I am not sure where this training season has gone. We
are now just 21 days away from the running of the Boston Marathon 2014 and I cannot
believe I have only posted twice to my blog. I am not sure if life has simply
been too busy to write or if in some way the emotional journey back to Boylston
Street has created a bit of writers block. It is probably a little bit of both.
However, after yesterday’s training run with my DFMC teammates, I feel
compelled to try to capture in words all that I experienced and continue to
experience on this journey. I will first start with the fundraising update
because after all, this is why I run. As of today, we have $9,523 posted to my fundraising page. This is $5,098 more than when
I last posted in January. I am so grateful for the continued support in my
efforts to raise funds for Dana Farber. Together we are making a huge
difference. We still have a way to go! I am just over $5000 away from my goal
of $15,000. I am confident that if everyone who is able does what they can, we
will get there.
Why
I Continue to Run
Many of you know I began running with the Dana
Farber Marathon Challenge Team as a way to honor my dear friend, Matt’s nephew
who had lost his courageous battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma. Josh would be 16 this
year. I wanted so much to do something in honor of Josh and my friend Matt and his family. My good
friend and running buddy, Sandy Dubuc suggested I run for Dana Farber. Sandy and
her husband Johnny had run with the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team just
one year after losing their son Matty. On our many runs I had learned so much
about Matty, the Dubuc Family’s courage, compassion and resilience and how the
Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team was working hard to raise funds to support
cutting edge research with one main goal- a world without cancer. I knew this
was something that I needed to do. Disclaimer: I really had no desire to run a
marathon again, I was incredibly nervous about fundraising, and did not know anyone
else who would be running. For those that know Sandy, she has this way of
inspiring others through her own actions. Without too much thought, I submitted
my application and was later accepted onto the team. And so it began...
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| 2014 Boston Marathon Singlet |
In 2012 I met some of the most amazing people. I
learned a lot about the commitment and compassion required to make the world a
better place it both words and actions. I learned that we are often stronger than we think we are. I
learned that there is a space beyond the “wall” or whatever obstacle or
challenge lies in front of us even if we are not able to see it. I learned that
things worth doing are often hard and we
should do them anyway. I realized that we are often the ones to set limits on
ourselves and what we think is possible and that when we learn to push this
capacity we discover endless possibilities. I learned that challenges are
opportunities to get stronger. I realized that when people come together and
work towards a common goal-we can make the world a better place. I was also reminded that while we may not always have control over what happens to us, how we respond is always our choice. To my
surprise, I ran in record heat and raised over $15,000. While, I only intended
on running once with Dana Farber, I realized the collective power of the funds
I could raise by simply committing to train and run the marathon. For as many lives
that have been devastated by Cancer’s destruction, I also know that the work at
Dana Farber is drastically improving the treatment, care and survival rates of
those battling cancer. How could I not return and do my part? I chose to continue to be part of this powerful effort.
Back
at It…
Year two (2013) with Dana Farber was a challenging training
season. I was sick several times and it was a struggle. I had issues with my IT
band and quite frankly I often thought there has got to be an easier way. However,
I was so aware of the luxury of such an idea. Families dealing with Cancer
cannot simply choose to not have fighting Cancer be part of their every day. I did
not have to look far for the reminders of the many people around me that deal
with Cancer each and every day. A dose of perspective and I continued with what I could do. I ran and
raised funds and I ran some more and continued to ask for support. It was not
always pretty and most often it was not. I was driven by one thing…raising
funds to support Cancer Research. Once again, I (with the help of many) raised
over $15,000 for a total of over $30,000 raised in two short years.
