Group Effort

With a crazy week behind me of tough work hours (again) and our sick 1 year old (she threw up 5 times in three days), it goes without saying that I was looking forward to the weekend and really beginning to think about Christmas. As I write this, John is watching "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (again) and Audrey is feeling much, much better. Shopping is almost done (courtesy of Katie....thank you, dear) and ginger bread cookies are in the process of being made. Tonight will bring around a foot of snow, and we'll spend some time tomorrow sledding in the yard. This really is the funnest time of year.

I was able to make the first group run of the year this morning. I missed the chance to be at the last team meeting, so it was nice to be able to make it today. As I left the house this morning, it was still pretty cold (high teens), but a little warmer than yesterday morning went I went for a run (5). I picked up the remnance of "Frosty" in the yard before tonight's snow, and I drove up to today's location in Lexington at The Greater Boston Running Company. We all worked out way inside for a quick update on DFMC members, team news related to fundraising efforts and instruction on the route we'd be running from Jack. Not being able to make to Crossroads on Thursday nights, I found myself looking around and trying to match faces with the various blogs we're all linked to, and I was able to pick out at least a few familiar faces.

We crossed the street as a group and started out along the Minuteman Bikeway for our out and back run. I paired up with the other Mike M. on the team and we started out down the bike path. Having not run as much as I would have liked recently, I had planned to go 7-8 miles today. We started off with a relatively slow pace for me, and a really slow pace for Mike. After about 2 miles, we picked it up a little bit to around 8:30 a mile, which is my usual pace but still slow for Mike. The first half of the run proved to be slightly down hill and the wind was at our backs, so it didn't feel terribly cold. We were able to keep up this pace and have a good conversation pretty much the whole time.

As we hit the 4 mile mark, my plan was to turn around and head back and let Mike keep going. But after about 10 seconds of convincing by Mike, I decided to keep going with him to the end of the trail about a 1/2 mile away. As we turned around to come back, the little bit of wind that was there hit us in the face and it quickly got a lot colder. Even with the slight but steady uphill climb, I felt decent until we hit the 7 mile mark. At that point, I started to get a little tired. It hit me that I hadn't run this far since the half marathon in October and that I needed to be careful not to push too much. There was no need to get hurt on the first long run of the season. I ended up walking for a stretch while Mike stopped for water and then caught up to me. I had one more short walking stint toward the end and completed the run in roughly 1:20. I say roughly because it was so cold, my IPhone froze up and, in the process, my GPS tracker went haywire around mile 7.6 (my IPod froze around that time as well).

http://bit.ly/79WewI

All in all, it was a great 9 mile run. Thanks to Mike for hanging back with me (I promise I won't make you do that all year once I get back in shape), and I felt better than I expected during, and after the run. I'll plan on taking tomorrow off and get back into a better routine over the next two weeks. I still need to get that treadmill.....

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!!

That's Brisk, Baby

After having a very tough week at work with little sleep and maximum stress, I was finally able to get out for run for the first time since Monday morning. Stepping out of the house before 7:00 AM and right as the sun was rising, I realized that the 24 degree temp on my thermometer was not even close to what it really felt like out there with the 10 mph wind (weather.com had the temp at 8 degrees with the windchill). Fortunately, I was dressed warm enough to beat the cold. The only part exposed was my face, which made me realize that I need a winter mask going forward (my jaw was numb by the end of the run). I ended up going 7+ miles, but it was really slow. I had to stop a few times and felt just dog tired about 3/4 of the way through. Also, my GPS conked out on my about 2/3 of the way through the run, so I had to record the run in two parts. I like Runkeeper on my IPhone, but sometimes it drives me crazy.

http://bit.ly/4Yf3o5
http://bit.ly/4DCaRD

With the official training program starting Monday, I'm going to ramp up my rest and mileage in comparison what I've been able to do the last 3-4 weeks. Work should be slowing down starting this week, so that will help tremendously. I'm going to hopefully be at the first group run next Saturday.

This has been an incredible week related to donations. So many people have been incredibly generous so far and I can't thank them enough for helping me reach my personal goal and helping Dana-Farber with their ongoing research. THANK YOU to all of you that have helped up to this point. Your thoughtfulness and generosity means a lot to me.

