Brookline.

Brookline, MA.  According to the city's official Web site, they describe their city as "an unusual urban and suburban enclave surrounded by the City of Boston, just minutes from Back Bay, downtown, and other parts of the city".  For me, Brookline, MA represents 88% of my goal of raising $7,000 for Boston Children's Hospital.  I started this fundraising effort back on the starting line in Hopkinton, MA with .07% raised.  Now, I'm at 88% of my goal which is represented by reaching somewhere along Route 30 (marathon course) within Brookline as shown in the graphic below. 

Thank you to each and every person who has donated to my fundraising effort thus far (listed under "Donors" to the right).  Without your support I would have never made it to this point.  I am truly grateful for your generosity.  I would like to say a special "Thank You" to two recent donors who made very generous donations.  The first is Lynn Turgeon who made a $500 donation.  She supported my fundraising efforts last year as well so I'm truly grateful for her continued generosity and dedication to the children who are being helped by the fundraisers.

The second is Dianne Byrne who donated $1,000 from the proceeds of winning the Brown Rudnick Center for the Public Interest M. Robert Dushman Community Service Award.  As a recipient of this award, Dianne directed Brown Rudnick LLP to make a donation on her behalf to my Boston Children's Hospital Miles for Miracles Boston Marathon fundraiser as well as a donation to the St. Vincent DePaul Society in Dorchester, MA with which she is a very active member.  This is the second year that the Center has been directed to make a donation to my fundraisers as part of the M. Robert Dushman Community Service Award.  I am very grateful to Dianne and the Center for the very kind and generous donations.

The Boston Marathon is only 43 days away.  If you had previously thought about donating to my fundraiser but haven't had a chance yet, you're in luck as you still have time!  If you have already made a donation and want to donate further, you're in luck too.  Please help me complete the last 12% of my goal.  While Brookline is a very nice community, I would really love to reach Boston and the finish line.  I can only do that with your help.  Please consider making a 100% tax deductible donation today: http://fundraise.childrenshospital.org/goto/runner716

I will be announcing a "chance to win" opportunity later this week to help raise additional funds for my Boston Children's Hospital Miles for Miracles fundraiser.  Keep your sneakers tied up, the Gatorade cold and your GPS watch connected to the closest orbiting satellite for more information to come.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!
 

#GivingTuesday

While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are for shopping, Giving Tuesday is all about giving back to a cause you care about.  Please consider making a 100% tax free donation to Boston Children's Hospital as part of my Miles for Miracles 2015 Boston Marathon fundraiser.  All donations made online through this link http://fundraise.childrenshospital.org/goto/runner716 on Tuesday, December 2 will be matched 2 to 1 by a generous donor and New England Acura Dealers.  Please note that only your donation will count towards my fundraising goal but the match will greatly help the hospital with its mission. 

My fundraising goal as part of Boston Children’s Hospital  Miles for Miracles team is $7,000.  Please consider supporting my run, and supporting the Boston Children's Hospital! It is fast and easy to make a 100% tax deductible donation, whether small, large or somewhere in between.

Donations by Credit Card:
Please visit my Children’s Hospital fundraising page: http://fundraise.childrenshospital.org/goto/runner716

I am currently at 22% of my fundraising goal due to all  of the generous donors (listed on the right)who have already made a contribution to my fundraiser.  Thank you all!

 

Thank you in advance for any support that you can provide.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Last Long Run.

Saturday.  Just another weekend day.  The day after Friday and the day before Sunday.  Well, maybe not.  It was the day to take my last long run before the Boston Marathon.

 I knew that I had to get my last long run in this weekend as the marathon is only 3 weeks away now.  The weather forecast was calling for rain this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday.  However, it was going to be rain free Saturday morning.  Saturday morning it was going to be then.  I took the early train in and started my run. 

The weather was gorgeous.  47 degrees and partly sunny.  Perfect weather for shorts, a short sleeve shirt and shades.  I was so excited because I hadn't been able to wear shorts for quite a long time (it's the little things!), it was my last long run and I was trying out three new gels (I'll post about the new gels soon).

