A Tribute to Country Music

Just writing to let you all know that I was seriously reprimanded (all in good fun) by some of the other runners at the Meet Your Match Party for listening to Barry Manilow during my workouts. It's important to note that Copacabana was not on my running mix this evening. Instead, my Nano blasted some country tunes including songs by Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, Big and Rich, Garth Brooks, and Sugarland. Tonight was a little country, and tomorrow will be rock and roll!

2008 DFMC Singlets

This afternoon, my meeting was interrupted because I was told that there was a surprise for me in the fifth floor project room. I got to see the new 2008 DFMC singlets ... and they are absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to cross the finish line in my singlet for Jasmine! I invite you to send me the names of any cancer survivors and/or victims whom you would like to honor, and I will proudly wear their names on my singlet on Marathon Monday in the spirit of their courage and strength.

Back on Track!

I'm pleased to announce that I just experienced my first pain free run in a couple of weeks! I'd like to share the following email chain with you, so that you may track my progess towards the marathon. I'd also like to post the emails below, so that I'll be able to look back on my entire DFMC experience and remember how I kicked my ITB injury to the curb! Please note that I altered a few of the name(s) in the email chain to protect several identities.

EXHIBIT A

Hi Friend,

I hope you had a great vacation! I'm writing because I've been experiencing some pain on the outside of my right knee. The pain first came on during the last mile of a 13.5 mile run just over a week ago. I do not feel pain whenever I'm walking. Whenever I run, however, the sharp pain in my knee comes back. I don't usually feel it until a mile or two into my run. After doing a bit of research, my guess is that it's an ITB injury. What do you think? I've been doing the stretches and icing my knee. I've also been using a foam roller to work out the kinks. I've been strengthening my knee and other muscles using exercises that I found online, and I bought new sneakers. I took about five days off from running, but I've been using the elliptical machine to keep up with my training. I attempted a run this afternoon, but the pain came back after a mile or so into the run. I feel like I'm in such great shape, and I really want to be able to run! I just don't want to make my knee worse. Do you have any suggestions to speed up the recovery process? Do you think it might be something other than an ITB injury? Should call my doctor, or do you suggest that I see an athletic trainer? Do you suggest that I take more time off from running, or should I try to run through the pain? How long does it typically take to recover from this sort of thing? I understand that you aren't a doctor, but I could really use a little bit of advice from an experienced runner. Has your ITB ever given you any trouble? Many thanks for your suggestions!

Thanks,
Katy Counihan

EXHIBIT B

Hi Katy,

I heard that your ITB has been acting up – but I was hoping that because I hadn’t heard from you that it was doing better. Alas – here we are:-) You’re doing all the right things for it – and most likely it is only a matter of time before it heals more completely and with the added strength and flexibility work that you’re doing, you’ll alter the basic structure of your ITB angle enough to relieve the pressure that is causing the irritation. Just how much time is hard to say. For now, keep doing all those things you mentioned. Add a short course of ibuprofen for 3 – 4 days (maybe 3 x 600 mg / day with food – still considered a moderate dosage) provided you have no allergies to to or GI problems taking it. Later this week, I’ll step you though a few exercise therapy sessions (essentially walk/jog on a slightly elevated treadmill – whereby you’ll alternate every minute walk/jog – and only for a total of 15 minutes). If that goes OK, we’ll up it to 20 the next day, then 25 and 30. From there we’ll go to 2 run / 1 walk, then 3/1, 4/1 and 5/1. At that point you’ll be able to start increasing your total time by another 5 – 10 min each workout. In the meantime, you’ll be cranking away on the elliptical and all your other strength/flexibility work. Could be about 3 weeks to get back on the roads as you were before this kicked up. But your fitness level will continue to advance so that by the time you’re back to 100%, it will be like you never missed any workouts at all – because essentially you won’t have missed any. Keep me posted through this week –and keep smiling. I’ve seen lots of this –and I’m certain you’ll get through it and be fine.

Friend

EXHIBIT C

Hi Friend!

