RUN this town

How can we make this the best DFMC year ever?

There is something incredibly unique, and overly uplifting, and damn important about each runner who is part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team. They have become my facebook motivation and support group, my run - then drink - then run some more buddies, my personal lifts to group runs, and my really good friends. I know soon enough this team will, as I expect, have grown to 2nd generation DFMC runners and have one of the best established alumni network of this “fraternity/sorority” (in a sense). 2008 was exhilarating and quite a surprise. 2009 was the most rejuvenating and affirming year. 2010 was incredible beyond all expectations. 2011 was an amazing and memorable experience. What will 2012 be? And how can 2012 be any better than the past four years?

There is no, I (run by myself and don’t talk to anyone) in DFMC team.

You know what sounds absolutely miserable? Running 16 - 18 miles, on a Saturday morning at 8am, in mid-February, with light snow coming down and the air temperature is about 10 degrees (with a weather.com “feels like” of -8). That sounds miserable to some, but it should sound fun to every DFMC runner located close enough to go to those group runs in Newton, Lexington, Watertown, Waltham, and Sudbury. What people can’t see now, or have already forgotten about these runs, is the camaraderie that is immensely helpful for miles 12 - 18. Show up. Bring your GU and bloks. Wear your vibrams and bring a foam roller. Pocket your iPod because I am going to talk to you. You can resume listening to Britney and LMFAO after I’ve heard where you grew up and what your favorite brunch food is.

You don’t have to be the fastest runner to have the best time.

Run the Newton Hills on a Thursday night. End up back at Crossroads. Order a pitcher of IPA for Mallory M, Alyssa S, and I. You can also offer me any french fries you don’t finish that night. If Saturday mornings aren’t enough, and Thursday nights only add a little more excitement, then also show up at various team fundraisers. So, just maybe, your friends will be annoyed with you because they never see you. Bring them along, too. Basically, what I’m getting at — and I hope this still sounds like a cool idea — is that running a marathon also has to be fun. Not just fun on April 16th, but fun in the 21 weeks leading up to Marathon Monday.

Innovative ideas? I’m listening.

The great thing about the DFMC team meeting last night was that so many veteran runners can share great ideas with the rest of the team. But, there must be some cool ideas that everyone else has? Share it. Introduce yourself. You can comment on this blog, you can post to the bulletin board, you can think of your own kick-ass way to make DFMC 2012 the best year ever. This is my 5th year running with the team, and, as I indicated earlier, the past 4 years have been so great. Each year this has also gotten much better, too. I want that to be the same for 2012.

- Eric