Here I Go Again.

I don't know where I'm going
But, I sure know where I've been
Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday
An' I've made up my mind, I ain't wasting no more time
But, here I go again
Here I go again

Lyrics from "Here I go again".  Such a great 80's song by the classic big hair rock band Whitesnake.  That said, it does have a wicked cheesy video though with its scenes of the band playing on a stage interlaced with Tawny Kitaen doing gymnastics between two cars and polishing them while slithering all over them.  The cars that is.  So cheesy that it makes me think of a couple of other classics.  Cheeses that is: Roquefort with its sharp, sweet and nutty flavor or Parmigiano-Reggiano with its great crunch and deep caramel-y, nutty flavors.  How quickly I get distracted...  It really is an appropriate song in this situation though because "Here I go again".

I told my family that I had met my goal and felt a sense of closure after I completed the Cox Providence Marathon in May of this year.  That I was done with Marathons and would focus my attention on training and improving my half marathon races (which worked as I had both a half marathon as well as a course PR for the B.A.A. Half Marathon last month).  That's the same thing that I said a year ago when I completed my first marathon up in Hampton Beach, NH.  My wife and son know me better than that though and they told me both times that I would run a marathon again.  Well, they definitely do know me too well, because:

Here I go again on my own
Goin' down the only road I've ever known

I'm running the 119th B.A.A. Boston Marathon on April 20, 2015.  However, I'm not on "my own" as I have been accepted as a member of the Boston Children's Hospital Miles for Miracles Marathon team.  This was the team that I tried to become a member of last year but wasn't able to because they filled their team very early on so I am very grateful that I have the opportunity this year.  Being able to support Boston Children's Hospital's critical mission personally means a lot to me as my son has received outstanding professional and compassionate care from this outstanding organization over the years.  I am very appreciative to have the opportunity and to be able to be associated with such a prestigious organization in the health care community.

I have also signed up to be part of the Miles for Miracles Patient Partner program where I will be teamed up with a patient of Boston Children's Hospital.  This is such a great opportunity as we will be able to provide support and inspiration to each other during my training.  I'll provide more information about who I'm partnered up with when I get the details in early December.

My fundraising for Boston Children's Hospital has just begun.  If you are interested in helping me with my goal of $7,000, please visit my fundraising page:  http://fundraise.childrenshospital.org/goto/runner716  Any donation, whether small or large or somewhere in between is greatly appreciated. 

I want to thank my wife and son for their continued unconditional support and understanding of my need to do this.  Training for a marathon takes a lot of dedication, shuffling of schedules to fit in training and a lot of time away from family.  Knowing that they are behind me 100% makes it a bit more manageable.  Thank you and I love you both more than you'll ever know.

I'm going to blog about my training and new products that I will be using as part of my training along the way.  I've already made several trips to running stores and picked up a few new things that I cannot wait to try out.  It's a bit geeky I know.  As I'm finishing up this post, we are getting our first snowfall of the season.  It reminds me of some of my training runs this past winter.  I cannot wait for those days with 2 degree temperatures, whipping winds and snow in January.  Now that is geeky!

An' I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time...

But, here I go again,
Here I go again,
Here I go again,
Here I go,
Here I go again...

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Still Of The Night.

In the Still of the Night
I feel my heart beating heavy
Telling me I gotta have more...

More running that is.  I love that song. Brings back memories of my first concert when I was a freshman in high school. Whitesnake playing at the old Aud in Buffalo, NY.  No comments on the selection of band from the peanut gallery please. I was young and hadn't opened my eyes (or ears in this case) to the vast untapped possibilities of music choices that were out there. Seems like it was just yesterday.  I stress "seems" because it sure as heck wasn't.

Sneaker Print In The Snow At Night

I've really become a fan of running at night.  There is just something about seeing the Boston skyline lit up in all its glory.  The way the lights reflect off the Charles.  In the shadow of night, I see the full moon rise (sorry, had to add more lyrics here and there).  Speaking of the moon, I have seen some magnificent variations of it while running at night.  Real purdy!  Stress relief for everything that has built up during the day.  You feel things building and you say to yourself "I can't take no more, no, no" (sorry had to do it again).  What better feeling then to know that you can let it all go in a few hours at the end of the day.  Cleanse your mind and recharge.  There's nothing like it. 

I ended up running 7 miles the other night in the city before the big snow storm swooped in.  Gorgeous weather and fantastic sites (yes, I had to stop for more pictures to fulfill my Instagram addiction).  I'm going to end up running in the city tomorrow morning due to scheduling conflicts.  I know, completely the opposite of the topic of this post.  Don't worry, I'll be singing "I'm waiting for the night to come, ooh, baby" as I make my way down the Esplanade at 7:00 in the morning. 

Until next time, keep on runnin'!