Welcome to the DFMC: First Meeting Recap

By this point you have heard all about the incredibly vital mission of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC). However one of the other reasons I knew I wanted run for the DFMC team is the tremendous amount of support offered to help runners reach their goals both on and off the course. Setting out to run your first marathon on such a revered and challenging course while also aiming to raise more than $10,000 for cancer research are both lofty goals.

Obtainable? You better believe it!

Easy to do by yourself? Not so much.

Knowing that team structure and camaraderie would be integral components for succeeding in this challenge, I eagerly awaited our first team meeting which took place in November.While the informative email blasts, DFMC team website, and other resources we starting receiving in September (when I learned I had been accepted to the team) have been a wonderful resource, there was nothing like finally getting to meet our fearless leaders and fellow teammates in person!  

DFMC Team Meeting #1:  November 12, 2014

Our first team meeting was held in the Jimmy Fund Auditorium at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and, of course, I got lost on my way there. While I had failed to anticipate additional time needed to navigate the Dana-Farber campus, my detour did allow me to see some beautiful and inspiring tributes such as the PMC Bridge to Progress and the Gene Display. Two helpful security guards, three elevator rides, and a sprint across a connecting bridge later, I found where I needed to be. 

The meeting had just gotten underway so I quickly signed in and slapped on my name tag before finding a seat in the back of the auditorium. Recognizing Dana-Farber running program director Jan Ross from when we met during the Boston Half-Marathon, I couldn't help but smile as she took to the podium and introduced the rest of the amazing running programs staff, the inspiring and motivating DFMC board, and our training advisor Jack Fultz. Jan welcomed us to the team and announced that we are just about 500 members strong with teammates from over 33 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Denmark, Indonesia, Israel, and Mexico- wow!!! I breathed a tiny sigh of relief when it was announced that 54% of this year's team are first-timers such as myself and 46% are veteran runners (phew- I am not the only newbie!). 

Next we reviewed our welcome packets, DFMC website navigation, and other resources for both fundraising and training (all very important and necessary for this journey). I knew this would be a special and life changing experience in many, many ways, but as we learned more about the legacy and impact of the program through it's 26 year history, the true magnitude of what we are helping to accomplish became clear and I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. Hearing board members speak fondly of how they came to join the DFMC family - and also of loved ones and former teammates lost to cancer - reminded me that this experience is so much bigger than just one person, one milestone, one race, or one finish line. With each speaker and segment it became easy to see why this has become such an important and special part of many people's lives - just as it is now becoming for me and others in what has been dubbed "the freshman class."

It was a relief to hear our training advisor Jack Fultz and veteran runners tell us it is okay to wonder how in the heck we are going to run this thing but then assure us that we can, and we will. My nervous laughter was in good company with that of fellow first-timers seated nearby as we soaked in every detail about the journey that awaits us.  

Lastly we learned that it is tradition to grab a few post-meeting beers together at Boston Beer Works. Speaking afterwards with fellow newbies we all agreed that we knew there would be a lot of hard work put into fundraising and training, but nobody had told us there would be beer! What's not to love about that?! Maybe this won't be so hard after all...

I will wrap this recap with my favorite quotes from the first meeting: 

"There are no strangers here...just friends you haven't met yet."

"You thought you were joining a marathon team but you are joining a fundraising team that is helping to save lives...and if we do a really, really, really good job they throw us this HUGE party along 26 miles in Boston sometime in April, and all these people come out to cheer for us - it's awesome." 

2015 DFMC Team Meeting #1

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Monday Motivation

Last week I learned I have been selected for the DFMC Partner Program which pairs DFMC runners with children currently or previously treated at Dana-Farber's world-renowned Jimmy Fund Clinic. While I hope to post additional updates about my patient partner in the coming months, understandably this will be dependent upon the wishes of my partner and her family. It will be a few more weeks until our "Meet Your Match" welcome party however, until that time, I can tell you that my patient partner is five years old, battling leukemia, and much braver than I will ever be.

On Marathon Monday, the patient partners and their families will gather at Mile 25 to cheer on the DFMC runners, wave signs and posters, share hugs, and remind us why every single step was worth it. As I said to my husband after learning I had been selected for this inspiring program, "well now the marathon isn't so intimidating...it's just a 25 mile run with a 1.2 mile cool-down!" Because there is NO way I am not reaching that sweet girl who will be waiting to high-five me at Mile 25!

So in honor of my patient partner, today's motivating impact statement focuses on research which has helped improve treatment potency for those bravely fighting leukemia and lymphoma. Although our current therapies cure about half of all patients with leukemia and lymphoma, the other half fail treatment because their diseases become resistant to treatment. This often happens as a result of genetic alterations in their leukemia and lymphoma cells. Barr funding in 2008-‘09  allowed David Weinstock, MD, to use a powerful new technology called next-generation sequencing to identify the genes that can cause this kind of resistance. Drugs that inactivate these genes could prevent resistance and lead to cures in many more patients.

This is the sort of cutting edge research that your generous gifts are funding!  Incredible stuff, truly. 

As we wrap up the last Monday Motivation of 2014 I want to thank each and every one of you have donated so far, as well as the many others who have indicated they plan to do so in the New Year. Every single dollar really does have an impact and you are helping to save lives, shape the future of cancer prevention and treatment, and push us towards the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.  

111 Days! 

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Week 2 Training Recap

The biggest lesson from this week's training happened off the course, versus on. I learned how bad it feels to skip runs during marathon training, particularly when you have so many amazing supporters cheering you on. But, such is life and very few people can go through an entire marathon training program without having to alter, adjust, and yes even sometimes miss, your runs. While we have all been warned of this by our training advisor Jack Fultz, it did not help to reduce the frustration or feelings of guilt which ensued. However, rest is just as important a component as logging miles and I know that I made the right choice by listening to my body this week. In the end, Saturday's long run (which wound up being an unexpected 13.3 miles on the first half of the marathon course) was my longest run yet and much stronger than my previous attempt at that mileage this past October for the Boston Half - so I must be doing something right!

Onwards to Week 3!

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Happy Holidays!

