RUN this town

Getting back to the starting line

My loyal subscribers might remember a post last year titled: The 2011 DFMC Redeem Team. Let me say, in all honesty, I could not have done what these runners have done in the past year. Hire their PT’s if you are battling an injury—because not only are they 100% healthy and a bit smarter now, they are much better runners than they probably thought they could be.

No one is a bigger critic than a marathon runner. And that really makes us our own worst enemies through training. As I said, I really don’t know if I could have gone through what the list of injured runners went through in 2010. But, as I do every year, I learn something new about training for the Boston Marathon—and this year, it’s clear, I learned that there are always opportunities to bounce back and forget failure.

One of my favorite quotes, came from a DFMC teammate last year while I was training for Chicago. (Via Jonathan Roche) Vince Lombardi said, “The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” My thoughts go out to my teammates that will have to wait another year to put in all the hard work to run a Marathon. We are the stubbornest group of people you will ever meet, but I think we all have to remember that coming back stronger is very possible. Thanks to the 2011 DFMC Redeem Team for proving that to us.

I know these runners will be looking for redemption in 2012…Steph Cummings, Tony Brake, and Caitlin Grasso. The team is better with you in 2012. Although, I believe Tony is still trying to run on a stress fracture.

Lindsey and Eric’s top ten reasons why we run for Dana-Farber

This was rehearsed for 7 miles. And there will be a video to post later. Lindsey and I have run for DFMC since 2008, and have become incredibly close friends because of these Saturday mornings. Here are our top 10 for the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge.

• …10…So I don’t need to tell my friends why I don’t want to go out to the bars on Friday nights.
• 9….More comfortable with all my bodily functions with runners and the lactic-acid induced hobble after the Marathon.
• …8….Getting down at Shifter’s party.
• 7….Stuffing my face with pancakes twice the size of my head—or all the gluten-free goodness for Lindsey.
• …6…Well, everyone knows our name for 26.2 miles.
• 5….Getting to spend 4 hours 3 hours and less than 59 minutes together.
• …4…We know we are getting closer to the ultimate finish line: A world without cancer.
• 3….For all the patient partners and their runners at Dana-Farber.
• Lindsey - In memory of Auntie Nancy.
• Me - In memory of Harvey Kaye.

And now I can’t believe that the Boston Marathon is less than 30 days away. I can honestly say, as I do often, that this gets better each year. I just needed 18 miles in the great weather today. See many of you at the Pasta Party. See many more of you along Beacon St.

DFMC Team Meeting #2

Four months and two weeks out from the 2010 Boston Marathon…here is my recap from the second Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team meeting.

In retrospect I could have stayed home tonight and had a healthy dinner instead of a slice of pizza [Pinos] and three cookies [credit?].  Make no mistake; the cookies at the meeting were great!  But, if I stayed home, the obvious result is that I would have nothing to add to this post and would feel like I missed out on something.  I’ve only partly answered the question, “Why go?”  Yes, I liked the cookies, but I also liked the brooks training shirt, DFMC training shirt, DFMC hat, and getting to know more of my DFMC teammates.  All great reasons to go.

I did not expect to make it to the meeting a half hour early, but Jan immediately ushered me to Dana Finn so I could participate in filming a brief appeal to friends and family.  Not easy being put on the spot that quickly, but I hope there are good clips to put on www.rundfmc.org.  We’ll see some familiar faces on youtube and Facebook soon enough. Thanks Dana and communications—I’ll be working on creating my own media as well.  First expected DFMC video to follow the 12/19 group run in Lexington.

The relationships that have been built between DFMC and athletic clubs are remarkable: And frankly, I think we get a little spoiled during the training season—yes, I’m looking forward to the first Mt. Auburn Club run!  I also must say that it’s really cool to see a connection growing with the Greater Boston Running Company, where the DFMC team will be hosted for six group runs this season.  In the past, there have been a few informal runner meet-ups and group runs from the GRBC in Lexington, but we got to thank Steve Meinelt and his crew for taking us in this winter.  If you have ever been to the location in Lexington, you might wonder how we’ll actually be able to fit in the store for that first group run—turn-out is always substantial before the holidays.

My guess is as good as anyone’s, but let’s hope the weather won’t be nasty before 12/19.  There are great routes around Lexington (echoing Sarah Nixon’s comments during the meeting) but I’d like to run the battle road trail one last time before summer 2010.

Following Steve, Jack discussed great training options and gave us his full endorsement of the arc-trainer.  I know it, if you are injured, you’ll become good friends with your gym’s arc-trainer.  Can’t find the arc-trainer—get on the precor machine—can’t find the precor—go to the elliptical.  There is no right or wrong order of priority with the cross training machines, but personally, I always go for a precor at Beacon Hill Athletic Club.  Aside from the cross-training topic, there were other great questions and if I could add anything—use the wealth of knowledge that your teammates have.  Just look to Coach’s Corner for a pre-run meal topic.  Yes, we are not licensed trainers, nor proper nutritionists, but definitely experts—we all practice something that clearly works.  If something leads to disaster, I bet someone knows what you can do to fix the issue.

To get back to the question, “Why go?” well I have already gone to these meetings a few times.  So, I went for the cookies. I was there for the adidas bag and brooks running shirt, fundraising update, group run challenge (great idea!), and Beer Works.  I won’t go into a Yelp review of the place, but I have to say that beer becomes a central part of training.  It brings the team together after a meeting, after Thursday night runs, and is a great way to calm the anxiety of all the first-timers.  Wednesday night, I really liked hearing from veterans and first-timers alike, who say they want to make it to the meetings, attend more group runs, meet up for pizza at Crossroads.  I also encourage it, and look forward to adding more recaps and my thoughts about the meetings and runs throughout the 2010 training season.

DFMC Meeting #1

I have walked into the first DFMC team meeting of the season now three times, and can honestly say I am more excited for this year then in year’s past.  That’s not to say I haven’t been excited in the past, this year—last nights meeting—there is just something different, and different in a good way.  Sitting at the meeting I thought this is great, I’m going to get up early Thursday, go for a run, ride this excitement and energy, but that was before a few Oktoberfest brews and cheese fries…it can slow you down sometimes.  I have already come to grips that the first December group run, temperatures will be in the teens, there could be a head wind, even a mix of snow and ice on the Comm Ave carriage road; however, I am totally fine with that.  In-fact, I may keep a cup of half Gatorade half water and a cup of peanut M&M’s at my desk to remind me.