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! I have some rather great news! I've been following your program: Ibuprofen with food, ice, resting, strength, stretching, Walt Reynolds, etc.... I tried a fifteen min. run as you suggested below (alernating jogging/walking every other minute), and today was the first day that I had no pain whatsoever! GO IT BAND! I hopped back onto the elliptical and tried a second fifteen min. run later on in the evening as well! This is a serious breakthrough because I haven't had a single pain free run in two or three weeks! I think the program is working! :) ... My new sneakers are definitely making a huge difference (less flip flopping), and I felt minimal pain on my right side w/ the foam roller. Keep in mind that the foam roller practically brought tears to my eyes last week! When I was on tour, we used to travel with a foam roller, but I never really used it because I wasn't doing any serious jumping in my costumes. You should definitely bring a foam roller to one of our group workouts because it makes a huge difference! I didn't realize how knotted I was until I tried it a couple of weeks ago!

It was definitely tempting to try to run miles and miles without stopping today ... but I resisted! I'm sticking to the program! I was at the gym for over three hours this evening to ensure that I don't take a step backwards fitness-wise ... did the arc trainer and the elliptical followed by core and strength exercises, foam rolling, and some serious stretching! Again, many thanks for your help! Will definitely keep you posted! I'm off to blog!

Thanks,
Katy

P.S. Just saw the new DFMC singlet this afternoon ... talk about inspiration!

The Marathong

I think that this might just have to be my next running purchase! This is the perfect solution for an unwanted panty line, and it's a necessity for those who prefer the running tight over a loose fitting workout pant!

R.I.C.E.

I just sent an email to Coach Jack Fultz Marathon Champion because it's time to call in the big guns! I spent last week on the elliptical machine because I'm currently battling an ITB injury. I attempted a three mile run this afternoon, but my knee flared up midway through my workout. Disclaimer: I'm going to use the next couple of sentences of this post to vent. ITB injuries are ANNOYING! I feel great! I feel healthy! I'm in amazing shape! My runs start off absolutely fantastic! I've never wanted to run more in my entire life! Two miles into each run, however, the sharp, burning pain on the outside of my right knee acts up for absolutely no reason! Well, I know there's several reasons, but I just won't stand (or sit) for them at this point in my training!

I've never been one to complain, but I've never been one to allow anything to get in the way of a goal either! I am on a 26.2 mile mission for Dana-Farber. I'm going to be patient, but I'm not going to let any sharp pains on the side of my knee bring me down! I'm on the R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevation) program for a few more days. I'm using the foam roller, and I'm taking Ibuprofen. I'm stretching so much that my body is turning into a human pretzel, and my footprints are permanently embedded into the pedals on the elliptical trainers at the gym.

There! I got it out of my system! Thank you for listening!

Spirit of the Marathon

Spirit of the Marathon is a film that explores the emotional experience of running a marathon. It features professional athletes including Deena Kastor and Daniel Njenga in addition to several amateurs - two first timers - as they train for, and eventually cross the finish line at the Chicago Marathon.

Cinemas across the United States welcomed runners and non-runners alike to a special showing of this documentary. I scored a front seat to the sold out showing at Regal Fenway Stadium 13. I was impressed by the training regimens of both Deena Kastor, Olympic Bronze Medalist, and Daniel Njenga of Kenya. As a child, Daniel Njenga used to run five miles to and from school on a daily basis. Deena Kastor runs over one-hundred miles every week.

I was able to relate to many of the amateur runners. Several of them were raising money for a charity team, but many of them were hoping to qualify for Boston. I was unable to keep up with the gentleman who struggled on the treadmill to maintain a record setting pace, but I enjoyed the story of the father and daughter seeking to run their first marathon together. The woman who was running the marathon in support of the agency that set her up with her adoptive parents classified me as a "zen runner," and I thoroughly enjoyed her story as well.

I had a strong desire to run at the conclusion of the movie. I just want my knee to heal, so that I can lace up my running shoes and kick cancer in the butt!

There will be a second showing of the movie on February 21, 2008. Go to http://www.marathonmovie.com/home.html for more information!

Meet Your Match Party

On Saturday morning, I attended the Meet Your Match Party. The party provided 2008 DFMC runners with the opportunity to finally meet their patient partners from the Jimmy Fund Clinic. Although my patient partner, Jasmine, was unable to attend the event, I had a wonderful time playing games with the other runners and their new friends from Dana-Farber. A representative from Project Adventure led us in some interactive activities involving styrofoam letters, puzzle pieces, trivia questions, bouncy balls, and buckets. Dana-Farber Marathon and Running Programs staff members addressed the crowd, and we heard from one of DFMC's older patient partners. I'm so glad that I attended the event because training for the 2008 Boston Marathon just became so much more meaningful. I picked up a patient partner program t-shirt and a megaphone for Jasmine, and I really hope to see her at the Dana-Farber cheering section on race day. NECN was taping at the party, and I invite you to check out their story at the following link because it truly captures the meaning behind the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge.

