Run Like A Girl Gets A New Home

The Run Like A Girl blog has moved to www.RunLikeAGirlBlog.com.  Come check the new layout and content and please let me know what you think. There are still adjustments to be made on the news site and I'm looking forward to your feedback. 

The NYC Marathon is this Sunday.  You can follow me on the NYC Marathon website race day with my bib number - #27439.  It's not too late to contribute to my marathon fundraising campaign, visit http://go.liverfoundation.org/goto/LauraNYC for more information or to make an online donation. Look forward to a race report on the blog soon after. 

Thanks for reading and see you on the new site!

Laura 

Taper Time

For me, nothing makes pages fly off a calendar faster than training for a marathon.  It seems such a short time ago that I was getting ready for my first 16 of the season and worrying that it might be too early for that kind of mileage.  Suddenly, the leaves have changed, I've traded running tanks for long sleeves and it was time for the 21 miler. 

We tackled the longest run of the training last weekend.  It was a gorgeous morning and although it was chilly, I was never uncomfortably cold.  After discussing some possible routes for the run we decided that the river was too flat to mimic the actual race course so we started in the North End and ran to One Beacon St and followed the very familiar route we ran each time we trained for Boston.  We turned around a little past Chestnut St and then took Comm Ave home to take advantage of the Newton hills.  I haven’t run that route in a long time so it was a nice change of scenery and there were plenty of opportunities to stop for water or a bathroom break.  I did have to stop and stretch out my hamstrings which had been giving me a little trouble lately and the B.A.A. Half the week before had done some damage too.  It turned out to be a pretty good run for both Jared and I and it wasn't until we were back at the Holiday Inn in Brookline that we both started to fall apart.  It was especially tough to run up the hill to the State House and then not stop at One Beacon like we had done so many times training for Boston but we decided when we got back to the North End we would run straight to Starbucks for a post run treat.  That made finishing the long run a little sweeter – literally. 

Passing the Johnny Kelley statue on
Comm Ave means you're almost home.

With the longest run behind us it was time to begin the taper.  The mileage comes down and if I was doing any significant cross training that would slow down a lot too.  The first taper week isn't too different for me.  I still ran during the week but shortened them all to 4 miles and didn't focus too much on pace.  This weekend we set out to run 10-12 miles with freedom to adjust pace and distance based on how we felt.  I didn't feel great but there were some challenges. The weather was weird – it was supposed to rain but it stopped early and became really humid – it was reminiscent of the weather at Falmouth this year, yuck!  I was prepared for the weather to be a little cooler and maybe wet so the shirt I packed was a little too heavy.  I definitely wasn't recovered from the previous weeks 21 miler so that didn't help and on top of everything else we were running on the river and it was Head of the Charles weekend.  Honestly, the crowds weren't that big of a deal but it was just one more thing that wasn't awesome about the run.  We decided to slow down to a light jog and then walk for the last mile before home.  The total course including the warm up and cool down was a little over 12 and we averaged a responsible pace but I was thrilled when it was over.

I'll read the race handbook cover
to cover to help ease pre-race anxiety

It’s now officially the taper portion of training and while it’s nice for the mileage to come down and I’m more relaxed about getting in runs throughout the week, at this point I often start to lose my mind.  I’ll stress myself out about how I trained, I will start to feel aches in random places and I may begin having terrifying marathon dreams.  These were really bad when I was managing ALF’s Run for Research team and responsible for 200+ runners but even if it’s just me I’ll suffer from some cliche anxiety dreams where its race day and I can’t get to the start, or I lose my sneakers or forget to go to New York.  I’m hoping plenty of rest and upping my yoga practice will help keep some of this stress away but it’s just part of the process. 

Last fall, in the weeks prior to the Chicago Marathon, a fellow runner posted a great quote: A taper is more of a challenge than you think.  You’ll have to trust that the work is done, that “the money I sin the back” or “the hay is in the barn”.  You’re at peak fitness and you should feel great!

I do trust that I've done the work and I’m prepared to run a great race in a couple of weeks.  Now all that’s left is to maintain fitness and sanity the best I can. 

It’s not too late to contribute to my NYC Marathon Fundraising campaign with the American Liver Foundation.  Please visit http://go.liverfoundation.org/goto/LauraNYC to make an online donation. 

Race Report: BAA Half Marathon - 10.7.12

I've been quite pleased with how my training had been going for the NYC Marathon so far.  I was able to get in several long runs over 16 miles and have managed to stay injury free throughout the entire season (knock on wood).   My legs have been tight and heavy but visits to my chiropractor for ART and regular massages seem to help with that.  The only problem is that I have not made speed training a priority and started getting discouraged about how well I was going to perform in the race.

I was happy with my 10k time at the Finish on the 50 but felt like I could have done better, then Falmouth was a total bust due to the heat and gross humidity.  I knew I didn't race to my potential at RTB but it’s hard to base your fitness on a 24 relay performance.  The last half marathon I raced was the Run to Remember in May.  I was happy with my time at that race but definitely didn't push myself as hard as I could have.  I don’t remember the last time I was really sore after a race since it had been a while since I truly went all out to see what I could do.  Honestly, I had already assumed this wasn't going to be a great race based on my past recent race results and the predicted rain we were expecting all week.  Oh well, I thought to myself, at least it will be a decent run with some hills and new scenery.

Sunday morning the alarm went off at 5:30 and the skies looked clear.  When I took Brittany out for her morning walk it was appropriate chilly for October but still comfortable.  It was turning out to be a great morning for a run.  After grabbing a shuttle bus at UMASS that drove us to the start in Franklin Park, we had about an hour to kill before the start of the race but the time went by quickly getting our bags settled and, of course, waiting in line for the bathroom.  We squeezed like sardines into the corrals just a few minutes before the gun went off and it was clear by the crowd I was not in danger of going out too fast. 

Jared and I mid-race.  He is
obviously feeling strong 

I had planned to try and hold an 8:30 pace for the race but since I had lost a lot of my running confidence, I wasn't sure that was going to happen.  I was committed to staying with Jared for the first half or so and then if I couldn't keep up I would back off.  We had a conservative first couple of miles since it was crowded but then sped up to 8:20 by mile three.  I was tempted to back down since that was a little faster than I had been anticipating but I felt good so I kept it up.  We continued to pick up speed each mile until mile 6 when the course got a little hilly but as soon as there was some relief Jared picked it right back up again and I was able to keep up. I knew we were hauling at mile 8 and 9 and when my watch chirped at the end of that lap it read 8:03.  I was happy that we were doing so well, but it also made me nervous that I was going to run out of steam.  I felt myself slow down and watched Jared pull away up a hill.  I almost resigned to letting him go ahead while I slowed down to something more comfortable but I knew I had more left so I caught him again on a downhill.  Before I knew it we were at mile 10 and with only three more miles to go and I knew I could keep pushing until the finish.  Around then I heard Jared say ‘we have a solid shot of finishing under 1:50 and I was certain he was jinxing me.  As if as soon as we set that goal everything was just going to fall apart.  I was surprised how good I felt and now that we were so close to finishing I had no fears about pushing to the end.  With just a few yards to go, Jared took off to cross the finish line and as badly as I wanted to chase him, my legs felt a bit too heavy and I felt like he deserved to take this one…but not by much.  Just seven seconds later I crossed too.  My official time was 1:49:14 which is my best half time since February of 2010. 

More great news…my legs are sore. No pain or anything alarming, just muscles that worked really hard and now need to repair themselves. I find it so frustrating to race and then not be at least a little bit sore afterwards.  It makes me feel like I should have run harder. Waking up Monday morning and hobbling around was a little uncomfortable but very satisfying.  I great yoga class later that night helped a lot.

I’m also very proud to congratulate Stacey on her first half marathon yesterday.  I hope it’s the first of many (or at least a few) more.

  

Congrats Stacey on your first 13.1!

I think this race helped to bring back my confidence just in time for the marathon - now less than 4 weeks away.  I haven’t committed to a time goal and enjoying the race is much more important to me, but I do want to feel good about my performance -especially after all the hard work I've put in over the past several months.  I’m now much more mentally prepared to push through on race day and go for it.  

There is still time to contribute to my NYC Marathon Campaign.  Please visit my fundraising page for more information: http://go.liverfoundation.org/goto/LauraNYC

Adventures in Travel Racing

Enjoying DC on some tired legs

While racing locally is obviously much easier and logistically friendly, it can be lots of fun and rewarding to travel for a marathon or triathlon.  Some of my fondest racing memories have been out of town.  In 2007 my parents traveled with me to Washington DC for the Marine Corps Marathon. It was just an okay race for me but the finish line took my breath away right in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial. The next day I hobbled all over DC to see the monuments and museums.  There were a ton of us in race jackets walking backwards down the Lincoln Memorial. 

In 2009, several friends traveled to Philadelphia for the Half Marathon and Marathon. It was a quick one night trip and I scored free accommodations traveling with Kate O’Malley since we stayed with her Aunt Mendy in Philly.  Everything about this trip was fast including my marathon; it remains my PR at 3:40:46 (a Boston Qualifying time back then). After the race we ate an obligatory cheese steak and headed home.

Last year, I went on two racing adventures.  The first was the Disney World Princess Half in Orlando where I got to combine a terrific race with visiting the most magical place on earth!  Then in the fall, I joined the Somerville Road Runners for the Chicago Marathon.  I had been to the city a couple times before so I wasn't tempted to do too much sightseeing – a great way to exhaust your legs before you get to the starting line – but I did have plenty of time to enjoy the city and Chicago made for a great city to throw a post race party. 

Obligatory Bean Photo after the Chicago Marathon

The packing can be a challenge and it certainly does contribute some extra stress to getting ready for a race but it also adds to the excitement. My friend Karen and I were so excited on the way to Chicago it took us almost the entire flight to figure out what time it was. Race photos are always fun but add a famous city landmark and it’s even better.

This past weekend, Jared and I traveled to the Pocono Mountains for the Ironman 70.3 – Jared would be competing in his 2^nd half iron and I would be cheering him on and enjoying a little road trip. Luckily, we were only about five hours away so we were able to drive.  Logistics for even a local tri can be tricky so we were both very careful about keeping a packing list and making sure everything made the trip. To add some difficulty, there were two different transition areas so he had to have two of everything. We headed out on Saturday morning, made a quick stop in CT to say hello to our families and drop off the dogs and made it to our Poconos “Resort” (feel free to read my not so flattering Trip Adviser Review) by early afternoon even with a detour that sent us about a half hour out of our way.   The leaves are all starting to change colors so the views were really beautiful once we made it to the mountains but it was also a reminder to Jared that this course was going to be much more challenging than the Patriot Tri in Freetown this summer.

I'm adorable but really stupid

We stayed at the race host hotel so after Jared picked up his race materials and we sat through a race meeting and then I was able to get our room information. We had a lot to do before dinner since there was two transition areas to set up so we organized everything he needed for the race and headed to find the first transition.  It was just a bit down the road from the resort so we quickly drove down and set up the bike.  We were able to confirm the address for the T2 but we were surprised to hear it was over 30 miles away.  Hopefully, it wouldn't be far from where we were planning to have dinner.  We took off to find the next destination and got another reminder that we were not in Boston when a black bear cub came darting out of the woods and across the street.  Jared swerved to try and avoid the poor animal but it still came crashing into the back side of my Hyundai.  From what we saw in the rear view mirror, he scurried off into the woods.  When we had a chance, we discovered that there was no damage at all to the car so he might not have hit us hard enough to not recover. I've decided to believe he is doing just fine now and maybe had a nasty headache all weekend.  Hopefully he learned his lesson and mama bear will remind him to look both ways when he crosses the street. 

