Tag: Running

Race Recap: West Island 5K

On By The Running Griffin2 Comments

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Thankfully today’s race kicked off at 11AM which allowed me to take in my 8 year old’s soccer match that started at 8AM. Perhaps seeing her take the pitch and have a strong game was the motivation I needed to go out and have a good run today!

I left soccer and made my way to Fairhaven, Massachusetts for the West Island 5K. West Island is a great beach community of Fairhaven that has charming homes along the water. The race starts right next to the community center and a general store that sells the essentials needed for beach living.

I ran the West Island 5K in 2013 and many of the memories I had from that race came true again today. The course starts on a very nice downhill trajectory prior to making a left hand turn into residential roads. As runners make their way out to the tower along the water pictured in the medal above, a water stop is present and allows runners to quickly take some water before heading toward the Mile 2 marker. The final mile is a rather gradual climb heading back toward the finish line on this out-and-back course. I remembered when I pulled up to the race that the final .2 miles of the run features that downhill that was so enjoyed on the way out but becomes far more noticeably uphill given there are not as many people around as there were at the start. I put my head down and made my way up the hill and blasted into the finish chute feeling pretty good overall.

I finished today’s West Island 5K with a time of 23:25, good for 7:32/miles. Knowing I felt pretty strong along the course, it was nice to see that hard work pay off as I improved my 2013 time by 22 seconds.

Be sure to “Like” West Island 5K on Facebook by clicking here as this race is a great race you will want to add to your 2017 race schedule.

Join Me at the Ironstone Derby 5K & Kentucky Derby Party

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You can celebrate the Kentucky Derby this May at an Andover horse farm, and all the fun will support a great charity. Join The Running Griffin at the Ironstone Derby 5K!

Ironstone Farm in Andover will host the “Ironstone Derby,” an afternoon 5-kilometer charity race-and-walk and barbecue followed by a Kentucky Derby party– all on the day of the Kentucky Derby, Saturday, May 7. The party includes a barbecue with ribs, barbecue chicken, pulled pork, hotdogs for kids and more. It benefits the nonprofit work at Ironstone Farm that helps children with special needs, veterans and others.

Register at www.lightboxreg.com/ironstone_2016.

The day starts with a stick-horse race for kids at 4 p.m., followed by the 5K race and walk at 4:30 p.m. and then a barbecue and after-party, all at Ironstone Farm horse farm on Route 133 in Andover, Mass. Some people come just for the party! Eat, play games, win prizes, see our horse-and-rider drill team perform, pick a favorite horse and watch the Kentucky Derby live on a big screen after the race! Lenzi’s of Dracut is expected to serve beer and a Kentucky bourbon drink. A live band and deejay will keep the party going, along with a magician and face painter for kids.

Race day is Saturday, May 7, and the race motto is “Run for the Roses – Stay for the Party!”

The Ironstone Derby 5K is a USATF-certified race. Runners and walkers who sign up by April 15 are guaranteed to receive a free short-sleeve tech shirt. Children 10 and under who run the stick-horse races will receive a free T-shirt. There are fun games and prizes for everyone after the road race.

Entry fees for the 5K are $25 for adults and $20 for youth 12 and younger. The cost is $10 for the kids stick-horse run. The adult 5K price will increase by $5 on April 19. Register at http://www.lightboxreg.com/ironstone_2016. Online registration will end Friday, May 6 at 11 a.m. There will be race-day registration on Saturday. Team registration is encouraged.

Prizes will be awarded for the largest team and the team that is most creatively dressed for the Ironstone Derby — think derby hats! Individual prizes, including Burtons Grill gift certificates and roses will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers. The top 12-and-younger 5K runners also will receive a prize.

The race benefits the nonprofit work of Challenge Unlimited Ironstone Farm, which serves children with special needs, veterans who’ve experienced trauma, people diagnosed with cancer, adults with special needs, teens at risk, elders with memory issues and others. Learn more at www.ironstonefarm.org.

Pack & Boots 5K

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Registration is now open for the Pack & Boots 5K which will be held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on July 4th.

This is the 4th annual Pack & Boots 5K run/walk and 1-mile Pack & Boots Survival run where runners must wear their own backpack weighing 10% of their body weight.

All proceeds from the Pack & Boots 5K benefit Veterans Count. Veterans Count, a program of Easter Seals NH is committed to providing critical and timely financial assistance and services when no other resource is available to veterans, service members and their families, to ensure their dignity, health and overall well-being.

Head out to Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Independence Day morning for an early race kick-off at 9AM. The race starts at the Strawbery Banke on Marcy Street in Portsmouth and registration begins at 8AM.

The first 100 veterans to register for the race receive a free entry!

To register to the Pack & Boots 5K, please click here.

Run with The Running Griffin at Tory Row 5K

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On Sunday, June 12th join The Running Griffin in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the Tory Row 5K. This is my first time running this race and I look forward to seeing you in Harvard Square for what looks to be a great race!

Tory Row 5K isn’t just a race, it’s a full weekend of festivities. Your $40.00 registration fee guarantees you a spot in the race as well as admission to the pre- and post-race parties. Your registration fee includes a Tory Row 5K t-shirt and a drawstring backpack, as well as complimentary beverages and snacks at the Pickup Party and the TR5K Race Party. The top overall winners will receive a handmade laurel crown from Petali Flowers in Harvard Square as well as gift certificates to Tory Row. Top male/female overall will also win a custom engraved TR5K beer pitcher, which can be filled with your choice of draft beer or sangria at Tory Row at any point during race weekend.

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The Tory Row 5K is a USATF sanctioned event and course. With professional bib timing services by RaceWire, you can have your result emailed and texted to you as soon as finish the race.

To register for the Tory Row 5K, please click here. You can also “Like” the race on Facebook by clicking here.

 

Join me at Liam Maguire’s Irish Pub Almost Five Miler

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On May 1st, join The Running Griffin at the Liam Maguire’s Irish Pub Almost Five Miler. This 4.912 mile road race is hosted by Lawrence-Lynch Corporation and produced by PCB Race Management.

The 2nd Annual Liam Maguire’s Irish Pub Almost Five Miler is part of the New England Runner Pub Series. The race will be held in Falmouth, MA on a scenic and relatively traffic-free course. Following the race, a celebration of the sport will be held at Liam Maguire’s Irish Pub with bounteous quantities of Offshore Amber Ale, a lavish buffet, and entertainment.

The scenic single-loop course starts and ends in Town Hall Square and runs through residential neighborhoods and along the Vineyard Sound shore. It is mostly flat. While the course is open to traffic, traffic is light.

The total field is limited to 500 runners. Registration is now open and you may register on-line by clicking here.

For more information about the Liam Maguire’s Irish Pub Almost Five Miler, please visit the race website by clicking here. I look forward to seeing you in Falmouth, Massachusetts on May 1st!