Wishing you the happiest of holidays and may the coming year bring you blessings of good health and joy! 

Santa (and my amazingly supportive and generous family) gave me much needed base layers, hats, gloves, and tights so I am ready to brave the cold and burn off all these holiday treats! 

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Week 1 Training Recap

Going forward I will try to post these on Sundays, but this weekend was a bit hectic with final holiday preparations so I apologize this is a bit late.  1 week down and 17 to go!

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Motivation Monday

T-Minus 17 Weeks until the DFMC team runs the 119th Boston Marathon!  We start our second week of training today and keep an eye on the blog for recaps on our first team meetings, first week training, and our first group run which was this past Saturday.

One of the most motivating things for me so far has been speaking with returning/veteran DFMC teammates who, much like myself, went through their first season wondering how in the heck they would actually conquer these crazy goals we have set for ourselves - both on and off the race course. Raising tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research while training to run one of the toughest marathon courses out there is definitely a daunting task. These are goals not quickly met or achieved overnight. These goals demand time, dedication, strategy, and most importantly the help and support of others. There will be times in this journey where we will leap ahead, times where things will stand still, and there may even be some setbacks.  But we will power on and reach our goals.

This is much like the cutting edge Barr Program research projects which receive 100% of the funds raised by this challenge. Some of these projects can take years from development to approval, execution, and clinical trials, etc. And just like with our journey, there are times these projects leap ahead, there are times they stand still, and yes there may also be setbacks. But each project unlocks new discoveries and gets us one step closer to the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.  And much like in running and training, often you cannot see the growth and full scope from looking at one run or race, but you need to look at these things over time. Which is why we often share the impact of projects from previous years that are now complete and serving as the foundation for additional discoveries and/or being integrated into treatments, etc. 

But today we have the chance to take a look at research happening right now, literally as I type this. Research made possible by generous donors like you!  And nothing is more motivating than knowing that these are the sorts of discoveries that, together, we are helping to make a reality. Because today's research is tomorrow's cure, and today's patient is tomorrow's survivor.

Barr Program Investigator Carl Novina, MD, PhD

Excellent progress is being made at Dana-Farber to identify and sequence many cancer mutations, but it is often still difficult to discern their various roles: some mutations drive cancer, while others are neutral bystanders. Using Barr funding, Carl Novina, MD, PhD,is applying a novel technology called gene editing to develop protein tags that may help categorize mutations and pinpoint the critical drivers, representing strong targets for treatment. Gene editing allows scientists to use artificial enzymes to cut into a gene and insert, remove, or replace segments of DNA. In contrast to approaches aimed at stopping mutant gene expression, Dr. Novina intends to use this technology to introduce a segment of DNA that acts as a sophisticated “tag,” allowing him to trace a protein through the cell and determine its potential role in driving tumor growth. Understanding the underlying causes of various cancers could help investigators pinpoint possible targets for therapeutic intervention.

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B.A.A. Half Marathon Recap

Oh hey friends - remember that time I ran my first half-marathon in October and then waited until December to blog about it?  Yeah...sorry about that.   Read on for my long overdue recap...

Check out my bling! I am officially a half-marathoner baby!!!

(Moments after passing the finish line...pretty sure I am delirious here)

On Sunday, October 12th I ran the Boston Athletic Association's (B.A.A.) Half Marathon through Boston's beautiful Emerald Necklace Park System (taking its name from the series of green parks that string together like a necklace).

I will preface this recap by admitting that I did not train as hard as I should have for this race.  A few end of summer vacations (where I still ran but not as often), a change in season meaning a return to horrific traffic (which meant some days my running time got eaten up by sitting in an unexpected 2+ hour commute), and a minor achilles issue all combined to throw me off my training schedule slightly. That's not to make excuses or say I stopped running entirely, but my training plan called for roughly 150 miles before the race and I only ran just over 95. So the way I figure it....

Half Marathon = Half Training

Full Marathon = Full Training

Right? Right.

The silver lining of feeling slightly unprepared training wise was that somehow (and unexpectedly), I was the calmest I have ever been before a race. You would have thought I was getting ready to do a simple 5k fun run versus my first half marathon! And what an important lesson that was for me because it really framed the entire day in a very different energy, allowing me to soak in the entire day versus having it all pass by in a blur (like Falmouth).

My alarm went off at 5:03am (I have a thing about setting it for weird times, okay?) and I prepped my standard pre-race breakfast of ezekiel toast with almond butter, coffee, some Nuun electrolyte water, and a banana to take with me for later. Per usual I had set out everything the night before so I would be ready to go. Heeding advice to dress as if the outdoor temp was 20 degrees higher (to account for increase in body heat while running), I had planned on layering a half-zip over a running tank - though the weatherman's shout out to the B.A.A.runners left me wondering if that would be enough!

                               

Shivering, I left the house around 6:15am and headed up to UMASS Boston where shuttles were waiting to take us over to the starting area in Franklin Park. As I approached the parking lots there were plenty of signs directing runners to the lots and the Boston PD was on hand directing traffic which kept the back-up to a minimum. Once parked, it was a quick walk over to the shuttle line as a beautiful morning dawned before us.

Waiting (and shivering) in line for the shuttle bus

Though the line looked long, it moved very quickly and soon we were on our way. The lady seated next to me had ran the half previously, and she advised me to hold back in the first half of the race to ensure my tank wasn't "empty" for the second half of the course and its numerous rolling hills (advice which I had read in many reviews of the race). As we pulled up to Franklin Park, you could see runners and spectators streaming towards the starting area and my stomach started doing butterflies as it hit me that I was about to run my first half!  After we disembarked the shuttle, it was about a quarter mile walk to the starting area and the first thing I noticed was what an absolutely gorgeous, perfect Fall day we had for the race. The sun was filtering down through the amber and golden hued leaves and the crisp air was invigorating.

