A Day In the Life of a DFMC Team Member

In my spare time:

1. The Skate to Freeze Cancer tasks;
2. Advertise skating lessons;
3. Compose list of mailing addresses;
4. Draft and mail letters to potential sponsors;
5. Call patient partner;
6. Thank you notes;
7. Set up See Katy Run group on Facebook;
8. Request email addresses from reunion attendees;
9. Flyer neighborhood;
10. Run!

Send me your additional fundraising suggestions and ideas! Your help is greatly appreciated!

Run, Run Rudolph

I was able to stick to my running schedule up until last week when the holiday craziness finally caught up to me. I had a wonderful time visiting family and friends, but the Christmas parties really kept me busy around the clock. I'm happy to report, however, that my life is back to normal!

I'm so thankful to everyone who gave me running clothes for Christmas! I absolutely love all of my gifts, but I was in dire need of workout gear! I used to have to do a load of laundry after exercising because I would dirty almost all of my running clothes during a single run. I've already made great use of my new base layers, hats, socks, gloves, zip-up jackets, and lime green fleeces! I also tried out my new pedometer during my 15,744 step run this afternoon. Check out the new additions to my running library below as well! I would also like to use this post to thank both of my sisters for sponsoring my run! It was so nice finding a check made payable to DFMC and a dollar shaped "I owe you" under the tree on Christmas morning!

Now that the Christmas craziness is behind us for a few months, I am back on track with my running. I finally caught up on my sleep, and I feel like Katy again! On Saturday, I spent most of the day unpacking and organizing my life. I developed my running plan for the remainder of the week (including my last two workouts in 2007). I really tried to redeem myself for last week with an eleven mile run this afternoon. I'm going to try to fit in another eight mile run tomorrow morning before work as well.

My run this afternoon started off terrific despite my being a little bit nervous about the fact that this was my first run in over a week! I took the subway to the Woodland stop with my roommate and ran along our usual route. It turns out that Maureen saw us running while she was visiting Katherine and Pete at their home. We ran to Kenmore Square and followed Brookline Avenue to Dana-Farber to finish only 10.5 miles of running. Keep in mind that my goal was to complete eleven miles without fail!

Towards the end of my run, I simply ran out of steam. This was a totally new experience to me! I had heard that it's difficult to run for two hours straight without needing additional fuel, but I didn't realize the extent of these words until I became somewhat light-headed and shaky. I didn't feel entirely bad, but I just HAD to EAT! It probably didn't help that I was running past Dunkin' Donuts, pizza shops, and chocolatiers. The usual bowl of Special-K that I had for breakfast just didn't cut it, so I ended my run after 10.5 miles. When I got home, I didn't bother to change my clothes. I went straight to the refrigerator. I grabbed a clementine and wolfed down another bowl of cereal in record time. While it was tempting to hit the shower, I just couldn't do it! My goal was to run eleven miles, and nothing was going to stop me! I ran back out the door and around the block to complete my original mission!

My motivation this afternoon was a result of a) a recent phone call to my patient partner's mother, b) all of my sponsors, and c) my new running gear. It's a wonderful feeling knowing that I have the support of my family and friends!

I was a little bit nervous to make the intial phone call to my patient partner. She was unavailable at the time, so I left a message. I really hope to hear back soon, but I understand that it might be a difficult time to talk on the phone.

I'm so grateful to everyone who has already sponsored me! I'm particularly motivated by my two sponsors who agreed to give Dana-Farber $1.00 per every mile that I run in training (payable in monthly installments)! December is coming to a close, so I'm trying to squeeze in a few extra miles today and tomorrow. I'm also currently drafting letters to new, potential sponsors. Please let me know if you are interested in sponsoring my run, and I would be happy to send you more information!

Ice Skating Lessons

It's time to test out those skates that you got for Christmas! As a recently retired professional figure skater for Disney on Ice, I have many, MANY years of figure skating and coaching experience. I will be offering ice skating lessons to people of all ages and abilities to raise money towards my run in the 2008 Boston Marathon for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute! See details below:

WHAT: Private and semi-private ice skating lessons with a recently retired professional figure skater from Disney on Ice!

