One week to go till 27678 hits the road...

In just one week, I'll have number 27678 pinned to my chest, making my way 26.2miles from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston. I've run every part of the course during my training except for the last half mile - the turn onto Hereford and then down Boylston Street. I held off because I want to experience all the emotion of those 4-5 minutes surrounded by the crowds, friends and family and revel in this dream becoming reality.

With just 7 days to go, I am only $250 away from raising $8,000 to support Community Cooks - this amazing network of cooks providing home-cooked food for vulnerable populations seeking assistance from human service agencies in the Greater Boston area. Will you help me cross the finish line? 

Thank you all for helping to make this journey such an amazing one - your support, can words, emails and hugs buoyed me through my training on the coldest, iciest, snowiest days. 

I hope to see you out on the sidelines next Monday. If you happened to be stuck at a desk or other indoor location, you can track me through this tracking system, which will give you updates of my whereabouts throughout the race. 

Thank you for all that you have done and for the impact your support will continue to have. 

2 Weeks to go...

When I started training for Boston at the beginning of January, it felt like the race would never get here. Then, through the cold, snow and ice, it still felt like it was ages away.
Then, this came into my email inbox today: 2 Weeks to Go!

It made me equal parts excited and wanting to throw up from nerves. Luckily, my emergency contact (and go-to soother) reminded me how much I've been training, how ready I am and how she'll be there with peanut M&Ms at the end. That, coupled with a run in my new shoes tonight, made me realize that I'm ready. I have to stock up on some sleep, cut down on the Easter candy and do more stretching. All very achievable goals for the next 13 days.

And speaking of achievable goals - thank you to everyone who has contributed to support Community Cooks. Thanks to everyone's support, I've blown past my goal of raising $5,000 and am closing in on $8,000! Less than $400 to go to get there.
Thank you for your support!

22 and feeling good all around

Not 22 years, but 22 miles with 22 days left till the marathon. That's what I ran Saturday as my final long run before the tapering starts. Per the order of the winter, it was snowing the entire run. (I read somewhere that it has snowed 10 weekends in a row here in Boston. Must be another record!)

This was by far one of the coolest experience. I headed out to Hopkinton bright and early Saturday morning - my nerves were a mess and I could barely eat. I managed to shove down a banana and this awesome honey vanilla waffle thing that Dave picked me up! This was my last opportunity to try new foods and see how I reacted before the big day.

To this point, I'd been sticking to simple sugars and nothing processed. I've had bad experience with GU and gels in the past and so far my regimen of banana, bread w/ sunflower butter and Annie's Bunnies in Berry Patch or Summer Strawberry (yup - the kids snacks) have fueled me pre and during run. A little bit of Gatorade and I've got a winning combination.

I wasn't expecting much out in Hopkinton. I knew a bunch of folks who would be running on the course that day. As the past Saturdays have gotten increasingly busy, I expected a good crowd. But with many running the Eastern States 20miler on Sunday, coupled with the forecast of 1-3", who knew what we'd see.

This was better then most races I attended. I parked in a local grocery store lot (who offered their spaces to runners) and followed the crowds. There were port-a-johns at the starting line and police manning the intersections. A nice officer gave me "directions" (cross the street and look down - you'll see the painted start line. Don't forget to run on the left!) and off I went with the crowds in a rolling start.

They weren't kidding when friends warned it was downhill for the first 6 miles. It was screaming downhill - hard to not get off my pace. I definitely went a little faster than normal, but really worked at holding steady around 8:00mm. Every mile or so there was at least one if not more groups camped out offering water, gatorade and other energy sources. It was amazing.

I hooked up somewhere around Framingham center with 2 runners from Children's Hospital. I overheard them talking about their pace/finishing times and had been lingering with them for a bit. We proceeded to work together, talk and encourage each other for the next 15 miles. I waited up for them during a bio-break in Wellesley, we talked each other up the hills and learned a lot about each other in the process. The guy was a neurologist at Children's and has 3 kids - two the same ages as Sophia & Theo. The girl graduated BC in '12 (whipper snapper! :) and worked over at MIT. Both were great running partners and our hope is to hook up again on race day, as we're in the same corral & wave. We exchanged numbers and took this selfie as we crossed Mile 21 (their end point for the day).

I feel fortunate to have found them - I think we all made the run a lot easier for each other and took our minds off the lackluster conditions and nerves.

Dave & Sophia met me at Boston College and drove me back out to my car in Hopkinton. There were still 1,000s of people on the course. It was amazing to see, and even more amazing to be done and drying off.

Here's to the next 21 days!!

Less than a month out!!

Friday marked the one-month point till the marathon. That's right - a mere 29 days from today and I'll
be toeing up to the starting line in Hopkinton. The weather has turned a little gentler, though yesterday's 18.5 miles in the snow wasn't exactly what I thought I'd be doing at the end of March.

