Monday Motivation: T-Minus 2 Weeks

Two weeks from today I will be running my third Boston Marathon! And according to this amazing cheer map created by my teammate Michelle, I should be right around Wellesley College (or the half-way mark).

Amazing how a little click of the calendar from March into April makes it all seem more real. Throwing it back to April 2016 for some Monday Motivation - here are the elite women lined up at the start line. If you look closely, you'll spot a familiar face.

While the picture may be an April Fools', our mission is not. Can't wait to line up with my DFMC teammates two weeks today as we aim to surpass $100M raised for cancer research and take our 26.2 mile victory run!

                                                         

3 Week Countdown + 20 Miler Recap

3 weeks from today I will be running my third Boston Marathon as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) team. How are we already 3 weeks out?! Where has the time gone?One might think that months of training including weekly long runs of 14, 16, and 18+ miles every Saturday would seemingly stretch on forever, but in reality it goes by in the blink of an eye. This past weekend we conquered our "longest long run" of 20 miles as we peaked in mileage before starting what is known as "taper time," or a reduction in mileage to maintain fitness but which allows your muscles and body to rest up in anticipation of race day after months of hard training.

Saturday's run was unique because while the DFMC team meets for weekly group runs all across the Greater Boston area, no matter your team or geography this past weekend was the "longest long run" for just about all those who are training for the Boston Marathon. So while we were joined by thousands of other runners on the marathon course it was equally quite an inspiration to see posts from all across the world as teammates and other runners got in their 20+ miles.

We were fortunate to continue a longstanding tradition of having Boston College host us for our longest training run (thank you and Go Eagles!) and we had a record setting 197 DFMC teammates in attendance, including teammates from out of state who made the trip just for this run. But what really set this past weekend's run apart was the moving speeches and tributes that were made prior to us taking to the course.

Some of the 197 DFMC runners and volunteers gathered to hear tributes and speeches prior to our longest long run hosted out of Boston College this past weekend.

Some of the 197 DFMC runners and volunteers gathered to hear tributes and speeches prior to our longest long run hosted out of Boston College this past weekend. 

First up was fellow teammate George O'Malley. I vividly remember standing behind George in 2015 as we gathered at BC prior to tackling my first ever 20 miler. Unbeknownst to me at the time, George had just lost his grown daughter Jill Anne - a mother of three - to cervical cancer the day prior to that run. I couldn't believe my ears as our team leader Jan gave reference to George and his family. Tears streaming down his face, he turned to everyone next to him and gave them hugs, including me. A few weeks later as we gathered in Hopkinton and some of us tucked off to a pre-marathon Mass offered in the chapel adjacent to our team meeting location, I found myself sitting in a pew with my stomach doing flip flops and doubting myself. I prayed and asked God, the angels, and any and all magical beings above to give me the strength to take on this crazy race. And when I looked up, right in front of me was a man whose singlet had a single piece of masking tape across the back which read "For My Jill Anne." It was George. In that moment, I knew I would finish the marathon if I had to crawl on my hands and knees, because we were running for - and continue to run for - a greater cause. This past Friday marked four years since heaven welcomed Jill Anne and hearing George retell her story and the power of this team in supporting him and his family - and watching him choke up while doing so - moved me to tears. It is such an honor to run with George and to see all the beautiful ways he continues to honor his Jill Anne, his patient partner Bridget, and so many others. And it has become my tradition to give George the biggest hug possible whenever I see him, including in the middle of this past weekend's long run as me and my other teammates paused to embrace George on a sidewalk in Wellesley. That hug gave me a greater boost than any sip of gatorade or fuel gel could ever provide. Fun fact: George and I starred in a DFMC highlight film together! You can view it HERE (warning if you are a marathoner, try not to be intimidated by our speed - we did request that the film editor slow us down a bit so as not to discourage other runners). 

