Drum Roll Please....

Last evening I had the great honor of attending our DFMC Check Presentation ceremony at Dana-Farber's Yawkey Center for Cancer Care in Boston. As you know, 100% of the funds raised through the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) goes directly to the Claudia Adams Barr Program in support of their innovative (and life changing, extending, and saving) basic cancer research.

Mingling with teammates - some of whom I had not seen since we crossed the finish line on Boylston Street this past April - we eyed the outline of the giant cardboard check cleverly concealed under a Boston Marathon heatsheet (the seemingly flimsy yet amazingly effective capes we receive after crossing the finish line to protect against the rapid temperature drop) as we eagerly awaited the grand total for the 2015 season. After some opening remarks including a lovely and heartfelt thank you from the B.A.A. for everything our team brings to the marathon experience (thank you B.A.A., the feeling is mutual!), it was time to set the stage for the reveal with a few fun facts.

In 2015 our team had:

• 576 Runners from over 33 states and 5 countries (wow!!!)
• 41,604 donors from dozens of countries and 6 of the 7 continents (Antarctica was the only continent not represented...more on that later!)
• Gifts ranging from $5.00 to $25,000 (because every gift truly adds up!)
• A team goal of raising $5.2 million dollars through the 2015 DFMC Season

This past summer we learned that our team had met our goal of $5.2 million, which is an incredible feat in and of itself. But if you haven't learned by now, our team has a habit of not only setting goals but surpassing them in a big way (it's kinda our thing).  And so, without further ado...

That's right friends, after raising $16,600 dollars for vital cancer research, training through one of the worst winters on record, running countless miles, and capping it all off with a 26.2 mile jaunt through freezing rain - I finally got to hold one of those large cardboard checks. Cross that one off the bucket list! 

Oh and we surpassed our team goal by just a few dollars...$204,653.73 to be exact, for a grand total of $5,404,653.73!!!

Here is what I think you should do. You should print out this picture, cut around the outline of the check and hold it up for yourself (happy little dance optional but encouraged). Because I could not have done this without all of YOU. 

"Thank you" does not come close to expressing the depths of my gratitude to each and every person who has supported this team in our journey. Each generous gift, prayer, note of support, congratulatory comment, and good vibe sent our way were appreciated more than you can ever know. The proof of which was not only in the tremendous grand total announced last evening, but also in the poignant and moving words shared by my intrepid and inspirational teammates who have been personally touched by the research funded through this challenge.

So...who is ready to do it again???  The 2015 experience was so incredibly powerful that I still haven't been able to put it all into perspective or words to share here (I am working on it!), but suffice it to say I have never been more proud of anything than being a part of this team and our mission.  

T-Minus 199 days. Now who knows someone in Antarctica that wants to make a gift of $26.20 to start me off???

 

Monday Motivation: T-Minus One Week Baby!!!

So ya know, a week from now right about this time I will be about 10 miles into the 119th running of the Boston Marathon. Just a nice 26.2 mile jog. With 32,500 of my newest friends. No biggie. I am cool as a cucumber. Not a bit nervous. Or anxious. Or excited. Or freaking out.

Oh that's right, April Fools day was weeks ago.

I AM FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW.

In one week I will be running the Boston Marathon - what?!? How did this happen? What was I thinking? Did all that training really happen? I can't possibly be ready for this, right?!

No, no I must be dreaming. Any minute now my alarm clock will go off and it will be 5:00am on a chilly February morning with a -3 degree temp and more snow falling, and I will be bundling up to head out for a DFMC team run, and the marathon is still months away. Yup, that alarm is going to go off any second now. Oh man, wait until I tell Dave about the crazy dream I was having about it being a week before the marathon and how my stomach started feeling like there were a million tiny acrobats doing flips, boy will he get a kick out of that. Just as soon as that alarm clock goes off and I wake up. Any second now...

Um, shoot. There isn't an alarm. Guys, I don't think I am dreaming.

Wow, this is really happening.

Okay Erin, get a grip.

Sorry about that! Though now you basically get a sense for the cycle of thoughts that keep running through my head. Boston is in full on marathon mode and just about everywhere I look right now is a reminder of the adventure and celebration that awaits us one week from today. Trying to soak it all in but it already feels like it's all flying by so fast.

