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

Week 15: Don't Stop Believing

Week 15 of training is done. I cannot believe that we are now only three weeks away from the Boston Marathon. Over the last 15 weeks I have logged 429 training miles and we have raised $13, 961 with $13,771 posted to my fundraising page. There are still some checks that have not been posted so hopefully they will be reflected on my site soon. It is really amazing how far we have come in just 15 weeks. I am so filled with gratitude for all the family, friends and supporters who have really stepped up to support such an important effort-a world without cancer. Our collective success is only possible because of your support. If you have not had a chance to donate, there is still time. Each donation no matter how big or small brings us a step closer to a world without cancer. Let’s not only hope to see it as possible, let’s strive to see it as probable.  I would actually love to see us hit the $15,000 mark by marathon Monday. If you haven’t already figured it out, I love to push the capacity of what I think is possible. Will you continue to push with me?

Our Final Team Run

Yesterday I completed our final team training run on the Boston Marathon course. We ran 22 miles which was the longest distance that we run with the exception of the marathon on April 16^th. It was a particularly special run for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team and for me personally. Our run yesterday was in honor of a very special boy-Matty Dubuc, whose 5 year angelversary is today-March 25^th. The Dubuc Family has a very special place in my heart and in many ways helped motivate me to want to run for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team as a way to honor the memory of my dear friend Matt’s nephew Josh.  Yesterday the Dubuc family honored Matty by volunteering at one of our water stops which they have done on many of our weekend runs. I wore my “Team Matty” shirt with pride. As we approached the water stop that was at 6 and also 16 we were greeted by the Dubuc Family and other Team Matty friends (Berta and Steve-also former DFMC runners) with a huge picture of Matty with blue balloons and “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey was blaring on the speakers they brought. Here is the team that greeted us.

Team Matty (Sandy, Berta, Zach, Matty, Chris, Steve and Johnny taking the picture)

In week 13 I wrote about seeking inspiration. Well, the Dubuc Family is probably one of the most inspirational families and I am so blessed to know and learn from them. For many who know them, it is hard to even imagine the magnitude of their experience, their pain, their grief, and the loss that lingers with the empty space at their table, in family photos and in memories in the making. However, I am sure I am not alone, when I say that it is hard to think of the Dubuc Family and not immediately hear the song “Don’t Stop Believing” whether it is on the radio or not. Somehow in the midst of their enduring grief, they are filled with such a deep commitment to honoring Matty and each other by making the world a better place, a place without cancer. There are not words to describe the awe I experience when I think of the Dubuc Family and I thought of them a lot yesterday over the course of 22 miles. I will try to find words to express my awe inspired gratitude for such an amazing family.

First and foremost, the Dubuc Family teaches me that a better world and one without cancer is all of our responsibility and there are many ways you can help make this a reality. Did you know that donating one pint of blood can help up to 4 children? Well, I think it is safe to say that the entire UMass Lowell community and anyone that knows the Dubuc Family knows this because they host blood drives for Children’s Hospital throughout the year. So if money is tight, you can donate blood. Just be sure to take your vitamins because one of the top reasons many of us are turned away is low iron. If you cannot donate blood and cash is tight, you can also volunteer for organizations that support a world without cancer. In fact, Dana Farber is looking for volunteers for marathon weekend. If you are interested here is the link to the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge website http://www.kintera.org/htmlcontent.asp?cid=116910.

The Dubuc Family also teaches me the importance of honoring those we have loved and lost. We do this through events but also in the way in which we live our lives. It is by recognizing what really matters in life and while there may be times that we need to sweat the small stuff, most often we do not. Family is what matters.  If you want to follow their story check out the caringbridge website that Sandy keeps up at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/matty.

In many ways I have the Dubuc Family, and in particular Sandy, to thank for bringing me to Dana Farber. I have mentioned that this year’s marathon falls on the anniversary of my dear friend Matt’s nephew for whom I am running. Last year, I so wanted to honor his memory and while I was thinking about the marathon, it seemed like this enormous thing to do.  Last spring Sandy and I ran together and not only did I get to know an amazing and inspiring woman, I also had the privilege of hearing stories about her three amazing boys. All one needs to do is talk to a Dubuc and that which seems impossible suddenly becomes within reach. Needless to say, by early September I was a member of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge 2012 Team committed to raising funds for such an important effort.

