Mar 22 Vanity Spoils an Otherwise Fine Day...

After the monsoons ended, which had us round the clock in my mother in law's basement manning wet-vac's and submersible pumps to stem the rising tides, the milder temperatures improved through the week and made for some nice running outside. I found a great little loop in Derry, NH; not too far from my office and got some nice runs in there about 6.5 miles - good middle of day distance, though one day I started too late and ended up in the dark at the end. The legs were a little tired heading into Saturday, but I've been injury free and a little dead legs syndrome was just OK with me. Saturday we had a DFMC team run from Wellesley up through the Newton Hills and back, an 18 miler, wasnt sure if i was doing the full 18 or turn around at Centre St for 16. That got sort of decided for me. Earlier in the week, the email went out today was "photo day" so wear your DFMC gear and get ready to tell why you're doing this to anyone who should care and goes on the Dana Farber site. So I got up at 7AM and threw all the Dana Farber gear I had on, including the new Adidas training shirt I got for running all the training runs at Lexington this year.

The run started out innocuously enough, few rolling hills and I was running a good pace (for me - 10's and 11's are a good pace) and though my legs felt a little tired with calves/quads alternatively tightening as I pounded down Rte 135 onto 16 and the Boston course. The hills were killers today and I labored up them, but as I hit the crest I saw the water stop at 6 and knew I run through there, get a quick water and a snack, I should be good. Then, I saw the camera - pointed right at me. And, that's where things went terribly wrong. I didn't want to look like the tired guy running in, so I decided to pick up the pace and get a good opportunity. About 4 powerful strides later, *POP* went my right calf muscle, and I pulled up about 30 yards short, and limped it in to there. It was a sharp pain, but I didnt think it was serious. Jack took a look and confirmed, it was probably a pulled muscle and I cursed myself for a good 5 minutes trying to rub out the tightness and stretch. I was able to put weight on it and after consulting with Jack, I decided to go on, but no steep hills. They say in misfortune we look for opportunity, I decided this was a good oppty for me to build the left quad (I run more right leg dominant I find), so I guess that was the only saving grace. It was a beautiful day out on course and like all the stupid things I've done so far, a learning experience, which I hope to carry to race day.

Without further ado, I'd like to add some important people to my GENEROUS DONORS LIST for the DFMC: Gloria and Jim Cuddy (and prayers go out for Jim, who was diagnosed with lung cancer recently - Jim I run for you too, and your cure!), (Aunt)Clare Brown from FL, Mary Lord (My Mom's oncology nurse and a good friend to our family), Therese Chamberlain (Ruth's daughter and a good friend), and my mother and father in law, Jim and Theresa Doherty (who found time to write a check with all they had going on. Jim is also a cancer survivor of a debilitating benign cancer called VHL - Von Hippel Lindau syndrome and is an inspiration to us all)

March 15 Week MAYBE a Runner, Finally...

I would have to say before this week, I thought I could complete the Marathon but not sure if it would be one of those ugly, halting, gasping affairs or something better. After this past week, I feel more certain it will be something better. The week prior was quite ugly as I outlined in my March 8 post, so I was determined to have a good week this week. I was able to get 3 very good outdoor runs in and the last, on Thursday, I chose a hilly golf course where I ran the cartpaths in succession running up from my hotel via the access road. This one was a gasser, about 6.5 miles, for me and it was good and for the first time, I felt better the next day from a run, more energized and healthier. As the weekend was approaching, I wanted to have a good performance at the DFMC run on the Lexington bike path, of course the rainy weather was rolling in, so it was hard to know about conditions. We had a good team meeting, Jan (the director) passed out pairs of running gloves to all that have raised $5K for DFMC so far (quite a few!), and got some more data on Marathon day logistics (wow!). Finally at 8:30, we started our run, I had made sure to get a good carb dinner and drank a liter plus of water before, I felt good, and I went the first 6 miles at a good 10:30 pace which was good for me. I actually enjoy running with a light rain, even with the temps in the 40s. The next 3-4 miles were still pretty good, but I needed a better effort and I was dragging up the hills. I could feel the wind picking up and as I hit the water stop at 10, I was no longer celebrating the weather but I wasnt complaining either. The wind really picked up the last 4 and as I hit the last stop and talked to Jack and the unbelieveable volunteers (it's one thing to run in the rain and wind, usually blocked by trees; it's another to stand behind a table usually exposed more and try to fill water and gatorade cups and others with a 25 mph wind in the rain -- bravo and thanks Volunteers!!) I could see how the weather was changing. The last couple miles were challenging and I tightened a bit, but I still felt good coming back in to Lexington center with my longest run to date - 14 miles, and feel even better that the next 4 weeks will take to the right level to have a more credible and real marathon experience.