Entering the starting area, I immediately spotted the banners and jerseys for Dana-Farber. Since Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund are the presenting sponsors and the official charity for the B.A.A. Half, I was still supporting them by running. Spotting some of the running programs team, I jogged over to say hi.  Emily, our fearless leader from Falmouth, was there along with Jan,who is the director of Dan-Farber's running programs. Jan, Emily, and crew immediately recognized me as a DFMC runner and were so warm and welcoming.  While I already knew I had made one of the best decisions in my life by becoming involved with the DFMC program, getting to say hi to the awesome staff really helped to reaffirm that decision and get me excited for the journey ahead.

Soon it was time to head over to the starting area. The race started in four waves, and I was in the third wave. We started ambling forward and before I knew it, we were off!  Passing by tons of cheering fans with signs as we headed out of the starting corral, I could not hide the giant grin on my face as complete strangers cheered and wished me luck.  Heading out into Franklin Park, the sheer beauty of the day continued to open up before us. The foliage was absolutely stunning and the weather was every runner's dream (cool but not freezing, just the lightest of breezes, not too bright but not too cloudy, etc.).

Just before the 1 mile mark I first encountered who I consider to be the best fan on the course that day. Waving a giant sign reading "It is just a 5k...with a 10 mile warm-up!" and ringing a cowbell while yelling out all of our names, this super fan would appear at two other points on the course and her energy was contagious. Before I knew it, we were coming out of the park and crossing the Monsignor Casey Overpass which would lead us up to bulk of the course along the Riverway (as seen on the course map below).

The B.A.A. Half Marathon Course...note the elevation changes at the end. Boston loves their hills!

I was most familiar with bulk of the course outside of Franklin Park given I drive that stretch on my way to work each day.  It was exhilarating and fun to see the entire Jamaicaway shut down for the race and I was grateful to be traveling one of my favorite stretches via foot so I could soak in the beauty of the houses, the park, etc.  

Just past the before the 4 mile mark I realized - along with seemingly half the other runners - that I needed to take a porta potty break. Joining the long line, I tried to keep jogging in place as I shed my half-zip around mile 2 and could quickly feel my body cooling in line.  I lost about 7 minutes (oy!) waiting in the line but didn't dare continue as I wasn't 100% sure of where the next set would be. One of the funniest things about running races is you get all of these guides, maps, etc. in advance (such as where the porta potties are), and you devour every bit of info you can get.  And then you get out on the course and you forget most of it!  So I stood my place in line and utilized the time to text my hubby Dave who I knew was waiting somewhere by the 5 mile mark.

Soon I was back on my way and as I crossed Brookline, I could see Dave on the corner.  I stopped to give him a big ol' sweaty hug (he was very grateful...really...okay, maybe not). From there it was a quick out/back up the top of the Riverway and I got to wave to Dave one more time from the opposite side of the course.  My husband is my biggest fan and supporter, but it was particularly meaningful that he battled the crowds to come see me for about 1 minute total before he headed off to his maternity clinical at Mass General Hospital (he is wrapping up an accelerated BSN program at the MGH's Institute of Health Professions). He is my inspiration and I am so proud of him!!!  

As I made my way down the back of the park system and past the 7 mile mark I reflected on the mental component of running. Just two months prior, I had battled the heat to complete my first seven mile race in Falmouth and now here I was running twice that distance with what I perceived at the time to be much greater ease (though of course the heat was a big factor in that race feeling tougher).  

That little mental victory was short-lived and as I made my way back towards Franklin Park and the 9 mile mark. Heading around a rotary I felt my right calf begin cramping.  I slowed to a walk and thought I could stretch it/ease the cramp away. A minute later it subsided and I started back into a gentle run...for about 2 seconds before it started cramping again.  Then my left calf started cramping.

And so it went.For the rest. of. the. race.  

Sigh.

I wish I was joking but sadly, this was the point where my diminished training caught up with me.

Yet no matter how slow, I jogged and slogged my way through the hills and miles 10 and 11 before heading towards the 12 mile marker and the zoo.  Yes, you read that right - the zoo!  At long last I had reached the part I was most looking forward to - getting to run past the animals!  It was also at this point that my calves couldn't take another second and I slowed to a walk while taking in the animal exhibits. About 3/4 of a way through Mile 12 the signs directed us towards a dirt path and through a zebra exhibit, and I knew that the finish line was now less than a mile away.

Summoning the rest of my resolve, I started to jog again.  Of COURSE there was an official photographer hidden in the bushes, but I spotted him just in time to flash a smile and pretend my calves weren't on fire! 

I love running...my legs feel great...no, really!
(Why did I sign up for this...ooooh the burning...where is the finish line?!?)

Heading out of the zoo we came back near the starting line and I could hear the crowd and announcers at the finish line inside White Stadium. I continued trudging along and the look on my face must have been drastically different from the smile in the above pic, because one spectator who saw me coming yelled out "just a few more feet...keep going Erin, you've got this!"  

And that my friends, is one of the COOLEST parts of these races. I have no idea who that guy was, but he truly and honestly gave me the last shreds of energy I needed to round the corner and head towards the finish line (where this incredibly unflattering photo was taken).

Almost there, almost there, almost there...ahhh still so far to go...almost there, almost there....

And suddenly I was crossing the finish line and rows of amazing B.A.A. volunteers were awaiting me with armfuls of medals. Approaching one volunteer I loudly yelled "come to Mama!" and she laughed as she placed the medal around my neck. 

Continuing towards the finish area I quickly realized I had to keep moving and needed to stretch, as my legs were now screaming in response to the 2 hours and 39 minutes of work they had just performed (and yes, while that I didn't meet my goal of 2 hours and 30 minutes or less, I still finished close to it...not too bad for my first one and hopefully can cut a lot off of that next year!).  After a few stretches I made my way over to the backdrop to get an "official" picture with my newly earned bling.

Woooohoooo!!!!!!

Heading through the finish area there were boxes of bananas, bagels, and offerings from one of my favorite local chains, B.Good.  However, I couldn't even think about refueling and I just sipped some gatorade and grabbed a banana for later.  By this point I had cooled down and could now feel the crispness of the autumn day again, so I layered back up and started making my way back to the buses. Just as well organized as our arrival, I was soon a shuttle and back to my car in no time.  By the time I hit the road, my body had finally calmed down a bit and I grabbed an extra protein low-fat chocolate milk (seriously the best recovery drink ever). After heading home and taking the best shower of my life, I donned my awesome new B.A.A. Half shirt (which we received in the finish line area) and then had an impromptu meet-up with my awesome parent and sibling in-laws for a well earned turkey burger and beer.   All while wearing my shiny new medal of course!

