Yesterday was a strange day. A few hours after commuting to work in the dark, driven rain, the sun magically emerged and the temperature soared. I decided that once December hit, I would allow day to day weather have a say in my weekly workout schedule. So seizing the moment, I drove home after work and hit the pavement. My new favorite route is a half marathon on the Charles - the distance works perfectly from my house. I run to the Arsenal entrance to the Charles, then down to the Mass. Ave. bridge on the Boston Side, across the river, and then back on the Cambridge side. I've started to map out different distance on GMap - the google based pedometer. This route can be found HERE.
It was a really pretty run - featuring the occasional awkward and often failing long jump across puddles. I tried to push myself a bit. When I did the same run last Sunday, I did it at a leisurely jog. This time, my goal was to be under 2 hours. I came in at 1:54. Over the next few months, I will be running longer distances, and several official 1/2 marathons. One goal is to try to run one in under 1:50. If I can do this, it will help set up a second goal, which is to run the marathon in under 4 hours.
The long run was followed by a great Boston Symphony concert and a pretty late night - so it's off to work now and then maybe a long nap before my Friday swim..... cheers.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Holiday Inspiration and Giving
Last night, at our second Dana Farber Marathon Challenge meeting, a microphone was passed around a crowded room and people told stories. Some were about fundraising strategies, some were about running in the bitter cold, but most were about a personal reason for running. And that reason was usually a person – a lost loved one, a child in treatment, a dear friend making a valiant fight. One man spoke about losing his 22 year old sister – he talked about how they used to run together, and how her spirit remained such a powerful force in his training and efforts in fundraising. I spoke at length to a breast cancer survivor, who began running years ago, slowly building up her distances – and the marathon represented a dream of recovery, a real triumph of life. Each story was unique and moving, and filled my mind and heart.
The meeting went on, and we were prepped about Winter running gear, visited by a somewhat racy Santa Claus who delivered us t-shirts and caps, and briefed about myriad long distance runs planned for the months ahead. Jack Fultz, our coach and former marathon winner, gave an inspired talk about how to train safely, and find our own pace to the finish line. But the personal stories kept lingering in my mind. I wanted to picture faces, look at photo albums, hear more details – things I could carry in my mind to hold onto the compassion and profoundly positive determination so pervasive in the room. It also made me want to run – not just to clock the miles in a journal or to convince myself that I would be able to reach the finish line – but rather to share in this challenge with the other members of the team. Their stories are inextricably linked to so many people and our stories collectively have become intertwined through running.
It is hard to convey this growing personal connection to the team and to the cause in emails and words. But I write in the hopes that you will consider helping to strengthen this collective cause and effort. Every gesture of support, no matter how small, conveys a larger camaraderie and sense of community. At the meeting, the leaders unveiled a large map of the Boston Marathon route, with a small marker at mile one – indicating a small step in collective fundraising, toward an end 25 miles down the road. Movement along this colorful map was a powerful and compelling symbol for all of us – because it showed the physical challenge ahead of us in distance markings on scribbled roads, but it traversed this course in steps defined by the generosity of others and the collective charity work of all of us. It mapped the progression of a more universal stride. It is to this larger effort - a movement comfortably paced by so many inspired people – that I invite you. Know that your participation transcends the real dollars necessary to help move this organization forward in its research and treatment – it also serves to share the struggles and challenges and memories of others – something that is fundamental to our humanity, and meaningful beyond words to those in need of support.
I also write to offer everyone my best wishes for the holiday season. Please consider making a holiday gift in support of this larger community and charity effort at:
http://www.runDFMC.org/2010/joshb
The meeting went on, and we were prepped about Winter running gear, visited by a somewhat racy Santa Claus who delivered us t-shirts and caps, and briefed about myriad long distance runs planned for the months ahead. Jack Fultz, our coach and former marathon winner, gave an inspired talk about how to train safely, and find our own pace to the finish line. But the personal stories kept lingering in my mind. I wanted to picture faces, look at photo albums, hear more details – things I could carry in my mind to hold onto the compassion and profoundly positive determination so pervasive in the room. It also made me want to run – not just to clock the miles in a journal or to convince myself that I would be able to reach the finish line – but rather to share in this challenge with the other members of the team. Their stories are inextricably linked to so many people and our stories collectively have become intertwined through running.
