Heartbreak ahead of Valentine's Day

So the weekend was a marginal training success - my friend, John, and I drove out to Boston College and ran the Newton Hills and some of Boston roads. The beauty of the Route 30 (Commonwealth Ave.) run is that there is a "carriage road" which parallels the main road, so there was little traffic to contend with (among the huge piles of snow). 9.6 miles of hilly terrain - not my finest hour and a sobering reminder about how many miles I have to go before I feel back in reasonable shape. Still, it was nice to be back out on the course, if only for a short while.

Will #13 be lucky??

After about a year off from blogging about running (and, after a woeful decline in running overall since clocking just over 4:09 at the Baystate Marathon in Lowell last October), and about a month or so removed from any sense of 'regular' running, I'm at it again.

I was lucky enough to squeeze in a rain-soaked, 5k training run in Ithaca, NY last week, but I really need to step it up.

So, the GREAT news is that I've secured an official number for the 2011 Boston Marathon, now less than 10 weeks away. This will be my 6th Boston Marathon in a row, and my 13th overall marathon in just over 5 years. I'll be running for two, VERY worthy and local charities:

1) The Healthy Pantry Initiative at the Natick Service Council - this represents some of what I love best about Natick - a cooperation between our local Community Organic Farm and our local food pantry to bring farm fresh and locally grown produce to the food pantry for our neighbors most in need. This cause is consistent with my now 5-year mission to use my running to help end homelessness and hunger. I am thrilled to participate in this vital community partnership to help draw attention to the needs for healthy eating, community-based agriculture, and supporting those in the greatest need for healthy food options.

2) Natick will be the only New England stop for the Vietnam Moving Wall Memorial this summer (June 9-12); I will be raising funds in support of this important initiative focused on healing and education. I am proud of our local Veterans Servcie Council and my fellow Selectman, John Connolly for their hard work and dedication to bring this moving tribute to our community.

Two great causes! I hope you'll consider supporting my effort this year.

First major move - build an aggressive training plan. With all of the snow this winter, it's been very challenging to find space to run outside. I'll likely do more on the "dreadmill" and perhaps some inside laps on the track at Babson College.

Will update this site from time-to-time and welcome your feedback and support as I try to get back in the groove. I'm about 10 lbs heavier than I was last fall (and about 20 lbs heavier since my 2 marathons in 2 weeks shape of the Spring 2009!), so this will be an all out war on lethargy (and snacks).

I'm also pleased to announce that I'll be "biking for it" later this summer, as I join Lena in her "come back" cycling event - the 2011 Pan Mass Challenge... for me it's all about heels AND wheels this year!

Be well!

Less than a week?!

Wow. About 2 months since my last update here. Lots of changes since then; although, improved conditioning for the race is not among the highlights!

I have been fortunate enough to endure my recent campaign for (and win election to) the Natick Board of Selectmen; survived a broken finger; and have kept the aforementioned bursitis and Achilles Tendonitis away (not running much made that a lot easier).

While sorely lacking a "routine" this year, I have tried to get in the "long" runs whenever possible. Recently, my long-run mileage included a 17-mile in Shanghai, China, and, what I'd consider a pathetic-but-persistent effort on a 23-turned-20 mile run out-and-back to BC from Natick a couple weeks ago. Hills will be, well, um, my 'Achilles heel' this year.

With 6 days to go, I can't turn-back-the-clock and get into much better shape, so will be out for a gradual run today, and phase in 4 more workouts before Marathon Monday on April 19th. Sleep, water, some music, and a whole lot of moral support along the route will get me through #11! I hope to see many faces out there.

9 Weeks 'til Boston

As I get ready for bed tonight, I am grateful that (1) my 2 weeks off, nursing Achilles and bursitis seems to have paid off and (2) my broken finger won't (supposedly) be at risk during training.

I feel like I had been getting away with something, and my body has reminded me many times over that I'm just a guest in its house, and I better not run wrecklessly!

I'll be heading out in the early a.m. for a brief run; get the body moving again after too long off, and need to take care as I increase my mileage each week ahead.

Sleep. Run. Work. Campaign...repeat. My 'to do' list for the next several weeks is as clear as the night sky! :-)

Against the wind...and my better judgment

After taking about 3 weeks off from running (not intentioanl, but circumstances of work and holidays taking their toll), I was pleased to get out for a 7.3 mile run with my friend and fellow Boston Marathoner, John. Weather was cooperative, and cool.

But today's story is quite different. I am about to embark on a 5k - 5 miler, running solo in a -1 windchill, 17 degrees with 20-40 mph gusts...not a walk in the park. But as I digest my (too) many holiday meals and (too) many holiday snacks, and think about what the heck I've signed up for, yet again, I can't help but think how grateful I am to not be homeless today, or any day for that matter.

I hope that these acts of questionable sanity are understood by my family, friends, and passers/driversby who might be looking at me with that "why the HECK are you running today?!" look. If you're reading this, take a moment to be glad that you're not homeless, and please remember that not everyone has that privilege.

Came up short, but the race to end homelessness is endless

Wow - here it is September 15th and I'm less than 7 weeks away from my next marathon (NYC Marathon November 1st). It will be the 40th anniversary of the NYC Marathon. Not lost on me is the fact that I'm 40 y.o. and running for the Pine Street Inn this year on its 40th anniversary.

I'm not sure what that all adds up to (besides 120!), but a cool coincidence - and my 10th full marathon, as well! I hope to remain healthy for the next several weeks; most of my post-CO marathon "running" time has been spent nursing bursitis (inflammation) in my right heel ...thought it was a stress fracture or tendinitis, though, so I'm happy to say that after a relatively low-running summer, I feel pretty good this fall. Also, a cortisone shot in my arthritic right shoulder has me able to move that arm in full circles again, so I'm grateful for the quick fixes available to my (slowly?) breaking down chassis.

Results of my 2 marathons in 2 weeks were very good - just missing personal records in Boston and overall (ran the CO marathon in 3:42:43, missing a PR by 2 seconds!). Missed a Boston PR by less than a minute as well, so overall, I can't complain about the running last spring. It was the heel pain following all the running that made for an iffy summer of running. But between the 2 near-misses and coming up 10% short of my fundraising goal, I feel like 2009 was a series of "almosts." I'd like to finish NYC strong and begin the difficult and perpetual journey toward running a Boston qualifying pace of 3 hours 20 minutes one of these days...perhaps spring of 2010 will be my shot...maybe sooner? :-)

So as the weather has turned cooler, and the days are getting shorter, I recently went out for an 18 mile run and felt good - not great, but from a 14.1 mile long run last week to 18 was a big jump. Am happy to say that the feet are good, and the psyche is getting there...now I just have to get work off the brain and get out of my chair more often...you can't cheat the need for many runs and increasing miles as the big race approaches, and I've been slackin!

I am proud to say that many family and friends (Lena, among the many!) seem to have taken to running a bit more lately and I'd like to think my insanity has played a small, if not significant, role in it...as I type, I'm ready to hit the road, but I'll wait 'til morning...it's bedtime now, and I'm wide awake, thinking about too much work, too few hours in the day, and (hopefully) 10 good miles tomorrow...

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)