Running, for the most part, is an outdoors activity. Anyone who participates in an outdoor activity has to factor in the weather. And as most of us New Englander's know, the weather in these parts does not always cooperate. Anyone who ran the Boston Marathon last year dealt with hot and humid temperatures. Very uncommon for April in Massachusetts and not "user friendly" either, might I add. This past week brought extremely cold weather to the area. Though not uncommon for January, again not "user friendly."
Jack Fultz (pictured below) is our running coach and was the winner of the Boston Marathon in 1976. This year will be the 117th running of the Boston Marathon and, up until 2005, the start time was noon. The year that Jack won, the race was dubbed the "Run for the Hoses" because the temperature was 100 degrees an hour before the start of the race. Spectators along the entire 26.2 mile course used garden hoses to spray water on the runners in an effort to cool them down. His finish time was 2 hours 20 minutes and 19 seconds!
Running in the cold is one thing and running in the cold with a wind chill is another story altogether. The runners also rely heavily on the help of the volunteers who stand outside for 2 to 3 hours handing out water/gatorade, etc. If anyone knows anything about adverse running conditions, it's Jack. He made the decision on Friday to cancel our group training run because of the extreme cold temperatures this weekend.
There were three options available to the runners this weekend. 1) Run someplace else, preferably with someone else or a group, being cognizant that safety is the priority. 2) Run indoors. 3) Take the weekend off. Well, I've done option #1 before. In fact, today is the Boston-Prep 16 Miler in Derry, NH. I've done it twice. It is always held the last Sunday in January and it is known for being a very hilly course and cold temperatures. Wishing Good Luck to my teammates running it today! The logo for the race is this !!!
Option #3, is never an option, well maybe if you are nursing an injury or recovering from a cold or the flu. That left option #2. The schedule for this weekends long run called for 14 to 16 miles. Kerry and I decided Friday that we would log our long run this weekend at her gym. The course......
I started today's blog with that quote from Kerry "there are no shortcuts" because she hit the nail on the head with that comment. Our group training runs are called such for that very specific reason. To get to the starting line and, more importantly, reach the finish line, whether it's your first or tenth marathon, you have to do the work. It would have been very easy to justify not running yesterday because of ________________ (pick your favorite excuse.) Neither of us are strangers to the "dreadmill" as it is so eloquently described. I have spent quality time on this bad boy in the 7 years that I've been running. In fact, I do most, if not all of my shorter runs during the week of 3 to 8 miles, on one of these, especially in the winter time.
So yesterday, at roughly 8:10 in the morning, with water, gatorade, gu (builds energy levels & provides electrolytes to keep hydration levels stable) salt tablets (to avoid muscle cramps), towels to wipe our faces with and the MUST, the ipod, Kerry and I started our long run, side by side, on these. Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes and, 14 miles later, we were done ! I am so incredibly grateful that we were able to tackle this together. I have done this distance and then some on the treadmill before, all alone, not a whole lot of fun. Knowing that the both of us were in it, together, like we are each weekend, made the daunting task not so daunting " No Shortcuts !!! "
Ironically, as is common with so many runners, I currently have an "issue." Mine is with my right knee. According to my sports medicine doctor/chiropractor I have a sub Grade 1 MCL Tear. MCL stands for Medial Collateral Ligament and is one of four ligaments that are critical to the stability of the knee joint. Luckily, for me, it's the best-case scenario because it's an incomplete tear of the MCL versus a complete tear with severe pain and swelling. It doesn't bother me at all to run. In fact, my knee is stable. It does, however, bother me to stretch, which is a must before and after every run. So, lots of ice and deep tissue massage and some stretching exercises, and I should be good in a few weeks. Plantar Fasciitus, another common ailment for runners, sidelined me for about 6 months a year ago. There's a very delicate line running these distances injury free!
Fundraising is progressing rather nicely too! As of today, I am at $1,805.00 towards my goal. I continue to reach out to just about everyone I know and many have agreed to support me again. I have quite a few first time supports also. So once again, I thank those of you who have already donated and look forward to the support of those who will donate in the future.
Brent Mccreesh & Susan Smith-Shannon
Back in 2010, I had the honor of running for a special little boy named Brent. Back in 2004, when he was just 3 years old, Brent was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. Most cases are diagnosed in children under age 5. About 50 percent of neuroblastomas occur in a fast-growing, aggressive form that spreads to lymph nodes and other organs before causing symptoms that lead to diagnosis. Though some types are easily cured with surgery, nationally only about one-third of the highest-risk patients survive long term.
In September of 2005, Brent was declared cancer free. To learn more about his particular battle and all the amazing fundraising events and the huge support system he and his family have, please visit www.teambrent.com
I was introduced to Brent's story from a a friend of mine Susan Smith-Shannon. Susan and Brent's mother Dana went to college together. I was thankful to Susan for introducing me to Dana and her family. After running for Zachary in 2008, I was looking forward to running for another child.
In 2011, Susan went to the ER complaining of abdominal pain. As it turns out, she had ovarian cancer and a separate tumor that had grown so large it had overtaken and shut down her adrenal gland. A gallstones attack saved her life. There are no symptoms of ovarian cancer in its early stages - you basically find it because you are looking for something else, in this case gallstones. And luckily for her, her particular cancer is resistant to chemotherapy and radiation, so finding it early was extremely important. She had the first surgery in October, 2011 - full hysterectomy, and appendix. Second surgery in April, 2012 - removed adrenal gland and gallbladder. She is now waiting the details of her third surgery. I met Susan back in 2000 at a new job and one thing I learned about Susan immediately was her sense of humor. She has the gift of finding humor in just about everything, and I believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that her sense of humor and positive attitude, played a big role in her recovery.
This is a picture of Susan in 2009, the day of her wedding. She has a smile that goes on for days! She is also one of the most photogenic people I know.
As we all know, cancer is not prejudiced. It can hit any one of us at any time. Young or old, black or white, male or female. A World With Cancer is our reality now. A World Without Cancer is the ultimate goal. Will you help me be a difference maker and make a donation? 100% of your donation goes directly to The Barr Program.
Until next week....I thank each of you again for taking the time to read this weeks blog and for your support!
With gratitude and many inspired miles........Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment