2006 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge

I am now @ Running Buddha

2006-05-17T10:41:00.000-04:00

http://runningbuddha.blogspot.com/

RUN ON

2006-05-01T17:19:00.000-04:00

Things are back to normal around here, my weekends are now spent working on the much neglected yard! I started easing back into running last week, the week before I felt like I was hit by a truck, everything hurt…but it was a good hurt! Today I went for a nice 4 mile run around the city! The futures wide open as far a running goes, I’m already looking forward to running the 111th Boston Marathon for Dana-Farber next year and my very long term goal is Ultrarunning the Mountain Masochist 50 mile Trail Run! Now that I started this blogging thing I think I’ll keep running with it, there a couple great marathons in the fall.

Take care all and thanks for reading,

Ryan

The Perfect Ending

2006-04-20T10:49:00.000-04:00

THANK YOU TO ALL!! What an amazing day! It was 26.2 miles of sheer enjoyment, I'm pretty sure I had a smile all the way to heartbreak hill and then it gets a little fuzzy! Around mile 24 I remember passing someone in a gorilla suit and people were offering me beer! It truly is an unbelievable feeling when you make that turn from Commonwealth Avenue onto Boylston Street and the yellow Boston Marathon finish line banner is just a few feet away!! As the great Bill Rogers said “The marathon can humble you” and it did!! It’s hard to believe it’s over, now it’s on to the 2007 Boston Marathon!

News on the fundraising front:

I'm even more pleased to report that I reached my fundraising goal of over $5,000 for the Dana-Farber Barr program!

A million thank yous to everyone’s support and encouragement, especially to Cathy I would not have made it this far without you!!

Cheers,

Ryan

The Countdown Continues

2006-04-13T13:51:00.000-04:00

Running shoes $78 dollars; gym fees $120 dollars; 110th Boston Marathon Registration $95 dollars; running the Boston Marathon to find a cure for cancer…..priceless!!

147 days of training completed “let the games begin”. This week I’m working on getting my mind ready mentally (As the great Yogi Berra said, "90% of the game is half mental"). The weather looks like it may cooperate, making it a great day for a run.

Once again I would like to personally express how grateful I am for your support of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team and myself in the 2006 Boston Marathon. Thank you for all your generous contributions, I am very close to reaching my fundraising goal of $5,000!

Just a reminder you can track my progress on race day by going to www.bostonmarathon.org and entering my name or bib number (18864).

I hope to see you all out there. If you plan on being in the crowds on Monday please let me know your approximate location so I can be looking forward to seeing you!

I run for hope,
Ryan

18 Day's to the Boston Marathon

2006-03-31T08:22:00.000-05:00

B-day – 18

The New Bedford Half Marathon was a great success!! I used the race as prep for Boston, my plan was to run the course at my marathon pace, but that went out the window as soon as the gun went off!! This course throws everything at you but the kitchen sink, with an assortment of hills, ocean views, tailwinds, and headwinds. It was nice to start the day with my brother and father; I think we started a new tradition!! Thanks for the support mom, somehow she managed to cook a broiled dinner and cheer us on!!

Last Saturday I headed out to Hopkinton with the Parkway Running Club for my last big twenty miler!! It was a tuff day on the course with a headwind accompanied by heartburn, side-stitches and calf cramps it made for a long day, putting my body and spirit to the test!! I guess that’s were the saying - what doesn’t break you can only make you stronger, and today I feel 99% ready for Monday April 17, 2006!!! Keep an eye out for number 18864!!

On another note:

I wanted to mention a BIG reason I’m running and raising money for Dana-Farber, it’s for children like Hunter! If you go back a few blogs I mentioned a women that was at my table for the DFMC first-timers meeting, her name is Katie Donigan and she is running for Dana-Farber in honor of her three year old daughter Hunter who was diagnosed with Leukemia in December 2003. The past few months Hunter was cancer free :). The other night Cathy and I read she recently relapsed. I haven’t spoken or seen Katie since the first group run but I will be praying for Hunter and her family and will be thinking of them as I run!

I run for hope,

Ryan

5 weeks to go!!

