About Me

My Goal: Run the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2019 with the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. Raise $17,000 (or more!) where 100% of funds raised benefit the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research. I run in honor of my friend Chris Davie who is battling brain cancer. I also run in honor for my friend RJ and his continued cancer-free life, in memory of Heather Thomson, and for other family and friends who are or have battled cancer. Together we can help Dana-Farber Cancer Institute reach the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer

Barr Program Impact Statements

Barr Program Impact Statements

Immunotherapies: New Ways to Activate the Immune System—An important area of cancer research asks why the human body's defense systems do not always attack and destroy tumors as they form. Funded by the Claudia Adams Barr Program, Glenn Dranoff, MD, discovered complex regulatory pathways in the human immune system that cancers exploit in order to escape destruction. Reversal of these effects can lead to the development of vaccines against cancer, like Provenge for prostate cancer. This research has also enabled the development of immune-activating drugs such as ipilimumab, which showed striking effects in melanoma in a trial led by Dana-Farber scientists and is now approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment.

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Solid speed workout

One thing about Boston is that you never know what to expect weather-wise come the marathon.  Training throughout the winter to run my best marathon and then getting a bad weather day for the marathon is just unfortunate.  Inevitably, at some point during training I wonder if all the effort is too little and it will be a great day, or too much and I'll just try to survive and have a decent day.  This year, when this thought crossed my mind, I thought of Chris's celebration of life and some of the stories people remembered.  One that stuck with me was that Chris liked photography, knew the shot he wanted and would put the effort in to getting that specific shot.  Remembering this quickly squashed my uncertainty and since I can't plan for the weather on April 15, I will continue to put full effort into my training and hope that I get a good shot at my best race yet.

Today's workout plan was a speed/strength run, 4x 1.5 miles.  With the high winds still in the area, 1/2 the run was straight into a 20+ mph headwind, but well worth it for a great tailwind on the other 1/2.  It was a solid workout and good preparation for training on Thursday followed by 18 miles this weekend.  With the marathon less than 7 weeks away, training will be peaking in a month.  Fingers crossed that I stay healthy and training continues to go well!
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1 comment:

  1. BetsyFebruary 27, 2019 at 6:04 PM

    I really like reading your updates, and how you have channeled my Chris into your efforts. It wasn't just windy, it was downright frigid!!! Way to go.

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