This has been a journey like no other and I can only imagine the memories that will still be made in this coming week. I could never have reached this point without the support and love from my incredible family, friends, and teammates - I am so blessed to have all of you cheering me on!

It has been hard for me to put into words what this team and our mission has come to mean to me, but pictures are worth a thousand words right? So here is a little Monday Motivation treat my teammates and I conjured up on an 18 mile training run this season, as the snow swirled around us and winter refused to "Let It Go." A "Frozen" medley seemed an appropriate tribute after the training season we endured and this gives you a sense for the unbelievable spirit, dedication, and passion of this year's Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team. And while I may be the one singing, this was a true team effort with my incredible teammates Laura, Crystal, Elise, and Amy getting the bulk of the credit.

T-Minus One Week!!!

One week from today, it all starts in Hopkinton baby!!! 

Monday Motivation: Team Matty Edition

So this week's Monday Motivation is coming to you on Tuesday. First because it is worth the wait so that I could share a very special video included in this post, but also because after reading this you can go ahead and rename this "Motivation EVERYday"- because this story and our mission, is not just for Mondays.

Running with the DFMC team has been one of the most incredible experiences in my life thus far. Beyond our personal goals and reasons for running, as a team we endeavor to provide strength and support to those patients and families who have been forever changed by this horrible disease.

Which brings us to the Dubuc family.

In July of 2004, Sandra and John Dubuc were busy adjusting to life as the parents of three boys with newborn Zachary, 4 year old Matty, and 7 year old Christopher, when they received the words no parents ever want to hear. Matty had been diagnosed with Stage IV Hepatoblastoma (liver cancer). This rare form of cancer only affects one in a million children per year, and the Stage IV classification indicated that the cancer had already spread. In Matty's case it had spread to his lungs, brain, and left wrist bone. Matty would endure countless rounds of chemotherapy, a liver transplant, 3 lung surgeries, 2 brain surgeries, and radiation. And when Matty's wrist tumor became more aggressive and showed no response to chemo or radiation, his left arm was amputated from his elbow down. Despite all of this, Matty continued to bravely fight and "Don't Stop Believing" became the family's motto.On November 20, 2006 the Dubuc family was told that there was nothing short of a miracle that would help Matty beat his battle. And on March 25, 2007 - 2 years, 8 months, and 16 days after being diagnosed - Matty went to heaven peacefully in his sleep.

Matty Dubuc - our team's bravest angel 

Sandra and her family turned their grief into action, working to ensure that Matty is never forgotten and to help us get closer to the day that no family will ever have to endure what they have had to. Sandra first discovered the DFMC team when she ran the marathon the year after Matty passed, and since that time she has remained closely involved by volunteering at water stops a few times throughout the season and sharing Matty's story with each year's DFMC team.

However, this year Sandra decided to do things a little differently and signed up to man a water station each and every week during our training season. Every Saturday Sandra would be out on our routes braving the record setting temps and snowfall to cheer us on. Every week the water station had a different theme and many honored Matty's favorite things - Spongebob and the color blue among them. And each week Matty was there smiling and reminding us why we run.

All of our DFMC volunteers are truly special and amazing- their dedication is astounding. But reaching Sandra's water stop each week was something I can't quite put into words. Each week's theme would make you smile, and Sandra's never-ending energy and her reason for being there would give you that extra burst of strength you needed to turn around and tackle the Newton hills one more time.  I honestly do not know if I would have made it through this winter's training without her energy and encouragement!

And so this past week on Matty's Angelversary, we all did what we could to return the favor to Sandra and her family. To honor Matty with his favorite things such as eating Starburst or watching Spongebob, posting pictures of support, wearing blue, and showing the Dubuc family that this special boy will NEVER be forgotten. And then my teammates Steve and Kerry - who wear their blue "Team Matty" shirts every week and run in honor of Matty - came up with something truly amazing.

Before all of our group runs this season, the DFMC crew would share an impact statement or have a special guest speak to us about their experience with cancer and Dana-Farber. As this past Saturday's run would be our longest of long runs (20-22 miles) before we taper in the last few weeks before the marathon, Sandra was once again invited to give the pre-run motivational speech to the team as she has done in years past.

Only this time, Steve and Kerry had a surprise and had secured 150 "Team Matty" blue t-shirts for our team to wear in honor of Matty and the Dubuc family. As each of us checked in for the run, we discretely took our shirts and snuck off to the locker rooms to put them on underneath our jackets, etc. We would wait for the signal after Sandra's speech to surprise her.

