Week 20: Reflections on the Boston Marathon 2012 as a Member of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team

I spent 18 weeks training and fundraising with one specific focus-running the 2012 Boston Marathon in an effort to honor a little boy named Josh by raising funds to support Dana Farber’s ultimate goal- a world without cancer. I entered this challenge as one person, but very quickly I realized I was part of this amazing team of over 500 runners and many volunteers and supporters.  I knew this was an enormous undertaking and as the weeks passed and I participated in our weekly team runs, I learned of so many others who have been personally touched by cancer. I also found that as people learned about my effort, they would share their personal stories with me.  This was a constantly reminded of the importance of our collective effort. As the weekend before the marathon approached, I had no idea just how intense of an experience this would be and the many ways it would forever change me.

Marathon Weekend Begins with the BAA Warnings

It all began when the weather reports were predicting above average temperatures ranging anywhere from the 80’s to the 90’s. Quite honestly, this was not a major concern for me at first because I actually do not mind warmer temperatures. Although, I have never run a marathon in these predicted temperatures so I did listen to the many warnings which the Boston Athletic Associate began sending out as the marathon was approaching. The warnings the sent to all runners included the following:

§The weather conditions will involve an increased element of risk to all participants due to the heat.  Only the fittest runners should consider participating.  
§We are now making the recommendation that if you are not highly fit, you should NOT run this race.
§ Inexperienced marathoners should not run.
§Those who have only trained in a cooler climate should also not run.
§Those who decide to run should take significant precautions.  Run at a slower pace and maintain hydration.  Take frequent walk breaks.  This is not a day to run a personal best.  Speed can kill.
§For the overwhelming major of those who have entered, you should adopt the attitude that THIS IS NOT A RACE.

Wow! These warnings were pretty serious and had a lot of people worried. In fact over 4,500 runners decide not to participate and deferred their participation to next year. For me, it was never a question of if I would still run. I would be cautious but I was still not overly concerned. I would simply run slow and listen to my body. This is something I learned a lot about during training. I also would be sure to hydrate, use GU and other things to keep me feeling ok. I also would need to make major adjustments to my expectations as it related to time. My training had me prepared to run in approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes and that was adding in a bit of time to be sure I walked swiftly through water stops. However, all of the experts were saying that we could expect to add up to an hour onto our projected times. I was not thrilled with this, especially after training so much. Who would be? However, I listened. It was more important to me to run smart and enjoy the experience than to push for a time and end up in a medical tent. After all, I did not begin this journey wanting to run a marathon in a particular time. I was running to honor a little boy named Josh by raising money for Dana Farber-this had nothing to do with how long it would take me. So I kept my focus on the why I was running as opposed to all the things that I had no control over such as the weather.

The EXPO

I had planned to go to the Expo to pick up my number on Saturday. This was after the advice of a friend who has run many marathons. She had suggested going on Saturday so I would be able to enjoy it and this would leave Sunday as a rest day so I could be off my feet. This was excellent advice. It was arriving at the EXPO that I think I realized what a major event I was participating in. It was amazing to drive into Boston and to feel the energy that seemed to have taken over the entire city. I arrived at the Expo Center and was thrilled to find parking right away. I was meeting my friend from college, Annie, who was also running. There were so many people. I am not sure why this surprised me. I knew that there were 27,000 people registered to run. I guess I just never really thought about what 27,000 people looked like or what it would mean to organize for 27,000 people and their families to arrive in a city and to pick up their race packets. The organization was unbelievable. As I waited for Annie, I just watched all the people who were carrying orange bags. These were the Boston Athletic Association Bags that runners would use to put their belongings in at the starting line so they could be brought to the finish line. All of these people had spent the last several months or more training to run Boston and the BAA organized everything. Wow, is really all I can say. Below is a picture of the number pick up.

I think the highlight of the Expo for me was getting to meet and have my picture taking with Team Hoyt-Dick and his son Rick. If you are not familiar with their story I would suggest you check it out. Here is a link to Team Hoyt’s website http://www.teamhoyt.com/. If you are seeking inspiration you will surely find it! I know just having the few moments I had with them made any concerns of the heat seem like a challenge but one we would conquer.

The Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Pasta Dinner

The Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team hosts a pasta dinner as a way to bring the team together to prepare for the challenge in front of us. Very early on first time runners were told this was an event that should not be missed. I was very excited because my dear friend Matt was flying in to see the marathon. I was running in memory of his nephew Josh. My friend Annie who was also running would attend. I was not prepared for just how intense this experience would be. When we arrived at the Marriot Copley and took the escalators to the floor where the pasta dinner was being held, we saw the red shirts everywhere. These were the Dana Farber volunteer shirts. It was just another reminder of how many people are collectively working to support this effort and Dana Farber’s ultimate goal-a world without cancer. Then as we got off the escalator and walked down the hall the walls were filled with “In Honor of Cards.” These were cards that all the runners filled out and had the names of people for whom they were running. My nieces Marlee and Rori decorated my “In Honor of Cards.” They decorated one for Josh and they also decorated one for anyone who listed a name on my fundraising page.

It was enough to stop you. “How could there be so many cards?” I thought to myself. There are just so many. I also kept thinking to myself that while this was “so many” this was only the people who were connected in some way to our 500 team members. I would equate the overwhelming feeling to that I experienced when standing in front of the Vietnam Memorial when you realized that each name represents a person and all the people who love them. My eyes began to fill with tears. I was so glad I was doing this, but in this moment I know longer could tolerate listening to anyone else talking about how they were not going to make their goal pace because of the heat. This seemed like such a small thing to deal with given the enormity of what so many people who were in our presence deal with daily.

We found many of the “In Honor of Cards” that my nieces made and located Josh’s. Then we continue to walk towards the banquet hall. Here we were greeted with poster size pictures of the children who are patient partners with runners. These are children that are currently undergoing treatment and there were also many children who had posters that were once patient partners who lost their battle with cancer and had a runner running in their memory. Matt and I just looked down the long hallway and both had tears in our eyes. There were just so many. One is too many. This is why I was running. Many of these children and their families would be at Mile 25 to cheer us on as we entered our last 1.2 miles of the marathon. It is all the inspiration one needs.

As we entered the banquet room I could not believe how many people were there. I guess with 500 runners and their families I should have expected this. I was very excited to connect with some of my teammates that I had met either through our team runs or through Daily Mile (Linn, Kevin, Megan, Betti, Kate, Karen, Heather and many others). So many of these people I did not know when this all started had become such an important part of my training and inspiration. One of my teammates-Dennis Moran who has been fundraising for Dana Farber for 18 years provided an additional dose of inspiration. Here is a quick video about his journey. This was played at the dinner. Again, I was reminded that while we needed to be cautious of the challenges with the heat, we were running for such a greater purpose- supporting Dana Farber’s Ultimate goal- a world without cancer. In many ways, having arrived ready to run and having raised all the money we had was the larger victory.

When dinner was over, it was time to focus on getting a good night sleep and making sure everything was ready to go for an early morning departure from Boston. Annie, Matt and I returned to the Park Plaza where we were staying. Once again, I was not prepared for the range of emotions I would experience. When we arrived back at the hotel, Matt had a letter from his sister (Josh’s mom) for me. It was a beautiful letter and again a reminder of the reasons that I was running. I found an extra zip lock bag so I could put the letter in it and carry it with me as I made the trek from Hopkinton to Boston. I was so aware that while within 24 hours I would be finished the Boston Marathon, yet when the 24 hours is over and we have completed the Marathon, so many families pain and struggle with cancer would continue.  I had learned so much about cancer, the many people who have been impacted by it and the amazing research that is happening at Dana Farber, and I found myself hearing the words of Robert Frost that echoed in my mind as I started this journey, “and miles to go before I sleep.” We are making great strides, but we still have a long way to go.