We found the second TA quite easily and it was conveniently just down the road from where we had decided to have dinner.  Some online research on the drive down gave us some ideas and Jared opted for a Spanish/ Portuguese restaurant in Downtown Stroudsburg.  The menu looked great and it wasn't far from our resort.  We made an early 6:30 reservation so we would have plenty of time to get home, do last minute preparations and go to sleep early.   Unfortunately, the restaurant had other plans and everything took an insane amount of time to get to the table.  Thankfully when the food did finally arrive it was mostly good and we were able to have a great meal.  We made it home in time for any last minute preparations and surprisingly fell asleep quickly in the world’s most uncomfortable bed.

Sunday morning the alarm went off at 4:00 am I tried to sleep a little longer while Jared got ready and then around 5:30 I drove him down to meet the shuttle to the start.  It was going to be a chilly start to the morning but it was dry.  After heading back to pack up our things and clean up I attempted to find my way to the first recommended cheering spot.  It was mile 32 on the bike so I assumed I had plenty of time.  After ending up at the exact same road closure twice, I wandered around some back roads that all looked perfect for a bear to come bolting out of and definitely gasped when some squirrels would run by.  I finally found my way to a parking lot in Shawnee PA where a small group of family members were gathered to cheer on their athletes.  Another woman told me you could track athletes on the Ironman site so I started carrying the ipad around to check on Jared’s status.  I learned that he had finished the swim in 26:40!  He was off to a great start.  We cheered on the leaders for a while and finally got a new update that he had crossed the 13.7 mark in just over 34 minutes and averaging just over 23 miles an hour giving me a better idea of when to expect him.  He came flying through a little earlier than I expected and looked very happy at that point.  My next planned cheering spot was T2 which was at the high school downtown.  I missed the turn to find parking in the back of the school and tried to do a simple u-turn to make it back but had to cross the bike route and the police stopped letting people through. I sat in my car at the light right in front of the race for over an hour. Unfortunately, this forced me to miss Jared coming off the bike and out for the run but I did see him ride in to T2 from my car and yelled and beeped for him.  He didn’t hear me. About a half hour later they finally let me through so I was able to find parking, a bathroom and a great cheering spot right at the finish line. I had the ipad in my hands and was furiously refreshing until it finally showed that he had crossed the 6.7 mile mark of the run. He was averaging around 9 minute miles for the run so I knew I just had about an hour until he would finish. I spent the rest of the time cheering on the racers and developed some serious finish line envy.  I wasn’t envious that they had just finished a 70.3 triathlon but I know that feeling of completing something exceptionally challenging and finally getting to the finish line.  There are no words to appropriately describe the sense of pride, elation and relief when you get there. It almost made me want to consider training for a half iron but I’m hoping the finish line in Central Park will be all the fix I need!

Jared crossed the finish line of the Ironman Poconos 70.3 in 5 hours 18 minutes and 44 seconds. Less than one minute slower than he finished the Patriot half iron in June which had a much less difficult course. He looked great when he finished and was able to walk around the Finish Line Festival to enjoy a beer and some food.

Ironman Poconos 70.3 Finish Life Festival!

We headed back to the car and drove straight to Shelton CT where my parents live. The stop there allowed us to do some laundry, have dinner taken care of (thanks Mom and Dad!) and most importantly have a comfortable bed to sleep in after a long day. While we both agree we probably won’t ever return to the Pocono Mountains again it was a great trip. The race went very well, there were no major travel catastrophes and we have that great story about the bear cub to share.  Jared is now considering full iron distances tri’s for next summer and I’m wondering if I can ride a bike for 56 miles. I’m not so sure it’s in the cards for me.

I have a several weekends where I can enjoy staying put in Boston but the NYC Marathon is now a month away!  Will I be ready?  I have the BAA Half Marathon and the pre race 21 miler coming up to make sure but the calendar never seems to care if I’m ready or not.  Race day is almost here.  If you would like to contribute to my NYC Marathon Fundraising Campaign please visit my page here: http://go.liverfoundation.org/goto/LauraNYC

Race Report – Reach the Beach NH Sept 14/15

Before I begin this post I want to thank everyone who read, shared, commented and emailed me about last week’s post dedicated to Laura Linehan.  We all have our own ways of paying tribute and it was very special to have some many of you enjoy mine.  Thank you.

Last week Chasing Tail was back on the road for the Reach the Beach Relay, this time we were competing on the original New Hampshire course which starts at Cannon Mountain and runs all the way down to Hampton Beach. 

We were thrilled to welcome back Duncan and Mike back to the team but we lost Dennis just a couple of weeks before the race.  Thankfully we had two new female recruits to round out the team giving us 6 men and 6 women so we would be a true Mixed Team again.  What we didn’t realize was that we’ve all gotten a little older and Stacey (our token 20 something) had a family obligation so we ended up a Mixed Master Team.  Yikes!  I guess that explains why Chasing Tail doesn’t play drinking games the night before the relay anymore. 

We left Thursday night in two packed vans for another 24+ hours of insanity.  After some carb loading at Olive Garden we made it to our hotel in time to reconnect and get to know our new teammates before getting some sleep.  After all, it was going to be a long couple of days. 

Apparently, RTB has caught on to the fact that the Tails are getting a little faster because we had our latest start time yet, 11:40.  We were at the start nice and early so we had plenty of time to hear orientation, hand in our paperwork, take a team photo and of course, spend some time in the Merch Tent.  I remember in past years bundling up in winter hats and gloves or standing in front of big bonfire at the mountain to keep warm, but this year the sun got hot very fast and we were sweating in our team hoodies.  Team Rookie, Alex, was our Leg #1 runner and we all cheered her on as she sped by for her first leg.  We hugged Van 2 good bye and headed off to the course. 

View of Leg 3 - photo courtesy of RTB Relay

I was runner 3, which are the same legs I ran in my very first Reach the Beach back in 2008 when I ran with Dangerous Monkey’s Del Fuego.  My first leg was less than 4 miles and labeled Easy on the course description.  I was reminded by Mike that the leg was definitely more challenging than described but I still felt great going into it.  Like I mentioned, it was very warm Friday afternoon and I didn’t start running until after 2pm.  I already felt my energy draining in the first mile but pressed on reminding myself that it was only a few miles.  This run was actually quite pleasant with beautiful views of Mt Washington until the very end when you climb a steep hill and then run through grass in what looked like someone’s backyard to get to the transition area.  The hill and heat took a toll on me and I averaged a somewhat disappointing 9:03 pace for my first leg. 

The next three runners flew through their legs and we finished up our first set at Attitash Ski Resort passing the RTB slap bracelet to Van 2.  After spending a little time with the other half of our team we took off to find some dinner and rest before our night legs.  We ended up at the same 99 Restaurant we always do.  I have no idea what we did for the next few hours but time seems to go by much quicker during RTB.  One minute you’ve got 5 hours to kill, the next minute you are scrambling to beat your runner to the TA.  It’s fascinating.

The VTA (Van Transition Area) was the Kenneth Brent School in Tamworth (Go Tigers!).  Every year the volunteers there offer the best food in the school’s cafeteria.  The mac n cheese is legendary.  Many of the Transition Areas are staffed with volunteers who offer food, baked goods, coffee, soda, water, etc. for a donation.  Some of them are there throughout the night supporting the runners.  It’s so helpful for the runners and an inspiring example of communities going above and beyond to support the event.  RTB gets an incredible amount of love from all the cities and towns we visit along the way but it takes a lot of work, flexibility and understanding to make it work.  The entire operation is impressive to say the least.

It was already late at night by the time Van 1 began our second set which means we wear a reflector vest, blinking lights on the front and back and also a head lamp.  It sounds like a lot but when you are running on the rural backroads of New Hampshire it’s important to be safe and cautious.  As intimidating as running in the middle of the night sounds, it’s actually pretty great.  On Friday night the air was nice and cool making the running temperature perfect.  My 4.92 mile leg had some rolling hills that were challenging but fun.  There were quite a few people running in front and behind me which made me feel a little more comfortable but mostly I could just focus on my own run.  I felt awesome and during the last mile I saw a bank clock that said 11:52 so I raced the last bit to hit the TA before midnight.  As soon as I got there and passed the bracelet to Bob I checked my watch…11:58.  ‘Yes!’ I yelled ‘I really wanted to finish while it was still Friday!’  After my run, I cleaned up and changed into some comfy clothes for a while.  I ended up in the front seat of the van but turned out to be a terrible co-pilot.  That last run knocked me out and I couldn’t keep my eyes open.  Every time I woke up someone else was running which made my updates to Van 2 completely useless.  We got Kate out for the final leg of the set and then finished up around 2:30 on Saturday morning at New Hampshire Technical College.  

Van 1 before the rain washed all the fun away

Next, we headed off to Bear Brook State Park to get some sleep.  New Balance sponsors ‘Tent City’ here where you can escape the van a few hours and stretch out in a camping tent.  Mike, Eric and Kate took advantage of this while Alex, Bob and I each lied down on a bench in the van.  We got almost 3 hours sleep before we were woken up by a rain storm.  I immediately started to worry about our van-mates since I didn’t know for sure they got a tent.  It wasn’t until a while later that I remembered a couple of the Tails in Van 2 were running in the storm!  Luckily, everyone did fine and the only major issue of the rain was all of our Van decorations were washed off. 

The sun came out an hour later and it was time to tackle our final set.  I started to mentally prepare for what was my longest run, 8.52 miles, and according to the course map, my toughest.  After Alex and Mike finished up their last runs I took off.  The course was very difficult with a few tough hills but it was also really beautiful and I great way to end my running portion of the race.  I was doing great with a 8:20 pace for most of the run until I hit the steepest hill at the end.  I averaged a respectable 8:48 pace which I’m happy with considering the distance, the difficulty and the fact that I had only slept a few hours squished in a van.  Van 1 finished up at Sanborne Regional High School which opens up its locker rooms to the runners for $5.  It’s the first time I have ever had an opportunity to shower at Reach the Beach and it was definitely well worth it.  I felt like a million bucks after washing the dirt and sweat off with actual soap and not the baby wipes we had been using all weekend.  I haven’t appreciated shampoo that much in a long time.  Now that we were clean, it was time to start heading to the beach.

Van 1 teammates in the beer tent
Alex, Mike, Kate, Laura, Bob and Eric

At Hampton Beach we grabbed some food courtesy of Boloco and headed straight for the beer tent.  We were all pretty exhausted and anxious for Van 2 to meet us there.  Unfortunately, some wires got crossed and our last runner, Kristina, made it to the finish line before the rest of us.  We finally got everyone together to celebrate our finish…we Reached The Beach! 

Some important notes from this year’s RTB:

After the spring relay Call Me Maybe craze we were hoping there would be another great song for the fall.  We speculated if it might be Pound the Alarm or Good Time…and then Gangnam Style came out of nowhere!  There was a whole lot of pony riding going on this year.  Pretty awesome.