It is hard to convey this growing personal connection to the team and to the cause in emails and words. But I write in the hopes that you will consider helping to strengthen this collective cause and effort. Every gesture of support, no matter how small, conveys a larger camaraderie and sense of community. At the meeting, the leaders unveiled a large map of the Boston Marathon route, with a small marker at mile one – indicating a small step in collective fundraising, toward an end 25 miles down the road. Movement along this colorful map was a powerful and compelling symbol for all of us – because it showed the physical challenge ahead of us in distance markings on scribbled roads, but it traversed this course in steps defined by the generosity of others and the collective charity work of all of us. It mapped the progression of a more universal stride. It is to this larger effort - a movement comfortably paced by so many inspired people – that I invite you. Know that your participation transcends the real dollars necessary to help move this organization forward in its research and treatment – it also serves to share the struggles and challenges and memories of others – something that is fundamental to our humanity, and meaningful beyond words to those in need of support.
I also write to offer everyone my best wishes for the holiday season. Please consider making a holiday gift in support of this larger community and charity effort at:
http://www.runDFMC.org/2010/joshb
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
After a chilly, drizzly 10K today, I'm ready for a little extra sleep over the next few days. This past week, I was able to keep with my schedule, except for swapping out tuesday's run with today's planned workout. I'm still pretty sore from lifting yesterday. I'm trying to mix in a little heavy lifting over the winter, simply to strengthen my upper body for swimming and legs for increased speed in biking and running. I'm afraid of injury, so I'd rather do this before my endurance workouts become too long. I also want to do some track workouts - and will either do this with Dana Farber or Community running. It might mean missing my next chorus concert, but I'll just have to see what the scheduling is like.
Meanwhile, I am now officially registered for three 1/2 marathons in February:
Music 1/2 Marathon, Cocoa Beach, FL - February 7th
Palm Springs 1/2 Marathon, Palm Springs, CA - February 14th
Hyannis 1/2 Marathon, Hyannis, MA - February 28th
It will be nice to have two warm races at the beginning of the month, and I'll have about 10 days to run in southern California during my February break. March is still open, and I may opt to simply run all the Dana Farber distance runs in preparation for the Marathon, instead of trying to find official races. It would be nice to find something for January, but there aren't any good New England races, and I won't be able to get away during the month. I'll have to have the bundle-up-and-run philosophy.
The next step is to plan the races leading up to the half ironman in late June. This will be a combination of bike races, running races and maybe a smaller triathlon. Normally, I'd put this off until much later, but I now know how quickly these races fill up during the winter, so I'm trying to plan ahead.
am i still outside
hidden beneath the layers
listening inward
cursing cold drizzle
how I'll miss you in summer
on the hot pavement
Meanwhile, I am now officially registered for three 1/2 marathons in February:
Music 1/2 Marathon, Cocoa Beach, FL - February 7th
Palm Springs 1/2 Marathon, Palm Springs, CA - February 14th
Hyannis 1/2 Marathon, Hyannis, MA - February 28th
It will be nice to have two warm races at the beginning of the month, and I'll have about 10 days to run in southern California during my February break. March is still open, and I may opt to simply run all the Dana Farber distance runs in preparation for the Marathon, instead of trying to find official races. It would be nice to find something for January, but there aren't any good New England races, and I won't be able to get away during the month. I'll have to have the bundle-up-and-run philosophy.
The next step is to plan the races leading up to the half ironman in late June. This will be a combination of bike races, running races and maybe a smaller triathlon. Normally, I'd put this off until much later, but I now know how quickly these races fill up during the winter, so I'm trying to plan ahead.
am i still outside
hidden beneath the layers
listening inward
cursing cold drizzle
how I'll miss you in summer
on the hot pavement
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Training Week
After a bit of a whirlwind week, I am enjoying a leisurely Saturday morning. Yesterday had that feel of early Spring - and it was displacing. Today just feels like an unusually warm Autumn day. I followed my workout schedule for the week, and I think it is a good balance. The two 6 mile runs felt really strong and fast, and swimming on Monday and Friday are good preparations and antidotes for these runs. The swim on Monday made my legs feel warmed up on Tuesday, and I never really felt the early fatigue of running the first few miles while your legs are still a bit stiff. And yesterday's swim was extremely relaxing - and I tried to work in some interval training to build up speed (something I still lack quite a bit in swimming). On wednesday I tried out the bike trainer for a full hour. It was definitely boring, but at the same time very effective. Hopefully, I'll be able to do a real ride on Sunday.
And today should be perfect for a 12 miles run - sunny and in the 50's. I feel pretty lucky to have the Charles (or the St. Charles, as Tom Cruise calls is) so close by. It will also be a day for raking leaves, putting away outdoor furniture, and running errands.
