Incredible Fall Events!!!

Upcoming New England Fall Events Summer is almost over, and like at a great clambake, your plate is filling up fast. But we've got some great events around the corner and NOW is your chance to sign up. Join us this fall on Cape Cod, or in lovely Narragansett or Newport, R.I. for races and festivals ranging from a 5k to a full marathon!  Cape Cod Brew Fest September 26 | Cape Cod The fourth annual Cape Cod Brew Fest will be our biggest yet - featuring over 80 American craft breweries, 300 beers, local food and live music. Join us at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in East Falmouth for this outdoor festival on September 26th! CapeCodBrewFest.com Ocean Road 10k October 4 | Narragansett This rave-worthy 6.2-mile road race showcases the Ocean State's grandiose splendor and beachside beauty along glistening Narragansett Bay. This flat and fast course was named "Best 10K Northeast" in 2014 by Competitor Magazine. OceanRoad10k.com Newport Marathon October 11 | Newport The City By The Sea is one of the area's most idyllic race routes. This marathon and half-marathon event features stunning views, including the famed mansions along Bellevue Avenue and gorgeous Ocean Drive. A can't-miss event! NewportMarathon.com Citizens Bank Pell Bridge Run October 25 | Newport Check this beauty off your bucket list. Run or walk the iconic Pell Bridge at sunrise in a 4.1 mile event sponsored by Citizens Bank and the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. All proceeds from this event are donated to local charities. PellBridgeRun.com Copyright © 2015 Gray Matter Marketing. All Rights Reserved.

Forward this email Gray Matter Marketing | 304 Thames St. | Newport | RI | 02840

Running from Lincoln to Froyo

and more as we try to stay cool in the heat. A good long run (5 miles) today. Before the sun got too high and too strong. It was still warm and the humidity is what does me in.

partly shady on Jefferson Road

I chose my route to provide me as much shade as the roads would allow. Jefferson Road in Franklin is a nice development. The sidewalk has a nice grassy stretch so I can alternate between the grass and the blacktop sidewalk. Both of which are softer than the concrete sidewalks on King and Washington Sts.

I finally caught up to viewing "Lincoln". As much as the promos touted battle scenes, I was a little surprised that the time period covered in the movie was only a few months early in 1865. Critical months for the 14th amendment to get passed. Clearly politics hasn't changed too much since then. There appear to be as many fools among the Congress now as there was then no matter what side of the aisle you favor.

We also managed to stop by FroyoWorld here in Franklin for the first time. It has already been open a year and we hadn't found our way there before. The concept is simple. Self serve frozen yogurt, you chose the flavors, fill the cup as much as you like and pay by the weight. The Dutch Chocolate was quite good. The NY Style cheese cake is better as a real cheese cake.

The cicadas are in full force outside. It is going to be a warm one. Stay cool where ever you are!

To the well

Did my long run on Sunday out on the Franklin roads. My long run build up had been broken several weeks ago with the blizzard. I am just now able to start the build up again.

Jordan Road

4.5 miles on Sunday provided the opportunity to get to the well.

go to the well

One of my favorite routes. How can you not like going to the well to start a long run build up again?

Amaryllis - day 32

today is actually day 33 but the photos and thoughts are from yesterday so we'll go with that for now.

It is cold again here in Franklin today. The cold snap hitting most of the US has us in single digits again this morning. It was 4 degrees yesterday when I went running. Yes, I got "the look" from my wife as I headed for the door.

Good thing I am not scheduled to run today. The temp is recording -1.3 this morning!

She should know better by now. We have been married for more than 30 years. I run in all kinds of weather. No, I don't run in the real dangerous thunderstorms or hurricanes. I am not insane. Dressed appropriately, I would rather run in the cold than on a 90+ day in the summer.

The amaryllis is doing well indoors, in the warm, catching the afternoon sun, out of the frigid cold!

Stay warm!

Road race planning for non-profits

There are a number of Franklin based non-profits conducting a road race as a fundraiser for their organization. As a life long runner and volunteer on the board of a non-profit, this is a happy junction of interests! 

