Faina, Maureen and Jodi donate!!!

I am so thrilled that my fellow Broad colleagues Faina Anufriev, Maureen Donohue and Jodi Greco have joined other Broadies with generous donations to the Dana Farber Claudia Barrs Program for innovative basic cancer research. I could not begin this journey with out the support of family friends and colleagues. It is an honor to run for you! I hope I don't let you down!

About my bet with the EHS guys........I think they gave one to the old lady.....I won. Tyler said he "forgot" about the bet and Mike was just too busy to continue after giving 2 full hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I won with only 384 minutes. Last year the three of us were doing 500-600 minutes a week for a 12 week period. It is time for us to step it up. It is also time for me to remind all you blog followers that 100 percent of the money you donate goes directly to research. Make your donation today, just click the link on the right.

May you have a very Happy and Safe New Year!

Terry Hayes Thank you very much

Terry's Christmas donation has me over 1,400. raised to date! Terry has participated in the PanMass Challenge and is well aware of the cause. Thank you Terry for supporting me again this year. I hope next year you will join the team!

Today's long run was by far one of the top ten miserable runs of all time. I went out this morning at 9 and planned on running from Quincy to Milton, around Milton and back home. It was drizzly but the rain was due to stop soon. I was thankful it was really warm out side. Almost all of the runners I passed were in shorts. The route was nice and hilly. Not too much was flat and some of it really steep. At about mile 6 it started to pour. I got drenched. With 5-6 miles to go, I really didn't want to be that wet in the middle of my run. I passed a dead deer that was pulled onto the sidewalk. Poor thing. I guess things could be worse. Fatigue settled in and I was quite miserable. The wind picked up and I started to feel cold. I walked for a minute and then thought the faster I run the quicker I will be home in a hot shower. That may have been my strongest finish yet. I was surprised to find my hands and feet all pruney when I took my shoes off, but thankfully, no blisters!
Stay tuned for the update on my contest with Mike and Tyler........

Another bet with the folks in EHS

We are betting how many minutes we will workout this week. I'm sure I'll get my usual 6 hours in, hopefully 7 but Mike is sure he is gonna win this one......The winner gets a six pack from the losers. With Tyler hitting his trainer and logging some serious minutes on his long rides, I'm going to have to work really hard at the gym to keep up with these guys. It should be interesting........

Larry Brutti ROCKS!

Larry thank you for your donation to the Dana Farber. It is friends like you who make me keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Today I met with fellow Dana Farber runners in Lexington to run 10 miles on the bike path. It was really cold out there but somehow I managed to run a very relaxed 10 miles. 5 miles out and back. The first 5 were mostly downhill and the 5 back were a steady incline. Although I didn't have a negative split (back half faster than the first half) I ran the same time going uphill. I was pleased that I didn't walk and I'm really hopeful that I'll be able to continue my training without injury.
I'm looking forward to going out tomorrow for a short run in the snow after I shovel us out!
Everyone, be safe if you need to drive tonight.

Kathleen Mitchell supports me again!

Kathleen, thank you so much for your generous donation to the Dana Farber. I have been touched by the caring of my colleagues and friends here at the Broad Institute. Thank you.


Happy Birthday Carolann. Hope you enjoyed your day off!


On the training front this has been a decent week. I had a 4 mile run, a 40 minute elliptical work out. I lifted weights and will get a 4 mile run in tonight. I've got my first group long run this Saturday. The team will run out in Lexington so I'm happy to have a new route to try and it will be nice to run with my fellow Dana Farber runners. If all goes according to my plans I will run 18 miles this week and be ready to start increasing my long runs from 10 miles to 12 miles.

Why I run

Many wonder why I run. I had originally been overweight my whole life. As a child and adult, I was anywhere between 40-60 pounds overweight. Following my mom's death ten years ago, at age 35, I began to live a healthy life. I was fueled by my mom's suffering from the cancer treatments, knowing any discomfort I was experiencing was nothing compared to what she endured. Being too large to feel comfortable at a gym, I walked l hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. I ate only the foods I could control and avoided anything that one bite would not suffice. 4 months later I was down 40 pounds and able to start my running journey. I joined MIT's gym and began running on a treadmill. I was slow (I'm still slow), but I am out there doing it. Soon I was running 3 miles and more weight came off. I raced in some local 5Ks, did a sprint triathalon and even ran a half marathon with my brother, Danny who was always my idol when it came to fitness. My goal is never to win, but rather to finish. A year after I started my weight loss journey I was down 60 pounds and actively going to the gym 5 days a week. Seeking new ways to challenge my body and mind.

Ten years later, I am older and it is getting harder to keep my weight down, but I firmly believe that if you really want something and you have a clear plan to get it, you can accomplish it! We the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge members run for many reasons. I am running because I don't want to see anyone I love suffer from cancer. With each step and each donation, I know that I'm doing all I can so that you and your loves ones don't suffer as my mom did!

Join me at the finish line! Together we can help find better treatments and a possible cure for cancer.

18 miles this week!

Slow and steady was my plan and I was successful with a decent 10 mile run today. That brought my weekly total to 18 miles. 2 cardio workouts and 2 weight lifting sessions. Almost a near perfect training week.

I went to the Greater Boston Running Club in Higham to pick up my first of three pairs of sneakers that I will need to make through the training and marathon. I was fitted and $139.00 later I have the first pair, ASICS with Powerstep orthopedic innersoles. They are pink! It has been suggested to rotate two different pairs though out the next 16 weeks and then break in your marathon pair two weeks before. I estimated that between sneakers, gu(energy supplement), new mittens and socks I will spend $500.00 during the training period. I'm invested in crossing the finish line....you can be too, just click the link on the right to donate and join me on this journey.
Thank you.