2006-03-14T14:37:00.000-05:00

8:30 Saturday morning March 11th, myself and fifteen other Parkway Running Club Members stood at the Boston Marathon starting line in Hopkinton Massachusetts ready to run 20 of the 26.2 mile passage to Boston. 4 miles down and approaching the town of Ashland, I continue on to mile 8, past Framingham and Natick, 12 miles I scuttle on through Wellesley, sweat running down my face, strange looking grin, legs burning, I push on to 18, bear a slight right onto Commonwealth Avenue and finish in Newton. Completing my first 20 mile run and bringing me one-step closer to my goal of running the Boston Marathon and raising $5,000 for Dana-Farber’s cancer research. I would not have made it through the 20 miles without the amazing support of the PRC volunteers stationed every 3 miles of the course; it's was such a wonderful thing, THANK YOU!! This weekend I’m looking forward to running the New Bedford Half-Marathon with both my father and brother (I will be posting pictures) and I can't wait to do the next 20 mile run on March 25 with the PRC.

A BIG THANK YOU to all those who made donations, I would like to personally express how grateful I am for your support of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team and myself in the 2006 Boston Marathon. Thank you for your generous contribution for the much-needed assistance of Dana-Farber's efforts to find a cure for cancer. One hundred percent of your gift will fund the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber. To date I have raised over $2,453 for Dana-Farber and I am hoping, with your help, to reach my fundraising goal and appreciate whatever support you might give. If you have not made a donation and would like to there’s still time! It’s very easy to donate by visiting my personal web page on the DFMC website at www.dfmarathon.kintera.org. Once you’ve reached the team site, click “support a runner” and type in my last name, or click on the DFMC link in my sidebar.

I look forward to continuing to raise the Barr over the next 5 weeks!!

If you'll be in Boston on April 17, 2006, please come cheer on my DFMC teammates and me as we run towards the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer. Dana-Farber is setting the pace in the race against cancer, and we're grateful for your help.

Thank you,
I run for hope,

Ryan

42 Day's to the Boston Marathon

2006-03-06T14:18:00.000-05:00

Sweet 18

On Saturday I awoke at 6:30am a little anxious for the day’s long run. I had my usual peaches-n-cream, toast with honey, and a cup of tea followed by some Gatorade and water. By 6:45 I could hear my daughter Niamh starting to wake…..I guess I wasn’t quiet enough…..she was hollering “Daddy I awake....daddy..where are you...Daddy”, funny she never calls for Mommy? With both kids up and wreaking havoc I left Mom to fend for herself, but Mom had plans today too, lucky for us Nana lives just around the corner……thank god for grandparents!!! The DFMC group run was in Watertown at the Mount Auburn Club, if you’re familiar with Watertown Mount Auburn Club is located near all the shopping centers and Watertown Mall. 8:30 rolled around quickly, we progressed our way from Watertown to Boston College and ran the marathon course along Commonwealth Ave. through the hills and into Newton. It was an out and back course with water stops every 3 miles. As usual the volunteers were amazing…THANK YOU!! I’m taking a guess but at mile 14 we had to overcome heartbreak hill, the hill isn’t too bad, just a very long gradual climb, at this point my legs started cramping!! At 15 it’s more psychological than physical work with a water stop at the top of heartbreak hill and three miles to-go…I scuttled on!! I arrived back at the Club in just under 3 hours. I was very content with the time averaging about 10 minute miles; my goal pace on marathon day is a little over 9 minutes, hopefully finishing in 4:15:00. The next few long runs will be great a confidence booster and there’s nothing like putting miles in the bank. This weekend I'm looking forward to the group run with the Parkway Running Club, we're running the marathon course from Hopkinton to Newton. It should be a great run plus this weekend's weather forecast 60's!!

Take care,

Ryan

“The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare” Marathon runner Juma Ikangaa

47 Day's to the Boston Marathon

2006-03-01T13:54:00.000-05:00

7 weeks to go!!