Some of the organizations are relatively new to the race arena, so I thought it would make sense for the organizers to get together. Those with experience can share the best of what they have learned. 

Perhaps the awareness of the other races can be shared with each others mailing list? Perhaps the scheduling of some of the races can be spread around the calendar to avoid conflicts. Such learning and sharing should help all to create a more successful race for their respective organizations.

Who would NOT want a more successful race?

• More runners
• Better prepared to execute the race
• Less hassles
• More communications about the race/cause

I spent a few minutes this morning in Google looking for best practices in road race organization. Some of these links you may have found before but if not, they may be helpful to take from them to create a better race. 

Resources

A road race planning guide from RunBritain
http://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/Events/Additional%20Guidance/Downloads/item30919.pdf

Road Runners Club of America
http://www.rrca.org/event-directors/resources/

Individual shares his best practices via YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIX9DBbozmw

From the Run/Walk/Ride organization, a collection of articles around best practices in fundraising and race management
http://www.runwalkride.com/bestpractices.asp

Road Race Management offers a book for members and non-members
http://www.rrm.com/manual/manualweb.htm

Active.Com has a section on fundraising
http://www.activegiving.com/resources-overview.htm

They also offer services like event management
http://www.activenetwork.com/software/event-and-activity-management.htm

USA Track & Field Association documents on long distance running
http://www.usatf.org/groups/officials/resources/long-distance-running/


Chicago Area Runners Association has this link with some good info
http://www.cararuns.org/Racing/Race%20Directors/Race%20Director%20Packet.aspx

These general guidelines largely address administrative tasks.   Use this

checklist as a guide to elements which make for a well-conceived and executed

race.

http://www.cararuns.org/Racing/Race%20Directors/~/media/Files/2010_GENERAL%20GUIDELINES_web.ashx

Do you have any road race best practices that you would like to share?

Please leave a comment or send me an email!

So much can be found within the tracks we leave!

In December, before we got our big snow fall that still leaves the ground covered, we got a dusting. Enough to sprinkle whiteness around. Enough to change the color of the world.




Enough to allow for looking back on where one had been and see what mark had been made.

Only one vehicle had passed on the road thus far.

Only one set of foot prints had left its mark.

Were they human? Did the spacing indicate walking or running? What kind of shoes were they wearing?

So much can be found within the tracks we leave!

Winter view

Winter wonderland

Plowed roads

Rolling hills

photo opportunities

and a good workout!

so much for the end

the end of one day brings the beginning of another
new, different, full of opportunity

I got my run in before the rain arrives here in Franklin today

With this new beginning on a new day, I have much to do.

Give your self permission to accomplish good things today!

Enjoy the dessert!


FYI - This dessert is available at CAV in Providence, RI

Reflections

The tree along the edge of the DelCarte Property in Franklin casts its reflection on the water.

Does the reflection mimic the root system?

Something to ponder. 

I had a good long run yesterday. Wanted to do at least 5.9 miles and ended up with 6.8. More the merrier especially as it was a sort of photo run. I did pause here and there to take a photo or two, like this one.

No running today, I only do that three days a week now. The schedule works for me. Running keeps me physically healthy. Writing keeps me mentally healthy. Work provides the where with all to allow this all to happen.

How do you approach your day?

One shoe

A kid's shoe on the curb. Only one when they are generally worn in pairs.

How did it get there? There must be a story behind this.

Dropped from a stroller passing by on the sidewalk? While the size is small, it seems a little too large for someone who would be sitting in the stroller.

Maybe tossed from the backseat of their family vehicle in a tussle with their sibling? Parent or parents in the front seat unaware of what just happened?

And when they arrive at their destination, how come you only have one shoe?

All the sprinters

The NY Times put together a great comparison of all the Olympic sprinters. In particular, the gold medal winners of the 100 meter dash. Working backward from Usain Bolt to Francis Lane in 1896.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/08/05/sports/olympics/the-100-meter-dash-one-race-every-medalist-ever.html?hp

Very well done, the data tells the story!

thoughts on the run - 6

The recent heat spell seems to have left New England for now. It will be back, New England is know for changes in it's weather. Which also provides opportunities for frequent reminders on how to beat the heat!