Our Chasing Tail hoodies were such a hit in the spring that we bought knit hats for this relay.  They came out awesome (Thank You Watertown Sportwear!) and we were excited to have them for the cold nights.  Well, it was by far the warmest RTB in a long time so we didn’t get as much use out of them as we thought but they will come in handy soon enough. 

I want Hello Kitty Athletic Club to know that they were missed this year.  I hear they chose to race 100 on 100 in VT instead.  There was always something very special and fun about spotting Hello Kitty in their pink bathrobes and girl scout sashes along the course.  They sometimes hand out stickers or whisper words of encouragement like 'hello kitty loves you' as they fly by you on a leg.  I hope they come back.  Are you listening Hello Kitty? 

As unofficial costume coordinator for Chasing Tail you would think by now I would have learned to protect my tail (costume tail that is) from toilets.  Nope, I ruined at least two this year.  Next season I will be more responsible.  

Chasing Tail completed Reach the Beach: NH 2012 in 28 hours, 39 minutes and 13 seconds.  As always it was a great trip and we can’t wait to do it again!  We are currently working on our official video for this relay and it will be entered into a contest for a free entry.  Be on the lookout for that coming soon.  

I have to admit that I was a little disappointed with my personal performance in this race.  I was hoping to be a little stronger since I’ve been training so hard for NY but the speed just wasn’t consistently there.  It’s hard to perform your best in a situation like this and thankfully I am on a team that puts less emphasis on our final time and more on fun, teamwork and of course…Chasing Tail!

Chasing Tail NH 2012:
Van 1: Alex Swan, Mike Tatian, Laura Dempsey, Bob Cassin, Eric Bristol, Kate O'Malley
Van 2: Linda Saccone, Brian Yoon, Nancy Rucio-Bell, Duncan Warden, John Gianitsis, Kristina  Ingram

Thank you to all the RTB organizers, towns, volunteers, sponsors and fellow teams who were a part of making the relay so much fun.  We love this course and will be back next year. 

In the meantime, the BAA Half Marathon is coming up in just a few weeks and we are less than 7 weeks away from the NYC Marathon!  Remember, if you would like to support my fundraising campaign please visit: http://go.liverfoundation.org/goto/LauraNYC

Lets Make The Best Out of Our Lives

These are the moments – These are the Times – Let’s Make the Best Out Of Our Lives

I often think of these lyrics as the last words Laura Linehan spoke to me.  Standing at Mt Auburn Cemetery surrounded by her friends, her family, and everyone that loved her, the song played as we said goodbye.  It was a specific request that if she wasn’t to survive this battle she had been fighting for so long, to play the song at her funeral. 

In 2005 I decided I wanted to run another Boston Marathon but had no idea how I would score a number like I did two years before, by luck.  A friend told me to call the American Liver Foundation to see if they had entries.  I completed the application and sent it in, then emailed, and then called and called again until finally they agreed to offer me a space on the Run for Research team.  I would be responsible for raising a minimum of $2500 for ALF which seemed daunting but manageable.  I planned to send letters and emails to friends and family asking for their support.   I attended team meetings to learn more about liver disease – I knew very little and, like many people do, simply associated liver disease with alcoholism.

Laura gets ready for Prom with her parents, Ann and Jim

I decided to sign up for the Patient Match Program which introduced me to the Morea family from NY.  I found their story incredibly inspiring and started to take more interest in the cause I was running and raising funds for.  Then, I received a call from my mother.  She had mentioned to family friend, Mary Brotherton, that I would be running for ALF and Mary shared that her niece had liver disease.  Mary suggested I talk to her sister about their experiences.  A couple of months later I received a call from Ann Linehan… and my life was never the same again.

Laura Linehan was born with tyrosinemia, a rare disorder that prevents the body from breaking down an amino acid which then builds to dangerous levels, possibly leading to liver and kidney failure.  At two years old, Laura received what was thought to be a life saving liver transplant.  She lived the normal life of a little girl until a registered letter arrived from Children’s Hospital.  A blood transfusion she received during the transplant was infected with hepatitis C and she had to be tested.  Laura, a fifth grader at the time, tested positive for hepatitis C.  She began treatments to fight the virus but they proved to be unsuccessful and her transplanted liver was destroyed. 

In 2005 when I met Laura for the first time she was like any high school student.  She talked about her friends, fashion and the upcoming prom.  The Linehan family offered to get involved with my fundraising campaign and reached out to their friends and loved ones to contribute.  The Linehans and I raised $5500 that year and I was incredibly proud to run the marathon in honor of her fight.  I crossed the finish line of the race but felt compelled to continue my work for ALF.  A few months later I accepted a position at ALF as the coordinator of the marathon team and continued running Boston with RFR for the next six years. 

 It felt great to be able to share with Laura all of the things we were doing to help fight liver disease.  She once sent me an email after a pre marathon dinner where she told me how amazing it was to see all of those people working to help her and everyone affected by liver disease.  I used to bring her t-shirts and silly giveaways from ALF in the hospital.  A postcard I gave her that said ‘Livers Are Cool’ always hung on the wall of her hospital room.  It was even rescued when one of the rooms flooded!  I was glad to offer a bit of comic relief even when things were tough. 

Laura with Jenna Atturio

In the fall of 2006, Laura was listed for a second liver transplant.  Within that time she fell in and out of the right MELD score to be active on the list and one of her best friends, Jenna Atturio, passed away.  Jenna was also waiting for a liver transplant.  In 2008, Ann and Laura packed up and moved to Jacksonville Florida.  The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville did significantly more liver transplants than here in New England and the chances of her receiving a new liver in time would be much greater there.  Leaving their family, friends and support system behind, they moved south with hopes that it would save her life.  Daily reports were published on CaringBridge to keep us all up to date on how she was doing, the new friends they were meeting and the efforts made to make Jacksonville a home away from home. 