Honoring a Special Boy-Matty

As the Dubuc Family spends this weekend honoring Matty, Sandy asked for stories from people who knew Matty or stories of Matty that people found inspiring or that had touched their lives. The first story that came to my mind was a story that Sandy shared. Now, I recognize in the retelling I may have missed details but the meaning that I took from the story is what is important. I remember walking into work one day. Matty had just had surgery to have his arm amputated. I did not know Sandy all that well at the time, however I asked how Matty was doing. Again, I don’t remember all the details, but the story focused on Matty’s positive attitude. Sandy explained that while he had just lost his arm, his response was “I can still ride my bike one handed.”

Matty's picture that greeted us at the water stop and the speakers that played
Don't Stop Believing

 It was this spirit and the spirit of the Dubuc Family that really carried me through my run yesterday. When I felt tired, I thought of their relentless spirit and it really carried me over the hills. I was so aware that our running to support cancer research is incredibly important and it is so much more than a worthy cause or organization. We are running for real families whose lives are so impacted by such a devastating disease.  However, I must be honest as I felt inspired by their strength; I also became so aware that as tired as I felt I would be able to rest when I was done. My feet hurt, but the hurt would go away. I kept thinking that for the Dubuc family and my friend Matt’s family, the hurt may change over the years, but it does not go away. So while yesterday’s run honored a very special boy named Matty Dubuc (and the strength of his family), it was in honoring his memory that I was reminded how incredibly important our efforts are in supporting Dana Farber’s ultimate Goal- A world without cancer. Thank you to everyone who continues to support such important work and a very special thank you this week to the Dubuc Family-Sandy, Johnny, Christopher, Matty and Zachary- you are truly an amazing family. I am so blessed to know you! I hope that you continue to experience Matty’s presence in all you do! You are an inspiration to us all and you have taught me the power in the words "Don't Stop Believing."

With Gratitude,

Kerry D

Week 14: Dwell in Possibility

Today I completed one of my last long runs before the marathon. This does not mean that we will not be running a lot; we will continue to train hard. We are simply entering the final stretch of our training. Today we ran 18 miles and next weekend we will run our longest at 22 miles.  It is hard to believe we are just 4 weeks away from the Boston Marathon. At this point it is all about keeping healthy, staying injury free and continuing to log the miles so we arrive in Hopkinton ready to make the long awaited trek to Boston-26.2 miles-as promised to those for whom we run and to our many supporters. This week has been amazing with temperatures of 50 degrees with even a few days that were in the high 60’s. I actually ran outside three times this week in shorts. This is certainly not a typical New England winter. Some days it is running in multiple layers and other days we are in shorts.  As hearty New Englanders we adjust. As our coach Jack Fultz says, “There is no bad weather, just bad clothing choices.” We just have to choose wisely.

March 17th Team Run approaching final water stop-mile 16

Fundraising Update

As usual I will start off with a focus on fundraising. After all, the reason behind the miles is our collective effort to support Dana Farber’s ultimate goal-a world without cancer. This week our fundraising efforts have brought us to a total of $13,731 posted to my fundraising page. There is still a group of checks that have not been posted to my account. So once these are finally posted our total will be $13,896. It is crazy because I mailed them in on March 5^th. Most checks have been posted within 3-5 days of mailing them in. The good news is the address was correct and it had a return address too. So let’s hope this week we see them posted.