Monday April 16, 2012 Josh’s 2^nd Anniversary and Boston Marathon 2012

I began my day with a facebook post about why I was running. Today I honor a boy named Josh. I also asked people to remember or think of someone who had been impacted by cancer. In hind sight, while my intent was good, anyone who has been impacted does not need a reminder to think of the impact of cancer. They live with the reminders everyday. Here I was reminded of the luxury that comes with being able to think of Cancer or any other disease as a “cause” that needs funding as opposed to a “reality” that one lives with daily. Again, I was reminded of the importance of our collective efforts because cancer is so much more than a cause, it is a reality for so many.

Imagine getting 20,000 people to one destination within several hours. Annie and I made our way to busses as we walked with crowds of runners. It was amazing how 30 plus busses would pull up at a time and runners would be loaded onto them. Once they were full, another 30 or so busses would pull up. Wow! Again I was amazed at the organization required for such an event. The ride took about 45 minutes or so. We were dropped of at Athletes Village. Here runners from all over were hydrating and getting ready to run Boston! This is where Annie and I would part ways. I needed to make my way to the Dana Farber Meeting area. This is when I realized I did not write down where it was. Leave it to me to forget such an important detail. Lucky for me, I quickly spotted a Dana Farber shirt and this teammate had a map in hand. Here name was Marlo and I was very fortunate to have found her. We both made our way to the Dana Farber Meeting area just in time for the team picture. This was the first time that all team members were present. It was an amazing feeling to be part of a sea of Dana farber team shirts who were all running for such an important effort. See team picture below.

The Boston Marathon 2012-Learning to Listen

Throughout my training, I organized my weekly blogs around a theme or idea that stuck out. As I think about the actual running of the Marathon, one thing really stuck out to me and that is learning to listen. Now throughout the race this took many forms for me. At the very beginning it was simply learning to listen to the experts and their advice. We needed to make major adjustments to our race plans. While this was more challenging for some, listening to those who are experienced is important. Listening to your self is also important. While for me, it was never a question of whether I should run, many runners had to make a difficult choice to not run. This could not have been easy to do. Anyone who has trained for a marathon knows the many hours, the many miles and the many sacrifices that are required to be prepared for the one race day. However, for many this choice was about being smart. In cooler temperatures runners who were not feeling 100% could have pushed through with less risk. The added challenges due to temperature would put many at risk as evidenced by the 2500 that ended up in medical tents and the many that were transported to hospitals. I honor the courage of the many runners that had to make the diffcult decision tnot to run or stop running. The smart decision is often the hardest to make.

I also found it incredibly helpful to listen to the voices of supporters and this include those we knew and those we did not know. It was amazing how motivating it was to hear a supporter or a stranger call out and say “go Kerry, you can do this!” or “Kerry, you look strong.” As someone who often runs with headphones, I was amazed at how much feeling connected to those around me helped. Again, I will add the importance of listening to experts as well as your self. As we ran through each water stop, I heard in my head the voices of many “stay hydrated.” As my teammates and I ran through each water stop we were sure to stay hydrated and this certainly helped. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement and to not feel thirsty early on. We made sure we drank at every water stop. It was so wonderful to see friends and family along the way. Just knowing that you were there helped to pull us along.

Part of listening to myself was reframing what I needed to hear. This was regulating my own self talk. For example, early on my teammates and I reminded each other to stay slow and steady. We also kept telling each other that while we trained and were capable of going faster that the heat was outside of our control and that we were really just going to take in the experience. After all we were running for Dana Farber which has been such an honor. It was not about our time, but our effort to support a world without cancer. This was not just about reframing, it was also about acceptance. I was reminded that we may dream of running in ideal conditions and we can train and prepare to the best of our ability, but in the final hour we have no control over what conditions will exist on any given day. Sounds a lot like life. We also needed to give ourselves permission to incorporate walk breaks. Sometimes we know what we need to do, yet it is hard to surrender to that. Below is a picture of me with my two teammates Heather and Linn. I am so grateful to both of them for our many training runs, for running the majority of the marathon together, and most importantly for our friendships that emerged from our shared experience.

Finishing with Gratitude

My journey to the marathon was many things. Easy was not one of them. However, I am not one that is drawn to easy so that suited me just fine. Throughout this journey I began my blog posts with a fundraising update and with gratitude for the many of you that have supported our collective effort. I find it most fitting to end this post with gratitude.  Below is a picture of family and friends who were there as we passed through Welleseley and then again when I turned the corner onto Boylston Street and crossed the finish line. Thank you! I know it was a hot day for spectators too! Thank you to the many other friends and family who were out there that I did not capture in a picture! You made such a difference!


Over the past 18 weeks we raised over $15,000 to support a world without cancer. This would not have been possible without the many people who made contributions, offered words of encouragement, volunteered their time at group runs, and shared their personal experiences that kept me going when I most needed a little boost. I am so filled with gratitude for all that you have done to not only dream a better world but to take action to see that one day we do live in a world without cancer. A world without cancer does not happen over night. Like running a marathon, or raising over $15,000 to support cancer research, It happens one mile and one donation at a time. Together we will get there. Thank you for being a part of this important effort and sharing this journey with me!

With Gratitude,

Kerry D

Week 19: We Did It! We raised over $15,000 and I Finished the Boston Marathon

It was a hot day to run a marathon but it was a day with a purpose. We raised over $15,000 to support cancer research and Dana Farber' Ultimate Goal- A world without Cancer- and I completed the Boston Marathon! Below is a picture as I approached the finish line. Thank you to everyone for your support, encouragement, and generosity. Together we acomplished so much! I will be providing a final blog post once I have gathered all my thoughts! For now, I am enjoying some rest and relaxation!

With gratitude,
Kerry D

Week 18: Arriving and Remembering

It is here. We have arrived. Tomorrow at this time I will be moving with my Dana Farber Marathon Teammates towards Corral 6 in wave three (10:40am) as we prepare to begin our long awaited trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Throughout this journey I have thought a lot about the passage of time and have written about it on several occasions. Sometimes it has been the “hurry up and wait” experience of time. Other times it has been the “are we ever going to get there” experience with time. Sometimes it is the “I want this to last forever” experience.  Today, it is “I cannot believe we are here.” I am always taken with the paradox of an arrival. It in many ways is both an end and a beginning. We have many logged miles behind us and our training is complete, yet we have a 26.2 mile journey remaining. We are ready. We are strong. Today we remember why we run.

 Fundraising Update

As I have done every week, I will start with a fundraising update. Once again, you have helped me shatter every goal we have set together. This past week we crossed the $15,000 raised. As of today we have $15,285 and I still have checks to send in. WOW!!! I am in awe of the generosity of so many family, friends, co-workers and supporters. It is a clear reminder to me of the power of community when everyone chips in what they can for a better world. Our efforts are directly supporting Dana Farber’s Ultimate Goal- A world without cancer. Over the past 18 weeks I have learned from many of you how cancer has touched your lives and for many of you, Dana Farber played a critical role. Please accept my deepest gratitude for your support and for sharing your stories with me. It really has helped keep me going. Our efforts are making a difference!

Remembering

As I pack my bags and get my gear all together, I cannot stop and think of how this journey started and the reason I am running. Two years ago tomorrow, my dear friend Matt, lost his beautiful nephew to Ewing’s Sarcoma. The strength and courage of Josh as he faced this horrible disease and the strength, courage and commitment of my friend Matt and his sister and their entire family will forever be an example for me of enduring love. While I have run many miles in the last 4 months in honor of Josh’s memory, this pales in comparison to the journey Josh and his family faced. I cannot even imagine what that was like or what it is like to continue to live with his loss. So today while many are worrying about the heat predicted for tomorrow or the 26.2 miles that await us, I am simply honoring the memory of a very special boy named Josh, his family and my friend Matt, whom I love so completely. I will draw strength from their courage, and continued strength as they live each day remembering and honoring Josh.

In thinking about how this journey started, I actually found the email that I sent to my friend Matt and I thought I would share it because it certainly evidences the passage of time as well as the power of deciding to do something and how in time, it is possible to arrive. I wrote this email to Matt the day after watching the Boston Marathon last year on heartbreak hill.