If they say a picture is worth a thousand words, well then this video is priceless.  THIS is what it is all about, and I know Matty is smiling down on us along with so many other special angels up above - and we run for all of you. And we will keep on running until we reach that ultimate finish line and world without cancer.

 

One of my favorite pictures of Sandra from this season.
The theme was "National Margarita Day" 

You can learn more about Matty's story HERE

Happy New Year!

I started 2015 off by participating in the annual "Welly Ellie" run, a 30 year old New Years Day tradition which sees runners following the marathon route from Wellesley into Boston (previously to the now closed Eliot Lounge, from which the run takes its name). While my run started off sluggish, I was fortunate enough to fall into pace with two wonderful running partners (Kate and Carol) who helped motivate and pace me to my best time yet - even through my first time tackling Heartbreak Hill! A great way to start off the New Year and it certainly gave me much to reflect upon as I dwelled on the past year and the one opening up before us. My two takeaways are this:

Everything Happens For A Reason
This is one of my life mantras and the older I get, and with each passing year, the more I find this to be true. The people we meet, the opportunities in front of us, and each and every day in our lives is full of purpose. All part of a bigger picture we often cannot see or fully comprehend in the moment at hand. Today I was reminded of this in myriad of ways, and for that I am grateful.


"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
One of my favorite quotes and one which I found myself revisiting throughout 2014. When I first stepped back on a treadmill this past January 14th, I could barely run two miles and had to take walking breaks. At the end of my first run I was tempted to give up and could not imagine how I would ever get back in shape (nor how I had found myself back in a place where I had fallen so far out of shape).

If someone had told me on that day that "a year from now you will be training for the Boston Marathon," I would have laughed in their face. I would not, and could not, have believed them. And yet, here I am. In training for my first marathon, down fifty pounds, and having run multiple races including my first half marathon. For comparison, here is a look at today's run.

When I look back on the past year or compare these two runs, it seems incredible. Yet this did not happen overnight. It has been a journey requiring focus, discipline, commitment, and moderation. Some days are easier than others, some harder. Some days I make healthy and well planned choices, and some days I do not. But I keep going and I am making my way back to my healthiest and happiest self.  

Given the accomplishments of this past year, one would think I would be charging toward my marathon goal without any fear or doubts. The truth is, I am terrified. Terrified that all of you are rooting for me and I may let you down. Terrified that Marathon Monday may come and I may not be able to finish. And terrified that I may not reach my goals.  

And yet, Emerson's quote reminds me where my focus should truly be. Not in dwelling upon what I have accomplished this past year nor in fearing what I have yet to accomplish, but rather in knowing that neither is possible without the strength that lies within each of us. 

More than anything else, this past year has taught me to keep setting the bar higher and that, when you do, you will find a way to keep reaching farther and dreaming bigger. This past March when I found out I was running Falmouth for Dana-Farber, I told everyone "I could never run a marathon but these seven miles are the closet I will get!"  This while barely being able to run 4 miles and wondering how I would ever run 7 miles by August. 

But I did it.  

And then I wondered how I would ever run 13.1 miles.  And I did that. 

So now I sit here wondering how in the heck I will ever run 26.2 miles in the year ahead and yet, while I can't quite answer the "how" part, I know that I will. And I also know that this is about so much more than a mere running goal. It is about the stories you are sharing about loved ones fighting this awful disease, it is about friendships being made, the impact we are making, and learning how strong we really and truly are. 

So bring it on 2015. I am ready for you.

Wishing you all health, happiness, and joy in this year before us! 

Quick pitstop in front of a First Night ice sculpture in Brookline during today's 

"Welly Ellie" 11 Mile Run with awesome running partners Kate (left) and Carol (center)

Click HERE to make a gift in support of Erin's Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge

Click HERE to Sponsor-a-Mile with a gift of $126.20 or more

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.

Click HERE to make a gift in support of Erin's Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge

Click HERE to Sponsor-a-Mile with a gift of $126.20 or more

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!  

Click HERE to make a gift in support of Erin's Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge

Click HERE to Sponsor-a-Mile with a gift of $126.20 or more

No Turning Back Now!

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

Click HERE to make a gift in support of Erin's Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge

Click HERE to Sponsor-a-Mile with a gift of $126.20 or more

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. 

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!