Laura’s health was declining but we never gave up hope and kept praying that she would receive her transplant.  Ann and her husband Jim even appeared on a local news station in Jacksonville pleading for help.  Then, on Friday April 4 all of our prayers seemed answered when a liver became available.  Laura when into the O.R. at 8:00 am and we all held our breath.  I remember so clearly that the American Liver Foundation Gala was that evening and my friend Dr. Doug Horst spoke at the event.  He talked about Laura and how she was receiving her transplant that day.  Although busy at the gala, my phone never left my sight desperately waiting to get the call that the transplant went well and Laura would be okay.   That call never came.   The next morning my phone rang and I knew immediately who it was.  Ann wanted me to hear from her that Laura passed away the night before.  She was too sick to survive the surgery and her poor body simply couldn’t take anymore.  I sobbed while Ann thanked me for everything I had done for Laura and assured me that she was in a better place, no longer in pain.  I swore to Ann that morning that I wasn’t done; I would keep working and fighting for Laura every way I knew how.  Two weeks later I ran the Boston Marathon, this time in memory of Laura.  The Boston Globe even ran a story on my run for her called Legacies of Endurance.  I was interviewed for that article moments after stumbling into the Westin after finishing the race.  I’m so thankful Adrian Walker found some good quotes in my delirious ramblings.  This November I will be running for Laura again, this time in the NYC Marathon and with the Greater NY Division of ALF.  You can learn more about that campaign here: NYC Marathon Campaign.  

Running the 2008 Boston Marathon for Laura

It’s been over four years since we lost Laura.  I think of her every day and her story inspires me to do the best work I can at New England Organ Bank.  Her family remains active with the Liver Foundation and with NEOB doing volunteer work.  They share their story encouraging others to be registered organ donors.  She may be gone but our fight continues.  

Today, September 11, would have been Laura’s 25^th birthday.  Ironically, it’s a day they we associate with destruction and terror since the 2001 attacks, but for those of us who knew and loved Laura Linehan, today belongs to a special young woman.  A woman who was able to focus on the positive and find the light in even the worst of scenarios.  She laughed a lot and lived her short life to the fullest.  In her honor, I will continue each day to try and do the same.  If you are not currently a registered organ donor please visit www.donatelifenewengland.org to educate yourself about donation and sign up to potentially save lives.  

Cause these are the days worth living

These are the years we're given

And these are the moments 

These are the times

Let's make the best out of our lives

Our Lives, The Calling

In loving memory of Laura Christine Linehan

September 11, 1987 – April 4, 2008

Two months out!

It’s the Tuesday after Labor Day weekend and the unofficial end to summer.  I love autumn with the cooler temperatures, beautiful foliage and obviously the fun fashion, but I still have a hard time saying goodbye to summer.  As of today, fall is truly almost here and we are exactly two months away from the NYC Marathon!

The past few months have been incredibly busy with something on the calendar every weekend but it was all fun events and I somehow managed to stay on track with my training.  Back in June I posted a training check in that set some goals for July and August including increasing mileage to 16 and 18, incorporating more hills and getting rid of the cold I thought I had.  Well, the cold turned out to be allergies so that was easily taken care of.  I have been somewhat successful with the hills by trading the comfort of the Charles River for a few Saturdays on the Boston Marathon course.  It’s not only strategic to prepare for the NYC course but it’s also a nice change of pace.  The 15 miler I did with Jared on Nantucket earlier this month also had some inclines so I’m feeling confident there.  In regards to distance, I am right where I should be.  Last weekend I managed to run my first 18 miler of the season.  I took it slow and stayed on the Charles River so it was relatively flat but it’s a nice feeling to get that major milestone of an 18 out of the way without any drama. 

This past weekend I was looking forward to bring the mileage back down to a manageable 12.  A group from Somerville Road Runners was planning a 10.5 mile run starting in Davis Square so I did a 2 mile warm up on my own and then met them for the rest of the course.  It was a good size group and very refreshing to replace the sound of my ipod with voices chatting.  Several of them just returned from Iceland where they ran the Reykjavik Marathon.  They were still so excited and had great stories to tell which made the run go by quickly.  By the time I hit 12 my legs were ready to stop.  I was hoping this run would be a little more comfortable since it was shorter than what I’ve been running but clearly my body was telling me something.  I think it might be time for a sports massage and possibly some ART therapy. 

The mileage will go back up this coming weekend to stay on track and then a few days later I leave for Reach the Beach Relay – NH with Chasing Tail.  I love this relay and incorporating it into fall marathon training.  It’s a great confidence booster which I definitely need after the Falmouth Road Race disaster last month.  Its so important to feel good about your training and confident that you are capable of reaching your goals.  There are only 61 days until the big race and a lot to accomplish in that time.  I feel like I might be in danger of over thinking it and stressing out about the mileage, aches and pains, goals and of course running 26.2 miles.  Instead, I try to stay relaxed, stick to my schedule and stay healthy – I should be in great shape for November 4.  Here is a great song from the musical Pippen about keeping cool confident that you’re On The Right Track.  I love this version with Ben Vereen and William Katt (aka The Greatest American Hero).  

Thanks to some very generous donations I received over the weekend I have raised over $2000 for the American Liver Foundation.  I am quickly closing in on my $2500 commitment and getting closer to my $3500 goal.  Thank you everyone who has contributed and for those of you who would like to make a donation, please visit my ALF Fundraising Page. 

I’m sad that I don’t have any photos that are relevant to this week’s post but instead I will share this great photo of Brittany playing with a tree branch.  I call it ‘Go Big Or Go Home’!

Britt says - sticks are for babies, I want the whole branch!