April 19, 2011

Hello, Matt.

I am sorry I missed your call yesterday. I was in at the Boston Marathon. It was so exciting. My cousin ran and finished which was great! I have an idea that I want to run by you and see what you think. I was so inspired by all the runners yesterday and I kept thinking to myself that I want to do this race again and then kept finding reasons why I did not think I can. Then I saw all the people running by running in memory of someone for either Dana Farber or Childrens Hospital. I kept finding myself thinking of Josh and his battle and how strong he was and how strong you were to be right there with him. Of course I was on Heartbreak hill which truly tests one’s endurance. Perhaps this is why you and Josh were with me all day as I stood on the hill.  It was so inspiring. Anyway, I found myself thinking that I would like to run in honor of Josh and in honor of your commitment to him-sticking by his side when it was so tough. You endured many heartbreak hills. When I got home I started looking and actually inquired for information from Dana Farber and then realized that next year, the Marathon falls on April 16^th and I thought if this was something that you and your sister were ok with, I would really like to see if I can get accepted to run next year on the Dana Farber team in Josh’s honor. Clearly you guys would need to be ok with this and I would also need to apply and get accepted. I would also have a lot of training to get me to that level, but it is something that I think I can do if I work hard enough and stay the course. You would be my inspiration because you have such endurance!!

Love you,

Kerry

So here we are… it is April 15, 2012 and I will be running the Boston Marathon in memory of Joshua Navez Mejia.  Matt and his sister were ok with me running in Josh’s honor. As I hoped, I was selected to run as a member of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team. I trained hard over the course of the last 18 weeks and am ready to run 26.2 miles in whatever the weather brings and more importantly we have raised over $15,000 to support cancer research and Dana Farber’s ultimate goal- A world without cancer. My run and all the money raised will not bring Josh back. However, my hope is to simply honor his journey, his strength and his memory. So when I lace up my sneakers tomorrow and face the heat, the hills, and the 26.2 miles that separates Hopkinton from Boston, I will be thinking about Josh, his mom, his family and especially my dear friend Matt! I honor all of you more than you could ever know. I also will be thinking of the many people who have shared their stories with me. Cancer is a horrible disease and so many of you faced it and continue to face it with such courage. It will be the collective courage and strength of all of you and the support I have received from so many loved ones that will be pulling me with gravitational forces towards the finish! Thank you for sharing this journey with me!

With Gratitude,

Kerry D

Race Information:

If anyone is interested in tracking me during the race my bib number is 23121. My start time is 10:40am.You can receive text messages by texting the word RUNNER to 345678. This will then send you text alerts when I pass the 10K (6.2 miles), 13.1 miles, 30K (18.6 miles) and Finish line 26.2 miles. You can also see updates on the Boston Athletic Association Website by entering my bib number. They will provide updates every 5K (3.1 mile).

Week 17: Learning to Stretch

As I sit down and begin to write this week’s blog, I find that simply typing week 17 has a way of making my eyes pop out of my head and brings me to a halt thinking, can we really be this close? I have to be honest, in many ways it has felt as if April 16^th- the actual day of the Boston Marathon-is like a mirage in the desert. I have often found my mind wandering and thinking will we every actually get there? As of today I have logged 469 training miles since December 12^th. The reality is that ten days from now, this 18 week journey to the Boston Marathon will have become a lasting memory packed with so many lessons learned. In many ways this journey has formed a sort of tapestry of stories and lessons for me. Some of the lessons are about running. Some of the lessons are about living. Some of the lessons are about cancer. Some of the lessons are from people I know. Some of the lessons are from those whom I have only met in listening to the telling and retelling of their stories. The thread that weaves all the stories together seems to be our collective effort to dream a world without cancer-one step, one mile and one donation at a time.  This week my lesson has focused on learning to stretch. I guess there is truth in the expression that “it is better late than never.” 