Our great success fundraising is part of the reason that I wanted to title this weeks post, Dwell in Possibility (thank you Emily Dickenson). Back in September when I was applying to be a member of the Dana Farber Team I am not sure what I was more worried about- training for and running the marathon or the fundraising. In fact, I was not sure that I would be able to raise the $5,000 that I initially submitted as my goal never mind the $13,896 that we have raised as of today. Of course, I do like to “dwell in possibility” and although I was filled with doubt and it seemed like a stretch, I could see the possibility. We are where we are today because of the generosity of friends, family, co-workers and supporters who also shared a belief in all that is possible -we dream a world without cancer. While it is sometimes hard to imagine, we believe one step, one dollar and one mile at a time we will get there. So once again, it is with deep gratitude that I simply say, thank you! Your donation is making a direct difference. Our collective commitment to such an important effort emerges as a resounding roar-cancer no more!

Dwell in Possibility

Dwell in Possibility. These three words of Emily Dickinson took on all sorts of meaning for me this week. As usual, I was not really aware of it at the time but the thoughts collectively weave as I run. On a very basic level, who would have guessed that we would have a basically snowless winter in New England? Or who would guess that in the second week in March  that I would be running in shorts? These were just simple reminders that anything is possible even if not probable. However, it was today’s 18 mile run on the marathon course that really reminded me the power of dwelling in possibility and how if we do not at least entertain the idea of possibility we really limit ourselves. After all, we are often the ones who set the limits on our own perceived capability and capacity. Dwelling in possibility, we are not bound by limits.

Up until today, each time we have run on the course I have struggled with the Newton hills and the big hill in Wellesley. If you have run the hills in Newton, they are really not that terrible. It is just where they are placed and on many of our long runs they have fallen in final miles. I do need to be honest. Prior to training for the marathon, I was not a huge fan of hills. In fact, just the idea of a hill could tire me before I even arrived at it.  On most of our runs I have done well but had to stop to catch my breath from time to time on the hills. Each time I have learned to run smarter. Running faster in hopes of getting it over sooner does not work to well. I have learned slow and steady with one foot in front of the other gets you to the top. I have learned that to be able to run hills you have to train on hills often. I have also leaned that you have to convince yourself that you like hills and see them as your partner in training. Hills make you stronger. Today, I experienced what I was not sure was possible. I ran the hills strong and steady. I did not walk or stop once (except at water stops).

A Journey with My Thinking Today

As I ran the hills today, I found myself thinking of the quote that is often cited to define insanity. It is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I am sure many who have trained for a marathon or anyone who has patiently and persistently worked towards a goal has questioned their sanity from time to time. However, as someone who appreciates the power of transforming our lives by changing our behaviors, I was also reminded that there are times that we need to do the same thing over and over again in order to get different results. I found myself thinking of a reading in one of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books that talked about the many times Lincoln failed before he succeeded. It also referenced that while Babe Ruth broke the record for the most homeruns he also led the league that year in strike outs. Sometimes having the courage to fail and to fail many times and still returning to confront that which has defeated us is what leads us to our success.

 Perhaps I wasn’t doing the same thing and I ran the hills differently today because I was running them smarter. However, I learned this only from doing the same thing over and over again and returning to a place where I experienced defeat. I suppose I could look at it from the perspective, that today I did not listen to the voice in my head that was screaming for me to stop when I was halfway up a hill. In that sense I did it a bit differently and therefore got different results. It was all this thinking of repetition and doing things over and over again even when you think you cannot that kept bringing me back to Emily Dickenson’s words “dwell in possibility.”  Thinking about what it means to dwell in possibility is quite fun.

So from here I jumped to thinking about Cancer. It is amazing how running for Dana Farber makes you think a lot about cancer. However, when I think about Dana Farber and Cancer, I think about possibility.  I imagined the many scientists who are hard at work researching cures for cancer. I began to make connections to their work in doing things over and over again, in search of different results- a cure for cancer. Once again, I know they do things differently. However, my thinking with the idea of “doing the same thing” is more connected to sticking to something with the hopes of different results-pushing the status quo. So from here I jump once again with my thinking and now it is Steve Jobs. I hope you are still with me. This is how my mind works on a run. Steve was a revolutionary thinking whose innovative spirit embodied the words of Dickenson and was he taken too early by Cancer. Steve Jobs dwelled in possibility. If he can imagine a world in which people cannot live without their iphones or ipads never mind all that these tools can do, we can certainly imagine a world without cancer. Here is where I link back to thinking about insanity and the notion of being crazy for sticking at something and I am reminded of Apple’s “think differently campaign” and the amazing ad Here’s to the Crazy Ones which once again embodies Dickenson’s “dwell in possibility.” Here is the video clip of the ad.