Next weekend is my longest training run before I begin to taper - 20 miles. I'll head out to Hopkinton and run the course in towards Boston for 20 miles. Much like my training, I'm making the final push for fundraising for Community Cooks, with less than $1,000 left to raise - will you help me meet my goal? 

Rumor has it, on race day, I'll be carried the last 6.2 miles by enthusiasm, adrenaline, and the promise of hugs and gatorade (and maybe even a Red Sox win!) If you're anywhere on the course next Saturday - look for me (among the 1,000s of other runners training). I'll be the girl in the ponytail and sunglasses! :) And of course, I hope to see you along the way on Marathon Monday.

My body is feeling strong, if not a wee bit tired, after these days of running. I'm looking forward to the tapering that will start in April. I'm so thankful for everyone's support that helps me get through each mile, day, week and month. (I'm especially thankful to my husband Dave for all of his extra parenting duties this weekend and throughout training!)

So Thankful!!

I am so enormously thankful for all the love, support, kind words and donations for Community Cooks that everyone has shared throughout this experience!

Each mile I run on April 20th, I will think of the 67 people and counting who have gotten me through the ice, snow, cold, wind and miles. You all have fueled me, but the impact goes beyond me. 

You are also helping to provide a meal that will satisfy the physical hunger of neighbors who have fallen on hard times, and you are also giving the gift of comfort, community and connection…and helping to build a community of caring where everyone matters. 

Thank you to everyone for all your support!

Akira	Creighton & Andi	Jim	Meaghan & Chris
Alexander	Cynthia	Joan & Rich	Meredith & Colin
Alice	Dave	Joel	Michele
Alison	Dee	John	Mom & Dad
Angela	Denise	John Henry	Morgan & Mark
Austin	Diane & Gerry	Joseph & Shannon	Nancy & Don
Brian	Donna	Julia	Paula
Cameron	Ellen	Julie	Priscilla & Tony
Charlotte	Eric	Karen	Rachel
Chris & Kim	Gail & Scott	Karl & Andrea	Rahul & Emily
Chris	Glenn	Kathryn	Reed & Deb
Christopher & Erin	Harriet	Kathy	Sharon
Christopher	Heather & Dave	Lara	Steve
Colin	Heidi	Lauren & Michael	Thalia
Colleen & Tim	Jeanne & Jonathan	Lee	Yasuna & Jenny
Lots of Cooks!	Jennifer & Kevin	Marni & Sasha	Maggie & Gunther
Corey & David	Jennifer	Mary	Erik

Jeaneen

Why I'm running the Boston Marathon for Community Cooks

I've written a lot about why I'm running the marathon for Community Cooks. But late last week, it became clearer than day why Community Cooks is so important to me and to the community.

Sophia

I've been traveling a lot for work lately. Dave and the kids have been dropping me off at the airport. On one of the billboards by the tunnel, there is a picture of a sad looking little girl, just about Sophia's age, looking out at the landscape. The billboard was for a local food bank organization (I believe it's the Greater Boston Food Bank).

On a trip last week, Sophia asked me "Mom - why does that little girl on the sign look so sad?" and my reply was "Because she doesn't have enough food to eat." Sophia was pensive for a bit and said, "Well, we should help kids like that. That's not very fair." Yes, Sophia, we should and we do, through Community Cooks.

A few days later as we were walking to school, we walked by the Community Cooks building where we drop off our meals each month. Sophia usually takes the walk with me and loves putting the food in the big refrigerator. As we were walking by, she said:

"There's where we drop off our Community Cooks food Mama! That is food for people like that little girl who don't have enough to eat, right?"

With tears in my eyes, I nodded.

"We should help them more Mama."

So I asked her what we should do.

"We should find out their favorite foods and cook it for them. Then they'll be happy."

(Me, in tears by this point, so proud of my little girl.) "That's a great idea Sophia. We should do that.

So this is why I volunteer and this is why I'm running. To set an example for my kids, to increase awareness of food insecurity in our community and to make a difference.

I hope you will support my efforts and help me reach my goal.

A simple formula - Run more miles than degrees

Somehow, all my recent posts revolve around the weather, but as I've quickly learned, this is Boston Marathon training in New England.

My past two long runs have been in weather built for for huskies, polar bears and coolers. But they've been my best option for conditions - you can dress for cold, but fresh snow is only good for skiing on.

Both runs have started off at a balmy 6 degrees. The 14 miler last week had a lovely 10-15mph wind for the first half of it, but the sun was shining bright, so that was a plus. (note the frozen bandana around my neck - that had been over my mouth, but the moisture met the cold and it froze solid!)

Saturday's run of 16 miles also started at 6, was sunny, but maxed out at 9. There was actually quite an uplifting moment coming through Coolidge Corner when the external thermometer on the bank flipped from 8 to 9 degrees as I ran by. Why, that's almost bikini weather!

The important thing is I finished and came home to a warm house, with a wonderful breakfast inside (followed by a kick-butt hazlenut donut from the best local donut store Union Square Donuts!) Not everyone is as lucky.