13.1 miles down.  Now just many, many, MANY more training miles and one 26.2 mile race until I earn my next B.A.A. medal in April!!! Bring it on baby!!!





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Monday Motivation: First Day of Training Edition!

Today is a very special edition of Monday Motivation as it is also marks our first official day of training for the 2015 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge!  T-Minus 18 weeks until we take to Boston's fabled course with an aim of raising $5.2 billion along the way to help us reach the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.

As our training kicks into full gear, keep checking back here for updates, pictures, and more. Starting this Sunday I will also begin posting weekly training recaps for anyone who has ever wondered what it takes to conquer a marathon. Like most of my teammates, I fall somewhere between the novice and intermediate training plans designed for us by our advisor Jack Fultz, who recommends that we take a look at each week's goal and determine a middle ground mileage wise that feels best for each of us. Today the novice schedule called for 3-4 miles with walking breaks as needed and the intermediate called for 4-5 miles with strides in between (strides mean you increase/decrease your speed in the middle of the run- this helps with both endurance and increasing your speed over time). Given I am coming off a weekend of pre-training holiday debauchery and indulgence, I decided to keep an easy and steady pace, running 4.35 miles. I also walked 1.4 miles at a brisk pace to/from a 50 minute pilates class for core and strength training. This is right within what I have been doing to maintain my mileage base prior to starting official training (20-25 miles per week and pilates 3-5 times per week), but it still felt exciting to log my first official training run!  

And there is no better way to stay motivated for the next 18 weeks than to look back at the history and impact of the DFMC program. While I have been sharing individual impact statements each Monday that give a glimpse at some of the Barr research projects funded by the challenge, the below graphic prepared for last year's 25th anniversary running really shows how much the challenge and its impact have grown through the years: 

Pretty motivating stuff and I am honored to help continue and grow the DFMC legacy as it heads into its 26th year.  

1 day down and 124 days to go!  

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No Turning Back Now!

I guess this means it's officially official guys.  Good thing since our 18 week training starts on Monday!

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Motivation Monday

As we rapidly approach the start of our "official" training one week from today, I find this motivation particularly fitting: 

However it is that much easier to stay committed when I know that the DFMC supports such ground breaking research. As I share these impact statements each week, keep in mind that research such as this is much like the marathon itself. There are no sprints on the course to new discoveries in the fight against cancer - rather, these investigators must maintain a steady pace and go the distance, no matter the obstacles and no matter how long it takes them to reach the finish line.  

Such as Rosalind Segal, MD, PhD, who was supported by the Barr Program in 1998-2000 and 2002-‘04 and worked to discover new pathways in brain cancers.  This research led directly to promising new clinical trials for the nearly 23,000 patients who develop these diseases every year.

Brain cancer remains one of the most difficult cancers to treat and is responsible for more

than 13,000 deaths annually. Dr. Segal discovered that a genetic pathway called “Notch” is consistently damaged in brain tumors. Drugs already exist for other diseases to target Notch, and

exciting new clinical trials are now underway to explore opportunities to now use these

drugs for brain cancer patients. This has the potential to significantly improve survival for

this devastating cancer.

I am proud to be supporting investigators such as Dr. Segal, and beyond grateful to those of you who have already helped me reach 28% towards my goal of raising $10,000 to fund this vital research- and all before our official training has even started!  There is nothing more motivating than knowing that together, we are helping to change and save lives.  

Monday Motivation

First, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! We spent the holiday with my family in Upstate New York and I squeezed in some wonderful runs, including my first snowy run (which was AWESOME). And yeah, I can't believe I grew up with all of that beauty surrounding me and took it for granted! It was so stunningly peaceful and quiet, and I loved every second. 

 

Over the river and through the woods, on a six mile run I go...

And now suddenly it is December 1st! What??? Which means two things:

1. Our "official" marathon training begins two weeks from today! Woohoo!
2. It is Monday...so it's time for some motivation! 

As you know, 100% of the funds raised by the DFMC benefit the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research. As such, I am continuing to share some of the impact these vital projects have had, because nothing is more motivating than learning how your generous gifts help push us towards the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.  

Today, I would like to highlight the work of  Dr. Martin Sattler on DNA Pathways and Drug Resistance in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a slowly progressing form of leukemia in which too many white blood cells are made in the bone marrow and accumulate in the blood. Although bone marrow transplant is the only known curative therapy for CML, the revolutionary drug Gleevec, developed in collaboration with DFCI investigators, has shown remarkable results in some patients. However, those who do respond to Gleevec often develop resistance to the drug, which leads to disease progression. Thus, there is a need to develop new, targeted therapies against CML to combat resistance. Martin Sattler, PhD, and his team are studying he underlying DNA damage and DNA repair mechanisms in CML cells. This basic science is essential to understand these altered DNA repair pathways and their role in drug-resistance. Dr. Sattler’s findings will potentially fuel the development of drugs that inhibit these processes and prevent or delay drug resistance. Additionally, this research is likely to be relevant to other cancers that are driven by similar genomic instability. 

Wow. Pretty awesome stuff.  

And the below?  Well that pretty much sums up why I am doing this challenge.  

Disclaimer: Someone remind me to read this post in a few weeks when it is twenty degrees cooler and the snow has turned turned to slushy muck rendering it slightly less blissful than my fist snowy run. Deal? Thanks.  Until then, lacing 'em up and loving winter running. 

Motivation Monday

Where we are headed into a holiday week with lots of tempting treats, what better motivation than to share the impact of Dr. Bruce Spiegelman's research on the link between obesity and cancer, which determined why obesity is a risk factor in 10-15% of human cancers. Dr. Spiegelman's research, supported by the Barr program in 2005, demonstrated that obesity causes many body-wide alterations in metabolism, hormone levels, and inflammation, and that these abnormalities may affect the development and progression of cancers. Determining the link between obesity and these cancers could be instrumental to inhibiting cancer development in both obese and non-obese people, leading to the potential for major breakthroughs in the development of new ways to treat and prevent cancer.