This ad reminds me that while we may feel like the world is too big or the challenges are too great it is the people that believe that they can change the world that actually do. I am also reminded of the quote that is so often referenced “it is what it is.” I am not sure who actually said this originally. I just hear it a lot. I guess this is the realist’s perspective that sometimes things are simply the way they are. While there is certainly both truth and wisdom in this, I like Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summit’s version of it “It is what it is, but it will be what you make it.” Here I return to the family, friends, and supporters of our Marathon Challenge team. We are not crazy to think we can change the world and that we will one day live in a world without cancer. We are choosing to dwell in possibility and one step, one donation, and one mile at a time we are working to support Dana Farber’s Ultimate goal- a world without cancer. Remember, it is the people who believe they can change the world that often do. Thank you for being one of these people!

With Gratitude,

Kerry D

Week 13: If You Think You Can’t, Seek Inspiration and Do it Anyway

As I finish up week 13 of our 18 week training for the Boston Marathon and we spring forward with daylight savings time, I cannot help but return to my blog entry from December 23^rd.. It was eleven weeks ago I wrote about winter solstice and how in week 2 of training we had just begun the gradual reversal from longer periods of darkness to longer periods of light. Today, we will experience the magic of that gradual passage of time and enjoy an extra hour of light. On a very basic level, this means that I can once again enjoy a run after work without worrying about the dangers of running alone in the dark. On a deeper level, I am reminded that even in the absence of light; the promise of light exists and persists.

Photo taken after Saturday's team run in Wayland-16 miles logged

Fundraising Update:

I cannot believe that I am typing this, but once again we have hit our stretch goal! As of today, we have $13,261 posted to my fundraising site and I have sent in another $290 in checks that have not been posted to the page yet. This means that once these donations are posted, we will have raise $13,551 to support cancer research!! This is absolutely amazing and I am so incredibly grateful for the generosity of so many friends, family and co-workers. I am not sure you know how inspiring your generosity is for me. Each dollar donated is a reminder of why I am doing this. It also reminds me the power of a generous spirit in making a difference in the world in which we live. Yes, it will be incredibly exciting to run the Boston Marathon. However, it is even more exciting, knowing that collectively we are making such a strong and powerful statement that we believe in the promise of possibility and that includes a world without cancer. One step at a time, one mile at a time, and one donation at a time we will get there. Possibility’s promise is delivered when we all work together to make it happen. Thank you, thank you, and thank you! Our great fundraising success is only possible because of you! We will continue to stretch our capacity. We still have 5 weeks to go!

If you Think You Can’t Seek Inspiration and Do it Anyway

In Stopping by the Woods on a Snowing Evening, Robert Frost writes “these woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.” Although we have had very little snow this winter, I find this particular line in Frost’s poem speaks to this time in our training. It is especially significant given that we are now entering a time of longer days and more light. You see, many of us have been training for many weeks and have logged and continue to log many miles. While in the woods we are appreciative of our journey, at this time it also feels dark and deep. We are excited yet exhausted. Training has become more of a chore than a choice. We are resilient yet our bodies crave recovery. We are almost there, yet we have promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep. So we balance meeting the demands of training while also keeping ourselves healthy and our spirits strong.

This week I really found myself recognizing the power of inspiration in my training and quite honestly in my day-to-day living. I feel like I am one of those lucky people that experience inspiration all around me. Perhaps, I am surrounded by incredibly inspiring people or maybe we all are and I have just learned to recognize it. I think both are true. Inspiration is something that not only motivates me it sustains me in all I do. I experience inspiration when someone shares his or her personal story. I experience inspiration when I witness someone responding to the need of a stranger not because they have to but because it is just the right thing to do. I experience inspiration when I encounter a person with a generous heart. I experience inspiration when I encounter someone who talks about the problems in our world with a sense of responsibility for working towards solutions. I experience inspiration when I witness a person who may be faced with something that seems like an enormous challenge and in spite of feeling like or being told they can’t, they do it anyway.

