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.