Raffle to End Homelessness (has ended!)

Through the kind donations and support of several local business owners and friends, I was pleased to offer the "Raffles to End Homelessness" in support of my 2 marathon runs for the Pine Street Inn.

Thanks to the following for their kind donations of tickets and services:

Frozen Ropes - Natick
Fitness Together - Natick/Sudbury
Donelan's Supermarkets - Wayland
Josh Ostroff

Please note: Raffle #1: Homerun to End Homelessness was drawn on Saturday, April 25, 12 noon

Congratulations to prize winners:

Dori Ross - (2) Bleacher tickets to Red Sox vs. New York Yankees, Sunday, 4/26
Anna Uliano - (2) RF Grandstand Tickets to Red Sox vs. New York Mets, Sunday, 5/24
Dave Pfahler - (3) Free Personal Training Sessions at FT Natick ($255 value) (http://www.ftnatick.net/)

Raffle #2: Marathon Maynia was drawn on Friday, May 15, 3 p.m.

Congratulations to prize winners:

Joel Haskell- (4) Bleacher Tickets to Red Sox vs. New York Mets, Sunday, May 24th 

AND (2) Infield Grandstand Tickets to Red Sox vs. KC Royals, Thursday, July 9th (donated by Donelan's Supermarkets (http://www.donelans.com/)

Dave Margil - (2) U2: 360 Tour. General Admission (on the Floor/Field) tickets to see U2 at Gillette Stadium, Monday, September 21st. 

Anne Porter- $100 Gift certificate and T-shirt from Frozen Ropes Natick  (http://www.frozenropes.com/home/locations/natick-ma.aspx)

Halfway Home...

With the Boston Marathon completed in 3 hours and 53+ minutes, I am pleased to feel like I might actually run the second marathon even faster! (OK, thruth be told, my feet are still tender from blister/calluses and my quads feel like they've been beaten with a hammer, but hey, I've got a whopping 11 days for that to fade!).

In fact, I was thrilled to see that with my time, I actually placed ahead of running legend Bill Rodgers (who, BTW, is 61 years old...I should be so lucky to finish under 4 hrs by the time I'm 61!).

The weather was fabulous on Marathon Monday in Boston -- a bit windy (15 mph headwind!) but between my sub-4 hour finish, the Sox trouncing the Orioles for a 4-game sweep and the Bruins and Celtics playing like teams possessed, all-in-all a great way to start the week!

Thanks to my family and friends for donating so generously so far to this cause, and for those that came out on Monday to watch. Clearly, it puts a little more fuel in my tank knowing that you're all out there with me.

Will update this blog as I test these tender feet and sore legs ahead of Colorado!

Almost there

With a day and a half or so to go, I'm in that "anxious but not quite ready" state. With the amount of work that I have to do this weekend, coupled with our Albanian Orthodox Easter celebration (pasta for me, lamb for everyone else!) on Sunday, I feel like the Boston Marathon is becoming something on my "to do" list.

However, as I rode into Boston on the train today (going to the Marathon Number Pick Up and event at Hynes Convention Ctr), I sat next to a gentleman named David from Canada. He was also 40, and as we got to talking, it turns out he recently qualified for the Boston Marathon by running a 3 hour, 11 minute "Boston qualifying" race.

Talking to David was a great reminder for this local, "charity" runner that the Boston Marathon is a big deal and should be savored. The energy at the convention hall was high, and as I came home for my last "warm up/taper down" jog, I felt pretty calm about the inevitable 26.2 looming on the next cool, potentially wet, and head-windy Monday.

I am pleased to have passed the half-way point for my targeted fundraising, and I hope that the upcoming raffles of tickets will put me over the $5,240 goal. I am grateful to all of my donors and to those who have reached out with words of kindness and good luck. I am truly amazed and humbled once again...now if I can get some sleep over the next couple of days, I'll be firing on all cylinders on Monday!

One week (and a trip to Atlanta) until Boston Marathon

With a week to go, I'm feeling pretty good, although a bit paranoid about anticipated lack of sleep in the days ahead. Ironically, I have "miles to go before I sleep".

Also, with the reality of logistics/bureaucracy settling in, turns out I will not be able to host the Home Run Derby as hoped, but will still move forward with raffles. Between permitting process and hang-ups securing commercial insurance for the event, I simply ran out of time to allow for a responsible level of promotion for my kind prize donors.

That said, details for the raffle will be released on Tuesday, April 14, and I'm looking forward to a couple of warm runs while in Atlanta on business this week.

Coming off of a great Easter weekend run in CT (10+ miles in sunny, but frigid, Southern CT), I'm feeling in about as good shape as I've ever been ahead of one of these races...hope the body steps up to it!

You win some, you lose some

So I'm not sure where it ended up, but apparently, my latest entry (following a 23 mile run on Sunday) didn't post. Oh Well. Bottom line is this: 2 weeks to go for Boston and my legs are feeling (mercifully) pretty good. The key for me now is to get enough sleep, which is always a challenge. Teaching three classes, business travel, and my soon to be announced fundraiser - Home Run Derby to End Homelessness - will each take their toll on my energy in the upcoming weeks.

Funny, though, no one really gives a homeless person a break for being poorly rested, so who am I to complain?

I am grateful for the generosity of local businesses, friends, and even complete strangers that have stepped up to support me in countless ways.

With the Derby now in sight, and a likely raffle or auction to be held in parallel, I'd like to start by thanking the following contributors for making the event possible:

- Frozen Ropes (Natick)
- Fitness Together (Natick/Sudbury)
- Donelan's Supermarkets (Wayland)
- Josh Ostoff
- Natick Little League
- Natick Parks and Recreation and Natick High School for their help with securing the field

The list is growing, and the spirit of giving is empowering and humbling. Thank you!