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? : )

Falmouth Recap: Race Expo/Weekend

Dave didn't have class the Friday before the race (which is always held on Sunday) so I took the day off and we headed down to Falmouth early to beat the crowds and traffic.  Once we got into town we headed over to the expo so I could pick up my bib, race bag, and browse the goodies.  Up to the point I had been pretty relaxed and calm.  However, once we turned into the parking lot and I saw all the runners with their bags, etc. it really hit me that I was running in one of the most famous races in the country!

We headed inside and to the section designated for bib pick-up.  With more than 11,000 bibs to be handed out, the tables lined the entire far side of the gym where the expo is held. I headed over to the table for my number and made three amazing volunteers giggle by how excited I was.  Bib in hand, I posed for a few pictures near the course map.

Just a teeny bit excited to have my bib...

Then we headed over to another line to pick up my swag bag. Most races give out t-shirts but Falmouth gives a commemorative mug, reusable shopping tote, and an official race magazine highlighting the race from the year prior and a poster.  Pretty neat!  Then it was a quick lap around the other booths/vendors loading up my bag with some free samples (energy bar samples, etc.) before ending back at presenting sponsor New Balance for some official race gear.  I settled on a comfy sweatshirt which was a popular choice as they were already out of stock in certain sizes.

On our way out we had a chance to meet and talk with Dick Hoyt.  Dick and his son Rick make up Team Hoyt, and they are the definition of inspiration, dedication, and love. Once Dick learned it was my first time running Falmouth, he started telling me little tips for the course and said the most important thing was to have fun and take in the beautiful course.  It was an honor meeting Mr. Hoyt and knowing I would be sharing in a race that he and his son love so much.  

Soon it was time to depart the expo so I could get ready for New Balance's Girls Night Out shakeout run and pre-race event that evening.  Thanks to the generosity of our amazing cousins, we were able to stay at their beautiful summer home which is basically the file mile point on the race course.  We were so grateful and blessed to have such a wonderful place to stay for the race weekend and it made the entire weekend so enjoyable and relaxing (despite my race excitement/nerves!).  After dropping our bags, I quickly threw on my running gear and headed over to Falmouth Heights (near the finish line) for the New Balance event. 

While waiting in the check-in line, the woman behind me struck up a conversation.  Turns out, we both went to SUNY Oswego for undergrad and were theatre majors! Small world.   Her name is Benita Zahn and she is now an anchor for Channel 13 in Albany, as well as active in the local theatre scene there. Despite having graduated twenty years apart, Benita and I knew many of the "legends" from Oswego and we had a few laughs while waiting in line.  Benita had ran Falmouth many times and gave me some good tips for the course - including where they take your pictures along the way!

After a few introductions from the New Balance team, we took off for our 3 mile fun run. While I had my headphones in case, I ran most of the run without them just enjoying the ocean and cool breeze.  It was also our first taste of the amazing support that Falmouth runners feel on race day as people started coming out on their balconies and lawns to clap for us and cheer us on (at around 50 women runners strong, our group definitely drew some attention as we made our way along the coast).  After the race we were treated to some tasty snacks and drinks, as well as a Q&A with the New Balance elite runners.   It was fun to hear about their professional schedules, hear some tips, and also learn I am not the only one who is very particular about my pre-run/race routine!  It was a fun event and we each got a nice tote bag with a water bottle and other goodies.  By the time the New Balance event was over the temps had dropped a bit and my new Falmouth sweatshirt came in handy while treating myself to one glass of red wine under the stars with Dave to calm my nerves after a day of pre-race excitement!

The next day (Saturday) we enjoyed a nice easy day at the house and beach while the rest of our family made their way "down the Cape" to join us, and I made sure to drink plenty of water and some Strawberry-Lemonade Nuun (my favorite!).  With my 5:00am wake-up call looming, I set out all my clothes and gear for the next day and hit the pillow by 8:00pm (finally falling asleep by 9:00pm'sh).  

Everything ready for 5:00am...

The Road to Falmouth

My journey to Falmouth started on a whim this past March while talking with my good friend Johanna. Seeing as we were both refocusing on our running, and where we had yet to see each other's new homes (hers near D.C., ours near Boston), we hatched a plan to find a race to run together while visiting each other over the summer. Since Johanna has been to the Boston area many times, I immediately started searching for races on the Cape knowing she had never been there (and because really, few things are better than the Cape in summer).