I hope you'll support me through the cold, the snow and support Community Cooks in the pursuit to provide meals that will satisfy the physical hunger of neighbors who have fallen on hard times, and give the gift of comfort, community and connection…and helping to build a community of caring where everyone matters. Please click the button below to donate.

Cross Training in a Blizzard

 Clearly the past few weeks in Boston have been challenging for everyone. And no one wants to talk more about snow.

But for runners, training for Boston has been a very particular challenge. The sidewalks have presented something of an obstacle course - leaping over mounds of snow at corners, gliding/sliding across icy patches and goose stepping through knee high snow to get to better footing.

All of that seemed simple after the "Valentine's Day Blizzard" last weekend. I took Friday off to run 14 miles in 6 degree weather, feeling like this was my best option of weather for the three days available.

By the time the storm cleared out on Sunday, I was feeling itchy to get out and about so I hit the streets with the kids to do some hilly cross training (one of the 'perks' of living where we do - every run finishes with steep hill climb.)

I hope you'll help me continue to climb the hills in support of Community Cooks. Please click below to make a donation.

Note that before we made it to the top, we dumped the extra 20lbs of snow the kids thought would be fun to add into the sled. 

Please support my run for Community Cooks

Thank you in advance for your support! Please click the button below to donate and help me reach my goal of $5,000 raised for Community Cooks.

A moment of thanks...

After a day of trying to work, parent and shovel (none of which I felt like I did extremely well) and being frustrated about another week of sporadic training, I stopped for a moment to be thankful for the roof over my head, the heat in my house, the love of my family and the food on my stove. So many can't say the same. This cozy pot of American Chop Suey -the meal I cooked for St. Patrick's House as part of Community Cooks- reminds me why I'm running Boston...

I'm running so others can have a warm meal, made with love on a cold night. A night after you've tried to do the best you can do and maybe it's enough and maybe not. A meal that gives you the inspiration, the desire, the hope that you can get up in the morning and do it all over again. Or enough to get you to sleep feeling the nourishment inside and out. Running is easy - you can get away from it all, you can think. But you can't run, you can't go on, without nourishment.

Please take a moment to support my run.

Don't mess with Mother Nature...

So clearly I didn't pay enough homage to Mother Nature in my last blog post as we were smacked with a snowy icy mess yesterday. While it resulted in awesome skiing conditions and a good day of snowshoeing up Wachusett mountain for Sophia & I, it was challenging conditions this morning, accompanied by a fantastic headwind for most of the run.

I scooted out to Market Basket to get my pre-blizzard shopping done and consume some fuel before heading out (something I haven't been great about historically). I managed 12.5 miles around the river, through BU - both of which were fantastically shoveled, and then made my way up through LA (Lower Allston) back around to Cambridge and home. To say that it was a LSR (Long Slow Run) is an understatement, but I figured if I could run 12 like this, then it can only get easier!!

The most important thing is I was up and on my feet moving for 1:45 - one of my longest timed-runs ever (right around my half marathon time/a little slower).

After a kick butt breakfast - 2 eggs over well, turkey sausage and 2 monster slices of Cinnamon French Toast - I'm heading outside to build snowmen with the kiddos and prepare for Monday's Blizzard. Looks like some indoor miles for the next few days.

Throughout all of this though, I never forget why I'm running: To raise $5000 for Community Cooks and build awareness of food insecurity throughout Greater Boston. I'm lucky to come home to an amazing breakfast, made with love, full of nutrition and all the stuff
that will help me be a good mom, wife, human and employee. Not everyone is so lucky - and especially with the impending storm, where their access may be severely limited or have a number of the shelters overflowing.

Please take a moment to support my run and Thank You!!

The Training is On! Thanks Mother Nature

I'm now officially 3 weeks into my training and less than 100 days away from the marathon. So far, training is going really well and I've been highly lucky in the land of mother nature.
I scored a 30+ degree day for my long run of 10miles this past Sunday - what a treat!

What I am finding is that work and life make squeezing in training (and staying awake afterwards!) quite interesting. Work took me to Dallas last week, where I craftily scored a Westin hotel through Hotwire.

The Westin hotels are fantastic to me because of their partnership with New Balance. They have created an environment conducive to runners staying at their hotels - right down to lending gear and a map with various distances you can run in the area during your stay. I got to squeeze in 2 runs along the river in the Park Central area. No hat or gloves required! And, it made for a much more productive business trip (And a great nap on the plane on the ride home.)

My biggest challenge is going to be breaking the 13.1 mile mark in my long run. This is the longest run(a half-marathon) I've ever done before. A whole different story (mental or other) to run 2 hours+. Luckily, I have a few more weeks till I get to the big time.

Let's hope mother nature cooperates!! And please support my goal to raise $5000 to support Community Cooks.

What did you do this morning???

I rocked the bitter cold 15 degree weather to train for the 2015 Boston Marathon run for Community Cooks. 4.2 miles - Check me out post-run!