Something to think about when reaching for that second helping of mashed potatoes...or rather, to give you motivation to go run them off after!

Oh and since we're talking second helpings of mashed potatoes - why not a second helping of motivation to go with it?

Wherever you find yourself running (and eating mashed potatoes) this week, I wish you and your families a blessed and happy Thanksgiving holiday. We have so much to be thankful for, and I am particularly thankful for my health and all of you!

New and Improved Monday Motivation

Happy Monday everyone!  This past week we had our first DFMC team meeting (a more complete recap forthcoming...it's been a busy week!) and it inspired me to reformat my Monday Motivation. Since the BIGGEST motivation is knowing that I am helping my team to raise over $5.3 billion dollars to fund cutting edge cancer research, I am going to start including some of the impact statements that give a sense for the truly life changing and saving research being done through the Barr Program, which receives 100% of the funds raised by the DFMC.

For example, the 2008 Barr research project of Loren Walensky, MD, PhD.  Dr. Walensky's project 

focused on the development of new therapies with the potential to reactivate the “executioner” function of cancer cells and prevent their uncontrollable growth.

All living cells contain “executioner proteins” that help control the growth of normal cells. 

Cancer cells find a way to prevent activation of these proteins, enabling them to replicate 

uncontrollably. Dr. Walensky generated novel compounds that bind to these proteins in cancer cells, reactivating their “executioner” function and triggering cell death. By integrating chemistry, biology and cancer medicine, this work has the potential to create groundbreaking new therapies for multiple types of cancer, many of which no longer respond to conventional therapies.

And NONE of that research - or that which has been done in the other amazing projects you will learn about each week - could have happened without the generous gifts from donors like you!

I am sure Dr. Walensky and so many other talented and dedicated researchers have had days where they were unsure whether their hard work would make a difference. But they push on undeterred, keeping the ultimate goal and finish line (a world without cancer) on the horizon, and their work has had tremendous and far reaching impact. Could you imagine what would have happened if they just gave up when it got hard?  Not an option.  So yes, while I will certainly have days where I am unsure whether I can raise $10,000 and run 26.2 miles, seeing the true impact this challenge makes is all the motivation I need.  

www.RunDFMC/org/2015/erincollins

Monday Motivation

Monday Motivation

Half Marathon Eve

'Twas the night before the BAA Half and all through the house, this runner was nervous and chatting the ear off her spouse. Her clothes and supplies were all laid out with care, in hopes to avoid forgetting crucial items at 5:00am when coming downstairs.  And now she is headed to nestle snug in her bed, so visions of a BAA medal can dance in her head.  Merry half running to all and to all a good night!

Monday Motivation

Lessons Learned From Achilles

In Greek mythology it is said that Achilles' mother, Thetis, dipped him in the river Styx as a child thus making him invincible, with the exception of the back of his heel by which she lowered him into the water. Guided by Apollo, Paris (in retribution for Achilles victories on the battlefield) aimed a poisoned arrow for Achilles' heel and killed him. Despite Achilles' having survived countless conflicts it was this one tiny vulnerable spot which bought down the mighty warrior. Hence we use the term Achilles Heel when referencing vulnerabilities - "my Achilles Heel is chocolate," for example. And anatomically, the tendon that connects our calf muscle to our heel bone bears Achilles' name.

Runners are not so different from Achilles. We train hard, we play hard, and we like to think we are invincible - though we are far from it. We all have our vulnerabilities and often it is the tiniest, and least expected, thing which can bring us down. I learned that lesson the hard way as of late thanks to my - you guessed it - Achilles tendon.

I was towards the end of my eleven mile long run two weekends ago when suddenly I felt a slight pain along the "spine" of my left Achilles tendon. Having never felt pain while running (beside the standard and expected pang of tired legs or the mental pain of knowing how many miles remain), I attempted to run it off. I made it through the last few miles but it was not easy. Returning home I took some advil, iced the area, and made the mistake of googling "runner achilles pain." Turns out Achilles pain and injuries are one of the top three runner ailments and while descriptions and diagnoses varied from article to article, the common takeaway was that you should stop running immediately if you experience Achilles pain.

Ummm, so you mean running that last three miles uphill wasn't a smart idea?

Ooops.

None-the-less, the pain disappeared as soon as I stopped running and I didn't feel even a hint of pain while walking the rest of that day, or on my Sunday rest day. Figuring this was a sign that the pain had been a mere irritation versus an injury, I embarked on my five mile Monday run with baited breath. The first three miles felt great and it seemed I may be in the clear. After pausing at a stoplight and starting up again, my hopes were dashed. There was the pain again - at first a slight whisper before quickly intensifying into a throbbing shout. And while I desperately wanted to pretend I could run it off, I knew better than to force it. Slowing to a walk, I gingerly made my way through the last two miles back to my office, twice attempting to run again before returning to a screeching halt due to the immediate pain.

Knowing I will be marathon training through Boston's brutal winter, I have been envisioning all the things that might bring me down in the months to come while attempting to strategize preventative solutions. Black Ice (sneaker treads). The flu (got my shot!). Two cats snuggling on my chest and making it hard to get up at 6:00am on a Saturday (yeah...I've got nothing for this one yet). But a little pain in the back of my heel? COME ON.

I took the next few days off.

Which was hard.

No, really...stop laughing...it was actually hard to rest!

Because despite the amount of times I may grumble about it, I truly and honestly love running. It clears my head, revs my energy, and floods me with those oh-so-wonderful happy endorphins. No happy endorphins = Cranky sluggish Erin.

Finally after a week of rest and some new sneakers, I headed back out on the Charles last week and since then, have logged some of my best runs yet.  Pain free.  Go figure.

Sometimes what seems like a setback is really just life forcing you to stop, take a breath, and prepare to surge forward.You have to look at the bigger picture and not just the moment at hand. Did I feel frustrated that I lost miles and training time as my first half-marathon quickly approaches next weekend? Yes. But did I learn a valuable lesson about taking care of myself and preventing an injury that could have sidelined me much longer or even permanently? Also yes.

