Training continues to go well and I feel in much better shape than I did last year. I went on a nice (did I say nice?) 9 miler through Carlisle and back to Billerica - it's one of my favorites now, running through Great Brook State Park and some nice country roads and not too much traffic. Feel like I've hit an inflection point and am actually enjoying the daily workouts a lot more. Thanks to all for the suggestions and encouragement.
I wanted to announce to everyone (again) that we are having a fundraising event on Friday April 1, 2011 at the Billerica Elks, 14 Webb Brook Rd. in Billerica (of course!). DJ, Dancing, Prize Raffles, a 50/50 and a Silent Auction are all on the docket, starts at 7PM and goes til Midnight. All proceeds benefit DFMC and Cancer Research. Tickets are only $20 each. Where else can you have that much fun for 20 bucks?? Just email or call to order your tickets. Also, every tax deductible donation to DFMC on website (or check) of $100 or more gets 2 complimentary tickets as well.
Lastly I want to recognize my fabulous donors this week without whom this wouldn't all be possible: my good friend from Hopkinton Steve Pitts, friends and extreme runners Gary and Kim Brown, my old ski buddy Scott Vezina, and my cousin from Minnesota Maureen Plitzuweit. Thank you everybody for everything!!!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
8 Weeks to Go and Miles to Go Before I Sleep...
Good training week this week, with local runs of 4, 6 and 4 miles and then DFMC group run on Sunday where I got a good solid, though unspectacular 16 mile run through Heartbreak hills. The runs through the Newton Hills are among the hardest and most humbling but will hopefully pay dividends in April.
Fundraising is off to a good start and I wanted to recognize all my gracious donors: Andrew Bronneck, Andrew and Tara D'Amato, Steve Slaman (in memory of Betty Fitzpatrick), The Desmond Family (in memory of Karen's Dad Joe Brown), David Adams (in memory of Bobby Adams and Betty Silverson), John Burke (in memory of Irene Burke and Mary Cullity), Jerry Farrell (in memory of Ruth Sullivan), and The Knickle Family (in memory of Tracey's Mom, Grace Russo). We had a bit of problem in processing on the DFMC website, so sorry for the delay in sending out this recognition and Thank you!!
Fundraising is off to a good start and I wanted to recognize all my gracious donors: Andrew Bronneck, Andrew and Tara D'Amato, Steve Slaman (in memory of Betty Fitzpatrick), The Desmond Family (in memory of Karen's Dad Joe Brown), David Adams (in memory of Bobby Adams and Betty Silverson), John Burke (in memory of Irene Burke and Mary Cullity), Jerry Farrell (in memory of Ruth Sullivan), and The Knickle Family (in memory of Tracey's Mom, Grace Russo). We had a bit of problem in processing on the DFMC website, so sorry for the delay in sending out this recognition and Thank you!!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
My 2011 DFMC Announcement and Fundraising Appeal
Dear Family and Friends:
First, I’d like to thank the many of you who supported my 2010 run for the DFMC. Because of you, I was able to raise over $8,000 for Dana Farber Cancer Research (and our team was able to raise an astounding $4.4 Million). The experience was so great, I decided to do it again. I will be running the 2011 Boston Marathon as part of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team. My goals this year are two fold:
1. To raise a minimum $8,000 for DFMC (my stretch goal is $10,000) for Critical Cancer Research and
2. To run the Boston Marathon in 5 Hours or Less
I am committed to these goals for a lot of personal reasons and to honor and raise money for a very fine organization. Dana Farber continues to lead the field in breakthrough cancer research and also in efficiency, the best part: 100% of our donations will go directly to the researchers to find a cure for cancer - how great is that?
Once again, I will be running in memory of my mother, Betty Fitzpatrick, who passed away in March 2009 from Lung Cancer and Ruth Sullivan, my wife Regina's aunt who passed away in July 2008 from Pancreatic Cancer. Both of them inspired me with their courage, love and dedication to family and unwavering spirit.