So far soo good,

On Saturday I opted to stay home and recuperate from my cold instead of running the planned 18 miles, I did manage a few miles over the weekend, but still not at 100%. Monday I hit the treadmill, my plan was to run a slow 9 miles……at 8 ½ I was feeling good, just then the Fitcorp manager came over and asked me to please get off..I guess I had run into peak hours and a few gym goers had complained! At first I thought hey I pay membership dues too, but I guess I could have come in earlier?? It’s funny being told to get a off a treadmill at least no one can kick you off the roads. So back on the roads of Boston today, went for a nice run around the Charles felt good…getting my groove back. I never thought I would say this or write this but I can’t wait until Saturday’s 18 mile run with the DFMC group. I really enjoy the weekend group runs; the support from the runners and volunteers is amazing. I’m trying to stay calm and collective but 7 weeks to go….WOW!

My Father registered us for the New Bedford Half-Marathon…….so I’m looking forward to this!! He hasn’t run a half marathon in quite some time, but he’s been running since I’ve know him, a little push, plus I told him he could draft off me…..should be a fun day!!

I run for hope,

Ryan

52 Day's to the Boston Marathon

2006-02-24T13:16:00.000-05:00

Took a little down time...if it’s not one thing after-another and I hate complaining ...good news is no more foot problems and last week was a great week…it’s the first week in a while I made all my schedule runs and strength training program!! Bad news.....this week I have a sinus infection!!! @#!$%$!! I took Monday and Tuesday to recuperate, Wednesday I ran three miles which was like running a marathon…dead legs…breathing heaving, gasping for air, if anything good came out of this it prepared me mentally for the last few miles of the marathon!! On Wednesday I pushed myself to run 5 miles. Today, I’m feeling better and planning to run 18 miles with the DFMC group out of Waltham on Saturday. Anyway that’s my spiel!! Have a great weekend!!

Perfect Day

2006-02-16T13:26:00.000-05:00

It sure felt like spring!! What a perfect day.....50's...no wind...just the right running temp!! I felt bad for some runners wearing hats, gloves and jackets...it was definitely a shorts and t-shirt day!! I told myself I was going to take it slow, but after taking some time off, I ran to my hearts content. The Charles River was like a lake, not a ripple!! I did manage to get myself caught between a dog owner and her dogs leash……almost went down…with nice weather comes more people…but I guess I should get use to crowds….marathon day’s going to be one big crowd.

THANK YOU SOLE!!!! My new SOLE inserts ROCK…my foot felt like it was submerged in a bed of clouds!! I’m very happy with this purchase. Most inserts I've tried are bulky and awkward, but after heating Sole custom inserts in the oven for 2 minutes…they molded right to my foot and shoe!!! I strongly recommend them to everyone.

Divide by three
"Divide the marathon into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart."--Mike Fanelli, runner and coach

Half-Way There!!

2006-02-15T13:35:00.000-05:00

BACK ON THE ROAD

Great day for a run, sunny and temps in the 50’s!! I just got back from the gym…trust me I wanted to be out there on the roads but I need to give my legs some rest, I did my scheduled Wednesday strengthening and stretching program at Fitcorp. The past week I stepped up and got a membership to Fitcorp, I took a few days off from running to give my foot some time to heal and having the gym membership allowed me to spend the week cross-training, strength training and stretching. This was extremely difficult for me to do, but listening to my body paid off, and I’m back on track!!!! Monday I ran three miles on the treadmill and my foot felt great, I stuck with the treadmill again on Tuesday and after 7.5 miles of running my foot had no problems. I’m a little hesitant but I am going to hit the streets of Boston tomorrow for an easy 6-7 mile run. Even bigger news last week marked the half-way point in my training, almost there!! This Saturday I will be running 15 miles with DFMC group from the Boston Athletic Club.
Besides getting ready for the Boston Marathon and fundraising, my son Oliver (Ollie) started walking over the weekend and Niamh is doing well...when we started clapping/shouting and encouraging Ollie to take a few more steps, Niamh then had to show us how she walks..very cute, plus she had on sunglasses and all her princess gear!!
Anyway back on the Marathon stuff….DFMC is looking for volunteers for marathon weekend if anyone is interested check out the website. I’ve also started discussing course logistics with Cathy as far as the best spot to watch and what to do with the kids, any ideas; personally I think she may have it harder than me come marathon day.

Thanks for taking the time to read this…….see you on the roads or treadmill!!

Ryan

68 Day's to the Boston Marathon

2006-02-08T13:05:00.000-05:00

Every weekend DFMC host group runs at various locations around Boston. On Saturday I ran 12 miles with the DFMC team in Watertown. I really enjoyed the run and the route put us along the marathon course on Commonwealth Avenue near Boston College and into parts of Newton. The support from the volunteers was amazing…thank you!!! This weekend the run will be held in Wellesley at the Boston Sports Club. I hope to be able to attend…but unfortunately last weekend I also had my first minor (hopefully minor) set back. During the 12 miles I began having foot pain. It was a discomforting pain running along the outside of my right foot. As the miles past the pain got considerably worse. Over the weekend I repeatedly iced my foot and on Tuesday I decided to go for a little four mile jaunt. The pain was tolerable for the first couple miles, but by the third mile it was hard to maintain an easy pace. After doing some research I’m thinking it may be a case of plantar fasciitis???? To set my mind at ease I bought a new pair of running shoes (Mizuno Wave Creation) and ordered a pair of SOLE custom shoe inserts, the inserts are highly recommended by people suffering from planter fasciitis. My plan is to take the next few days off, rest and re-evaluate my situation in a couple days!! I would really like to be able to get that 18 miler in on Sunday.
It’s a little frustrating…..but every marathon training program has its bumps. I just hope marathon day isn't one!!

One of my favorite long distance tune lyrics:

Marathon
By Rush

“It's not how fast you can go
The force goes into the flow
If you pick up the beat
You can forget about the heat
More than just survival
More than just a flash
More than just a dotted line
More than just a dash

It's a test of ultimate will
The heartbreak climb uphill
Got to pick up the pace
If you want to stay in the race
More than just blind ambition
More than just simple greed
More than just a finish line
Must feed this burning need
In the long run...

[Chorus:]
From first to last
The peak is never passed
Something always fires the light that gets in your eyes
One moment's high, and glory rolls on by
Like a streak of lightning
That flashes and fades in the summer sky

Your meters may overload
You can rest at the side of the road
You can miss a stride
But nobody gets a free ride

More than high performance
More than just a spark
More than just the bottom line
Or a lucky shot in the dark
In the long run...

[Chorus]

You can do a lot in a lifetime
If you don't burn out too fast
You can make the most of the distance
First you need endurance
First you've got to last...”
[Chorus]

74 Day’s to the Boston Marathon

2006-02-02T13:06:00.000-05:00

LONG ROAD HOME

Putting the miles in the bank!! Last Sunday I ran 15 miles, the longest distance I've logged to date. Long and slow was my main focus during this run, my goal was to run at a pace slower than my marathon race pace, averaging about 9:20 minutes per mile and finishing in 2hr:20min. Once I got my heart rate up to 156 77% (MHR) I was on cruise control and by monitoring my HR I was able to keep myself from going too slow/fast. Mind over body, about a mile away from home my legs turned to rubber…I was a running slinky. When I arrived home I did some stretching and with a lot of intimidation took an ice bath. Cathy thought I was a little crazy emptying the freezer of ice and dumping it into the tub. Brrrr…..cold is not the word to describe sitting in a tub of ice for 3 minutes, but the results are immediate and what could be a couple days of muscle soreness is usually gone in one. Let’s just say I’m a firm believer in ice baths…the results are worth the chill.
As I mentioned in my blog last week, I’ve truly found having a HRM is one of the best training guides. Listening to my body has never been easier. Overtraining is a big problem, this can lead to a low immune system and injury, using my HRM I can see the warning signs in advance, for instance in the morning I take my resting HR and if this number changes drastically from one day to the next I take a slow recovery run or better yet a rest day. Whether you run/walk/hike I recommend a HRM…it will bring you to the next level of any sport.
On Tuesday I ran an easy 4 miles, Wednesday I did a 5 ½ mile tempo run, and Thursday I ran an easy 4 miles. On Saturday I will be running 12 miles with the DFMC team in Watertown! See you on the roads

Thank you again for your contribution, encouragement and support!

I run for hope,

Ryan

Niamh - Go Daddy Go!!