I've also begun to daydream a bit about triathlons - often while swimming back and forth monotonously at the pool. I recently found a really great and inspiring Lake Placid Ironman blog:
http://ironmanlife.blogspot.com/2006/07/ouch-or-ironman-usa-lake-placid-race.html
I really look forward to the half IM's this summer, and for the spring weather that will allow me to swim again at Walden (this time with a wetsuit) and do brick workouts. Meanwhile, it is fun to read personal accounts of the races.
thoughts under water
imagine distant races
in time and measure
light in november
like ephemeral summers
in midday hours
And today should be perfect for a 12 miles run - sunny and in the 50's. I feel pretty lucky to have the Charles (or the St. Charles, as Tom Cruise calls is) so close by. It will also be a day for raking leaves, putting away outdoor furniture, and running errands.
I've also begun to daydream a bit about triathlons - often while swimming back and forth monotonously at the pool. I recently found a really great and inspiring Lake Placid Ironman blog:
http://ironmanlife.blogspot.com/2006/07/ouch-or-ironman-usa-lake-placid-race.html
I really look forward to the half IM's this summer, and for the spring weather that will allow me to swim again at Walden (this time with a wetsuit) and do brick workouts. Meanwhile, it is fun to read personal accounts of the races.
thoughts under water
imagine distant races
in time and measure
light in november
like ephemeral summers
in midday hours
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Letter
Yesterday, I received a moving letter from a friend I have worked with for the past few summers. I have received a number of personal stories so far, and they have had a strong impact on me. Here is part of yesterday's note:
"Thanks for doing stuff like this. I just lost one of my best friends and my best man of my wedding of just two and half years ago to sarcoma. I included pictures of when we were young and when we were older. I watched him battle over the summer right until the end which came October 4th. I was with him at the end and nobody should have to go through what he did. He was well taken care of by Mass General. In the second picture I am with my wife who is a stage 3 ovarian cancer surviver and she was handled by Dana Farber. In lieu of favors for our wedding we donated to Dana Farber. In the picture two of the four people were seriously affected physically by cancer and all were affected emotionally. Your motivation inspires me both physically and mentally in my everyday life, career and athletically. You are the power of example and a difference maker." --Billy McDonald
sometimes words fail us
our most profound sympathies
are ineffable
"Thanks for doing stuff like this. I just lost one of my best friends and my best man of my wedding of just two and half years ago to sarcoma. I included pictures of when we were young and when we were older. I watched him battle over the summer right until the end which came October 4th. I was with him at the end and nobody should have to go through what he did. He was well taken care of by Mass General. In the second picture I am with my wife who is a stage 3 ovarian cancer surviver and she was handled by Dana Farber. In lieu of favors for our wedding we donated to Dana Farber. In the picture two of the four people were seriously affected physically by cancer and all were affected emotionally. Your motivation inspires me both physically and mentally in my everyday life, career and athletically. You are the power of example and a difference maker." --Billy McDonald
sometimes words fail us
our most profound sympathies
are ineffable
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Winter Workout Schedule
planning new patterns
bringing light and energy
to Winter darkness
Tentative schedule for Winter...
Winter Workout Schedule
Monday: One Hour Swim, Weight Lifting (upper body)
Tuesday: 6-7 Mile Interval Run
Wednesday: Bike Trainer – One Hour
Thursday: 6-7 Mile Run and Weight Lifting (lower body)
Friday: One Hour Swim
Saturday: 11+ Mile Run or Bike Trainer (90 Minutes)
Sunday: 11+ Mile Run or Bike Trainer (90 Minutes)
Given my crazy schedule, this will not always work out, but I think it is a good, balanced pattern. As the weekend run distance increases (up to 20 miles before tapering to marathon day), I'll need to put a recovery day after the long run. In general, I've found that swimming works well as a recovery workout - it almost seems to smooth out the muscles impacted most severely by running.
bringing light and energy
to Winter darkness
Tentative schedule for Winter...
Winter Workout Schedule
Monday: One Hour Swim, Weight Lifting (upper body)
Tuesday: 6-7 Mile Interval Run
Wednesday: Bike Trainer – One Hour
Thursday: 6-7 Mile Run and Weight Lifting (lower body)
Friday: One Hour Swim
Saturday: 11+ Mile Run or Bike Trainer (90 Minutes)
Sunday: 11+ Mile Run or Bike Trainer (90 Minutes)
Given my crazy schedule, this will not always work out, but I think it is a good, balanced pattern. As the weekend run distance increases (up to 20 miles before tapering to marathon day), I'll need to put a recovery day after the long run. In general, I've found that swimming works well as a recovery workout - it almost seems to smooth out the muscles impacted most severely by running.