This year, I would also like to run in memory or support of YOUR loved ones who were victims of this awful disease. At your request, I will add their names or initials to my racing singlet with a ribbon and a memorial certificate for the DFMC Memorial in Boston in April. I would like to ask for your support in any way possible as I attempt to raise these needed funds for Dana Farber. There are 2 easy ways to donate:
The first (and preferred) is via the ultra secure DFMC donation website. You can use any major credit or debit card and it is 100% tax deductible. No amount is too small. You can dedicate your own donation to a loved one who has been a victim or survivor or is still fighting this terrible disease or just to sponsor my run (and you can choose to show or not show the amount of your donation). It's that easy!!
The link: http://www.runDFMC.org/2011/tomf Or: To send a check the old fashioned way (Please make payable to Dana Farber Marathon Challenge c/o Tom Fitzpatrick and mail:
Tom Fitzpatrick
16 Hawks Ridge Rd.
North Billerica, MA 01862.
P.S. I have started a weekly journal blog of my progress on both fronts and welcome you to check it out, and to recognize ALL MY DONORS each week (unless you ask me not to). The address for that is http://tomfitzruns.blogspot.com. It is aptly titled "The Survival Shuffle".
In closing, I'd like to thank you very much for your consideration and support in advance as I run for the cure in 2010 – in memory of Betty and Ruth and ALL Our Moms and Dads Taken By Cancer!!
Best Regards,
Tom Fitzpatrick
Want to Know More about Dana Farber Cancer Institute: http://www.dana-farber.org/
More Ways to Help: Dana Farber Marathon Challenge : http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=321295
First, I’d like to thank the many of you who supported my 2010 run for the DFMC. Because of you, I was able to raise over $8,000 for Dana Farber Cancer Research (and our team was able to raise an astounding $4.4 Million). The experience was so great, I decided to do it again. I will be running the 2011 Boston Marathon as part of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team. My goals this year are two fold:
1. To raise a minimum $8,000 for DFMC (my stretch goal is $10,000) for Critical Cancer Research and
2. To run the Boston Marathon in 5 Hours or Less
I am committed to these goals for a lot of personal reasons and to honor and raise money for a very fine organization. Dana Farber continues to lead the field in breakthrough cancer research and also in efficiency, the best part: 100% of our donations will go directly to the researchers to find a cure for cancer - how great is that?
Once again, I will be running in memory of my mother, Betty Fitzpatrick, who passed away in March 2009 from Lung Cancer and Ruth Sullivan, my wife Regina's aunt who passed away in July 2008 from Pancreatic Cancer. Both of them inspired me with their courage, love and dedication to family and unwavering spirit.
This year, I would also like to run in memory or support of YOUR loved ones who were victims of this awful disease. At your request, I will add their names or initials to my racing singlet with a ribbon and a memorial certificate for the DFMC Memorial in Boston in April. I would like to ask for your support in any way possible as I attempt to raise these needed funds for Dana Farber. There are 2 easy ways to donate:
The first (and preferred) is via the ultra secure DFMC donation website. You can use any major credit or debit card and it is 100% tax deductible. No amount is too small. You can dedicate your own donation to a loved one who has been a victim or survivor or is still fighting this terrible disease or just to sponsor my run (and you can choose to show or not show the amount of your donation). It's that easy!!
The link: http://www.runDFMC.org/2011/tomf Or: To send a check the old fashioned way (Please make payable to Dana Farber Marathon Challenge c/o Tom Fitzpatrick and mail:
Tom Fitzpatrick
16 Hawks Ridge Rd.
North Billerica, MA 01862.
P.S. I have started a weekly journal blog of my progress on both fronts and welcome you to check it out, and to recognize ALL MY DONORS each week (unless you ask me not to). The address for that is http://tomfitzruns.blogspot.com. It is aptly titled "The Survival Shuffle".
In closing, I'd like to thank you very much for your consideration and support in advance as I run for the cure in 2010 – in memory of Betty and Ruth and ALL Our Moms and Dads Taken By Cancer!!