COST: $50/hour or $25/half hour - 100% of lesson proceeds will support my run in the 2008 Boston Marathon for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

WHERE: Lessons will be offered during public skating sessions at rinks located in and around Boston, Massachusetts including, but not limited to:

1. Simoni Memorial Arena, Cambridge
2. Steriti Memorial Arena, Boston (North End)
3. The Frog Pond, Boston
4. Veterans' Memorial Rink, Arlington
5. Daly Memorial Rink, Brighton
6. Reilly Memorial Rink, Brighton (Cleveland Circle)
7. Veterans Memorial Rink, Somerville

WHEN: Contact me for availability and locations! My schedule is pretty flexible after work and on weekends (whenever I'm not running)!

CONTACT ME: Email me at kcounihan@gmail.com OR feel free to respond to this post!

Streakers

It takes a certain kind of runner to find the strength and dedication to get up and run every single day--sometimes for decades on end. These so-called "streak runners" are a rare breed who manage to run through injuries and natural disasters, all in the name of keeping their records alive.

According to the United States Running Streak Association, a running streak is defined as running at least one continuous mile within each calendar day under one's own body power (without the utilization of any type of health or mechanical aid other than prosthetic devices).

Owen sent me this great article for motivation: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=streakrun

Back on Their Feet Running Club

Anne Mahlum started a running club for homeless people in Philadelphia called "Back on Their Feet." Check out the story at: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/PersonOfWeek/story?id=4003180

No More Blisters!

WRIGHTSOCK^TM is the right sock! Double layer technology delivers the no blister promise through a three-part system:

1. Moisture Management : Dri-WRIGHT^TM inner layer wicks moisture off the skin better than any other fabric. The Result... your feet stay dry.

2. Temperature Regulation: Staying dry means staying cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The Result... your feet are more comfortable.

3. Friction Reduction : Interaction between the inner and outer sock layers absorbs friction that is normally transferred to the skin. The Result... skin shear is eliminated.

The Skate to Freeze Cancer to benefit Dana-Farber

Hillary, Sarah, and I recently completed the pre-event plan and budget for an event called The Skate to Freeze Cancer. If it is approved by Development Fiscal and Regulatory Management, The Skate to Freeze Cancer will take place on February 18, 2008 starting at 6:00pm at the Simoni Memorial Arena in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Participating skaters will be asked to raise a minimum of $25 for innovative cancer research prior to the big skate-a-thon. The top skating fundraisers will have the opportunity to earn some terrific prizes (HINT: including an interactive opportunity with some famous high school students)! FMC Arenas donated two hours of ice time and skate rentals for up to 400 people to make this event possible! Please respond to this post with your email address if you are interested in freezing cancer on February 18th! More information to come!

Double Runners

Our DFMC runner's meeting was cancelled on Saturday due to bad running conditions along the Charles. The Thursday night Crossroads run didn't happen because of the blizzard that hit Boston. After missing a couple of workouts, I was determined to get my long run in on Saturday afternoon. I left the house around 1:30pm to meet Keegan at the Woodland stop on the D-line at 2pm sharp. Kate decided to join us as well! For someone that's not planning on running a marathon, Kate certainly does a lot of cold weather running! After a few rough workouts last week, I was glad to have Keegan and Kate at my side. I really must remember to avoid peanut butter granola bars before my long runs! We maintained a steady pace along Newton's rolling hills and Kate picked up the pace as we approached Boston College. I was tempted to ring Katherine and Pete's doorbell, but we were women on an 11 mile mission! It was also important for us to keep moving to stay warm. The weather "schedule" did predict temperatures around 18F after all!

Kate stopped her run at Coolidge Corner, so that she could purchase a Christmas present for her brother. Keegan and I pressed on towards the famous Citgo sign before turning onto Brookline Avenue. I was on the lookout for Maureen, but our paths didn't cross. Marathoners really cover a lot of territory during their training. I had the opportunity to wave to half of Owen's family during my Saturday long run!

