A Run Before Another Storm

After the last year's training season, I was hopeful that this year would be a bit easier and conducive to team runs.  Thus far, it has not been the case.  In 2013, DFMC cancelled 4 group runs, the most ever for the team.  Including this weekend, DFMC has already cancelled 3 group runs unfortunately.

With the storm on Thursday, Boston received more snow followed by rain, not a great combination for runners.  As a weekend storm approached on Saturday afternoon, we hit the roads on Saturday AM in cold conditions, but no wind.  After the Thursday storm, the sidewalks were in ok shape, but still plenty of areas that were not cleared and thus forced running in the street.  After making our way to the Charles River and finding relatively clear conditions, we joined a host of other runners along the Charles and enjoyed the scenery.  The downside of running along the Charles is the lack of hills, but it was a nice change of pace from the last few weeks.

After running the Charles path, we headed to downtown Boston and then the Seaport.  One of the nice things about running early on a Sat AM is the relatively few people on the sidewalks and streets.  Making our way back to South Boston, Amy and I rounded Castle Island and Fort Independence.  As we had not run any hills, we finished by running up Dorchester Heights - running up is hard enough, I can't imagine getting a cannon to the top of hill!  Having run nearly 17 miles, we finished the run at Dunkin Donuts before starting to refuel with a well deserved breakfast and coffee.

This week will include another speed workout at Tufts track and hopefully a group run next weekend of ~18miles.  With 9 weeks to go to the marathon, I'm looking forward to receiving my DFMC singlet this week. Below is taken from FoxBoston as they unveiled the DFMC singlets:

"This year is the first year after the Boston Marathon bombings, so the singlet pays tribute to the 2013 Boston Marathon with its color scheme, and also puts the Boston city skyline along the sides, designed to "give each teammate a symbolic 'hug' as they return to the storied race," a statement from the cancer center read.

2014 also marks Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's 25th year participating in the marathon.  Runners for the team raise money for the Claudia Adams Barr Program, which funds cancer research."

Why We Run

It's been 2 weeks since my last post so there's a lot to cover.  At the same time I'll try to be on point with few tangents so it doesn't take all day to read :)  I already wrote about the Patient Partner Match Party 2 weeks ago but didn't post a picture of the whole group.  With over 700 runners on the team this year, the Patient Parter Program is even bigger than ever and a good looking bunch. 

Runners and Patients Kicking Off Another Great Season

In addition to the Patient Partner Program and what it means to me & many of us runners, we had a team meeting and heard from Ron, a teammate who briefly spoke about his wife who is battling lung cancer.  As a result of the innovative research at Dana-Farber, Ron's wife is responding well in an ongoing clinical trial.  An example of such a novel approach includes Cancer Immunotherapy, which was named breakthrough of the year in 2013 by Science magazine.

After the team meeting, Amy and I headed out to CA to run the Surf City 1/2 Marathon in Huntington Beach.  Like past years, we got to see family and this year got to see my niece as well!  Thinking of her future and all the benefits that will come from the current resarch activities at DFCI and elsewhere made us both smile.

The morning of the race, we were up at 5.30 and at the start by 7am.  Though Amy and I were happy to be running the 1/2, we were a bit shocked that it was actually warmer by a few degrees in Boston than in CA!  Luckily, as the sun came out and the race got under way, the temps rose and we had a great time running.

Starting the 1/2 at 8AM

Gotta love the surf board medal!

Upon returning to Boston, we knew we were back in New England as the plane landed in falling snow.  Two days later Boston got a wet and heavy 8" of snow.  This resulted in DFMC team coordinators canceling our group run this weekend; too many people had not shoveled their sidewalks and it was too dangerous for all of us to run in the road.  Luckily, we had some awesome volunteers at both ends of the Newton Hills braving the single digit wind chills and we ended up running back and forth a few times.  It was a bit repetitive, but great to see so many DFMC teammates and other marathoners doing the same repeats as us.  At one end of the hills is the Newton firehouse (mile 17 of the marathon course) and a good place for a photo op...

With only 10 weeks to go to the marathon, there's still more work to do and miles to cover.  So why do we run through the winter and snow storms for a chance to run another 26.2 miles in April?  To support our patient partners, to support Ron's wife by raising funds for innovative cancer research, to develop better treatments for the future and to return after last year.  As we started running yesterday, a BC student was walking toward us and noted me wearing last year's BAA marathon jacket.  As we passed, he said "I hope you're running again this year." Of course, and then we had 16miles to reflect on why we were running.

A Run, An Ice Cream Sundae, An Inspirational Day

Like the last 3 weeks, Sat morning started around 6.30AM, waking up like it was a work day but preparing for run instead of sitting at a desk.  After the extreme cold of the last few days, Sat AM was a nice reprieve.  About 100 members of the DFMC team met at the Greater Boston Running Co in Newton and prepared to hit the road.  We had a nice run and fantastic volunteers to stand around and support us runners, pouring Gatorade, refilling pretzels and cheering us on.  It was a tough 16 miles but I managed my way through it.  The GBRC were great hosts and had bagels and coffee for us following the run, a very nice way to finish!

Preparing to head out.

After the team run, it was a quick turnaround as there was also the Patient Partner Match Party.  Having run with RJ the last 2 years, we were looking forward to catching up and seeing other patient-runner pairs.  The party started meeting a new patient in the program, Ian, and his dad and brother, as well as Ian's runner.  Though Ian was diagnosed with cancer last April, he's looking strong, as are many of the patients that we saw yesterday.  After chatting for a bit, RJ and I lead the charge to the ice cream sundae table, with the rest of the table close behind. The program began with a patient partner pair, Brendan and Patrick, saying what the program meant to each of them.  It was a great reminder for us runners that while training is a lot to commit to, with many ups and downs, what these kids, and anyone battling cancer, goes/has gone through is so much more.  Seeing RJ, listening to Brendan & Patrick and thinking about the DFMC experience, it was an inspirational way to end the day and make the 16mi training run mean that much more.

Remnants of our tables Ice Cream Sundaes

A Snowy Group Run

As 2014 enters full swing, training and fundraising do the same.  This week 4 local businesses made very generous donations to help with the fundraising efforts.  The Elephant Walk Restaurant generously donated a gift card!  A dinner out is great and perhaps the winner of the Elephant Walk gift card will also win the movie tickets donated by The Coolidge Corner Theater, a great local theater with lots of character that I really like going to.  For those that prefer to experience Boston like they've won the World Series, The Boston Duck Tours generously donated several tickets!  Lastly, a local brewery, Night Shift Brewing, made a generous donation.  Of course we had to sample a few beers while there and enjoyed the unique and different combinations they were serving.

Amy enjoying a taste at Night Shift

Tasting glass.  Must have been good if it's empty

This was a great way to end the day after a nice training run in Wayland and Sudbury MA.  What started as a nice run in the upper 30s, turned into a bit of a sloppy finish, including squeezing water out of my socks.  We ran 14 miles, the last 1/2 in the snow and accumulating slush.  It is always a scenic run from the Longfellow Club but the snow added to it this time.  Some of the biggest snow flakes I've ever seen which really did add to the experience.  The 14 miles went by pretty quickly given our great teammates and the conversations along the way.  Another good week and now only 13 weeks to marathon weekend!

Lots of bright fluorescent colors about to hit the streets

Prerun shot - notice there's no snow

Snow is starting to fall.  Great run with Matt, Amy and Gina

6.5mi water stop.  Thanks to all the volunteers for standing in the cold and snow!

Just a little snow to keep us on our toes