I have been dwelling upon this during the ample time my enjoyable atrocious commute offers me. Historically, I would have just ignored the pain and kept running. And historically, that would have led to a severe injury forcing me to take off much, much more time from training, and which would eventually lead me to abandon running all together for a year. Or five. Oh yeah, I suppose I should briefly mention that time in L.A. when I basically broke my ankle mid-hike but insisted on hiking down the mountain, and then refused to seek medical attention due to my stubborn nature and lack of health insurance at the time. Bad decision making at its finest. But we live and we learn, or so they say - yes?

And yet, so often we really don't learn. It took me another run before I listened to that little voice in my head telling me to stop and take care of the pain. And honestly, had I not been scared by all those articles mentioning chronic achilles injuries that could prevent me from training for or running the marathon, I probably would have kept going. Despite having learned my lesson previously (and painfully). It is just human nature and symptomatic of the age we live in. We push things until they break. We never slow down. We are always flying forward at a million miles per hour until some thing, person, or event literally forces us to stop.

As I learn more about Dana-Farber's life saving and changing research, I am reminded even further of this. So often we discuss how to treat cancer - but a big part of it is prevention as well.  Taking care of yourself is the biggest way you can prevent cancer and other diseases from affecting you in your lifetime - and yet, despite knowing this, so many of us don't.We do not eat the way we should, or get enough rest. We do not see our doctors regularly or find ways to reduce the ever compounding stress in our lives. The list goes on and on. But it is crucial that we take the time to stop take care of ourselves, before something else forces us to.

None of us are invincible - that is the stuff of myths.  But by investing in your health and well being, you might just come as close to it as you can.

Monday Motivation

Raising the Bar of Expectations

It is finally sinking in. I am running my first marathon this April.

My only prior experience with marathons involved Mad Men and popcorn, so this is a rather tall order. The shock and initial excitement of being accepted to the team has been tempered by a full realization of the challenge I have undertaken.

And yet I am still SO excited. No, really.

Scared out of my wits? Sure am!
Unsure if I can do this? Yup.
Questioning my choices? Usually do.
But still excited? Hell yeah.

One of my running inspirations is Shalane Flanagan who, as she prepares to beat the American women's marathon record next weekend in Berlin, recently said:

Sometimes I shake my head and say, 'I don't know how I'm going to do this,' but I just put my head down and try. It's amazing, when you raise the bar of expectations, you somehow just meet it if you really are motivated.

And that is how I feel about this. The bar of expectations has been raised and I am more motivated than I have ever been. Bring on the good, the bad, the warm, the cold, and everything (and all the miles) in between!

While being motivated is great, I could NOT do any of this without the tremendous support of my family and friends (one of which you likely are if you are reading this)! Since sharing that I was accepted to the 2015 DFMC team, I have been overwhelmed by all of your kind notes of encouragement, support, and congratulations - thank you! Many of you also had questions, so here are some answers:

Why are you running? 
Because of this family.

And, because of this family.

And, because cancer does not discriminate between a newborn baby or thirty-six year old Mom with young kids. It just plain sucks. So I want to do something about it and help ensure that Dana-Farber can continue its innovative research, which has consistently led to higher cure rates and advanced treatments for those bravely facing cancer.

Also, because I am healthy and I can. So many people do not have this option, for various reasons. Who am I to ignore the blessings that are my mobility and health while so many others struggle each day to maintain or reclaim their own? If there was ever a time to go after what has long been a secret goal, it is now. And so I am!

Why Boston?
My first "Marathon Monday" was shortly after we relocated to the Greater Boston area in 2012. I had no idea about the history of the marathon or this region's deep-seated love for their race. The 2012 running was historic for the abnormally high temps topping out at 89 degrees and ranking among the ten hottest days in race history.

The 2013 running was historic for far different reasons, of which you are likely well aware. Though you may not be aware that my office sits on the 26 mile point of the course. When the first bomb went off, I naively thought it may be a cannon shot or gun display in honor of Patriots Day (on which the race is ran every year). As I neared the window of our office to take in what I thought was festivities, the second bomb went off. Exactly one block from my office. The resulting moments of that day, and the week that followed, will be forever seared in my memory and heart.

The despicable acts of violence carried out on April 15, 2013 shaked my faith in humanity. But the strength, determination, love, and support of the Boston community on and since that day has helped me to see the sheer power and goodness of humanity. Hopefully in the future I can more eloquently capture my emotions about that day and what this race now means to me and to this city. But that is another post for another day. So until then - why Boston?  Because there is nowhere else I would rather take on this test of endurance and celebration of human resilience than in a city that has become a shining symbol for both.

Are you already training?  

Umm, sort of? I am in the midst of training for the Boston Half Marathon which I am running on October 12th. Which is half the marathon distance, hence the title. Only half. 13.1 miles. And I need to build up to 26.2 miles. Oh goodness, what I have done. Is it hot in here? I am starting to sweat a bit. And my stomach hurts. I think maybe I misread the marathon distance and thought it was 16.2. That is still a lot of miles. Ahhhh. What have I gotten myself into? Googling "marathon distance." Hmmm, wait- it burns HOW many calories? Googling "how many cookies can you eat after a marathon." Okay. Feeling a little better. I think I can do this guys...

So yeah. Physical training is only one component of any sort of training. Much of it is mental and not to be underestimated. I am constantly mentally training (myself to be motivated and run vs. eating cookies). After the half marathon, I will maintain my base mileage and mental motivation until our official marathon training begins in early December. The 18 week training plans we will follow have been designed by team advisor and 1976 Boston marathon winner Jack Fultz, and I am deeply grateful to have Jack's leadership and guidance on this journey. Our team will also have monthly meetings and group long runs starting in November, which will be an exciting element of training and also give me the chance to meet some new running friends as well.

And speaking of training, tomorrow's long run calls for 12 miles so I suppose I should go plan my route...and post-run snacks...but really, my route...

This pretty much sums it up...

Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston

I  got a spot on the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team!!!!