Longwood Avenue was extremely slippery and we had a couple of close calls on the ice. I should've worn my skates! We ran past Dana-Farber for inspiration. Keegan decided to finish her run at Stop and Shop because she needed to pick up some ingredients to make bacon and cheddar appetizers for a holiday gathering. I ran around the block to finish my first eleven mile run in approximately two hours.

DFMC Partner Program

It's official! Today, I was accepted into the DFMC Partner Program! I've been paired up with a young patient at the Jimmy Fund Clinic, and I'll be running the 2008 Boston Marathon in his or her honor! As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm running in an attempt to connect with Dana-Farber and it's mission on a deeper level, and I can't imagine a better way to do this than through participation in this program. I am excited about this opportunity, and I can't wait to cross the finish line for my partner!

My Next Running Purchase

I would like to take a moment to dedicate this post to Steve, who saved my life during last week's unofficial DFMC run! Reflective gear is an essential part of a runner's wardrobe, and I shall purchase a brightly colored vest and/or neon suspenders before embarking on another nighttime expedition.

You are Now at a Crossroads.

I've come to the conclusion that Crossroads should receive a 2008 Best of Boston award in the restaurants and food category for offering the best cheese pizza after a nine mile run. On Thursday night, I hopped onto the D-line with Sarah and a few other DFMC runners to run "hills." I prefer to replace the word hills with "the Boston Marathon route." Running "the Boston Marathon route" has a much nicer ring than running "hills." Sarah and I started our run at the Woodland stop while the others in the group took a few minutes to stretch. We figured we'd give ourselves a bit of a head start because we were obviously the only first-time marathoners in the group that night. We tippy-toed across the icy sidewalk on Washington Street until we heard the pack of runners moving in on us. We tried to pick up the pace in an attempt to save face, but the other runners blew past us like a strong gust of wind.

With the other runners up ahead, Sarah and I continued at a steady, ten mile pace along Newton's rolling hills. This was Sarah's first experience running along the carriage path, and we were both impressed by the Christmas lights and mansions on the route. It was difficult to point out the infamous heartbreak hill in the dark until we were actually running up it. We made it to Cleveland Circle and turned left on Beacon. We pushed ourselves up the hill before Coolidge Corner, and ran until we found Crossroads. Our run culminated in a high-five, a hug, and the opportunity to get to know a few of our 2008 DFMC teammates. I was so impressed by Sarah's strength and determination to complete the route without stopping, and I'm already looking forward to our next run together!

Today was Cold ... But I Ran

It took me at least a half hour to figure out what to wear for my first "cold" weather run this winter. After changing clothes three or four times, I settled on a pair of blister free socks, two pairs of running pants, a sports bra, two dry-fit tops, my black fitness fleece from L.L. Bean, a polyester hat, gloves, and my Asics. I took the subway out to the Riverside stop on the D-line. Kate decided to join me on my run at the last minute and Emily thought we were both crazy for running outside. It was "fine once we got running." We ran to the border of Wellesley and back down Washington Street. I followed the marathon route to Coolidge Corner and continued on to complete my second ten mile run.

I would also like to use this post to write about my late night run on Thursday. It wasn't nearly as cold as today, but it was still somewhat chilly. I ran along the marathon course in the dark with Kate. I had a wonderful run despite my tripping over a couple of potholes. The hardest part of this particular run was determining whether to watch for oncoming traffic or deadly potholes. I was afraid that I might've twisted my ankle, but I'm glad to report that my ankle is pain free. My next running purchase will definitely be a reflective vest!

