Cause for Paws 5K

Image

Pictured here are local politicians Margaret Laforest, Rep. Bruce J. Ayers, Rep. Tackey Chan, Fox 25 morning
anchor Sorboni Banerjee & Bourne Officer Lee Desrosiers with Quincy Animal Shelter Alum, Bourne K9 Officer, Dutch!

Hey there readers! It is Mrs. Running Griffin checking in with a race recap of the Cause for Paws 5K. As many of you know, The Running Griffin ended up in a walking boot after the Hartford Marathon therefore it was up to me to run the previously scheduled Cause for Paws 5K.

The race started in beautiful Marina Bay in Quincy.  Before the race started most of the parking lot was filled with dogs and cats with everyone’s pets dressed up in their Halloween costumes.  The race started in Marina Bay and went out of the residential complex and into the Squantum Point section of Quincy.  For the most part the race was relatively flat with a couple of rolling hills mixed into the course. The weather was probably the most difficult part of the race as there was substantial winds rolling off the Atlantic harbor that morning which certainly added an autumn feel to the race and made the post-race latte all the better!

The race benefited the Quincy Animal Shelter.  The race raised $27,000 for the Quincy Animal Shelter.  For more information about the work the Quincy Animal Shelter does, please visit their website by clicking here.

I finished the race with a time of 31:04, which is good for 10:01 per mile.

Athletes Go Pink and Green for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

ImageOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and athletes across the country are doing their part to raise awareness. The Detroit Red Wings goalie, Jimmy Howard recently wore pink goalie pads during their game against the Philadelphia Flyers and the Seattle Sounders soccer team wore pink T-shirts during their Vancouver Whitecaps game. Meaningful as these efforts are, a staggering $6 billion is still being spent every year on breast cancer research with no medical cure in sight.  Is it possible we are looking in the wrong place? ENERGYbits® thinks so.

Research has consistently shown that eating green, alkaline foods prevents breast cancer 82% of the time. The only problem is most people don’t like greens.  So, ENERGYbits® has come up with a solution. They sell tiny spirulina algae tablets called “bits” that you swallow to get all the alkaline and green nutrition you need.

The scientific community has long known about the healing and cancer preventing powers of green, alkaline foods, as the following excerpt from The European Journal of Cancer illustrates “not only did a high vegetable consumption reduce the risk of breast cancer by 75 percent but micronutrients like beta carotene reduce the risk of breast cancer by 82 percent.”

With cancer rates not slowing down, and with not enough people eating vegetables, ENERGYbits® decided to take a different approach. Four years ago they launched a line of algae tabs to replace anyone’s need to eat greens. Parents and children have been rejoicing ever since over this remarkably simple solution. Just swallow and go.

The nutritional evidence is compelling. Algae has more chlorophyll than wheat grass, more beta carotene than carrots, more iron than spinach and more protein than steak. It also has over 60% protein, Omega 3 and forty vitamins and minerals. In fact, algae’s nutritional pedigree is so deep, there are 100,000 studies documenting its health benefits including its ability to improve mental focus, increase endurance, fuel athletic performance, reduce breast cancer and more. Just as impressive, algae helps reduce hunger, fatigue, blood pressure, depression, obesity and type 2 diabetes all without caffeine, sugar, gluten or drugs. All for one calorie per tab. Olympic athletes and NASA astronauts have used algae for decades. In Japan, where they take it every day, there are 75% fewer incidences of breast cancer. Could it be the algae? ENERGYbits® thinks so.

With all of this scientific evidence and fifty years of use to back up its safety, the only problem with algae seems to be that no one outside of Asia knows about it or its health benefits. ENERGYbits® decided to change that. It’s taken four years to build their momentum but they have finally succeeded in making algae fun, easy to understand and easy to take. The results are encouraging. All across the USA and Canada, women, children, families and pro athletes from the Olympics, NFL, NHL, marathons and other sports are seeing their health, mood and energy improve naturally, all thanks to their algae. ENERGYbits® goal is to have everyone taking algae. A lofty vision indeed. But the stakes are high. There are over 200,000 cases of breast cancer being reported every year, and if 82% of them can be prevented with green nutrition like algae, 164,000 lives could potentially be saved every year. Not to mention significant improvements in one’s quality of life.

Unlikely as it seems, could something as natural and simple as algae be the breast cancer cure we’ve been waiting for? ENERGYbits® thinks so. Algae makes health possible. ENERGYbits® makes it easy.