The Christmas season has been fun so far. The kids are incredibly excited and all decorations have been hung, installed, displayed, etc. A dinner with friends is on the docket for Saturday night and a visit to Santa is scheduled for tomorrow. Less than 2 weeks to go and counting!!

And, We're Off....

I sent out my first round of donation emails on Thursday night, and donations are already coming in. Given that we're in the middle of the holiday season and things still aren't terrific with the economy, it's truly amazing how generous people have been. THANK YOU to those of you that have helped me try to reach my goal.

Note to Self....

.....don't swear at the police in Portsmouth when running.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2009/12/02/for_jogger_no_more_crossing_the_line/

Thanksgiving, Anticipation and Bug Bites

Can it possibly be that Thanksgiving has already come and gone? Wow, that went by quickly. The holiday was fantastic, and Katie did her usual unbelievable job hosting at our house. We had a total of 13 people, down from an expected number of 21. With 13, we were able to avoid spreading tables in an L shape into different rooms and/or using a kiddie table, which would have consisted of everyone under the age of 40. John and Audrey had a great time playing with everyone and the food was outstanding (as usual).


Once my food coma subsided, I made it out for a relatively short run on Saturday, but it seemed longer due to the ridiculous winds that we had that day. I was literally dodging trash cans as they blew across the street.

I woke up on time on Monday (for once) and decided to go a little longer than I planned (5+). I went slower than usual, but felt pretty good. I'm getting used to running in the dark again. It's kind of cool to finish up the run just when the day is breaking.

I'm glad the official training schedule has been posted to the team web site. It's exciting to see what we're in store for related to weekly running and our commitment over the months to come. It will be nice to get out of "maintain" mode and into "training" mode again and I'm looking forward to "officially" beginning the week of the 14th. I just hope I can stick with the others when I'm able to get to a Saturday group run.

I'm hoping to get to the Wednesday night meeting this week, work and sicknesses permitting. I had to pick up Audrey today due to the 101 degree fever she had. I hope this virus passes soon. I thought we were done with sicknesses for a while....guess not. Such is life with a 1 year and 5 year old.

This Guy Had Better Be Right

On a cold and rainy November day, I'll take this as a piece of good news as we get closer and closer to training over the winter months ahead. I hope this guy knows his stuff.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/11/snowfall_predic.html

Getting Back Up to Speed

I did a 7+ mile run for the first time in almost a month on Saturday. The weather was great (mid-40's around 6:30), and I waited to go until the sun came up so that I could actually run when it was light out and see where I was going for a change. I'm hoping this is the week I start to get back into a regular running routine. I ended up with a decent time and pace, but I felt lousy the whole time.

http://bit.ly/71LR77

I stopped a few times due to the fact that I felt like I couldn't get enough air into my lungs. For the past few days, I felt like my cold/flu (or whatever I had) was making a curtain call to the point that I couldn't breathe each of the last few mornings, coupled by a sore throat. John and Audrey are still coughing at night after they go to bed and Katie has said she has a sore throat again as well. Enough is enough!!! Will we ever be healthy again?? I just want everyone to stay healthy and get back into a routine and rhythm.

I spent part of yesterday afternoon running around the yard with John and his buddy Will from up the street. I think that helped work through my sore legs a little bit. It's amazing how much energy these guys have at 5 yrs old, and each time they chase me, I find myself having to run faster so they don't catch me. I was a little sore today, but felt OK. I contemplated going out and doing a quick 3-4 miles this morning, but I saw no reason to push it at this point. Instead, I walked around for about 5 hours running errands and shopping. I'll head out for an easy one tomorrow morning instead.

I like the two pairs of shoes that I bought recently. I had Nikes for roughly a year (2 pairs of Air Moto 6), but I think mixing in a few new models have been good for me. Maybe it's in my head, but I feel a little faster and they seem to fit better. I also just received my new reflective belt/shoulder strap that I ordered. It makes me look like a damned crossing guard, but at least I'll be seen in the dark, plus Katie and I can share it without having to buy different sized vests.

The weather has been pretty great as of late (knock on wood) and I feel like we're all tempting fate talking about it again and again. But who cares, right? Let's just enjoy it while we can. I'm currently performing CBAs and reality checks between buying a treadmill or joining a gym for the winter. At this point, the treadmill has a decent lead.

Looking forward to Thanksgiving and everything that comes with it.