Fundraising Update:

Each week I do like to start with an update on fundraising. After all, raising money to support Dana Farber’s Ultimate goal- a world without cancer is why I run so many miles. Each week I continue to be filled with such gratitude for the support I have received and for the difference I know we are collectively making. Yes I am getting tired and sometimes even cranky from all the miles. However, each time I feel tired I am reminded by so many who are dealing with cancer just how important this is. So while I do not like asking people for money, this has been different because I am not just asking people for money. I am asking people to contribute to an effort that will make the world better for all. This is something that I believe we all should be doing. So, again please accept my deepest gratitude for your support. Also, I thank those who may not have been able to contribute to this effort, but who are contributing to making the world a better place in other ways. The key is that we all do what we think we can and perhaps sometimes push ourselves to stretch to do a little bit more.

As of today we have $14,361 posted to my fundraising page. However, once the checks that have been mailed in are posted we will be at $14,836. This means we will be $164 away from hitting the ultimate stretch goal of raising $15,000 to support cancer research. WOW! This is pretty amazing. While I am certainly someone who sets the bar high and works like a crazy person to reach the goals I set, this has only been possible because of the incredibly generosity of all of you. My initial goal was $5000 however it was friends, family and colleagues that very quickly showed me that the bar was not high enough. Last week I wrote about the power of community. Well, the success we have met with fundraising has only been possible because of community. Thank you for being part of a community committed to a world without cancer.

Learning to Stretch

Sometimes it is the final steps of a journey that are the most challenging. I have been pretty lucky over the last 17 weeks and have not experienced any major set backs during our training. Who would guess that after last week’s 15 mile tapering run that my hip and knee would start to bother me. Yes, that is right after getting all these miles logged my knee and hip started to hurt quite a bit. I very quickly started reading about what type of strain it could be and how I could fix it-quick. From a quick review of running websites I guessed that my ITB band was probably tight and acting up a bit. The discomfort moved from my hip down to my knee. It was nothing terrible, but it was enough to raise my level of concern. The answers I found were to stretch, ice and rest. At this point in the game I was not taking any chances. I took it really easy and did a lot of stretching. As the week went on, it really felt better. Now I have to be honest. I know stretching is important but it is not something I have ever done regularly. My muscles get really tight and to even attempt to stretch usually does not feel like I am stretching so I usually skip it.

Here is where the concept of stretching became my lesson for the week. It made sense in so many ways. First, on a very basic level the physical act of stretching is something that helps relieve our tight muscles. It is something we know we need to do, but I am sure I am not alone when I say I often skip this. It is also something that requires consistent effort. This is something that should not have been unfamiliar to me as I logged so many miles. Also, stretching is something that we improve upon in small increments. I shared that I often do not stretch because I feel as if I am not flexible. Well, we become flexible through stretching. I saw this happen this week. The first day I attempted to stretch I looked more like I was standing with a slight bend. The more time I spent and the more I stretched the farther I could reach and the better my hip and knee felt.  Here is where the act of stretching moved from a physical exercise I was engaged in to a meaningful metaphor.

Stretching as a Metaphor

As I stretched a lot this week, I was reminded that “stretching” has really been what this last 17 weeks has been about.  All aspects of this journey have been about stretching to reach beyond what at first seems impossible. For me, I was not sure I could run 26.2 miles. I certainly did not imagine we would raise $15,000. Yet, I wanted so badly to honor the memory of a little boy named Josh who lost his battle with cancer 2 years ago on April 16^th and running with Dana Farber on the anivesary of his passing seemed like a promising way to do that. Still I was not sure this was within reach. However, one step at time, one mile, and one donation at time has brought us 10 days out from the marathon and I am so ready.  A dear friend sent me a quote today as inspiration and it is very fitting here. Joan of Arc said, “I am not afraid, I was born to do this.” While I am not sure I was born to run marathons, I am certainly not afraid, I am ready and I am strong! So on marathon monday I will summons the strength of so many and Joan of Arc has been added to the list(Thank you Kathy).  I have run 469 miles and together we have raised almost $15,000 to support Dana Farber’s Ultimate Goal. If that is not evidence of the power of stretching, I am not sure what is.