I am running the Boston Marathon!!!!  

Ahhhh!!!!!!!

These are the thoughts that keep rotating through my mind in the hours since receiving the news that I have been selected for the 2015 DFMC team.  This girl who could not run a mile in high school will be running 26.2 of 'em come this April.  

I could not be more excited.  Or terrified (but the good kind).

An ambitious running goal should be met with an equally ambitious fundraising goal, and my goal is to raise $10,000 before I take that right on Hereford and left on Boylston (which refers to the last two turns on the marathon course). 100% of the funds raised by the DFMC supports the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research.  Since 1987, the Barr program has allowed talented and passionate doctors and investigators to pursue innovative research which has forever changed and shaped the approach to cancer care and treatment, not only at Dana-Farber but beyond. This crucial funding helps us all race towards the Ultimate Finish Line: A World Without Cancer.

While gifts of any amount are appreciated and vital, I am encouraging people to donate $26.20 in honor of the marathon distance.

You can also "sponsor a mile" for $126.20 and I have kicked things off by sponsoring the last two-tenths of a mile (as I imagine that after 26 miles that last little bit will certainly feel much longer).

There is a reason this is called the marathon challenge. Because it is a challenge, in every sense of the term. But it is one which I am looking forward to tackling and I know with a lot of hard work, I can do this!  I will be sharing every step of my journey from Hopkinton to Boston right here, and thank you to those of you already cheering me on and to my amazing husband Dave for urging me to apply.

T-Minus 217 days.  I've got some running to do!

Runners are directed to take a right on Hereford and Left on Boylston,

before heading past my office (at the 26 mile mark) and then to the finish line! 

How long is 26.2 miles exactly?  This long. 

Falmouth Recap: The Race!

On race day, Sunday August 17th, my alarm went off at 5:00am and I do not think I have ever been so excited to get up at that time!  I headed downstairs to get the coffee brewing and also started sipping water.  My nerves were in full gear and the last time I had felt so excited/anxious/nervous was my wedding day. After a standard pre-race breakfast of ezekiel bread with almond butter and a banana, it was time to suit up.

I have NEVER looked this happy to be up at 5:00am

Our team was scheduled to meet at 6:45am at the Falmouth Jr. High, from which all runners are shuttled to the starting line in Woods Hole. My original plan was to walk the roughly 1.2 mile route from the house as a warm-up, given we thought our road would be closed to traffic starting at 6:00am.  However it turned out the road was still open so Dave braved the crowds (pre-coffee I might add) and dropped me off near the school. Thanks again babe! 

I quickly found my team (as you can see our jerseys are hard to miss) and excitedly headed over. It was so wonderful getting to finally meet the other Falmouth runners and many had decked out their jerseys and limbs with ribbons and names of those they were honoring with their run.  Since I had raised more than $2500 I received a special Pacesetter patch to put on the back of my jersey (which I had been freaking out about how to apply on race day only to find out they are backed with adhesive like a big sticker- clearly these guys have done this before!).  

Soon it was time for announcements from our fearless leader Emily who coordinated this year's Falmouth team and sent us weekly updates and motivating emails throughout the season.  Emily welcomed me and my 270 teammates (woah!) and thanked us for all our hard work, and then informed us that we had set a record for the highest amount raised by race day with a total of over $550,000 (update- since the race our final total is more than $600,000)!  I got chills while listening to Emily talk about all the programs the money raised helps to support and as she highlighted our team's biggest and most inspiring members, such as Team Lanzoni.  After announcements we took some team photos. 

Dana-Farber 2014 Falmouth Team 

Thumbs up from the Pacesetters! 

After pictures we dispersed into the throng of runners arriving for the shuttles, our bright jerseys polka dotting the crowd like seeds scattered in the wind. I jogged around for 10 minutes to get my blood moving and did some gentle stretching before deciding to take advantage of the rows of porta potties, figuring the lines would be shorter than over by the starting line.  I had been in line for all of 30 seconds chatting with a fellow team member when I heard someone call my name.  It was my childhood neighbor Nicole who, along with other family members, were running the race for CCALS in honor of her Dad.  Nicole and I had been chatting on Facebook about the race but I knew better than to try and plan on meeting up given the size of the crowd.  So what are the odds that out of 11,000+ runners we were in those lines at the same time?!  Crazy. Growing up Nicole and her family always inspired me as I would see them run around the neighborhood or pack up their car headed for a biking or other adventure.  While it is hard knowing that they were running the race for such a personal cause, I am so glad CCALS has offered them a way to continue enjoying cherished time together as a family in one of their favorite places.

Next it was time to get in line for the shuttles over to the starting line.  Approaching one of two corrals, it seemed like the lines had started to get pretty long (it was about 7:20am at this point). In all my pre-race research and convos with veteran runners, I had heard that not only is Falmouth one of the most beautiful races but also one of the most organized.  And they were right.  In a matter of ten minutes flat we went from the back of the line to awaiting the next shuttle.  The volunteers were AMAZING and kept the lines moving while also wishing everyone luck.  Our shuttle arrived and I quickly found a seat and chit-chatted with some runners around me as we headed off towards Woods Hole.  Someone was giving me advice about the final hill when my phone buzzed. I looked down to see my friend Mary had texted me to say good luck and that she would see me at the finish line...ummm what???? Yup, she is amazing. And she drove down to Falmouth from New Hampshire just to see me finish the race.  I couldn't believe she was on her way down and between that news and realizing we were almost to the starting line, well let's just say I was wishing I could bottle that energy in case I needed it at mile six!  Oh and I took a selfie. 