New Screening Guideline Controversy

Here's some news on the US Preventive Services Task Force's new recommendations related to Mammograms. I'm not a doctor or scientist, but I don't think I agree with this new viewpoint. If this type of annual screening saves one life, isn't it worth it, especially considering it's relative low cost in comparison to other procedures and tests currently performed within the medical field?

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/11/17/us_panel_jolts_medical_community_by_recommending_fewer_mammograms/

Signed, Sealed (and Almost) Delivered

I mailed in my race application today. It seemed like such a small action to take for such a significant future milestone. Shouldn't there have been a press conference or something to commemorate the moment? Audrey was there to help mark the moment but, at 14 months old, she was more impressed with the silly face I made after I placed the envelope in the mailbox.

I had to laugh at the map included within the application that shows not only the route and some landmarks, but the elevation by mile. Are the cruel people at the BAA trying to mess with us by showing the race is essentially all downhill from Hopkinton to Boston (save a little bit of Wellesley and a good chunk of Newton)? What a sick joke. Anyway, as long as I used the right amount of postage, I should be an official entrant very soon.

On Saturday, I received the fall 2009 edition of the Impact newsletter which is published by Dana-Farber and The Jimmy Fund. The word "impressive" doesn't begin to describe the efforts and unselfish acts performed by the people recognized within the publication. It really made me proud to know that I'm associated with such a wonderful organization and doing what I can to help.

Back on the Street

After a 12 day hiatus, I finally made it back out today for a run. Being that it is the middle of November, partly sunny and 60 degrees, it was hard not to. I finally feel better after having the flu tearing me in half, and more like myself again. I went out and did an easy 5 miles. Considering I hadn't been out in almost 2 weeks, was sick most of last week and was out way to late last night at the neighbors' house, I felt pretty good. My run is linked below.

http://bit.ly/3uZQJF

I'm looking to get back into a routine this week now that it seems like everyone in our house is getting back on schedule. I can't believe Thanksgiving is a little more than a week away. Where did the fall go??

The Flu

So, the flu bug finally hit our house within the last week. Katie was sick for a few days (and still nursing an awful cough). John was really sick yesterday and at one point had a fever of 102. He had a very tough night until the Children's Motrin I gave him kicked in. Audrey was sick with a double ear infection last week as well.

I came down with it yesterday afternoon. It passed quickly, but man, that was a tough 10 hours or so. I think I'm going to hold off hitting the road again until this weekend in order to get a bit more rest, which is killing me because the weather has been so nice since last weekend.

I hope this is it for our house related to sicknesses this winter. It's November and I've already had enough.

The Fight Against Lung Cancer

Interesting article on the debate over CT scans their effectiveness related to early detection of lung cancer.

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/11/09/debate_continues_over_diagnostic_scans_for_lung_cancer/?page=full

Kickoff

I attended the 2010 DFMC kick-off meeting a few nights ago at Dana Farber in Boston. It was really good to hear more about the organization and their history. They raised over $4 million in 2009 and the team goal for this year is $4.4 million. Across 500+ members of the team, that's roughly $8000 per team member. As a first time fund raiser for anything, I'm a little nervous about reaching my goal amount, but I'm going to do everything I can to get the word out about the team and what we are trying to accomplish.

Being a first time marathoner, I'm nervous about what lies ahead. But, I felt good about two things leaving the meeting the other night. First, about a quarter of the room raised their hand when asked how many first time marathoners were in attendance. Second, their training program seems like its solid and they have a very good coach in Jack Fultz (who won Boston in '76). I'm looking forward to getting out there and starting the program.

I did just about 7.25 miles this morning and felt OK, but a little tired.
http://bit.ly/gpzxp
I haven't run that much since the half marathon 3 weeks ago and I've been trying to save it up a little bit, knowing that I'm going to run more over the next 5+ months than I ever have in my life. I also went out and bought two new pairs of shoes today (my others were shot). I realized when I got home that someone had apparently worn one of the pairs on the street to test them out. I should have brought them back, but upon further review, they seemed OK (and I couldn't be bothered with another trip down to Dick's).

Congratulations!!

Within the last few days, I was accepted by the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team to participate and run in the 2010 Boston Marathon. I'm not sure if I'm cocky (having just completed the B.A.A Half Marathon a little over a week ago) or insane, but I think that I'm going to give this a shot. More to come.....