April 15, 2013 is a day I will never forget. I was lucky. I was not injured and did not
have an immediate family members or friends injured. However, I will never
forget what it was like to be trapped by fear of knowing bombs had gone off and
not being able to reach my loved ones. I remember the sounds of sirens, the
hands of strangers who reached out to help, the many first responders and
volunteers who did whatever they could to make those of us out on the course
feel safe. I knew I had to return. As I wrote in my post a few days following
the 2013 Boston Marathon, “I
will return to run the Boston Marathon in 2014 as a member of the Dana Farber
Marathon Challenge Team, not because I need to finish the 26.2 miles or because
I want a medal but because I believe that goodness always wins over evil and
this is how we do it. As the week went on I realized how very lucky I was. I
will honor those who were not as lucky by letting this experience soften my
heart rather than harden it. I will move from the feeling of being touched by
terror to the memory of being touched by tenderness by so many who with courage
and compassion showed the best of our humanity. I too will work to show the best
of humanity in all that I do.”
Back
at it again…Boston Strong 2014
Yesterday, we logged our last and longest training
run of the season. It was a 20-22 mile run along the marathon course starting
at Boston College and running out to Natick and back. This is a great
simulation of the actual marathon because we hit the hills of Newton at just
about the same mileage as we do the day of the marathon. My training buddy Steve and I did just shy of
22 miles and for the most part felt good. The inspiration on the course carried
us.
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| Be Good. Be Strong. Don't Stop Believing. |
Our team run started with a talk from my dear friend
Sandy, who surrounded by her family, told Matty’s story and how cancer had and
continues to impact their entire family. Sandy asked us to focus our attention
on the siblings of those battling Cancer and who have lost their lives to
Cancer because as Sandy says “cancer is a family journey.” She reminded us of
the many things that Chris and Zachery have had to face while Matty battled
Cancer and how they continue to face life without their brother Matty. Sandy
also recognized my teammate Jennie Sheridan, who lost three of her siblings to
Cancer. Jennie runs in their memory and like the Dubuc's works hard to raise awareness and funds for Cancer Research. The main message in Sandy’s talk included Jennie’s family’s “Be Good.
Be Strong” and Team Matty’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” It is important to note
that Sandy is out there every Saturday morning to volunteer throughout the cold
of the winter. She is so inspiring!
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| Steve, Matty, Kerry and Sandy: Wearing our blue! |
Once out on the course, you could not help but feel
inspired. There were thousands of runners out there getting in their final long
run before the Marathon. There were many high fives exchanged. The words of
encouragement shared by strangers as they ran by saying “you got this”, “way to
go Dana Farber” or simply “nice job!” The many volunteers who held signs that
read “Boston Strong” and who had water stops. The Dana Farber Volunteers who
have been out there all winter in the cold keeping us hydrated and offering
support and encouragement. The inspiring Dubuc Family and Team Matty who
continue to inspire us all and show us how to honor those we love and make the
world a better place. The Police from Wellesley, Newton, and Boston who helped
direct traffic to keep us safe. The Newton Fire Department who always has water
and opens their doors to runners who had their boots out for donations for the
Boston Firefighters who lost their life this week in the terrible fire on
Boylston Street. The many reminders of those injured last year and how their
spirit and resilience shows us what Boston Strong truly means. Boston Strong is
not just a catchy phrase or a slogan for tee shirts. It is a sense of resilience
and recognition that even if we are down, we will get back up again emerging
even stronger. It is an inner strength and an attitude that is
experienced both individually and as a community. It is demonstrated in
action. It is doing a little more when you think you can’t. It is reaching out
your hand to help a stranger not because it is an obligation, but because it is
simply what we do.
Yesterday,
I ran 22 miles and was carried by the memories of those for whom we run and
their families, the collective energy of all those who were on the course putting
one foot in front of the other, the volunteers, the Police, and Firefighters
who make it possible, the resilience of those who were injured last year who
have met so many challenges with courage and strength, and the many friends,
family and co-workers that make the miles meaningful with their donations.
Thank you for the continued inspiration! If you have not had a chance to donate, please
visit my fundraising page at http://www.runDFMC.org/2014/kerryd
With gratitude and many inspired miles to go,
Kerry D