2006-01-31T19:48:00.000-05:00

Running Buddha

2006-01-27T08:02:00.000-05:00

27,000 Miles to Enlightenment

The Marathon Monks of Mt Hiei in Japan average about 27,000 miles over a seven year period. As they make these pilgrimages they run/walk thousands of miles towards spiritual enlightenment. Some days they travel as far as fifty miles, on as little as two hours of sleep and no food. These monks don't sport the latest Asics or performance wear as you and I would, but have a very traditional dress code. The picture above is an example of a monk on his journey “His outfit is pure white -- the color of death -- the same thing he would be dressed in at his own funeral. It is cotton and consists of a short kimono undershirt, pants, hand and leg covers, a long outer robe and priests outer vestment and a pair of handmade straw sandals" - taken from the article in Trail Runner Magazine. This makes running a marathon seem a little less daunting. Asked what he learned from his grueling cycle of marathons, one monk humbly replied:

"Gratitude for the teaching of the enlightened ones, gratitude for the wonders of nature, gratitude for the charity of human beings, gratitude for the opportunity to practice gratitude, not asceticism, is the principle of the marathon."

83 Day's to the Boston Marathon

2006-01-18T14:31:00.000-05:00

1/25/06

I guess I picked a good year to train for the marathon weather wise!! The BAA has been busy making some changes. There will be two start times dividing the runners in half, one wave at 12 and another at 12:30, I still haven’t heard the full details but there may be some change’s to the finish line, I’m sure it’s all for the best. Plus they just added First World Marathon Majors Series, this will commence at the Boston Marathon April 2006 and culminate in November 2007 runner’s will recvie points based on all five marathons including the Flora London Marathon, the real,- Berlin-Marathon, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, and the ING New York City Marathon with a $1 million prize.

I recently bought a Polar Heart Rate monitor, (One of the single best purchases besides running shoes) I’ve become a better and smarter runner!! I was pushing myself to hard, it’s okay on certain days to push your aerobic capacity, but every run will burn you out. Last week I did a nice 40 minute mid-tempo run, running at 77-85% of my max heart rate. On Thursday I ran 6 miles and Friday I did a nice recovery run concentrating on my running form. It was very hard to stay below 70% of my max heart rate. On Sunday I ran 10 miles at 75% of my MaxHR and the pace was perfect.
I can't believe I’m already 7 weeks into my training schedule; only 11 weeks to go! February is my peak month with an 18 miler starting February 12th and two 20 miler’s. I’ll keep you updated on my progress……

Ryan

Boston Marathon Unicorn Symbol

2006-01-13T10:29:00.000-05:00

"Chosen by the founding members of the Boston Athletic Association in 1887 -- ten years prior to the inaugural Boston Marathon -- the Unicorn is believed to have been chosen as the organization's symbol due to its place in mythology. In Chinese and other mythologies, the Unicorn represents an ideal: something to pursue, but which can never be caught. In pursuit of the Unicorn, however, athletic competitors can approach excellence (but never fully achieve it). It is this pursuit to push oneself to his or her own limit and to the best of one's ability which is at the core of athletics. And for this reason, as the marathon matured, that the B.A.A. also decided that the Unicorn would be the appropriate symbol for the marathon" - per Boston Athletic Association

95 Day's to the Boston Marathon

2006-01-13T09:42:00.000-05:00

I'm officially registered for the 110th Boston Marathon. I received my conformation in the mail yesterday, if you go to the Boston Athletic Association website my name will appear in the entrants section. It’s funny if you asked me this time last year if I was going to run the 2006 Boston Marathon, I would have said impossible and probably had a good laugh!! But today I’m preparing for this adventure, and hopefully my training will be enough to get me across the finish line. I’ve heard and read so much about that dreaded wall at mile twenty when you legs turn to jelly and it’s the last six miles that put your body and training to the test. I’ve read to mentally break the marathon into two races the first twenty miles and the last a 10k. Hopefully with the proper training/pace, plus the right fuel, fluids and mental strategies will make the last six miles more enjoyable. One day at a time!! Over the weekend I will be running twelve miles, my longest run since I ran the Martha’s Vineyard Half-Marathon in September. DFMC has group runs every weekend so on Sunday I could join them at the Boston Sports Club in Waltham or stay local. I found a nice route last weekend when I ran a ten miler; it takes me through Needham and parts of Newton. I really enjoyed this run, so with a little tweak I could extend it two more miles. Along the run I tried the new Cliff Shot Bloks every few miles. There like gummy bears but provide electrolytes and carbohydrates for working muscles, plus they taste great and are much better than the GU gel packets. I really felt the burst of energy and an increase in endurance. I highly recommend the cran-rasberry flavor. Just checked the weather report for Sunday, it’s not going to stay warm, on Sunday the temperature’s going to drop down to 30’s with snow showers. :( Once you get warmed-up running in the cold isn’t so bad, it’s starting out that’s the hard part...I dress in layers this helps keep me warm and I can remove items if I get too hot. Anyway I'm off to run "See you out there"