http://www.necn.com/New-England/Runners-raise-money-for-cancer-patients/1201387188.html

100 Minutes for Dana-Farber

I jumped onto the elliptical machine at the gym for exactly 100 minutes this evening and completed a half hour of stretching in the group exercise room. I strategically placed myself on the elliptical machine in front of the television playing Deal or No Deal, so the 100 minutes passed relatively quickly. The contestant on the show was left with only three cases to open and two of them contained a million dollars! She didn't end up winning the million because she made a last minute deal with the banker for approximately $400,000. Perhaps I could participate in Deal or No Deal to help me reach my 2008 DFMC fundraising goal of $10,000?!? On a side note, Deal or No Deal is a game of chance because there's no real skill involved. There's a cash prize, but no consideration because individuals are not required to pay a fee to participate. I really must talk to Troy about gameshows in the morning!

My knee was pain free during the workout, but it's a little bit stiff right now. I'm going to ice it and get some sleep because it's just about midnight!

The Incredible Leg

The average jogger strikes the foot against the ground 3,000 times per mile. This adds up to 60,000 foot impacts for every twenty miles. While running you only have one foot on the ground at a time. When walking, 30 percent of the time, both feet are on the ground. When running, the force of landing has been estimated to be about three times your body weight. This means that the force in my leg whenever I land is around 300 pounds!!! No wonder my knee is yelling at me!!!

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade! When life hands you Iliotibial Band Syndrome ("ITBS"), crosstrain and rest! I'm currently facing a little ITBS, which sounds like it might be a really cool acronym for something (like "TGIF"), but it's actually not very fun at all! According to http://www.youcanbefit.com/itbs.html and many other websites, ITBS is a common cause of knee pain in runners, bicyclists, martial artists and dancers. It is characterized by sharp or burning pain on the outside (lateral) side of the knee, thigh or buttocks.

I made the initial mistake of running through the pain for over a week, but I've come to the conclusion that stubbornness is not going to eliminate the problem. I attempted a seven mile run from Owen's house over the weekend, but the pain on the outside of my right knee forced me to walk at mile two. My knee was free from pain at the start of the run, but it came on shortly after the first mile into my run. I experienced similar pain midway through my treadmill run last Tuesday as well.

I first encountered ITBS at the end of my recent 13.5 mile run. I definitely "over did it" that day, and I'm simply facing the consequences. I also attribute my injury to both my new and old running sneakers. I had been in desperate need of a new pair of shoes, but I was unable to find good fitting shoes in my size. I settled on sneakers that were simply too big, but I flip flopped around in them for a few weeks nonetheless. After conducting a city-wide search for sneakers, I was able to find the exact replica of my favorite running shoe (Asics GT-2100) in a small, size five at the Boston Running Company on Sunday! I'm convinced that my new running sneakers will work miracles!

I'm also on the R.I.C.E program, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. I've been doing the ITB stretches that I found online, and I'm going to take a few days off from running. My goal is to reduce the inflammation. I'll continue to use the elliptical machine and the arc trainer as long as there's no pain, so that I am able to stay in tip-top shape for the marathon! I've consulted "Dr. Mo" and "Coach O" for their advice, and both gave me good information. I've also spent a lot of time researching ITBS, and I've copied and pasted some additional information below from the above website.

What is the ITB and what does it do?
The ITB is a wide, flat ligament like structure that runs down the side of the thigh from the side of the hip (iliac crest) to the lateral part of the bone just below the knee (tibia). It provides stability to the outside of the knee and helps control inward motion of the thigh. The ITB is not attached to bone as it passes between the femur and the tibia. This allows the ITB to move forward and backward with knee flexion and extension.

The function of the ITB is to slow down or decelerate adduction (movement toward the midline of the body) of the thigh during walking or running. In other words, the ITB stabilizes the thigh and prevents unnecessary side-to-side motion. "This adduction occurs about 90 times per minute per leg as you run and almost 22,000 times during a four-hour marathon! No wonder the ITB sometimes complains!" (1)

What causes ITBS?
ITBS is believed to result from recurrent friction of the iliotibial band (ITB) over the bony prominence just above the lateral portion of the knee. With ITBS, the bursa often become inflamed, causing a clicking sensation as the knee flexes and extends. Over time, inflammation actually diminishes and scar tissue (adhesions) develops from the repetitive tearing of the fibers of the ITB. Because of the build-up of adhesions, the ITB becomes congested and tight with greatly decreased blood flow. This causes a further build-up of congestion and the process continues.