A Well Deserved BreACK and Happy Birthday Jack Morea

I think it’s so important to break away from the everyday work/ workout routine and get away once in a while.  It was very challenging to find the time for this with such a busy summer but I was able to escape to my favorite island for a supersize weekend last week for some fun on Nantucket.  I’m lucky enough to find my way there a few times each year and always have the time of my life.  In my opinion, ACK has the best of everything – beaches, bike trails, restaurants and the most entertaining cast of characters. 

We arrived Wednesday evening and went to sleep early after a simple dinner down the street.  I woke up the next morning so excited to start the day on Nantucket and knowing I had a great few days ahead of me.  The weather on the island is very strange and no matter what the weather report says, it’s completely unpredictable.  We had a bike ride planned for Thursday morning but as I drove to get some breakfast I noticed a giant dark cloud threatening those plans.  Not 30 minutes later the cloud was gone, the sun was out and we had a gorgeous day for our ride.   

We were staying by the airport and first rode out to the west point of the island on the Madaket Rd Bike Path.  Nantucket is very bike friendly and there are paths everywhere perfect for cycling or running around the island.  It was beautiful and most of the time we were able to stay away from any traffic at all making me much more comfortable.   We made it to Madaket and tried to bike out toward Smith Point but it was very sandy.   I dumped my bike trying to clip out on sand and we decided it was a good time to turn around and head for an early lunch at Millie’s – famous for its yummy fish tacos.  I could have stayed there all day but we hopped back on the bikes and headed to ‘Sconset at the other end of the island.  I was doing really well on the bike at this point and had been able to keep up with Jared most of the time but the best way to get to Milestone Rd and head to Sconset is to go through the dreaded rotary so we went for it.  I had a few panicky moments and had to jump off and walk at one particularly terrifying intersection but the important part is that I tried, I did my best and I didn’t cry. 

Almost Smith Point

Milestone Rd is a straight shoot to Sconset on another nicely paved and safe bike path, but its crazy boring (BFT – boring and forever taking).  The only fun along the way is looking out to the Serengeti Walking Trails to see the wooden animal cut outs – but they were gone!  We finally make it Sconset and stopped at the Summer House for a drink and a snack before heading back home.  The ride in total was probably about 25 miles and the longest I’ve ridden in a very long time but it was a great way to spend the early part of the day. 

Millies

Not wanting to waste the beautiful day we showered and headed into town to peek in at the beautiful shops.  The clothing in the Nantucket boutiques is gorgeous and when I win the lottery someday I am going to spend a full week indulging at all my favorites like Milly and Grace and The Lovely.  I did splurge on a pretty beach coverup and a fun ring at Ocean Treasure.  Tatiana there makes all the jewelry and has such fun glass and pearl pieces. Read more about her on  Nantucket BlACKbook.  Dinner was at the beautiful Oran Mor which we had been planning to try for a while and I'm so happy we made it a priority this season.  The menu is amazing and it was so hard to narrow it down - we were wishing there were more people with us so we could try everything!  We ended the night by catching up with friends at Lola 41 before heading home. 

We had decided earlier in the week to do our long run on Friday morning since a) we could and b) the chances were good that Friday could be a big night and it might be a challenge to get up the next morning.  Jared did a great job planning a route that took us to Cliff Road and up to Dionis Beach and we would come back along the Madaket Bike Path.  We had water throughout the route and a bathroom half way.  Unfortunately, it was very warm Friday morning and we didn’t leave as early as we had hoped.  Plus, my legs were tired from the previous day’s bike ride so I did struggle quite a bit.  Regardless, we were able to complete a 15 mile long run and after spending some time hydrating and resting back at home, I was ready to continue enjoying my island time.  We finished up the afternoon with a quick trip the beach and to Cisco Brewery where we tried the new Blue Blerry Bleer which is being sold to benefit a new Hummock Pond Rd Bike Path that we are looking forward to enjoying next year. 

The beautiful Summer House

Dinner on Friday was at CRU, a brand new island hotspot this season.  It’s a great location on the water and we sat at the bar enjoying a beautiful and delicious meal.  We toured some of the favorite bars in town, as many of our friends were back on island for the weekend, and finally found our way home in the early hours of the morning.  As predicted, it was difficult to wake up on Saturday but it started out a beautiful morning so I forced myself out of bed to enjoy a bit of the day.  Jared went for a bike ride and I took a quick trip into town with a friend but soon after I opted to nap a little while longer so I would be well prepared for another big night.  

We saved the best for last and had two seats at the bar reserved at The Pearl Saturday night.  As I mentioned, Nantucket boasts many of the best restaurants in the country but The Pearl remains my favorite.  The food is amazing, the atmosphere is always fun and the people are terrific.  We headed downstairs to the rockin’ dance party at Boarding House to finish up the night. 

I can’t claim that a trip to Nantucket for me is always relaxing but it was a well deserved break from the norm and I was spoiled with great weather, great food and always great company.  I know I won’t stay away long!

Happy Birthday Jack Morea

My hero, Jack Morea, ready to kick some butt
because he's healthy, strong and awesome!

Several entries ago, I introduced everyone to my friend Jack Morea.  Jack was born with a complicated liver disease called biliary atresia that affects infants.  Jack’s life was saved when doctors were able to perform a live liver transplant using a piece of his father’s liver.  Jack turned 10 years old on Monday and is stronger, healthier and more awesome than ever.   I am running the 2012 New York City Marathon on November 4^th for the American Liver Foundation to support people affected by liver disease, just like Jack and his family.  Funds raised will increase education, advocacy and funding for treatments like the surgery that saved Jack.  Please consider a contribution to my campaign and help me reach my goal by race day by visiting my Fundraising Page.  