One tip that works for my running is to run in the shade. Amazing to feel how cool it is as you move from direct sunlight into the shade! Too bad that I have yet to find a road completely shaded with stretches along each side of the road so you can switch from time to time.

Looking for such a shaded road also gives you a good excuse to go running!

sweat mark

Dolores and I have a weekend routine of walking together. On Saturday, we walk together. On Sunday, she'll walk. I'll run and we'll time it to rendezvous somewhere near one of Franklin's coffee shops.

I arrived early one Sunday and sat to stretch. When I stood up I realized I left a sweat mark on the ground.



It didn't last long. It was so warm, the moisture quickly evaporated.

Thoughts on the run - 4

They say hindsight is 20/20. How good is foresight then?

Someone realizing that the curve of the road could create a dangerous situation put up a mirror. By looking into the mirror, one could then approach and enter the road safely in confidence that the way was clear.

As opposed to having entered the road, gotten into a dangerous situation and then said "I wish I had put a mirror up?"

Do you think ahead?

Thoughts on the run - 3

Time has just slipped away. I think this is the longest time between posts ever. Oh well, it happened.

After a shower, the rain begins to evaporate. Some puddles remain. The puddles can provide a mirror view to the world around it.

In addition to being good (sometimes) to splash in, the puddles provide a good view.

Look at a puddle the next time, what do you see?

here and elsewhere!

There are other places to find where I write. Some of you know those, some new readers may not be as familiar so this will be a quick refresher.

My regular updates on what is happening that matters in Franklin, MA can be found on http://www.franklinmatters.org/. I focus primarily on the town budget (follow the money) which means I spend as much time as I can among the Finance Committee meetings, the Town Council and the School Committee.

I also write a weekly summary of the Franklin happenings at  http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/

As I find good information for those still looking for work, I share that on the Job Search Jam Sessions webpage here http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/

While my father has passed on to a better place, some of the family history is being kept on his page - Jerry's Story: http://jerrysherlockstory.blogspot.com/

I do run regularly but have been posting less regularly on my running blog, Passionate Runner http://passionaterunner.blogspot.com/

And in a quiet moment, when I allow the muse to speak, I can capture those poetic thoughts on my poetry blog: http://www.quietpoet.com/

So if you come here and find Steve's 2 Cents quiet, there may be other places where I have been busy!

What day is it?

This could be an interesting day. I normally run three times a week on Weds, Fri and Sunday mornings. The alarm went off this morning. I got up and went to the shower as I do on the days I don't run.

In the shower, I resolved a problem that occurred at work yesterday and then realized it WAS Friday and I should be running not taking a shower!

Oh well. Maybe I will solve more problems as the day progresses! I can always run later.


Have a great day!

The other side of the well

When running I am usually concentrating on going forward and watching for where I am going. I am careful to watch for the changes in surface to avoid falling.

Sunday was a nice day for a long run, albeit on the cool side with a strong breeze driving the wind chill into an area some would not venture into.

Jordan Road is a nice loop. Rolling slopes building up to the well. Yes, good image. Going to the well. It happens on Jordan Road.



I paused a couple of times to look at the road behind be, what did it look like back there? I realized most of time I do this loop I go the same way. I should reverse the loop next time.

Reversing the loop would not only provide a change of scenario. It would be a different route. Look at the long downhill I would be able to cruise! Yes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. I would still have to climb up the other side. It would be shorter and steeper. Then look at that long downhill!

Consider changing your loop and see what it can do for you?

Cold running

Yes, it is cold today here in New England. The temp is just above zero F and the wind chill has the effect of the temp below zero. Consider not running today? No, not I. As I tweeted earlier:

@MuchAdoMktg i have great respect for Mother Nature and today renews that! Head into the wind and then when u turn it feels like spring

Were it a blizzard, or tornado, or hurricane - yes, those would stop me. But a little cold? No.

I am back and warm and all is well!

What are you doing today?

Shadow racing

Running Sunday morning, I found myself racing my shadow.




What do you do when you see your shadow?