Now to my GENEROUS DONORS of the week: Jane Daun-Tremblay, Larry Golob, Zita Scippa, John Burke, and Dave Ahern. Muchos Gracias to you all, and the good work continues thanks to your efforts and generosity!!

March 8 Week: One, Two, Three, BONK and Lessons Learned...

As I started training, my three pronged strategy has been pretty simple - to increase distance/endurance weekly, to increase strength and build muscle both in upper body and my legs, and to lose weight gradually (thereby experiencing a big lift in taking my now stronger legs who are used to pushing a 220 lb. version of me to greater heights when it's only 200 lbs.). Unfortunately, this week I learned a rather painful lesson when my desire to drop a few pounds collided head on into strategy 1, during our long DFMC run. "Bonking" or "Hitting the Wall" as it is called is defined as a " a condition in endurance sports where depletion of glycogen stores results in sudden and severe fatigue...". Basically it translates to your body saying, "Hey Idiot!! If you want me to perform this extreme task of carrying you 10 plus miles, you might want to fill my tank and eat something!!" Bottom line, I ate poorly the 2 days prior to the Saturday run and it did not go well. At about the 5 mile mark, it all broke down and it was limp back to the shed time, and not meeting my weekly goal. Thanks to Jack Fultz who tried to wave me down from his car to drive me back to base twice, but I wanted this lesson to sting a little bit so I finished it out. I'm compiling a list of my "commandments" or lessons learned from all this training, I'll share next time.

For now, I want to recognize ... My very generous DONORS this week... Barbara and Kevin Connearney (Regina's aunt and uncle, sister in law to Ruth Sullivan), Billerica neighbors Debra and John Laquidara and Larry King, former elite marathoner and now mom and good friend Cheri Sukhia. Thank you all, you're all making a difference today!!!

Feb. 28 Week: Stray Dogs, Runaway Taxis and a HoJo's....4 Days In Bucharest

Heading into this week was difficult for me, as I knew I would be missing a team run the last weekend of February, as I ended up having to travel for work. I've come to depend on these longer training runs, which really set up the following weekday runs and I now hate to miss them. I also miss the chance to interact and get advice from DFMC teammates and Jack Fultz who is very approachable (as a former Boston Marathon Winner and our coach).

In any case this week, I had to go to Bucharest, Romania for business and would have to stay through the weekend. I was regretting the trip due to the above and beyond the terrorist warnings, a bad weather pattern and prospect of a pilot's strike in Paris, I knew the 7 hour time difference would be murder and it would be hard for me to find time to do my running.

Nevertheless on Tuesday night, I took off from Newark (had to front end the trip in NJ for another customer) and made my way through Paris (CDG) with a 4 hour layover and on to Otopeni Airport north of Bucharest, where I landed at 14:15 local time (7:15AM EST). My first good surprise was the wait in passport/customs was unbelievably short. Compared to going to London or Paris where hour long lines and painful inquisitions are endured, getting into Romania was relatively easy. A couple bored questions from the government agent, and I was handed my passport and waved into the country in less than a minute. (My host Bogdan later told me "that is because more people are trying to get out of Romania than IN").

As I headed off in the airport cab to the Howard Johnson's Grand Plaza (go figure, I fly halfway around the world to stay in a Ho Jo's what a flashback!!), I was amazed at what a unique place Bucharest is - with a mix of medieval, Western modern and then the massive concrete government structures from the Communist regime as you come into the city center. The other good surprise was that the Romanians spoke very good English, which kept me from embarrassing myself having to try to speak the Romanian language.

I made sure to ask the cab driver where I might be able to go run, and was directed to two city parks - Cismigiu and the second around Lake Herestrau about 6 km north. With the time difference and a heavy meeting schedule, I knew I would have to be lucky to get these in.

As fate would have it, the weather would not cooperate during the week and the roads being a bit treacherous - mysterious sinkholes in sidewalks, stray dogs, and heavy city traffic, I was forced to get my workouts in on the treadmill at the Ho Jo's fitness center. Finally, as the weekend approached, and the weather cleared a bit, I made the trek via subway up to Lake Herestrau and it was worth the wait. Had a nice run there with a few stray dogs trailing along, about 9 miles for 2 laps around a very picturesque lake. It felt good to be outside. Sunday AM came quick and with the time difference, I just stayed up all night, I left Bucharest and began my trip home. Even though it took 16 hours, with some delays due to weather, it was good to be home though I did enjoy Romania a lot.

