Register Today for Pam’s Run

On August 20, 2013 By The Running GriffinLeave a comment

Join The Running Griffin on October 5th at Pam’s Run in Wayland, Massachusetts. You can register for this race by clicking here.

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. Walk or run the 3-mile or 5-mile route on Saturday, October 5th, 2013 at 10 am at the Loker School in Wayland, Massachusetts (rain or shine).

Proceeds from Pam’s Run will go to Neighbor Brigade, the organization she founded to provide support to families in crisis. Neighbor Brigade is in 40 communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Learn more about Neighbor Brigade here.

Some highlights of the run include:

– AMP radio (103.3) will be at the event, along with the band the Daddios.

– we will have food and beverage

– kids activities

– cash prizes for top runners and gift cards for top male and female in each age category.

– t-shirts for pre-registered runners

I look forward to seeing you all at Pam’s Run on October 5th in Wayland. Again, please register in advance by clicking here.

Common Fence Point 5 Miler

On August 19, 2013 By The Running Griffin1 Comment

Yesterday it was down to Portsmouth, Rhode Island for the Common Fence Point 5 Miler. This is a race that I have done before and the course is an absolutely great 5 miler through a quaint beach community in Rhode Island. Runners make their way through the winding residential roads with some of the locals out on their front porch or front lawn cheering you along.

With the twists and turns of the course come some nice hills mixed in to keep runners honest along the 5 mile path. The race organizers do a nice job mixing in three water stops along the way and one of the locals cooled runners off with a hose as we ran by. The racing conditions were absolutely perfect with temperatures in the low 80’s, no humidity and a slight breeze from time to time.

Kudos to the Thirsty Irish Runners for having the largest club contingent at the race and showing runners what it means to have fun when running!

This was my best Common Fence Point 5 Miler to date with a time of 38:54, good for 7:47/miles.

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!