t end up slipping on but runners took care of each other and called out icier spots as they noticed them.

The course for the Winter Lights 5K in Pembroke was a good one and the roads were nicely patrolled and controlled by the Pembroke Police Department ensuring runners had a good experience while out on the streets. There was a really steep hill in the back half of the race that made for some challenging climbing and a few rollers here and there were sprinkled in for good measure. Many residents along the route were out cheering the illuminated runners on, some adorning their own holiday gear; others with fire pits, food, drink and merriment out at the end of the driveway. For those Grinches who lived along the race route and didn’t come outside to cheer runners along, you missed a good opportunity for some holiday cheer and “Bah Humbug” I say to you.

Mrs. Running Griffin and I ran the Winter Lights 5K together and clocked in a time of 31:16, good for 10:03/miles. With some ice and hills, not a bad time at all for us running together along the way.