Best Regards,
Tom Fitzpatrick
Want to Know More about Dana Farber Cancer Institute: http://www.dana-farber.org/
More Ways to Help: Dana Farber Marathon Challenge : http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=321295
Monday, January 10, 2011
Chasing Valerie Bertinelli: My Quest for Mediocrity
One of the fun subtexts of my 2010 Marathon was getting home later in the day to read the text messages and emails from friends and relatives who were tracking my progress online. It tracked my performance perfectly and here are some of my favorites...
"Tom, you're doing great. You are on a 4:50 pace and are 12 minutes ahead of Valerie Bertinelli.... keep it up!!" - at the halfway point 13 miles in Natick.
"Hey, thought something happened to you but glad to see you passed the 30K mark... you are still 6 minutes ahead of Valerie, keep going!!"
"Hey, text or call me if you are running into trouble. I can come pick you up... LOL Did something happen to you on the hills... only 6 miles to go. Valerie is gaining on you"
"Hey, did you see Valerie Bertinelli, I think she passed you a mile ago, did you get her autograph?"
Yeah. Her and the juggler's and the giant hamburger. I got all their autographs.
Now some 7 months removed from my initial foray as a charity runner for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge at the Boston Marathon, I never did see Ms. Bertinelli on course. Of course I was bleary eyed and if she ran by me naked after mile 22, I doubt I would've noticed (sorry Valerie). But there's always THIS year.
I started my training and did my first group run this past Sunday yesterday. It was good in so many ways - there is a very strong communal spirit among the Dana Farber runners and it was great to meet the new people - Matt, Tom, Beth and a woman from Billerica now in Charlestown named Kristie (sp?) who had the misfortune to follow me back to start after I made the wrong turn on Soldier's Field instead of Arsenal Street. Sorry Kristie!! We have a great team and it was inspiring to hear people's stories and why they are running, so many for the first time, like me last year.
I have come to the realization that I will never be a great long distance runner, but I enjoy it nonetheless and I guess my quest for mediocrity can still be a personal goal as I try to train and run the race better and to raise as many funds possible for this ever worthy charity. I will update the blog more faithfully this year and hope it is as enjoyable to some as it is cathartic to write and as I enjoy my fellow runner's blogs. Here's to a successful 2011 and everyone's quest for (something greater than) mediocrity!!
"Tom, you're doing great. You are on a 4:50 pace and are 12 minutes ahead of Valerie Bertinelli.... keep it up!!" - at the halfway point 13 miles in Natick.
"Hey, thought something happened to you but glad to see you passed the 30K mark... you are still 6 minutes ahead of Valerie, keep going!!"
"Hey, text or call me if you are running into trouble. I can come pick you up... LOL Did something happen to you on the hills... only 6 miles to go. Valerie is gaining on you"
"Hey, did you see Valerie Bertinelli, I think she passed you a mile ago, did you get her autograph?"
Yeah. Her and the juggler's and the giant hamburger. I got all their autographs.
Now some 7 months removed from my initial foray as a charity runner for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge at the Boston Marathon, I never did see Ms. Bertinelli on course. Of course I was bleary eyed and if she ran by me naked after mile 22, I doubt I would've noticed (sorry Valerie). But there's always THIS year.
I started my training and did my first group run this past Sunday yesterday. It was good in so many ways - there is a very strong communal spirit among the Dana Farber runners and it was great to meet the new people - Matt, Tom, Beth and a woman from Billerica now in Charlestown named Kristie (sp?) who had the misfortune to follow me back to start after I made the wrong turn on Soldier's Field instead of Arsenal Street. Sorry Kristie!! We have a great team and it was inspiring to hear people's stories and why they are running, so many for the first time, like me last year.
I have come to the realization that I will never be a great long distance runner, but I enjoy it nonetheless and I guess my quest for mediocrity can still be a personal goal as I try to train and run the race better and to raise as many funds possible for this ever worthy charity. I will update the blog more faithfully this year and hope it is as enjoyable to some as it is cathartic to write and as I enjoy my fellow runner's blogs. Here's to a successful 2011 and everyone's quest for (something greater than) mediocrity!!
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