This week I have been reminded that whether we are training for a marathon or we are engaged in our own daily challenges that we need to seek inspiration to feed our own spirits. In training and in life, we get tired. There are times that we feel like we can’t do that one extra task or run that extra mile. While there are times we need to be kind to ourselves and skip the extra task or the extra mile, most times we must find a way to do that “one more” even when we think we cannot. It is only by stretching our perceived capacity that we grow and experience the potential of our capacity. This week I did a little of both. My body was tired, so I did skip out on some of the mid-week training miles during the week. This ended up paying off because I had a great 16 mile long run on Saturday. I will share some of what inspired me this week.

Dana Farber Saturday Team Run

Prior to each of our long runs we are reminded of the important work that is being done at Dana Farber by having research impact statements read. We recognize fundraising milestones made by teammates and we also hear stories of those whose lives have been impacted by cancer. This particular week we learned of a woman who had been diagnosed with cancer. She was a runner. Very soon she learned her leg would have to be amputated. When she learned of this news she responded, “I will need to get a wheel chair because I am going to start competing in that division.” I am just paraphrasing the story, but you get the sense of her relentless spirit. Wow! How can you not feel inspired by that? Whoever, you are…I am sure I am not alone when I say knowing of your experience and story helped me run stronger yesterday so thank you!

Terry Fox-Perseverance Personified

Here is a quick 2 minute video clip of Terry Fox. If you do not know of Terry and his story, take a moment to watch it. After watching and thinking about Terry Fox and his relentless spirit, I could not helped but feel inspired to run that extra mile and to strive to raise as much money as possible to support cancer research. It is time we had a cure for this horrible disease.

Jack Burke-The Power of One Family

Jack Burke is the son of a friend of mine from college, Jake Burke. Jack has neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder causing tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. In spite of all that his family has to deal with, they have been deeply committed to raising funds to support a cure for NF. Jake and his wife Elizabeth Burke (and of course Jack), are raising money for Children's Tumor Foundation with the inaugural Fore NF Golf Classic April 16. I am so inspired by all that this family is doing to make a difference. As I am running the Boston Marathon in hopes of a cure for cancer, they will be hosting a Golf Tournament in Atlanta to find a cure for NF. You see if we just look around us, there is this amazing effort to make our world a better place. You can read the story at http://neighbornewspapers.com/stories/Local-boy-raises-money-for-a-cure,181881. Find more information at http://www.curenfwithjack.com/. There is also a brief video, but for some reason I could not upload it here. I am guessing because the newspaper may have copyright. The youtube link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMKh-tUkHVc&feature=g-upl&context=G2fd94acAUAAAAAAAAAA.

Joan Benoit-Just Do It!

The last source of inspiration I will share from this week is a short video clip of Joan Benoit. One of my friends from Rugby posted it on facebook this week and it was just want I needed to see. Thank you Sara Flemming! It is a Nike ad from the early 80’s. This ad is on 30 seconds and is definitely worth a quick look. I think it is a great example of that moment when we look at something and think “I don’t know” but in this ad, Joan reminds us to “just do it.”

This week I have learned, or at least was reminded that when I think I cannot,  I must seek inspiration.  Inspiration is everywhere. I just need to recognize it,  internalize it,  actualize it and do it anyway.

With Gratitude,

Kerry D

Week 12: Following my Own Rhythm and Changing my Inner Dialogue

I cannot believe that we are officially in March and that we are only 6 weeks away from the Boston Marathon. I am once again reminded of the interesting paradox within the passage of time. As I sit to write this post, I cannot believe that we are only 6 weeks away. In that aspect it feels like it has passed quickly. However, there are moments in the midst of a training week or in a run when I feel like all I have been doing is running and would give anything if the marathon would just arrive. I always try to remind myself to enjoy the journey, because before I know it, time will have passed and I will have arrived.