Have a good weekend,
Ryan

103 Day's to the Boston Marathon

2006-01-04T15:42:00.000-05:00

15 weeks to go!

On Tuesday I took advantage of a free weekly pass that Boston Sports Club offers. I stopped by the BSC located in Downtown Crossing, very nice facility, and did some treadmill running. Running on a treadmill is extremely boring, I sort of felt like a hamster running on a spinning wheel, I guess a treadmill is the human hamster wheel. The treadmill does have some advantages it keeps track of your miles and pace, so I decided to run a 10k program 6.2 miles on a 1.5% incline, a slight incline allows the program to more accurately portray running outside. I managed to run this in 54 minutes, an 8:41 per mile pace. Runner's World website has a race time calculator that will calculate a predicted time at a distance for you based on a time you provide for another distance. Based on my 10k distance and time the calculator predicts I could run a marathon in 4:08:24, again let me restate predicts!! This week I need to put in 25-33 miles. At the moment I have a sinus infection so it isn’t looking too good. I just got antibiotics today, so hopefully I will start feeling better by tomorrow and I can take a nice slow run on the treadmill.

Over the weekend I watched the movie Saint Ralph, it’s about a 14-year-old boy who set his sights on winning the 1954 Boston Marathon. If you find yourself looking for something to rent, I highly recommend this funny and emotional movie about using focus and determination to reach that impossible dream.

I would like to personally thank all those who have supported me and the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team in the 2006 Boston Marathon. To date I have raised over $1,510 for Dana-Farber’s Claudia Adams Barr Program. Thank you again for your contribution, encouragement and support! I look forward to continuing to raise the Barr over the next 15 weeks!!

My best wishes for a happy & healthy 2006!

Ryan

110 Day's to the 110th Boston Marathon

2005-12-28T09:07:00.000-05:00

Hope everyone had a great Christmas, I know my Cousin Jennifer and her husband Rick Nelson did, by welcoming their new bundle of joy to the world, congratulations!!

Typical New England weather warm to extremely cold, Sunday was a beautiful day and I managed to squeeze in an eight mile run while the children were napping! On Tuesday, I did a four mile tempo run and today is a rest day; I may try to add some stretching and strength training to my weekly routine but I haven't found the time or energy. I've been doing my long runs mid-week, so tomorrow I will aim for ten miles; this leave's me flexible for the weekends!!

I mentioned in my first blogg a women that was at my table at the DFMC first-timers meeting, her name is Katie Donigan and she is running for Dana-Farber in honor of her three year old daughter Hunter who was diagnosed with Leukemia in December 2003, it's a very remarkable story and she is going to be finishing her chemo in 18 days!! Please follow the link on my sidebar for the full story.

Thank you for you continued support and donations...

I run for Hope,

Ryan

118 Day's to the 110th Boston Marathon

2005-12-21T13:02:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy last couple weeks, with the move to our new house and Christmas approaching. Cathy and the kids are doing great; Niamh is very excited about Christmas this year, but a little afraid of Santa!! We're still waiting for Verizon DSL to get connected at home so I'm posting this from work. I sent out my fund-raising email last Thursday, received some great feedback & so much support. Thank you all for the support and encouragement, and a big thank you to all those who donated.

