Dear friends,
A lot has happened since my last blog update (almost two months ago). Mostly, Winter. I've always been a hibernator - retreating into sleep and reading and slow motion as the temperatures dip and the sunlight fades. Training for the Boston Marathon has forced me to approach the Winter months in a new way, and that has been both envigorating and challenging. January running has taught me many things:
1. Watch the ground, always - there is ice and snow and mud everywhere, and one false step can be treacherous.
2. The wind is the worst - cold can be countered with layers, but an effective windbreaker makes all the difference. Gloves are also very important. As is good running food - my recent favorite has been "Sports Beans" - jelly beans with caffeine. I make deals with myself while running ("You make it to the Mass. Ave Bridge and you can have another handful of jelly beans!")
3. Too much thinking is not good. Any significant amount of thinking leads to the conclusion that I don't feel like running out in the cold. But once I'm running, and a few miles have gone by, it feels good - and there are no regrets.
I met with the Dana Farber group last night to talk about Winter running strategies, and steps to take to avoid injury. Over the past few months I've had the most common injuries/pains already - IT Band problems, Runner's knee and Achilles pain. For each, a steady battery of stretching and exercise has been very effective in alleviating the symptoms. I'm going to try to add yoga and track workouts to the program during the next 10 weeks leading up to the Marathon.
Meanwhile, there has been so much else to occupy my mind, from the devastation in Haiti, to the challenging political and economic times, to the daily social and work world. I have found that running for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge has dramatically helped me to put things in perspective. Last night, a number of teamates went up to talk about their fundraising efforts. One was running for both of her parents, lost to cancer, and one was running for his young daughter, currently in treatment. Their stories were profound and moving, and their strength was inspirational. Their training and efforts had helped to bring their families together, and bring others into their circles of friendship and support. Many other runners were running for specific patients at Dana Farber and there was a long hallway, filled with dozens of large posters for their patient-partners. We all spent considerable time signing messages on the posters - words of support and encouragement to so many people.
Driving home last night, I felt a strong awakening of energy. Spring is far away, but I want to run strong during the next couple of months of cold. In a couple of weeks, I will be running a 1/2 marathon in Cocoa Beach, Florida and then one in Palm Springs, California the week after - so I will have a little taste of warmer weather. Then it will be back to New England - the Hyannis 1/2 Marathon and then my long March runs from 16-22 Miles, most of which will take place on the Boston Marathon route.
I am almost halfway to my charity goal - but I also know that the 2nd half is sometimes much harder. I write in the hopes that you will consider supporting Dana Farber's Marathon Challenge effort this New Year. There is much uncertainty in the news, in the economy and in the larger world right now. However, gestures of charity have always carried a hope with them, certain to gently push our collective actions and thoughts in positive directions.
Please join me in this effort:
http://www.rundfmc.org/2010/joshb
best wishes,
Josh
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