Fundraising Update

I always like to start off my posts with an update on the fundraising front because while the logging of miles has certainly given me a lot to think about and with, the actual fundraising is the purpose behind the running madness. As of today I have $12, 261 posted to my account and I sent of another $165 dollars that will be posted early this week. I am choosing to include this because I did actually receive the donations within the context of this week. This brings us to a grand total of $12,426. This means that we are only $674 away from the ultimate stretch fundraising goal of hitting $13,100.  

This would not be happening if I didn’t know so many incredibly generous people. I have to say that I cannot believe we are this close. I also am filled with such gratitude for so many family, friends, and co-workers generosity. The consistent theme that is woven through many of the conversations I have with people is how so many of us have been touched so closely by cancer. Some are survivors. Some are newly diagnosed. Some have loved ones battling this horrible disease. Some have lost loved ones to this horrible disease. The thread that binds us all together is not only the shared experience with such a horrible disease, but the collective response that is fighting back by supporting Dana Farber in reaching the ultimate goal- a world without cancer. So thank you!

I started this journey running in memory of Joshua, my dear friend Matt’s nephew and there is not a single run that I go on that I do not think of Joshua and his family, especially my friend Matt. No matter how tired I am, I cannot begin to imagine the enormity of the loss that he experienced when Joshua took his last breath and the loss that he continues to feel in his absence. I am so honored to be running and raising funds in his memory. As my journey has continued, I realize that in addition to running for Josh, I really run for all of those who have dealt with or are dealing with cancer and all my supporters remind me just how many people this is. So again thank you for your support and the stories you share. One step at a time, one mile at a time, and one dollar at a time we will get there!

Following my Own Rhythm

 This week was a much better week than last. I was feeling much better. I was still dealing with a little fatigue and pressure in my sinuses but after last week I will take it. I managed to log 20 miles during the week and I finished up with Stu’s 30K (18.6 miles)- a very hilly race in Clinton, MA. Going into this race, I knew it would probably be one of my toughest training runs before the marathon because the course was mostly hills. This was somewhat of a challenge to mentally prepare for, especially after having a tough training week last week. I realized that for someone who signs up for a lot of challenging races, I am not always that confident in the silent space of my own thinking. However, I have become an expert at suspending doubt.

I was very excited to be running again with my friend Annie. I was also meeting two of my Dana Farber teammates there (Linn and Heather and one of Heather's friends Meridith). It is the whole “misery loves company” feeling. At least if you are about to engage in something difficult, challenging and most likely painful, it is better to do with friends. Below is a picture we had another runner take with Heather's phone. Thanks for sending it along, Heather!

We all started together which was nice. However, as we entered the first mile or so Annie and Linn were ahead of me. They were probably running about 30 seconds faster than I knew I should be running. I know that does not sound like a lot if you do not run, but over the course of 18.6 miles, it makes a huge difference. I have been thinking a lot about the challenge I face when I run with faster runners. Their slow, might be pushing pace for me. So while it is comfortable for them, I may be feeling miserable and they may be feeling like they are holding back. So as Annie and Linn moved ahead in the pack, I stayed at the pace that I felt was where I needed to be.

I had figured that in the spirit of using this as a training run, I wanted to be at about 9:45 minute mile. This is slow for me, but I also have learned that it is finding the rhythm that works for you and one that you can run comfortably at for 3 plus hours. If I can maintain this for the marathon I will be very happy so that is where I set my pace for today. After all this was a very hilly course. In Boston, I will not hit the hills until mile 16 or so and while they are challenging there are 4 of them and then I will be done with hills. It will not be filled with anticipating the next hill followed by another and another and yes, a hill for the last mile of the race like today at Stu’s 30k.

