5th Overall at the Huss Dog Jog 5 Miler Today!

On July 13, 2013 By The Running Griffin4 Comments

This morning it was down to Pembroke, Massachusetts for the Huss Dog Jog 5 Miler. This race is held in memory of Steven Hussey and raises money for the American Stroke Association and a scholarship fund.

The race started and finished at the Pembroke High School and part of the course was through a street on the grounds of the school aptly named Learning Lane. After a quick loop through the school’s grounds for the first mile of the race it was then off into the streets of Pembroke for the next 3 miles. Feeling pretty good through 2 miles, I was in third place and running pretty strong. Race time temperatures were warm but not too hot however the humidity certainly crept in along the course in a big way. Thankfully the race started at 8:45 AM or this could have been really tough.

The running through the residential streets of Pembroke was rather tough as there were a good amount of rolling uphills along the way. That said, one would have expected to see some downhill rollers but they seemed few and far between. A really nice climb around 3.5 required you to kick the legs into high gear and with head down looking at the pavement I made my way up the hill pretty strong. The mile 4 marker was back on the school grounds where runners were met by those taking part in the 2 mile walk. The last mile was a loop back down the same loop the race started off on before doubling back toward the finish line.

Kudos to the race organizers who put on a nice race with raffle prizes, post-race snacks and a DJ keeping the mood light. The Pembroke Police Department also did a really nice job supporting along the course with traffic detail ensuring the runners were able to run without much disruption while out on the road.

I finished the Huss Dog Jog 5 Miler with an overall finish of 5th place and a time of 39:29 which was good for 7:54/miles. Always gotta love a Top 5 finish!

2013 MAD Scramble Road Race

On June 30, 2013July 6, 2013 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Thursday evening after work it was race time! Heading from the office onto the train and to the car it was then off to Milton, Massachusetts for the 2013 MAD Scramble Road Race. This race is annually held on a weeknight at 6:30 PM and brings runners through a rather challenging 5.1 mile course throughout the town of Milton, Massachusetts. Milton is just outside the city limits of Boston and the race brings runners across Milton’s streets as well as some trails and paths mixed in for good measure.

Evening running can always be trick y as you need to watch your consumption during the day (aka, don’t drink my usual 5 cups of coffee) and the weather, particularly in the summer, could be subject to change. Race time temperatures were just shy of 70 degrees but the humidity was certainly noticeable.

The MAD Scramble supports the Detective Michael A Devin Memorial Fund. Proceeds from the race fund scholarships, support juvenile athletic programs, and provide assistance to families in need.

The race starts out quite flat as for the first mile runners quickly make their way off the pavement and head into a park completing a loop along packed dirt along a pond reminiscent of some cross-country trails from back in my high school running days. After completing the loop through this park it is back out onto the pavement for a while. The course is a deceivingly hilly terrain with just enough gradual risers to make your legs really take notice quite quickly. One of the larger hills is just outside of the Milton Libary where runners start heading toward the three mile marker.

Just about the entire fourth mile is within another trail section of Milton and although the summer rains have been hitting us pretty hard lately the terrain for the most part was not too badly impacted. As runners make their way out of this trail system, the final three-tenths of a mile or so is back out onto the pavement racing through a couple quick residential turns and heading into the finish line. As I crossed the finish line, the moisture from the humidity and sweat was pouring off of me and the water at the finish tasted just a bit better than normal. I finished the 2013 MAD Scramble with a time of 41:11, good for 8:05/miles.

Post-race the organizers put on a great cookout complete with burgers, hot dogs, fruit, cookies and more. A local radio station was handing out ice cream and a couple of vendors sampled their products. I also learned I won a raffle prize from Charles River Running which was one of the vendors at the race!

Only One Hill….

On June 17, 2013July 6, 2013 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

This weekend it was off to the White Mountain region of New Hampshire for the Mount Washington Road Race. This has been one of the “bucket list” runs I have tried getting into the lottery for the past few years and when I received the email this year telling me I was accepted there was a mixed emotion of “I can’t wait to do this” and “What the heck was I thinking when I signed up for this lottery.”

Number pickup took place the night before the race at the foot of the auto road and runners were able to grab their bib number, some electrolyte gels and toothbrushes thanks to sponsor Northeast Delta Dental. Technical running shirts were the race schwag for this race and a table also sold other racing gear such as hats, tee-shirts and long sleeve shirts. I opted to purchase a nice race tee-shirt and a bumper sticker that says, “The driver of this car has run Mt. Washington.” Best $2 I have ever spent!

One of my running friends told me that about a mile and a half into the race I would know if this is a once and done sort of race or if I would ever want to come back. He was right.

The race started at the base of the Mount Washington Auto Road and needless to say was a rather uphill challenge. There was basically no flat terrain and only a slight dip as you rounded a turn then made its way into an uphill trudge once again. As we lined up at the starting line we saw a firefighter who was going to make the run in full gear (complete with oxygen tank) and a 93-year old man who like the rest of us was geared up to tackle the Mountain.