The miles are building up, I have a few training schedules I follow, not sure which one I like better, one program has me running fewer miles daily and the other program has me running longer miles on Tuesday's and Thursday's with three rest day's, both weekly mileage equal. Today I made it out around 11:00 ran to the BU Bridge and back averaging about seven miles. It was a beautiful day, crystal clear skies, on the way back to Boston along the Cambridge side I enjoyed a great panoramic view of the city outstretched over the frozen Charles River. I felt good, and finished with the feeling I could go longer, which is a nice sign. I have a MP3 player, Samsung Yepp I listen to when I run, I find listening to music during my runs empowering, especially when listening to Grateful Dead "Fire on the Mountain"!! Every run has its ups and downs, but it’s the ups a Zen feeling - “an awareness of your body, your thoughts, your breathing", that keep me coming back for more, and fortunately the downs just get blocked from my memory!!

Once again I thank you all for your generosity!!!
Merry Christmas,
Ryan

132 Day's to the 110th Boston Marathon

2005-12-07T13:45:00.000-05:00

Frosty-Five Miler

It's getting cold and this is just the beginning of winter!! I got out during lunch today and ran a nice five miles around the city! Clear and cold, very quiet and peaceful run along the Charles got to enjoy some nice views of the city! Tomorrow I will run four miles and Friday is a rest day, Sunday calls for an eight miler. From here on out the weekly mileage gradually increases to twenty miles in February. But until then, it's one day at a time! Thought I'd leave you all with a great poem, that gets me going on those cold rainy days!

The poem was written by a 19-year-old English army officer, Charles Hamilton Sorley, during World War I.

The Song of the Ungirt Runners
We swing ungirded hips
And lighten'd are our eyes,
The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.
We know not whom we trust
Nor whitherward we fare,
But we run because we must
Through the great wide air.

The waters of the seas
Are troubled as by storm.
The tempest strips the trees
And does not leave them warm.
Does the tearing tempest pause?
Do the tree-tops ask it why?
So we run without a cause
'Neath the big bare sky.

The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.
But the storm the water whips
And the wave howls to the skies.
The winds arise and strike it
And scatter it like sand,
And we run because we like it
Through the broad bright land.

Countdown to the 110th Boston Marathon

2005-11-22T12:48:00.000-05:00

11-22-05
This is my first posting, hopefully of many!! I will be using the website as a way to keep those interested up-to-date on my marathon training, fundraising activity, including fun facts and photos.
I will be running in the 110th Boston Marathon as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team (DFMC). This will be my firstmarathon and I am very excited to be part of this historical race steeped in tradition, but my personal quest, no matter how difficult, pales in comparison to the challenges facing cancer patient’s everyday. It’s from this perspective that I choose to become part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team and in doing so myself and 500 other runners are raising money to benefit the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research located at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Twenty-one weeks left until the 110th Boston Marathon starts. This is kick off week, my training officially started on Monday. This past week I had a cold, so today will be a hard run especially in the rain but it's nice to get out of the office for an hour. I have been taking Monday's as a rest day, due to having long runs on Sunday. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday's I've been running during my lunch hour, which allows me to get in anywhere from three-six miles a day. I start out from State Street building located at one Lincoln Street, and run through the Commons onto Beacon Street, then across to the Charles River near the Half-Shell, this is a nice run along the river, crossing the Mass Ave bridge and running along the Cambridge side until I reach the Longfellow Bridge, returning to the city along Cambridge Street!
This Saturday I went to a Dana-Farber first timers meeting at the Mount Auburn Club in Watertown, this was a great way to meet my fellow teammates, we meet at 8:30 and went for a five mile group run along the Charles. We also got to meet our coach, Jack Fultz (the 1976 Boston Marathon winner) he prepped us for the upcoming season and talked a little about training. I met some wonderful people at my table, including a women who was participating in the DFMC in honor of her three year old daughter, who is fighting leukemia, she spoke very highly of Dana-Farber and all they the great things they've done. Another person in the group running is a Barr researcher, who is currently working on a cure with the donations made for last years DFMC participant's and one woman running was currently undergoing chemotherapy. These are just a few of many reasons to support Dana-Farber Cancer research. If you can please contribute towards my goal to raise $5,000 dollars by April 17, 2006 and help us reach the DFMC team's overall goal of $3.6 million for basic cancer research.

With great appreciation and many steps to go! Thank you for helping Dana-Farber reach the ultimate finish line: a world without cancer.

Ryan