General causes
1. Leg length differences
2. Foot structure: excessive pronation (flat feet)
3. Excessive shoe breakdown (particularly it the outside of the heel) and poor shoe fit.
4. Training intensity errors - increasing mileage or intensity too fast
5. Muscle imbalances - quads versus hamstrings, hip abductor weakness
6. Run/gait style factors - e.g. bow-leggedness, knock knees, etc

Running (2)
1. Running on slanted surfaces (runners who run with the traffic tend to have ITB troubles in their right thigh because that leg must travel a greater distance each time it hits the ground) or run track (the counterclockwise running causes ITBS in the left thigh because the ITB must control a greater deceleration of adduction in the left hip.
2. Too much downhill running.

How to tell if you have ITBS
The key aspect of ITBS is lateral knee pain. Runners often note that they start out running pain free but develop symptoms after a reproducible time or distance. Early on, symptoms subside shortly after a run, but return with the next run. If ITBS progresses, pain can persist even during walking, particularly when the patient walks up and down stairs. "

Treatment
Initially, any inflammation of the ITB must be arrested. This can be done with over-the-counter (OTC) anti-infammatories, but I certainly prefer more natural remedies like bromelain and arnica (see my article Nutrients for Healing for more suggestions). Ice also is important; ice the ITB at least twice per day for 15 minutes. Once the inflammation is addressed the cause of the ITBS must be corrected. Primary muscles used in any activity repetitively require specific attention. If not, they will slowly tighten due to an accumulation of unwanted toxins and a reduction of normal blood flow (nutrition and oxygen) to the muscle. This is why techniques like Active Release and Graston are so effective with ITBS. Both these techniques remove the scar tissue restoring the proper blood flow and oxygenation to the tissue. None of the OTC anti-inflammatories do this! If the scar tissue is not removed the problem will never really be corrected. Areas to be treated must include not only the ITB, but the TFL, gluteus minimus, piriformis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, soleus and plantar surface of the foot.

Cutting back on the intensity and volume of training is critical. STOPPING for a bit (1-2 weeks) while getting treatment may be necessary. Do NOT train through the pain! A proper warm-up and cool down is necessary. Warming up and cooling down with the Stick is wonderful. Stretching is part of these. Gentle stretching is critical when recovering- do not overstretch! A gentle pulling should be felt when stretching. There are many ways to stretch the ITB - see the Wharton's Stretch Book and Facilitated Stretching for suggestions. Other muscles which must be stretched included the calf (gastrocnemius and soleus), hamstrings, quadriceps, hip flexors and gluteal muscles.

Skating Lessons for a Cure

The requests for skating lessons are really pouring in now, and my weekends have become extremely busy! I gave an hour long skating lesson last Saturday to my ten-year-old cousin Tricia, and I'm giving her another lesson tomorrow before she moves to Florida. During our first lesson, I taught Tricia how to fall down and stand up properly. We also worked on forward gliding, dips, scullies, and snowplow stops! Tricia is such a great listener, and I'm impressed by her ability to skate backwards after her first lesson! I'll be giving a skating lesson to Julia and Lidia tomorrow afternoon, and another lesson to Jodi's children on Sunday!

Please contact me at kcounihan@gmail.com if you or someone you know would like a skating lesson with a retired professional figure skater from Disney on Ice! Half hour lessons are available for a $25.00 gift to Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge and hour lessons are available for a $50.00 gift to Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge! 100% of lesson proceeds support my run for Dana-Farber!

She was a Showgirl

Have you ever taken a look at my running log and noticed that my running pace is almost always 6 mph? The reason for this is because I stopped running with a watch. I know that it's probably important for me to know how long it takes me to run a mile, so that I can focus on improving my time. The problem, however, is that I really don't care how fast I am as a first-time runner. I'm not running the marathon in an attempt to set some sort of new record. I'm running to raise money for cancer research at Dana-Farber! Whether it takes me two hours or three days to finish the 2008 Boston Marathon, I'm going to cross that finish line because a lot of people are depending on me!