There were four water stops along the course which absolutely was needed and greatly appreciated. Though the race was 7.6 miles the challenge of the course was hands down one of the most difficult things I have ever done. Though I have run marathons before, this race beat me up far more than a marathon did as the muscle groups used were under such constant pressure it really made for a different race experience.

Along the way, there was a sort of out-of-body experience that took place as I made my way up the mountain. As we made our way above the tree line, runners began to almost run amongst the clouds and had the ability to look down upon the smaller mountains around. Some of the imagery was absolutely amazing and with clear conditions runners could see for miles. Though it was June and at the base the temperature was in the 70s, a few patches of snow could still be seen on some of the peaks along the way.

Right around the 4 mile mark the wind really started to pick up and gusts were measured around 45mph. I started the race with my racing shirt and shorts at the base and tied a long sleeve around my waist but did not change into it until post-race.

Though a road race, even for moderately good runners such as myself it was near impossible to run for a good portion of the race. Some of the hills burned the calves like you wouldn’t believe and even when you thought it was time to start running again the ability to change the legs from walking mode into running mode seemed like a task that the mind simply could not comprehend.

As I made my way toward the finish line the end was in sight but so too was basically a hill that resembled a wall climb to keep the course honest for good measure. I don’t know if the pain was making me delirious or not but this last 100 yards seemed as though I was running straight up. Fans at the finish were cheering names since they were on our bibs and the healthy amount of “Go Kevin” perhaps is what gave me that final kick into the finish line. I probably was moving at a snail’s pace, but man did it feel awesome to cross the finish line. Getting the medal placed around my neck for this race felt a little extra special and the fleece blanket that was wrapped around me was simply put: divine. After all, temperatures at the top with the wind-chill were hovering around 25 degrees.

Runners were required to have ride back down to the base already pre-arranged and since 12 other members of my running club took part in the race we had rides already figured out. A huge thanks to our driver who had to make the trek up the Auto Road alone in the morning and then had to drive four of us down post-race.

After we made our way back down to the base, a turkey dinner was served for the runners thanks to Hart’s Turkey Farm.

I finished the Mount Washington Road Race with a time of 2:18:49, which equates to 18:16/miles. Though the rule of thumb is to try and run the 7.5 mile race with a half-marathon time in mind, I was indeed a bit slower than my half-marathon time but after all, crossing the finish line was the only goal I had in mind. I was glad to be able to partake in this race, but know that it is crossed off the bucket list will probably not make my way back to tackle the mountain anytime soon. I earned that $2 bumper sticker!

ENERGYbits: Add More Life to Yours One Bit at a Time

On June 12, 2013 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

The Running Griffin would like to welcome our newest sponsor ENERGYbits!

Want more energy, more mental vitality, or a healthy high protein snack you can grab on the go? How about a quick way to boost your athletic performance, supercharge your run or crank up your endurance while working or working out? If so, ENERGYbits® are for you. Made from 100% organicallly grown spirulina algae and loaded with 40 nutrients, ENERGYbits® algae tabs have the highest concentration of protein in the world (64%) all for just one calorie per tab.

I took the ENERGYbits before a 5K race this past weekend and was impressed with the results. The bits are recommended to be taken by the handful and to swallow them whole and indeed this was a good recommendation. The taste is definitely an acquired taste but there was no notable aftertaste while running which was nice. The benefit of the bits is that it did not leave any jittery effects that other energy products often can leave you with and the workout experience seemed to be positively impacted by the bits.

The Running Griffin is pleased to offer our readers a 10% discount thanks to ENERGYbits when our readers shop on their website. You can purchase ENERGYbits by clicking here and using the coupon code BLOG at checkout.

Run for Patrick and Jess

On June 5, 2013 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

On Sunday it was a quick trip to Taunton, Massachusetts to take part in the Run for Patrick and Jess. A 3.1 mile fun run where runners raced along a timed course, the race was a fundraiser for Patrick and Jessica Downes, newlyweds who were both injured in the terrorist bombings at the Boston Marathon which resulted in both of them requiring amputations. Since the bombings, Patrick and Jessica have been in separate hospitals but are now together at Spaulding Rehabilitation together.

The race took place in the Myles Standish Industrial Park and was a relatively flat 3.1 mile course with the largest inclined mixed in about half way into the run. The temperatures were quite warm hovering around 90 degrees and the sun baked down upon the runners as we made our way out onto the course. A water station was a little past the 2 mile mark along the route and volunteers directed runners at the turns. I finished the 5K with a time of 22:59 which was good for 7:25/miles.

With all of the bad that came with the Boston Marathon bombings it is comforting to see the good that can come out of such a horrific event. It was touching to see the people who flocked to a fun run to help raise money for those injured in the attack. For all that a few, rogue terrorists tried to take from us on that fateful morning the one thing that they could never take is the amazing American spirit that when knocked down shows we can pick ourselves back up again and persevere even in the worst of times. Through running, the runners on Sunday were able to raise some good funds to support Patrick and Jess and also showed how strong the running community is.

If you are interested in supporting Patrick and Jess, a donation page has been established and you can donate online by clicking here.