I would like to share a brief video that I find incredibly motivation and I think in many ways connects to the metaphor of stretching. The video is done by a motivational company and this is just a quick clip. 212 degrees is the temperature where water turns to steam. Here it represents a sort of attitude that embodies going that extra step. The brief video shows that it is often a small distance that separates those who win and those who take second place and a degree that can power steam engines. Again, I am drawing on the metaphor rather than the intensity of winning first place. The elite athletes have nothing to worry about. I start almost 40 minutes after they do. I am totally kidding. I do start at least 40 minutes after them, but even if we started at the same time they could probably run two marathons in the time it will take me to run one. However, the message in the video is to push yourself that little bit further than you think you can. Sometimes things are not so far outside your reach.

I will add complexity to the metaphor. Sometimes the metaphorical degree which separates the hot water from boiling water is the hardest degree to stretch too. While in science a degree may be an equal measurement, in training and life the space that exists between our personal milestones are not always equally measured and if the space were equal, the effort required to cover such ditance would not be. In fact, I would argue that sometimes it is the final push to a new threshold (the space that moves hot water to steam and powers engines) that requires the most effort. Here I will return to a place of gratitude for all those in my life that have supported me on this journey. It is your generosity and support that has fuelled my motivation, my fundraising and my running. In many ways you are my 212 degrees. While you may not think one donation can lead to a world without cancer, I believe it can and it will. One degree makes a difference and can power steam engines. I like to think the same of one donation. Thank you for being part of an effort to support Dana Farber’s Ultimate goal- a world without cancer. You are the difference that our world needs.

With Gratitude,

Kerry D

Week 16: The Power of Community

As I sit here and type, the birds are chirping. It is after dinner and it is still light outside. Spring has arrived, or at least we think she has. Since we began our training, I have run 441 miles. Just typing that makes me tired. Once again I am reminded of the passage of time and the power of progress when you move towards a goal one step at a time. It is hard for me to believe that we are only two weeks away from the Boston Marathon. While last week we completed our longest run, today’s 15 mile run marks the end of my long runs until the Marathon. Of course at this point everything is relative. I will have a 10-12 mile run next weekend but with all the miles we have been logging 10-12 miles seems like a short run. I am not sure how this happens. At one point 10-12 miles was a long run. However, after months of training with incredible support it is really amazing what the human body can do.

Me,Zach Dubuc, and Steve Poirer volunteering at Shifter's 5K Dana Farber Fundraiser

Fundraising Update
I have always started my blog posts with an update on our fundraising progress and in many ways this is deeply connected to my theme this week-the power of community. As of today, I have $14,291 posted to my account and there are an additional $450 worth of checks that I have sent in that will be posted soon. This brings us to a grand total of $14,741. This means we are $249 away from $15,000. If you have not yet donated, now is a perfect time to help get us to our destination. For those who have donated and given support in the ways that you can, there are not words that could adequately express my complete gratitude for the incredibly support that I have received. Community is at the core this support.  While I appreciate the support in my fundraising efforts because I believe Dana Farber is a cutting edge hospital where researchers are doing amazing work, I have been so touched by the many stories so many of you have shared about the ways in which cancer has touched your life. I also feel even more committed to my fundraising and running because so many of you have also shared how Dana Farber has impacted you or your family.

This for me is the real deal. “A world without cancer” is not just a catchy slogan for Dana Farber. It is a goal which they are working towards with laser like focus.  Each of your donations and the stories you have shared have become part of our community effort to help Dana Farber see their goal realized. So it is with a heart felt thanks that I say-you are making a difference in the lives of families today and families of tomorrow. I really wish that so many of us did not have such connections to Dana Farber, but if we must face cancer we must do so with every resource possible. Thank you for being the resource driving change for a better tomorrow-one without cancer.

The Power of Community

Community makes so much possible. This is an idea that has really echoed loudly throughout my experience training for the marathon and especially doing so with the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team. As Margaret Mead so wisely said “A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. In fact, that is the only thing that ever has.” Each week throughout my training, I have been reminded of the power of a group of people who may not see themselves as changing the world, but at least recognize that they can make a difference. This is community in action and it has many faces.