Marathon Champions

What defines a champion? I've copied and pasted a few definitions of the word below:

• someone who has won first place in a competition
• someone who fights for a cause
• supporter: a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the library"
• protect or fight for as a champion
• holding first place in a contest; "a champion show dog"; "a prizewinning wine"
• ace: someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

I'm forever reading stories of marathon "champions," so I've decided to include a few of their profiles in my blog:

Although Dave McGillivray is dazzlingly skilled in running, he has never won a single marathon. I actually had the opportunity to hear him speak at the recent Conference on Philanthropy in Boston. He reinforced the importance of a strong work ethic and spoke on the value of surrounding oneself with motivational people. He also emphasized the significance of jotting one's personal goals down on paper, which is why I'd like to declare that my marathon goal is to finish! Dave is a true inspiration in my life and is best known for:

• He ran across the U.S. in 1978 for The Jimmy Fund. McGillivray ran a total of 3,452 miles in 80 days averaging 45 miles a day;
• In May 2004, McGillivray ran across the country again, this time with nine other veteran marathoners, in relay style, from San Francisco to Boston as part of TREK USA, an event which he founded that raised over $300,000 for five children's charities;
• McGillivray is Race Director of the world's oldest and most famous road race, the B.A.A. Boston Marathon for which he has worked tirelessly for 20 years;
• Personally, he has run 121 marathons including the Boston Marathon for the past 35 consecutive years, the last 19 at night after his race director duties have been completed;
• As a personal challenge at age 12, he began running his age in miles on his birthday each year, never having missed a year in the past 39 years. Last year he ran 52 miles on his 52nd birthday;
  
• He has logged more than 130,000 miles in his lifetime (to date);
  
• McGillivray directed or consulted on over 800 events;
  
• He has given more than 1,500 motivational speeches to audiences throughout the U.S. and the world;
  
• McGillivray is owner and President of Dave McGillivray Sports Enterprises, Inc. For 25 years, "DMSE," as its known, has produced mass-participatory atheletic events nationally and internationally;
  
• More than $50 million has been raised for charity through both McGillivray's personal efforts and by events his company has managed;
  
• Road Race Management and Running times Magazine named McGillivray Race Director of the Year in 2000;
  
• McGillivray was inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions in January 2005. The Hall of Champions is intended to celebrate members of the running industry who have made exceptional contributions to the development of the sport;
  
• He created The DMSE Children's Fitness Foundation, a non-profit aimed at ending childhood obesity by funding and developing programs to inspire and cultivate a generation of healthy and successful children;
  
• McGillivray authored The Last Pick, with Linda Glass Fechter, which chronicles his career while motivating and inspiring the reader to never underestimate their own ability, to set goals and to achieve what is thought to be the impossible;
  
• He was awarded the Lazarus House "Christ the Servant Award" in 2006 for continuous dedication to the unloved and forgotten who are served by the Lazarus House Ministries;
  
• He completed a 24-hour run (120 miles), bike (385 miles), and swim (27 miles).

My roommate told me the story of Rosie Ruiz during our afternoon long run. She was the first woman to cross the finish line in the Boston Marathon held on April 21, 1980, but I hardly consider her a marathon "champion." She had achieved the third fastest time ever recorded for a female runner (two hours, thirty-one minutes, and fifty-six seconds) by cheating! She had apparently hopped on the subway midway through the race. The famous disappearing act became somewhat obvious when camera footage revealed that she was absent from most of of the race. Further investigation revealed that Rosie also cheated to win the New York Marathon at an earlier date. Officials stripped her of her Boston victory and awarded the title to the real winner, Jackie Gareau.


A blog post about marathon champions just isn't complete without mentioning Jack Fultz. He won the 1976 Boston Marathon with an official time of 2:20:19. The temperature reached 100 degrees during Jack's race, which makes his triumphant finish even more impressive!

Jack has not only finished the Boston Marathon in first place but, in 1995, added the distinction of finishing last together with Dave McGillivray.

Jack Fultz is now an instructor of sport psychology at Tufts University, a fitness consultant and personal coach, and running coach to the 2008 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge!

In 1996, Fultz was inducted into the DC Road Runners Hall of Fame.

In the October issue of Boston magazine, Dunkin' Donuts acknowledged Jack as a Bostonian who helps this city run. Dunkin' Donuts treated Jack and members of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to an assortment of Dunkin' Breakfast treats and coffee. Jack's involvement with the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge displays his enthusiasm for supporting active members of the community in their efforts to raise funds and awareness on behalf of Dana-Farber.