As I drove home from the race and was talking with my mother about what a difference it is when I run at my own pace whatever that may be on any given day. We talked about the larger metaphor that exists here. We need to follow the beat of our own drum. This is not to say that it is not wonderful to share a run with a friend or teammate. There is just something magical that happens when we are able to get lost in our own rhythm. I guess in some ways it is learning to recognize when we are at our own best. I have to admit that I can be competitive and this sometimes prevents me from being at my own personal best. It is not so much about feeling like I can beat someone else, but rather that I should be able to keep pace. Some days a running partner can help to bring out the best in me. Some days it brings out the worst because I push harder than I should and then I am out of gas too early. However, today, I simply wanted to run. I wanted to face the hills as best as I could. I wanted to finish. I wanted to feel strong. Allowing myself to find and stay in my own rhythm proved to be the path to meet my goals for today.

Changing my Inner Dialogue

The second part of my “take aways” for the week is that I have the power to change my inner dialogue. You may be wondering what I mean by this. Yes, I talk to myself all the time. In fact, most people do. It is how we experience the world and interpret the way we view that experience. Coming off a rough week with being sick, I found that today’s run really gave me the opportunity to experience the power of changing my inner dialogue.

It all started as we awaited the race in the middle school gym. Many runners exchanged stories about how challenging this course would be. Others talked about how nervous they were and shared that they “feared” this course. I found myself getting sucked right in and thinking and saying to myself “Oh my god, this is going to be hard!” “Can I really do this?” “I struggled with 13.1 miles last week and that was a relatively flat course.”  “Hills are hard for me because of my asthma and the hardware in my ankle. Maybe I am crazy.” As you read this you can probably feel the building anxiety that is fueled once again by Doubt. I really wish doubt would stay at home J.

It was in the midst of all of this that I remembered the words that my mom always drilled into our heads, “Be the dominant creative force in your own life.” In fact, this quote was displayed inside the cabinets in our house. So what did I do? I told myself that I was the dominant force in my own race today. I reminded myself of a quote I read before I went to bed. It read “It is not your opponents that you need to worry about beating, it is the voice in your head that tells you that you can’t.” I love when things come together for me in my thinking. “Ok, I thought I can do this.” I was going to practice re-framing all my inner dialogue and look at it from a strengths based approach. This is something I have posted about before. It is looking at things differently.

However, today I decided I was going to use this challenging run as an exercise in changing my inner dialogue. For example, when I was thinking the thoughts listed previously I changed them. Here is what they look like from a strengths based frame. “Oh my god, this is going to be hard but think of how ready I will be for Boston. This is a great training run to get me prepared. I have run tough training runs and I can do this.” “I struggled with 13.1 miles last week and that was a relatively flat course. However, last week I was sick. It showed my strength by my willingness to finish strong in spite of being sick. This week I feel good. I am ready and I am strong.”  “Hills are hard for me because of my asthma and the hardware in my ankle. Maybe I am crazy.” “Yes, Kerry you are crazy but the good kind of crazy. You have asthma but you run smart. Hills are hard but when you run the smart you are in charge. Yes, you have 8 screws a pin and a plate in your ankle. You will not sprain your ankle that is for sure. Also, be grateful that you are running. There are many people who cannot run and hello, there are people who do not have legs and run. You are strong.

See, it is amazing how you can move from being your own road block to your own biggest cheerleader. I will admit that this is easier in the beginning and gets tougher as the miles pile up. There were times that this was a challenge but interestedly enough even when I felt tired and when doubt tried to join the conversation, using and re-framing my inner dialogue was a great distraction. This was a good thing because I ran solo today. I will also share that running for Dana Farber with the ultimate goal of raising funds to support cancer research is a great check for perspective. When I hit that ugly space when I hurt and I ask myself “why is it that I am running anyway?” I always have an answer. I am running because I believe someday we will live in a world without cancer, and once step, one mile, and one dollar at a time I am moving towards that space. That does not need any re-framing.

With gratitude,

Kerry D

Week 11: Get Over It! Sometimes our Plans Don’t Match What Life Brings

Week 11 is officially done and this has actually been my lowest mileage week. It was really not by choice. After last weeks 20 mile run I ended up coming down with what I thought was a cold but it ended up being a sinus infection. Needless to say it was both frustrating and disappointing because I had actually taken this past week off from work to get some work done on a course I will be teaching this summer and to also get some running in outside during the week. Once again I was reminded that even with planning we are not always in control of things as much as we would like to be. While it was frustrating and disappointing, a sinus infection is not the worst of things for sure and at least I had taken the week of so I was able to get the rest I needed. So this week I only logged 13.1 miles and I did then all today during the Hyannis Half Marathon. The course was beautiful but I felt pretty horrible for the majority of the run. However, the good side was I was running with a friend from college-Annie G. Here is a picture of us after we finished and had changed.