Falmouth Road Race including the First Ever NEOB Team

This past weekend was the 40^th annual Falmouth Road Race in Falmouth MA on Cape Cod.  The race attracts thousands of runners from all over the world but has a tricky entry system.  Guaranteed entries are given to Falmouth residents and then a lottery is held for others who want to participate.  Even with a huge field of 14,000 runners, thousands still receive that devastating email that they were not chosen for the lottery that year.  As an alternative, they can choose to participate with one of the many well deserving charities who have entries to give out in exchange for fundraising. 

For the first time ever, New England Organ Bank was chosen as one of the official charities and given five entries.  As the coordinator for this project, I was thrilled that we were chosen – we had been turned down in the past – and when I began recruiting runners for the team the response was overwhelming.  I had filled our 5 spots in about 36 hours so I went back and asked the race organizers if there might be a few more available.  They were happy to offer me 5 more, doubling our team and fundraising potential.  I found 10 runners, perfect to represent New England Organ Bank and willing to commit to the $1000 fundraising commitment.  Most had some level of personal connection to the cause and all were excited to be on the team and start fundraising.  By July 4^th weekend we had already reached $6000.  I had hoped we could reach $12,000 by race day and we were on track to hit that goal. 

8 members of the NEOB Falmouth Road Race Team

In the weeks leading up to the race I got to know the runners a little better and we all worked together to help raise awareness for donation with media interviews.  Almost every team member was highlighted in his or her local paper and all together we had 12 placements including this great piece on the front page of the Cape Cod Times.  Everyone had a great story to share about why they were running the race for NEOB and why they were so eager to contribute to our cause.  This amazing team has raised over $17,000 which will fund education and awareness programs across New England encouraging people to register to be organ and tissue donors. I am so proud of my team and can’t wait to do it all again for Falmouth 2013. 

I want to make a special point of recognizing what a great race this was.  The Falmouth Road Race has been through a lot of changes in the past couple of years which isn't always smooth for a longstanding a event like this.  I was impressed with the organization, weekend events and of course the amazing volunteers.  New England Organ Bank is very proud to be a partner of this race and looking forward to many more years of our runners on the course.  

As for my race, it was not my best performance or best example of race decision making.  I woke Sunday morning in Falmouth (thanks to my awesome host and great friend Marisa Davidson and her family) to POURING rain.  We were happy to see it clear right before the race but the humidity held on tight and created less than ideal race conditions.  Dealing with some stressful traffic we met up with a few members of the NEOB team to take a team picture and then headed toward the start corrals.  It was very crowded (Falmouth is notorious for a sardine start) but I was able to sneak up to Corral 2 where I was seeded.  I knew it was warm but thought the cloud cover might offer some relief to what is usually a very sunny and hot run.  The race is 7 miles and while I have posted some quick times on this course I had planned to run it in a manageable 8 minute mile pace.  That pace felt good to me at the Finish on the 50 10k and this course is a little more challenging.  Once the gun went off I relaxed with the crowd and allowed my legs to warm up before picking up the pace.  My first mile was an 8:29 so I began to speed up a little bit.  I quickly realized that the humidity was really bothering me and I was going to have an uncomfortable race but I only had 6 miles in front of me so I had no reason to believe I wouldn't be able to handle it.  I was able to pick it up to an 8:17 for mile 2 but wasn't sure how much harder I could push and each mile I lost a few seconds.  Toward the end of mile 4 I realized it wasn't going to get much better.  

Not the look of a great race.  

I jogged slowly at each water stop and was tempted to walk but looking at my watch I knew I needed to stay close to an average of 8:30 to come in under an hour.  There were times a felt a little light headed and very uncomfortable but with just a couple of miles to go I felt like the right thing to do was press on and give it all I had.  

I crossed the finish line in 59:35 stumbling and seriously considering a trip to the medical tent.  I saw a teammate’s husband and found my smile for him to snap a photo of me and then took off to find some water.   Heading toward the finisher’s field I was thrilled to see good friend and Liver Team teammate Mimi Golub who also had a tough race.  I sat down next to her and we caught up a little bit but mostly discussed what crappy races we just had.  There was a quick celebrity sighting when a tall handsome guy walked by me.  We exchanged hellos just before I realized the familiar face was Chris Lambton of the Bachelorette.  Chris runs in memory of his mom raising funds for CCALS.  BTW, he’s super cute in person even after a sweaty race.  Way to go Peyton.

I finally made it to the field and was able to get down some juice and potato chips but I was still feeling woozy.  I sat down on the ground for a while and tried to have some conversations with old friends I was bumping into and teammates who were excited to see me after the race.  I rallied for some team photos and found my ride back to the house when my body finally turned on me.  I will spare my loyal readers the details but all that juice and the chips ended up back on the field.  Back at the house, I felt much better after a shower, some rest and the ginger ale and toast Marisa and her mother convinced me to eat.   Ugh, just not my day.

I can’t say I’m disappointed with my time.  It certainly wasn’t my best time on the course but even Olympic Champion Frank Shorter was quoted saying it was the hardest Falmouth he’s ever run.   I’m happy that I came in under an hour but question whether it was worth it when I felt so sick after.  It’s a fine line between pushing yourself to the edge and putting your health at risk.  I think I may have lost sight of that line on Sunday and maybe should have recognized the signs that it was not the day to ask more of my body.  The lesson is to listen to your body, because if you don’t your body will make spectacle of you while you throw up all over yourself in front of 10,000 runners.   Message received.

Kip Durney helped me find my post race smile

Anyone interested in joining the 2013 Falmouth Road Race team should keep an eye on our Facebook Page and we will have more information next spring.  To register to be an organ and tissue donor please visit www.donatelife.net. 

Less than three months until the big race!  I take on the New York City Marathon on November 4^th with the American Liver Foundation team.   Help me reach my fundraising goals by visiting my campaign home page: NYC Campaign Page!