DFMC Teammate George O'Malley (on the left in red) speaks to our team about his daughter Jill Anne who had her four year angelversary the day prior. To his right, Sandy Dubuc (in blue) prepares to speak to our team about her son Matty who gaiend his angel wings 12 years ago today. 

Next up was DFMC alumni runner and long time volunteer Sandy Dubuc. Sandy amazes me with her strength, her humor, and her commitment to DFMC. If you are also following me on social media, then you already know that today marks Sandy's son Matty's 12 year angelversary. Matty battled hepatoblastoma (liver cancer) which spread and eventually required his arm be amputated. Matty also received an organ donation that gave his family the gift of precious time. Matty and his brothers Chris and Zach grew up far too soon, spending time playing in the hallways of Children's and Dana-Farber instead of on playgrounds. Sandy and her husband John have had to endure what no parent and what no family should ever have to endure. So today on Matty's angelversary, I have one request to anyone reading this. Flip on Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" (Matty's fight song) or watch some Spongebob Squarepants (his favorite) and stop worrying about all the stuff that doesn't matter. Call that person you have been meaning to call. Forgive that grudge you have been holding. Check that box on your license to become an organ donor, donate blood for a pediatric hospital drive, or register to be a bone marrow match. And remember that every day is truly a gift for you to spread some light and positivity in this world, the same way Matty did with every chance he had during his seven short years in this world, and the way his entire family continues to do in his honor and memory.

In 2016, Sandy got up at a group run to announce that her Dad, Dick Cohan, had just been diagnosed with brain cancer. I left that run angry and found myself crying and yelling at the heavens above on the car ride home. It didn't seem right that a family who had already been through so much at the hands of this disease were now facing it again. That same year, Sandy's oldest son Chris had just turned eighteen and - a gifted runner in his own right - was running with DFMC in Matty's memory. Dick's biggest wish was to see Chris cross the finish line and he was able to do so. In August of 2016, Dick ended his brief and brave dance with cancer and joined Matty in heaven.
So when people ask me how the big run went this weekend, this is what I think of versus the run itself. The fact that 197 runners from all over the country came together on what started off as a frigid, snowy morning (though thankfully turned into perfect albeit windy conditions shortly thereafter) to voluntarily go run 20+ miles in the name and hope of someday seeing a day where there are no longer stories such as these to share. And you know what? We have made great strides but there are still many more miles to go until we get there.


This DFMC team is entering its 30th season this year and if each of our 534 runners meet our personal goals this year, we should surpass $100M raised for cancer research in DFMC's lifetime.  That is $100M of clinical trials and innovative therapies, of breakthroughs and miracles, and of TIME for those patients and families who realize just how precious it is. 

Me and my teammates at the #TeamMatty water stop this past weekend. Matty's Mom Sandy is in front of Matty's picture. This was about the 12 mile point of my 20 miler. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for cheering me on in, this journey. Saturday's run was an "okay" run from a technical standpoint - I had a sock/shoe issue that gave me the start of a blister (which I never get), made a few critical pacing and fueling errors that saw me lose some steam around Mile 15 (I know better by this point, my fault!), and in the end felt like I could have done better but also felt I had more to give if needed. All in, that's actually a pretty good place to be three weeks out - I know I can do it, I know I can do better than I did it this past Saturday, and I know what I need to do differently to rock my third Boston Marathon.


More importantly (after some gifts in progress), I am just $1518.40 away from reaching my fundraising goal of $13,100 to kick cancer's butt!!! Since I have yet to head to the start line in Hopkinton without reaching my goal,  and with another 5 days to go in my MARCH MADNESS DRAWINGS (giving you a shot at 16 amazing prizes with every $10 donation), I have every confidence we will get there before Marathon Monday! 

Not a fan of my drawings? No worries - with my Beautycounter Loves DFMC event (25% from every sale goes to DFMC), Blue Ribbon BBQ dine for a cause days (20% from your order goes to DFMC), and my DFMC headband sale there are still plenty of other ways to support vital cancer research while getting a little something for yourself in return! Click the EVENTS tab above or HERE for full details.