Tag: Training

Mattapoisett Road Race

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Happy 4th of July!

If you plan to run a race on the 4th of July you should expect it to be hot. But this morning was next level hot with temperatures hitting 90 degrees at 9AM just as we toed the starting line for the Mattapoisett Road Race. This four miler through the coastal Massachusetts town of Mattapoisett has to be one of the most idyllic courses you will find in the area as runners traverse the four mile route through the absolutely perfect coastal neighborhoods.

We ran this race once previously and the area that the race takes place in is the kind of location that immediately has you checking local real estate listings once you get home from the race. It’s an incredibly beautiful area and the course takes you through the local streets that have a lot of the locals out supporting you as you tackle the race. Because today’s heat is next level hot, an extra big shoutout to all of the local residents who setup their own water stops, had sprinklers and hoses out to cool off runners and cheered runners along each step of the way.

After picking up our numbers and tossing the race shirt back in the car, we found a nice spot of grass near the starting line that was in the shade as conserving energy was going to be the key for the day.

Mrs. Running Griffin and I decided we would run together today to help pace each other in the heat and we made our way out onto the course with the goal of finishing the race safely being the priority. Mission accomplished! It was hot out there and thankfully there were some nice stretches of the race that were in the shade but when you were out in the sun you could certainly feel it. The water on the course was imperative at each station and hitting the hoses and sprinklers helped to regulate the body temperature relatively well.

We finished up the Mattapoisett Road Race with a time of 47:32, good for 11:53/miles. Happy to cross the finish line together where we then took in some water, the cool face cloths being handed out and fresh cut watermelon which helped to bring the body temperature down some. Nice to be able to run together today and kick off our 4th of July with a beautiful race. As we joked on the way walking back to the car, definitely better than running in the snow!

Race Recap: Horseneck Half-Marathon

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This Sunday it was off to the coastal community of Westport, Massachusetts for the Horseneck Half-Marathon. Westport is an absolute gem of a town on the South Coast and is one of my favorite spots around so having heard good things about this race from previous runners definitely pushed me to registering for the race.

The race started and finished at Horseneck Beach and took runners through the streets of the coastal community. In terms of scenery, this race definitely was amongst some of the most beautiful half-marathons that I have done rivaling races such as the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon up in Vermont, for example.

Race morning temperatures proved to be quite warm and were amongst some of the warmer temperatures we have seen so far this spring. Though there was a cool breeze while standing adjacent to the beach at the starting line, out on the course finding spots of shade whenever possible was a must as the heat started to hit pretty nicely.

The course was a beautiful run and was mostly flat with a couple of hills mixed in for good measure. Runners passed by spots like Buzzards Bay Brewing and Westport River Winery and through residential roads going along the coast, along cattle farms, protected open space land and more. Honestly, some of the roads that runners ran along gave you more than enough to revel in and made the running all that much more enjoyable.

There was good support on the course when it came to volunteers along the way and different sections featured small contingents of fans cheering runners along the way. If I lived in the area I would for sure be hosting a little viewing part of sorts to add to the vibe along the way!

The heat definitely gave me something to contend with and the second half of the race it hit me more than in the first half of the race. Additionally, I have been dealing with some plantar fasciitis pain and that definitely was hitting me harder than normal out on the course but I kept on trucking determined to finish the race. (Side note: I’ve tried ice, compression, shock wave therapy and massage so if you have a magic trick, hit me up!)

My only real gripe with the race was that for a half-marathon a few extra aid stations with water and electrolytes would have been useful as a couple of them were spaced out a bit too much. Certainly with the heat it would have been useful as there were a number of runners being tended to by paramedics out on the course due to the heat but even on a normal temperature day, one or two extra hydration stations could have gone a long way.

I finished up the Horseneck Half-Marathon with a time of 2:22:09, good for 10:51/miles. Certainly not my best running out there but chalking up a half-marathon is never a bad thing so happy to mark this one complete!

Race Recap: Paddy Kelly 10K

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The Paddy Kelly 10K is an iconic race held in Brockton, Massachusetts through the historic and beautiful park roads taking runs through a hidden gem of a course in the heart of an urban location. The race for years was held in February but after a slew of some challenging winters the race was moved to now be held in March. The race is organized by the Colonial Road Runners who do a great job with this annual favorite for many runners in the region.

This morning, we reminisced that the first time that I had ever run this race was when Mrs. Running Griffin was just about to give birth to our oldest daughter who is now 18 years old and ready to graduate high school. My does time fly!

The 10K race kicked off at 11AM and brings runners through D.W. Field Park which traverses through Brockton and nearby Avon, as well. It’s a really pretty park area with paved roads alongside various parks, water and even a historic tower that you get to after you make your way up a substantial uphill section just past the first mile marker. The course has some fair hills mixed into it and as 10K races go the overall feel of the race is moderately challenging but fair.

There were a couple of water stops out on the course which is always needed on a 10K route and at the stretches where you need to cross any roads with traffic to enter a separate part of the park system there is both volunteers and officers from the local police departments there to help you along the way.

My legs, namely my calves and then my shins, were ridiculously tight today despite me having on some compression socks. Sure, I have been out pounding the pavement a lot lately but the legs just felt like cinder blocks at certain parts of the run. In the final two miles they felt the best and seemed to loosen up some but I’m certainly going to be icing up the ol’ legs for the rest of the day today.

I finished up the Paddy Kelly 10K with a time of 59:16, good for 9:27/miles.

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!