On the fundraising front this week, SPECIAL THANKS go out to my niece Brianna Fitzpatrick (in memory of Grandma), Stacy Clark from GIPS (in memory of her grandfather Charlie Rolla), and good friends Kim and Gary Brown, Paul Trask, and Debbie O'Connor for their support of DFMC and my run.

Feb 22 Week - Halfway There ....

This week was another good week, both in terms of donations and the training, so that is good. I was able to map a good 5-6 mile loop that has a couple hills so it's good training during the week. I've been using the longer DFMC team runs to ratchet up my during the week distance and this has worked pretty well. Running longer distances on the weekend has helped my weekly distance runs immeasurably, as I thought it would. I finished this week with a 13 mile training run (halfway there... I had that Bon Jovi song in my head the whole last half of the race "Livin On A Prayer"). Another good week for donations and I'd like to personally thank Andrew Bronneck, Michael Graham, Maureen & Kevin Wright, Tom Packo, Deborah Sullivan (one of the most giving people I know..), Kathy Holtzman-Goldblatt (Mom's next door neighbor and a great friend to Mom through the years). You guys are the best and I appreciate it. We're getting there folks!!

Feb 15 Week - It Wasn't Pretty, But It Was Functional...

.... Resisting the urge to make a bad joke "...like my first girlfriend..", the week was still pretty good but I need to do better. It was tough to find time to run but I managed 3 outdoor days and one of those was a good 90 minute run (I'm very focused on getting increased time in runs and of course distance, but having a good effort for the entire time) and I concluded with a DFMC team run on the Lexington bike path at 10 miles, which I was proud of, as I hadn't gone that distance yet. I'm starting to feel fit and even as I'm tired or have muscle aches, the time to get to the first plateau (that's the point where lungs stop burning and the pain stops and the body gives up trying to make you quit) is quicker. I actually enjoy running, maybe it's a case of "there's a joy in being mad that only madmen know" but it is very satisfying because for me, it is very hard. I wasn't born with a "runner's physique" but I'm getting there. I'm going to do every DFMC team run from here on out and I hope to join my personal hero Gerry B at a pace where I might come in some time shortly after him. I found a pretty cool site I'll share called www.mapmyrun.com. Pretty much you put in a zip code and it pops up with running routes in the general area. Very cool. Of course there's a premium (paid) version which is way cooler, but you probably knew that.

On fundraising front, I would like to thank Joyce Kim and Jan Linden from my company (GIPS - Global IP Solutions) and a high school classmate Dianne Belamarich for their donations. I'm sending a batch of letters out and I may do a fundraiser in early April in the Hopkinton area probably (how noncommittal is that - nice job Tom). Thanks to all who have supported, I run for all of you and in memory of your people too!!

Feb 8 Week and the "real" Survival Shuffle....

There are times in running when the pursuit is effortless, you glide along, bearly breathing, and you hardly feel your feet touch the pavement. Unfortunately, for me, these times are few and far between. Usually, I am winded, my feet and heels ache and both quads and calves burning and I pound along, trying to reach the small milestones I set for myself. The next hilltop, a telephone pole, run for a solid hour, etc. You fall into a pace and you just grind or gut it out.

For those that aren't familiar with the term, the "Survival Shuffle" is a euphemism for what you do when your body has given out, when cramps set in and you don't think you have anything left. It is of course a very strong parallel to the fight our loved ones have had and continue to have against the horrible disease of cancer. It's what I witnessed my mom do when she was in pain and I heard how my wife's Aunt Ruth persevered through so many difficult cycles. And so many (TOO MANY) more. I want to end the survival shuffle for everyone who has had to endure it, and so no one else will ever have to. Anyway, that's what this is all about.

On the running front - had a decent week, concluded running a 5K race in Lowell. My son Kenny (he of the effortlessly gliding through life - oh to be 14 again) kicked my butt and ran his PR, as did a good friend of our family, Karen Tierney. I survival shuffled after going out too fast on my first mile. Going to punish myself a little this week to make up for it.

On the donation front - Thank you to Colleen Connearney-Scheibner (and her lovely husband Ned Schneibley) for a donation, as well as my friend Mike Spofford for their donations this week.

ONWARD AND UPWARD!! Our link again is http://www.runDFMC.org/2010/tomf - ALL DONATIONS LARGE AND SMALL ARE APPRECIATED!!