I find that I enjoy my workouts so much more when I'm unable look at my watch. It's much more difficult to run for two hours when your watch is telling you that you have an hour and twenty-seven minutes left to go until you're done! I've never really participated in a sport like track and field where time is so important, and I'm always so amused by runners who know their training times to the millisecond. I just hate the feeling of racing against the clock, so I measure the success of my workouts based on a) whether I complete the mileage as planned and b) how I feel at the end. I've also managed to find some other random ways to track my progress. For example, I finished Barry Manilow's Copacabana in only .54 miles on the treadmill the other day! How long does it take you to finish the Copacabana in miles? I'll have to blog about my eclectic running mix sometime soon!

2008 Skate to Freeze Cancer

We're getting the word out about our skating session to benefit Dana-Farber! Check out some of the calendar listings:

1) http://www.coolpeoplecare.org/event/2008/02/18/skate-freeze-cancer/
2) http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/407530
3) http://calendar.boston.com/cambridge-ma/events/show/81216365-skate-to-freeze-cancer
4) http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/calendar/?area=194&month=2&day=18#288338
5) http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/eve/543930296.html

A Lonely 13.5 Miles

I recently experienced both the best and worst run that I've ever had in my entire life! I ran an easy nine miles on Thursday with Hillary and Sarah. We ran the hills from Crossroads and I've never felt better! My legs carried me with the strength of an ox and the speed of a cheetah! I picked up the pace on the hills and sprinted to the pole at the end of my run!

On Sunday, however, my 13.5 mile run received a four (4) on my gut rating scale which means: Heart and soul not out here with my body, but...The Plan, Boss, The Plan! I gave it such great effort, and I actually wanted to be out there! I was originally going to run in Waltham with the rest of the DFMC team, but plans changed at the last minute. Nothing, however, was going to stop me from running! I slept in a little bit and tossed on my running clothes at 10am. "Tossed" is the keyword. I wore a long-sleeved running top, a fleece jacket, gloves and a hat. I took my hat and gloves off just a few miles into the run and left them inside the doorway at Katherine and Pete's apartment. I tied my fleece jacket around my waist and pressed on towards the midway point in my run. When I arrived at the fire station, I filled up my water bottle and used the restroom before venturing back out towards my apartment.

I actually regret stopping at the fire station because my body temperature dropped much too quickly. I became rather cold and the wind really picked up! Oh, how I longed for my hat and gloves!! My ears stung and I couldn't feel my hands at all! My muscles felt tight, but I kept going! For every mile than I ran, I walked for a minute or two. I really beat myself up as I walked to the top of Heartbreak Hill. I was so frustrated because this is the very same hill that I sprinted up less than three days earlier! After almost five, cold miles, I arrived at the location of my hat and gloves! I stood in the doorway of Katherine and Pete's house while I contemplated crashing on their couch! I caught my breath and pressed on to my next destination: Marathon Sports. I was in desperate need of some Sports Beans!

Marathon Sports was busy as always, but I managed to trade a soggy five dollar bill for four miniature bags of fuel. It occurred to me that I didn't have a bag or pockets to use to carry my Sports Beans home, so you can only imagine where I put them!

I left the store with only a mile left to go in my run! It was a noisy run home with Sports Beans hidden in every possible nook and cranny! My body warmed up slightly, but my knee began to ache at mile 13! Lucky number 13! My body told me to stop running, so I listened for just a minute. I walked for a bit, but I caught myself running shortly thereafter. Ouch! I walked again! I listened this time. I walked at a quick, running pace. Oh no! I walked again. I finally listened to my knee, and walked the last quarter mile. My run would've been 13.75 miles, but I stopped running at mile 13.5.

I'm not entirely sure what is troubling my knee. It could've been a pothole, or it might be the fact that my muscles tightened up midway through the run when I got cold. I'm confident that my knee just needs a day to recover, and I'll be back out there in no time! After all, this was just one of those "bad long runs."

Words of Wisdom

You really receive some great running advice from experienced DFMC team members when you're a first-time marathon runner for Dana-Farber. Below are two of my favorite quotes from last week:

1. "You don't go to Crossroads for the run....You go to Crossroads for the pizza and drinks!"

2. "You are going to have some bad long runs, but don't be discouraged by them because you will still finish the marathon!"

I hope to be able to add more bits of wisdom to this post before marathon Monday!