Fundraising Update:

 As of today, $10,861 has been posted to my fundraising website. However, when I arrived home there was also an envelope waiting for me with another $250 check which places the total fundraising for this week to $11,111. It was so great to come home to a donation after a very challenging run. I love when these reminders appear and bring me back to why I am running!! This means we are $1,989 dollars away from the new goal of $13,100. Can we raise another $2000 in 49 days? Well, if I finished the race today with as bad as I felt, I would say “yes, it is definitely possible.”

So once again, I really just want to express my complete gratitude for the incredible generosity of so many friends, family, and supporters. This would not be possible without all of your support. We really are dreaming a world without cancer one mile and one donation at a time. I truly am so inspired by our collective conscious not only recognizing that we can make a difference, but bringing that awareness to action. We are one strong team-there is no doubt about that.

Sometimes our plans don’t match what life brings

 As I drove home from the Cape today, I kept thinking about what lingering thoughts I could possibly write about in my blog this week. After all, today I felt like a big wimp today. However, I am a firm believer that there is a lesson to be extracted from even not so great runs which I am discovering because lately I have had more “not so great runs.” I am so due for a good one soon.  I didn’t actually do that bad for me in the half marathon. My time was 2:04:15 which translates into a 9:29 minute mile. This is a good pace and actually what I often run at for a longer distance. However, today was a very sloppy run for me and it was more how I felt. I was all over the place. I felt horrible for most of it and probably had to stop about 6 times in the second half because I actually kept feeling dizzy. I think this was a result of not being hydrated enough and having been sick. Perhaps the antibiotic was also playing a part. Who knows?  So if my week was disappointing because I did not get the running and work done that I wanted to, today’s half marathon was the frosting on the cake.

I do always try to look at things from a place of gratitude and this week certainly needs a bit of re-framing. First, I was sick this week but I was able to be sick and to rest. I was fortunate to have taken the week of anyway. I am also fortunate to access to health care and to the medicine that I needed to get better. Also, feeling terrible while running a half marathon that is looking at the scenic Atlantic Ocean is also not a bad thing. So what? I had to stop a bunch of times. I didn’t break 2 hours like I would have expected after all the training I have been doing but I had the opportunity to run with a friend from college who was very patient with me. I was really not a fun person to run with today. Thanks Annie G! Next week will be better for sure!

Get Over It

As I drove home from the Cape the lingering lesson for me this week was -get over it! Life does not always happen as we plan it. The more time we spend frustrated about it the more we remain in our own way. It is actually pretty freeing when we can simply accept that things are not always what we expected or hoped for because then we can actually appreciate what actually transpired. It is really amazing what re-framing can do. Suddenly I found myself in a place of feeling proud of my sloppy run. After all, I was not feeling well and I still managed to get out there and run a half marathon and to keep at it even though I felt horrible. I will add the disclaimer that I did stop when I did not feel well because I also recognize there is a fine line between pushing through something and not making wise choices. I think I balanced this line pretty well today. The only thing that I really would do differently is to have carried my own water bottle. This way I could have kept hydrated better.

I am looking forward to getting back to work and a week of feeling stronger. I will gladly get my miles in this week and I look forward to Stu’s 30K race in Clinton next Sunday. This is a very hilly and challenging course and I will be ready for it! Or as ready as I can be! I also end this week and look forward to next week filled with gratitude for our many successes on the fundraising front! We are really making such great strides and that is actually the driving force behind all this running. To think that we have passed 10K and are now less than 2K away from a total of $13.1K to support cancer research.  This is where the real progress is made. Enjoy the week!

With gratitude,

Kerry D