Winter & Spring Race Planning
A few weeks ago, I signed up to run two half ironman races this summer. One is the Patriot triathlon, at the end of June, and the other is the Timberman triathlon, in late August. A half ironman consists of: 1.2 mile swim, 56 miles bike ride, 13.1 mile run. Because of the significant increase in the running portion from my last triathlon, I began running longer distances in September. This led to three 1/2 marathons in September and October, and my addiction to distance running. In preparation for the 1/2 ironman races this summer, I thought it would be good to try to run a marathon and ride a century (100 miles) this spring. The Dana Farber Marathon Challenge helped me to plan the marathon component, and I plan to ride the CRW (Charles River Wheelmen) Spring Century in mid-May.
In the interim, I am trying to plan out a bunch of races for late Winter. In early February, my sisters and I will be heading to Cocoa Beach for a weekend. My older sister, Alison, will be surfing, and I will run a 1/2 Marathon (featuring live music all along the way!) I think it will be a nice change from the New England winter running. DFMC also has quite a number of organized long runs building up to the Marathon. I'm slowly trying to put together a race calendar, to keep everything organized. I'm also trying to find a good weekly workout schedule that includes running, biking and swimming.
The weather is forecast to be sunny and mild this week, so I hope to spend some time doing interval runs on the Charles, and maybe do another bike ride to practice using my new pedals and aerobars. I tried out my bike trainer (which mounts your bike so you can ride indoors), and it definitely provides a great workout, but it is pretty boring. I went through my iTunes folders and found the most hard-rocking songs I could, and made a one hour training mix. Riding indoors on a trainer with earphones on isn't my romanticized view of training, but it will have to suffice in the Winter months ahead.
swimming the pool line
close my eyes for a moment
imagine Walden
running over leaves
colored, softened, cushioned ground
below barren trees
In the interim, I am trying to plan out a bunch of races for late Winter. In early February, my sisters and I will be heading to Cocoa Beach for a weekend. My older sister, Alison, will be surfing, and I will run a 1/2 Marathon (featuring live music all along the way!) I think it will be a nice change from the New England winter running. DFMC also has quite a number of organized long runs building up to the Marathon. I'm slowly trying to put together a race calendar, to keep everything organized. I'm also trying to find a good weekly workout schedule that includes running, biking and swimming.
The weather is forecast to be sunny and mild this week, so I hope to spend some time doing interval runs on the Charles, and maybe do another bike ride to practice using my new pedals and aerobars. I tried out my bike trainer (which mounts your bike so you can ride indoors), and it definitely provides a great workout, but it is pretty boring. I went through my iTunes folders and found the most hard-rocking songs I could, and made a one hour training mix. Riding indoors on a trainer with earphones on isn't my romanticized view of training, but it will have to suffice in the Winter months ahead.
swimming the pool line
close my eyes for a moment
imagine Walden
running over leaves
colored, softened, cushioned ground
below barren trees
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Dedicated Miles
At the meeting today, one of the runners told me that during her last marathon she ran each mile for a different person. People donating $100 or more could choose one of the 26 miles of the race to dedicate to a friend or loved one. She, in turn, marked her running shirt with each name and mile to be displayed during the run. She said it worked well on both sides - those making contributions were able to add a specific and personal touch to the run and their support, and she was able to find a new motivation with every mile during the actual race.
I thought this was a very creative and moving fundraising idea - one that helped connect the running and charity work through personal stories and individuals. Therefore, I have decided to follow suit. Below is a link to a Boston Marathon Map showing each of the 26 miles. My goal is to run each mile for a different person. Any person donating $100+ can choose one of the miles, and I will mark that name and mile on my running jersey on Marathon day, and dedicate that portion of the run to the person chosen. To relay this information to me, email me at Joshua_Bridger@hotmail.com.
I thought this was a very creative and moving fundraising idea - one that helped connect the running and charity work through personal stories and individuals. Therefore, I have decided to follow suit. Below is a link to a Boston Marathon Map showing each of the 26 miles. My goal is to run each mile for a different person. Any person donating $100+ can choose one of the miles, and I will mark that name and mile on my running jersey on Marathon day, and dedicate that portion of the run to the person chosen. To relay this information to me, email me at Joshua_Bridger@hotmail.com.