During the month of October, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, visit www.energybits.com and enter discount code “pink” to receive a 25% discount off your purchase. Your body says thank you.

5th Annual Bernie’s Run in Dedham

ImageThe skies had opened up this morning with some rather strong downpours drenching the South Shore. Fortunately though, just before the 11:30 start of the 5th Annual Bernie’s Run the rain let up and a light mist actually made for some pretty nice racing conditions. The race started in front of Terri’s Market and ended in front of neighborhood pub The Village Manor.

Bernie’s Run is a 3 mile race that takes runners first into an industrial park parking lot but then has runners run through some residential neighborhoods surrounding The Village Manor. For the most part the race was pretty flat with a good hill mixed in around the 1.5 mile mark. There was a water station around mile 2 which was good placement for a quick, short run.

Post-run iconic New England legend Rene Rancourt, known for his fist pumping Star Spangled Banner renditions at Boston Bruins games, revved up the crowd with a post-race singing of the national anthem. Steve Kerrigan, a candidate for Lt. Governor, was also at the race greeting runners after the race.

Proceeds from Bernie’s Run benefit the Dedham Education Foundation. For more information about the Foundation, please click here.

Overall, a really good race for me today. I came in third amongst the Thirsty Irish Runners contingent and finished with a time of 21:38 or 7:13/miles. A great back-to-back racing weekend!

Pam’s Run 5 Miler

ImageThis morning it was off to Wayland, Massachusetts for Pam’s Run, a 5 mile race to support Neighbor Brigade. Pam’s Run is dedicated to the memory and legacy of Pam Manikas Washek, founder of Neighbor Brigade and tireless champion for families in crisis.

Neighbor Brigade establishes and mobilizes networks of community-based volunteers to provide immediate services for individuals and families experiencing sudden crisis such as devastating illness, surgery, or accident. All services are delivered with care, quickly, and are free of charge. Please visit our website at www.neighborbrigade.org to learn more!

Prior to the start of the race a few speakers talked about the amazing work that Neighbor Brigade provides and Pam’s children gave a touching speech about their mom and the work that she sought to do before she passed. With the singing of the National Anthem, runners were off onto the course.

The race organizers noted that the race was rather hilly and it indeed lived up to that reputation. The 5 mile course took runners through mostly residential roads of Wayland, a quaint New England town with some rather large homes you ran past and admired. With the leaves starting to change over and race temperatures hovering around 65 degrees, it was a perfect day for a fall run. I skipped the first water stop just past Mile 1 but looking back in hindsight probably should have taken a water since by the time mile 3.5 came up where the next water stop was I certainly needed it. After hitting the water stop it was back up a couple of good hills. The last mile of the course was thankfully rather flat which allowed me to pick up some time heading into the finish line. As I made the last turn, a sea of supporters cheered myself and other runners in.

This was the first ever Pam’s Run and for a first time race it was remarkably well organized. There was close to 500 runners and walkers at the race and race atmosphere was top notch with a local radio station, a band, plenty of food and water and a lot of really happy people remembering the memory of Pam and supporting Neighbor Brigade.

I finished Pam’s Run with a time of 39:09 good for 7:50/miles. Given the success of this race, I am pretty confident there will be a 2nd Annual Pam’s Run next year!

Image

Halo Headband Joins The Running Griffin

ImageThe Running Griffin would like to welcome Halo Headband as our newest running business to the site!

Halo Headband was started by two competitive athletes who have have participated in numerous sports and activities including cross country mountain bike racing, adventure racing, Xterra events, 24 Hours of Adrenalin races, lacrosse, tennis, racquetball, and even running across the Grand Canyon and back.

After years of enduring issues with traditional headbands, they decided to develop their own headband, one that actually worked. They wanted to make the best performing headband in the world. Halo Headband was born!

 Halo Headband today offers a complete line of headwear perfect for runners, including headbands, hats, visors and winter caps. These products are made from a high performance material called Dryline, this material quickly evaporates moisture so you stay dry and comfortable. If the Sweatband becomes saturated then the Patented SweatBlock Seal goes to work, this unique seal forms a natural water tight seal against your skin which then channels sweat back and away from the eyes and face, no more burning eyes from sweat or sunscreen. All Halo products are warranted for one year against any manufacture defects.

Halo products are made in the USA.

For more information about Halo Headband products, please visit their website by clicking here. You can also “Like” them on Facebook by clicking here and follow them on Twitter @haloheadband.