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.