Letter and Info
About nine months ago I signed up to run a triathlon. I’m not exactly sure what compelled me to do so, other than that it seemed like a good challenge (and something that might finally compel me to learn how to swim). From my first comical swimming lessons and panic attacks in the middle of Walden Pond, to biking up the hills in Dexter, Maine, to the final brick workouts in Lakeville, MA, it was an inspiring and sometimes grueling six months of training. And it planted the seeds of addiction.
Crossing the finish line at the end of August only made me want to run, swim and bike more. I began to look ahead to races involving the word “Ironman” in their title. 10K’s quickly became half marathons, and when I turned the corner to finish those races, there was always a little sadness that I wasn’t continuing on for the full 26.2 (granted there was also a lot of happiness as well).
The little part of me that kept imagining running on began to tug a little harder. And two weeks ago, while I was recovering from the Manchester ½ marathon, I had my epiphany. If I was going to run a marathon, it would be Boston.
I have vivid memories, as a kid, biking with my parents to watch the Boston Marathon. I remember the names “Bill Rogers” and “Joan Benoit” and even “Rosie Ruiz”; I remember handing out cups of water to very tired looking people; and I remember hearing about “heartbreak hill” and not quite understanding what that meant. Most of all, I remember witnessing a tradition that attracted so many people to come together to cheer on athletes from all over the world – people in wheel chairs, people of all different races and ethnicities, people wearing colorful costumes, people running on behalf of others, people just trying to finish.
If this was a poignant realization, an equally humbling one was that I would never be able to qualify for Boston. Even if I could simply double my ½ marathon time, I’d still be 25 minutes shy of the 3:15 qualifying time I’d need for my age group. So, for a while, it was just a pleasant thought – a Boston reverie.
But as I began to read more about it, I realized that I had another option: to join a charity team, and earn a legitimate entry through charity work. It seemed like the perfect choice. I felt like I owed something to be able to compete in a race I wasn’t quite qualified for, and making payment in the form of charity work seemed just about the best possible way to justify my entry. Plus, the physical challenge of running can become very personal and isolating. Training with a charity team would bring the camaraderie of others and a purpose that transcended the miles.
When I competed in my first triathlon last summer, I raised money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Dana Farber is a well known, local and highly respected cancer research center: their facilities are close to my home, and have provided treatment for former students and colleagues of mine. Dana Farber is also one of the largest Boston Marathon charities, so about three weeks ago, I applied for an official marathon entry through the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC), a competitive program that will require a large charitable commitment. (I found out that I had been accepted while I was teaching, and my students picked up on my excitement. When I told them the news, they immediately insisted on helping me design a charity donation box for the classroom.)
So over the next 5 months, I will be training and fundraising for the marathon. Dana Farber will provide a coach (former Boston Marathon winner Jack Fultz), workout programs and team events. I’m looking forward to spending time with others taking on the same challenges, and to coming up with creative ways to fundraise. And most of all, I’m looking forward to reliving the memories of my childhood from the other side of the sidewalk.
As part of my fundraising effort, I have created a charity webpage at:
http://www.runDFMC.org/2010/joshb
Please consider making a donation to support this effort. 100% of the proceeds go directly to Dana Farber and to the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Research. To learn more, visit: https://www.dana-farber.org/
Crossing the finish line at the end of August only made me want to run, swim and bike more. I began to look ahead to races involving the word “Ironman” in their title. 10K’s quickly became half marathons, and when I turned the corner to finish those races, there was always a little sadness that I wasn’t continuing on for the full 26.2 (granted there was also a lot of happiness as well).
The little part of me that kept imagining running on began to tug a little harder. And two weeks ago, while I was recovering from the Manchester ½ marathon, I had my epiphany. If I was going to run a marathon, it would be Boston.
I have vivid memories, as a kid, biking with my parents to watch the Boston Marathon. I remember the names “Bill Rogers” and “Joan Benoit” and even “Rosie Ruiz”; I remember handing out cups of water to very tired looking people; and I remember hearing about “heartbreak hill” and not quite understanding what that meant. Most of all, I remember witnessing a tradition that attracted so many people to come together to cheer on athletes from all over the world – people in wheel chairs, people of all different races and ethnicities, people wearing colorful costumes, people running on behalf of others, people just trying to finish.
If this was a poignant realization, an equally humbling one was that I would never be able to qualify for Boston. Even if I could simply double my ½ marathon time, I’d still be 25 minutes shy of the 3:15 qualifying time I’d need for my age group. So, for a while, it was just a pleasant thought – a Boston reverie.