On the bus to Woods Hole...
trying not to show how nervous I am!!! 

a.k.a. Crazy Eyes

The bus turned up a windy road and a few minutes later came to a stop. Looking to the right, all I could see was a ribbon of runners headed towards the water. We headed off the shuttles and past a checkpoint, as from this point on it was officially "runners only" (as were the shuttles, but there are still homes, etc. in the area).  I headed down the path and it was about a fifteen minute walk until we wrapped around a corner and I found my "pulse" area.  This was the first year that Falmouth used a pulse system to start and personally, I loved it.  You simply stood in the section closest to your anticipated pace per mile and then as the race started they released waves of people from each pace every two minutes.   The signs were funny too - the 8:00 minute sign said "don't lie!" and the 9:00 minute pace said "that's more like it."  Once I knew what the starting area looked like, I threw on my headphones and jogged for a bit to calm down my nerves and really get myself warmed up, followed by some more stretching.  By this time (8:15am) it was starting to get really warm as there were barely any clouds in the sky. There was a nice breeze but you could feel the sun coming down for sure. Unfortunately between nerves and the sun, I sipped on a bit more water than I should have which caused me to spend the rest of my pre-race time visiting the porta potty three more times, haha. Luckily, there were porta potties, water, and volunteers everywhere you looked.  Three things I consider very important for a good race!  Finally it was time to line up and I found a nice spot mid-way between the 9:00 and 10:00 minute pace signs. 

Waiting to start! 

At 8:40am they sang God Bless America and then the wheelchair division started off the race. Next at 8:50am it was time for the elite women to take off.  Then came the national anthem followed by race director Dave McGillivray sharing some inspiring words about Boston and reclaiming the marathon earlier in the year (Mr. McGillivray is also the race director for the marathon) and introducing Boston marathon winner Meb Keflezighi.  I was a bit confused at hearing Meb speak given he was slated to run with the elite men (I learned after the race that while he still ran, he ran for fun as he was nursing a sore muscle and his training is focused on the New York marathon in November), but it was great getting to hear him welcome the crowd none-the-less.  And then the elite men were off followed by the pulses which started moving us forward slowly.  We drew closer and closer to the red starting line banner and the crowds on either side were awesome, already cheering us on.  And then it was our turn!  

Off we went and I was pleasantly surprised (after everything I had read about previous years) that I had plenty of room around me and was able to settle right into a comfortable pace.  I purposely left my headphones off and soaked in the sounds of the crowd.  Thanks to Falmouth printing personalized bibs, spectators can cheer you on by name - which is AWESOME.  In my first few footsteps of the race I heard "Go Erin!" and "Yeah Dana-Farber," and it continued throughout the race. Very cool.

The first mile wrapped through Woods Hole and beautiful shade until suddenly the woods clear and you see the beautiful Nobska Lighthouse ahead of you.  Even though I had read about it and seen it in pictures, coming out of the woods and seeing the lighthouse and water straight ahead was breathtaking and I could not resist but say "wow" - to which several other runners agreed! Of course if there was ever a time to take a picture it would have been then, but alas I did not.  Though a quick google search will show you an array of beautiful images.

Throughout much of my training I had envisioned the hill leading up to the lighthouse but I had little trouble as my legs were still fresh and we had ran most of the first mile in the shade.  As I approached the top I heard the Rocky theme song blasting away (a spectator sets up a speaker and plays it every year) so I started doing the Rocky victory arms to match, and soon a few other runners were doing it too. We shared a little laugh and kept on moving along the course.  The next few miles snaked back into the woods and glorious shade with some more gentle hills.  Despite this being the more "remote" part of the course, there were still plenty of spectators cheering us on in front of the houses on the course - Falmouth truly has the BEST fans! 

I made pretty good time for the first three miles, running roughly nine minute splits despite the temps heating up (I know, maybe not "good" for some runners but that was good for me!).  Just past the three mile mark we headed onto Surf Drive and into the open sun.  My legs felt great and my breathing (always a concern in extreme hot/cold given my asthma) was fine - but the sun really started getting to me as I worked through mile four.  The crowds on this part helped push me through though as this is undoubtedly the "beach stretch" and both sides were lined with encouraging fans, musicians playing music, and people spraying hoses which was a welcome relief. 

Knowing my family was waiting at mile five pushed me on and seeing them in the distance was the best.  They had made made awesome signs and even my beautiful one year old niece Leila was cheering me on! 

 

Dave handed me my water bottle and after a few chugs I was back on my way. Dana-Farber had a cheering section set up at the 5.5 mile mark and that gave me another boost as people clapped and thanked us for running.  Heading into mile 6 there were glorious patches of shade as we wrapped around the far side of Falmouth Harbor and headed towards Falmouth Heights.  I slowed down a lot at this point as the heat was really starting to take a toll.  With the final hill and push to the finish line still awaiting me, and wanting to be able to finish strong, I let myself take it easy and allow my body to cool down a bit in the shade.  Just after passing St.Thomas Chapel (where my sister-in-law got married- so beautiful!), the final hill came into view.  As I came out of the shade I started speeding back up and rounded the corner towards the hill.  The crowds also got very thick at this point and I could feel their energy as I worked my way up the hill in the homestretch to the finish line. 

Many Falmouth race recaps focus on the final part of the course for a reason.  After cresting the large final hill you still have a bit more to run before you see the large American Flag waving over the course just prior to the finish line, and then you still have a bit more to run past the flag until you actually finish.  Given many people casually refer to the finish line being just after the hill, this is a small but important misnomer.  Mentally I was prepared for it, but it was still tough after pushing up the hill at full speed.   And then finally there was the flag waving in the breeze and I knew I was almost there.  I could see the finish line and was so focused on pushing towards it that I almost didn't hear my friend Mary as she started calling out my name!  She had found a spot on top of the hill near the last stretch and had made a huge sign- so sweet!  Seeing her cheer me on gave me the final burst I needed and I speeded ahead through the finish!  It was an amazing feeling to know I had finished the race and that I was NOT the last person to cross! 

After walking a little bit past the Elite athletes tent, we rounded a corner and were rewarded with bottles of cold Poland Springs water (one of the presenting sponsors) and I swear water has never tasted so good!  I started walking on the path to the finish area/refreshments when I saw Dave on the side of the fences separating finishers from the crowd - he had walked over to surprise me!  We found Mary in the crowd and I decided to pass on the refreshments and we headed back to the house and our awesome family.  After a nice long shower, the rest of the day was spent relaxing with our wonderful family and letting it sink in that I had just ran my first Falmouth road race!   

So who wants to enter the lottery and meet me in Falmouth on August 16, 2015? : )