Now, I had heard of the Falmouth Road Race but did not quite grasp the prominence or field size of the event when first suggesting it. Once we realized it was a lottery and logistics may prove tricky, we decided to pass and registered for the Narragansett Summer Running Festival instead (which we had a blast running by the way).

Initially, I was relieved.

Reading "seven miles" on a race description and running seven miles are very different things.  And remember, this was back in early March where my longest run had topped out at four miles.Then I got to thinking.  Why not go for it?  Enter the lottery and let fate decide.

Well it turns out fate had another plan and the very same day I decided I would enter the lottery, I received an update from Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund (to which I have donated in the past) announcing that they were accepting applications for the Dana-Farber Falmouth Road Race team.  Go for a personal goal while also raising money for an amazing organization?  Done and done.  So I applied and a few weeks later received word that I had received a spot on the team!

So began my journey towards running Falmouth's infamous seven miles as well as raising a minimum of $1250 for Dana-Farber.  Both my husband and I have lost relatives to cancer on both sides of our family, and it seems like every day you hear the news that someone has received a dreaded diagnosis. But over this past year, three special people in my life had experiences with cancer that allowed me to see just how awful the disease is, not only for those fighting it but also their families who rally to provide hope and light amid the fear and darkness. Knowing that every dollar raised by my fundraising would support life-saving and changing research to end this awful disease, and knowing that the people I was running for were enduring a journey tougher than any I can imagine, pushed me on through my training and fundraising. Soon the morning's spring chill gave way to summer's humid grip, and the totals on my running app and fundraising page kept rising.

Suddenly it was August.

And where I thought I could never run seven miles, I had now ran seven miles or more several times.

And where I worried I might not raise $1250, my amazing donors helped me to raise $3500!

Now it was time to run the race.

Please Don't Stop the Music

This morning was my first training run without music (4.6 miles to be exact).  And confession?  I loved it.

I know, I know -first I applied to run a marathon, now I am running without music. If I didn't have a husband halfway through nursing school I would say you should all be very concerned about my health and well being. But seriously, it was awesome.

And you know what else? I ran faster and more easily than I have all year. Like two minutes per mile faster. Go figure. 

Why? Because it turns out that crafting the perfect tempo playlist with equally motivating messages (i.e. Britney telling me to work it) designed to drown out the voice inside of me saying "Stop! Quit! How much longer? WALK!," has also been drowning out the voice saying "Go! Faster! You've got this! You get to eat cookies today!"  

This is uncharted territory for me and between ditching the tunes and my new Pinterest board containing winter running gear, I think this is getting serious ya'll.  

First Steps

Thank you to everyone who offered their support and encouragement as I fundraised and trained with Team Dana-Farber for the Falmouth Road Race this past year!  We were notified today that we have raised over $600,000 towards supporting Dana-Farber's life saving research and programs! Many of you helped me raise $3500 of that group total - thank you from the bottom of my heart (and blistered feet)!

The journey to Falmouth was life changing for me in many ways (of which I will share more of in my forthcoming Falmouth recap).  So much so that I decided to take an even bigger step and, at the urging of many of you, apply for the 2015 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC)!  If granted a spot on the DFMC roster, I will continue raising funds for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research while training for the 119th Boston Marathon to be held on Monday, April 20, 2015.  This will be the 26th year that DFMC has partnered with the BAA to offer charitable entries, which I find fitting given I will be tackling 26.2 miles if accepted!  To date, the DFMC has helped raise more than $69 million funding over 200 innovative research projects! That is a lot of money raised and a lot of miles ran towards the ultimate finish line - a world without cancer! Incredible and truly inspiring. 

It will take several weeks for the DFMC team to review the flood of applications from so many talented and inspirational candidates, and the application process is understandably extensive as they aim to fill a roster of runners who will not only train to tackle Boston's fabled course, but also fulfill this year's team goal of raising $5.2 million (or more!).  I am still sort of in shock that I submitted an application and am now being considered for a spot on this team. But, I know that there is no other program I would rather support while tackling this goal.  And if so many people can bravely face and fight cancer each day, then I can certainly lace up my sneakers and tackle 26.2 miles.  

And now to wait.  Luckily I have my training for the Boston Half Marathon (which also benefits Dana-Farber) to keep me busy until October when they announce the team...

Falmouth Road Race 2014 - just before the finish line

2014 Dana-Farber Falmouth team - we raised over $600,000!