But as I began to read more about it, I realized that I had another option: to join a charity team, and earn a legitimate entry through charity work. It seemed like the perfect choice. I felt like I owed something to be able to compete in a race I wasn’t quite qualified for, and making payment in the form of charity work seemed just about the best possible way to justify my entry. Plus, the physical challenge of running can become very personal and isolating. Training with a charity team would bring the camaraderie of others and a purpose that transcended the miles.
When I competed in my first triathlon last summer, I raised money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Dana Farber is a well known, local and highly respected cancer research center: their facilities are close to my home, and have provided treatment for former students and colleagues of mine. Dana Farber is also one of the largest Boston Marathon charities, so about three weeks ago, I applied for an official marathon entry through the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC), a competitive program that will require a large charitable commitment. (I found out that I had been accepted while I was teaching, and my students picked up on my excitement. When I told them the news, they immediately insisted on helping me design a charity donation box for the classroom.)
So over the next 5 months, I will be training and fundraising for the marathon. Dana Farber will provide a coach (former Boston Marathon winner Jack Fultz), workout programs and team events. I’m looking forward to spending time with others taking on the same challenges, and to coming up with creative ways to fundraise. And most of all, I’m looking forward to reliving the memories of my childhood from the other side of the sidewalk.
As part of my fundraising effort, I have created a charity webpage at:
http://www.runDFMC.org/2010/joshb
Please consider making a donation to support this effort. 100% of the proceeds go directly to Dana Farber and to the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Research. To learn more, visit: https://www.dana-farber.org/
Inspirational Morning!
This morning, I drove out in the pouring rain, into Boston. After making several circles around the Longwood medical area, I finally found the Jimmy Fund Way, and slipped into the windy underground parking garage. Each parking space was labeled, "For Patients Only". I checked my invitation, which said to park in the patient area, found a free space, and then wandered up to the third floor. There was a certain reality that set in when I saw the word "Patient".
The welcome area was filled with smiley people, and I could see a small circle formed around a familiar face - it was Jack Fultz, marathon winner from 1976 - our coach! I wandered past the small crowd and began to talk to the folks inside the meeting room. Everyone was excited, friendly and anxious to finally meet one another. "Is this your first marathon?", "What made you decide to do this?", "Which races have you ran?", "Do you want to start a running group Saturday mornings?", "Are you running for someone?", "How is the fundraising going?".... We all had questions, we all wanted to hear each other's stories, we all wanted to be supportive. And after about 20 minutes of milling around and chatting, our meeting began.
For two hours, we talked about everything from fundraising strategies to dietary concerns to favorite workout tunes. We talked about the efforts of Dana Farber, the faces behind the treatment and research, the history of the Marathon Challenge, and the steps that lay ahead. It was all exciting and overwhelming. In a blink, we posed for a final picture, and I then found myself back in the rain, driving home. But it wasn't the same now. It wasn't abstract. It wasn't just about 26.2 miles. There were now faces, and stories, and teamates. As I pulled back into my driveway, my mind was still racing, trying to process the last three hours. It was time to put thoughts into action - I felt invigorated - and I knew I was just beginning to scratch the surface.
The welcome area was filled with smiley people, and I could see a small circle formed around a familiar face - it was Jack Fultz, marathon winner from 1976 - our coach! I wandered past the small crowd and began to talk to the folks inside the meeting room. Everyone was excited, friendly and anxious to finally meet one another. "Is this your first marathon?", "What made you decide to do this?", "Which races have you ran?", "Do you want to start a running group Saturday mornings?", "Are you running for someone?", "How is the fundraising going?".... We all had questions, we all wanted to hear each other's stories, we all wanted to be supportive. And after about 20 minutes of milling around and chatting, our meeting began.
For two hours, we talked about everything from fundraising strategies to dietary concerns to favorite workout tunes. We talked about the efforts of Dana Farber, the faces behind the treatment and research, the history of the Marathon Challenge, and the steps that lay ahead. It was all exciting and overwhelming. In a blink, we posed for a final picture, and I then found myself back in the rain, driving home. But it wasn't the same now. It wasn't abstract. It wasn't just about 26.2 miles. There were now faces, and stories, and teamates. As I pulled back into my driveway, my mind was still racing, trying to process the last three hours. It was time to put thoughts into action - I felt invigorated - and I knew I was just beginning to scratch the surface.
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