 

My intention for yesterday's run was to log 20 miles, focus on staying near race pace, and putting the final touches on my refueling/hydration plan.  I was able to meet my goals and beat my mileage by 2 miles.  I ended up running 22 miles during this session.  The 20 mile mark was approaching and I said to myself that I'm feeling good so let's make it another mile.  The 21 mile mark approached and I did a quick check again.  I was still feeling good and I still had time before I had to head back to catch the train home so I went for it.  I felt really good at the end of it especially saying that I had run 9.25 miles Friday morning (total of 31.25 miles in two days).

I met my goal of staying around my race pace too.  This is something that I work on from time to time but really hadn't focused on too much previously as I usually go for speed over staying at race pace during my training runs.  I had to challenge and prove to myself though that I could be disciplined so that I could finish strong at the end where it really counts.  This is something that is always in the back of my mind from running my first marathon last October.  I started out that race at what I thought was at the right pace but quickly learned, at about mile 17, that I had started way too fast.  I learned from that mistake and will not let it happen again. 

I used this long run to make final adjustments to my refueling/hydration plan as well.  I've decided that I'm going to alternate with Body Glove energy gel and Honey Stinger Ginsting energy gel for the marathon  I found that this combination gives me the energy and mental clarity that I need during my runs.  I also used it as an opportunity to focus on the signs that my body gives me when I need to rehydrate.  The human body is a pretty smart cookie and gives great clues as to when it needs something.  You only have to be smart enough to listen for those clues.

I made a special point during my long run to stop by the scene of the tragic fire that claimed the lives of two Boston firefighters this past Wednesday.  The scene was quiet and a bit eerie.  The only thing that you could hear was a slow "beep... beep... beep" coming from either the charred shell of what once was someone's home or the houses on either side that were impacted by this devastating event.  It made me pause and reflect on what is really important to me in my life.  My heart goes out to all the families that were touched so negatively by this horrible fire.

I also made a special trip over to Boylston street to see the newly painted finish line.  What a sight for sore eyes.  To most, it probably doesn't mean that much at all.  Just some yellow, blue and white paint splashed on the pavement.  To me as a runner, it means so much.  It is the ultimate prize for all of the training.  It is what I've worked so hard for all of these months.  That simple mark on the road is the culmination of such a profound journey.  "Journey".  "Keep on Runnin'".  Wow, I love when they come together like that!

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Fundraising Goal: Met.

Never Surrender.

With a little perseverance
You can get things done
You can never surrender

- Corey Hart

I have fantastic news to report.  Due to the complete generosity of all the people listed under "Donors" on the right side of my blog, I have officially met my Boston Marathon fundraising goal of $5,000 for the Curley K-8 school.  I could not have done this without each and every one of them.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Honored.



CEO Joe Ryan & Myself

I am very honored to have recently received the M. Robert Dushman Community Service Award from the law firm of Brown Rudnick LLP and the Brown Rudnick Center for the Public Interest.  Being nominated for this award was a complete surprise and an honor in and of itself.  Finding out that I was actually receiving it left me speechless.  I am very appreciative to everyone involved with nominating me and voting for me to receive this award.  I am truly grateful.

As part of receiving this award, the firm will be donating $2,500 to the charities of my choice.  I have chosen $1,250 to be donated to the Curley K-8 school who I'm running for in the Boston Marathon.  I have chosen for the other $1,250 to be donated to the Plouffe Academy.  I want to send a very special "Thank You" to Brown Rudnick LLP for their very generous donations on my behalf. 

Thank you also to everyone else who has donated to my Boston Marathon fundraising.  Due to each of you, along with this donation from Brown Rudnick, I am now within $180 of my $5,000 goal.  This is truly amazing and I cannot thank you all enough.  This was such a daunting task when I took it on back in December and I appreciate each and every donation that has been made.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!