 Long Runs with Teammates

Over the last 16 weeks I have been so inspired by so many of my teammates and the many reasons for which they run. Perhaps it is this connection that adds such meaning to our long runs. It really gives perspective to the challenge of the long run when you hear some of the stories of the challenges so many of our extended community (those for whom we run) have faced or continued to face. Suddenly it makes the rising hill that awaits us seem small. There really is something magical about spending 2-3 hours and sometimes more with a group of people who are running with purpose- a world without cancer. Sure, we focus on pace. We talk about the importance of hydration and strive for negative splits as our coach Jack so wisely advises. We talk about the events of the week between runs. However, on all of our team runs I have learned how many lives cancer has touched-one life is too many. I am a better runner for having trained with them, but more importantly I am a better person for having shared time and stories with them.

Teammates on Daily Mile

In addition to my teammates with whom I have shared many miles with, I have also experienced community with a number of teammates on Daily Mile- a social networking site where we log our miles and give each-other support. It is really amazing how logging your miles each day and each week can seem monotonous. However, when I log it on daily mile it is quickly followed with a response from some of my other teammates who are also working towards their goals. I have meet several teammates in-person at team runs or races, but it is amazing how this online community has provided support for me. Perhaps it is the shared experience. Perhaps it is simply knowing that you are not alone. We have celebrated small wins together. Sometimes it is a great workout or a run at a pace we did not think possible. Sometimes it is connected to our fundraising. Sometimes, it is sharing the cumulative pains of logging so many miles each week. However, again, the power of community is reinforced for me. I am stronger both mentally and physically because I have shared my weekly training with this community.

Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Volunteers

The Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team volunteers have made the long runs possible. I was reminded of this today as a fellow teammate and attempted to log 16 miles without the organized and perfectly spaced water stops. Today I struggled with hydration. Yet, it was our DFMC community that allowed me to run with a teammate today instead of running alone. It is not just the water and Gatorade on the organized runs that these volunteers provide. It is the support and encouragement and their shared stories that makes our runs more meaningful. I always make sure to thank the volunteers because quite honestly I am not sure I could have been as successful on my long runs without them. Once again, I was stronger because of their presence. Community is what makes things possible and the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team is not jus the runners. The volunteers work just has hard and make just as much of a commitment. Many of them give up their Saturday’s or Sundays all over the course of the 18 weeks of training. I will say that is something special. I am a stronger runner and a better person because of the time and dedication of the volunteers.

Family and Supporters

Our families, friends and our supporters play an amazing role in supporting our efforts and in making Dana Farber’s Ultimate Goal- A world without Cancer possible. You are patient with us when we are tired and when our training schedules demands more time than we might have. You ask us how training is going or how many miles we logged over the weekend. You encourage us and remind us of the importance of our efforts when we may have had a not so great run and are feeling less the confident. You take the time to share your personal connection to our efforts which adds fuel to the flame that keeps us going. You give so generously to make meeting our fundraising goals possible.

 Making a Difference

I will end this weeks post by sharing the starfish story which is by Loren Eisely because I think it adds to the words of Margaret Mead nicely and speaks to the gratitude I have for the many ways so many of you have made a difference in my journey over the last 16 weeks.  

The Starfish Story

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?” The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out.  If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” “Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach  and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!” After listening politely,   the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf.  Then, smiling at the man, he said “I made a difference for that one.”

When people come together as a community and do what they can to make a difference, it is amazing what can happens The starfish story is for anyone who believes that in this big world in which we live that they alone, can not make a difference-you can. It is also for all of you who have given $5, $25, $100 or whatever amount you were able to give. It is for my teammates with whom I have run who have made the miles a little more possible. It is for the volunteers who provided me with the hydration and more importantly the encouragement and their stories. It is for my family, friends and co-workers who have stepped up in so many ways to help support Dana Farber’s ultimate goal-a world without cancer- and in honor of a courageous boy named Josh who lost his life way to early to cancer. It is in your memory that I run and we will have raised $15,000 to support cancer research. That is the power of community and making a difference.

With gratitude,

Kerry D