New Conversation Topic

Some people can walk and chew gum at the same time, but I must not be one of them. I'm just not at the point where I enjoy speaking and running at the same time, especially on those cold winter days when my lips freeze and my words sound like jibberish. I love eavesdropping on other gab sessions when I run, but it's also nice to zone out. I had a conversation the other day about the two categories of runners: a) those who use running as a social outlet and b) those who use running to find peace. Personally, I prefer a quiet run where I can reflect on the day and gather my thoughts. I also, however, enjoy running with other people who understand that I am a "quiet" runner.

2008 Skate to FREEZE Cancer

Lace Up Those Skates! Help Find a Cure!

WHAT: Join Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour for a Skate-a-Thon event to benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

WHEN: Monday, February 18th, 6PM – 8PM

WHERE: Simoni Memorial Arena, 155 Gore St., Cambridge, MA

COST: $25 – But don’t stop there! The Top 10 participants who collect the highest dollar amount in flat rate pledges will receive 2 tickets* and a Meet & Greet to Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour playing at the TDBanknorth Garden Feb. 15-24.

**Performance Date and Time TBD**

TO PARTICIPATE: Visit www.skatetofreezecancer.blogspot.com and click here to download a free registration form. Return the completed form, along with your $25 check or money order made payable to “Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge” to:

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Attn: Katy Counihan
10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor
Brookline, MA 02445

QUESTIONS? Email skatetofreezecancer@gmail.com today!


100% of your $25 gift and any additional fundraising will benefit the Claudia Adams Barr Program for Innovative Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. All but the $25 registration fee is tax deductible and gifts are non-refundable.

This event is recognized by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as an official and legitimate fundraising event. The gifts raised support the efforts of three members of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team who are fundraising for the Claudia Adams Barr Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Special Thanks to FMC Arenas for donating the ice and skate rentals to make this event possible!

Tuesday Dinner

Owen made me a spectacular dish of wheat pasta with basil for dinner last night, but he really made me work for it! I would normally take the train to get from Brookline to Owen's house in Arlington in time for dinner. Last night, however, I decided to run! I mapped out the seven mile route online, and I left some warm clothes at Owen's over the weekend. It usually takes about an hour to get there by train, so I decided to make better use of my time by turning my evening commute into a workout! I started off at a quick pace, but the pedestrians at Coolidge Corner and Harvard Square really slowed me down. The streets were busy because everyone was outside enjoying the warm, January weather! I've never seen so many people wearing t-shirts in winter! I definitely dressed too warm with my long sleeved shirt and black jacket. I'm so glad that I decided not to wear two pairs of pants! I carried my gloves in my pockets and wore my headband around my left elbow. Since I was afraid of getting lost, I also carried my cell phone, a debit card and my license in case of an emergency. My usual "Katy-sized" water bottle came along for the ride as well. I got to Owen's house in an about an hour and twenty minutes, took a quick shower, and enjoyed a fantastic meal with even better company!

Running Story of the Day

The whole nation thought he was a crazy old man to undertake an almost impossible feat. Most feared that he would die trying. But this humble old man proved all the critics wrong.Cliff Young, at 61 years of age, participated in 1983’s Sydney to Melbourne race. Considered to be the world’s toughest race, with the distance of 875 (543.7 m) kilometers and took at least 5 days to finish, Cliff Young entered the race against world-class athletes. Read how he achieved the unthinkable and inspires the whole nation.

Click here to read the story!

In the Zone

I'm in the zone! The Jack Fultz Marathon Champion Guide to Running suggested that I complete somewhere between 27 and 36 miles this week, and I'm proud to report that I ran 27.6 miles!! I finished a strong 12.6 miles with my co-worker, Sarah, at the DFMC meeting on Saturday morning. We did an "out and back" starting from the Mt. Auburn Club. The run was entertaining to say the least. We discovered that Keegan is a fabulous, human jukebox. "Put a quarter in and she'll sing for miles!" I'm also extremely proud of Hillary for kicking her injury to the curb and finishing a ten mile run!

We all owe the DFMC staff and volunteers a huge "THANK YOU" for setting up the water stops and directing foot traffic during our run. Approximately one hundred runners from the DFMC team were in attendance, and we were joined by a flood of runners from some of the other charity teams in and around Boston! I almost felt like I was running the Tufts 10K on the carriage path. Everyone was so excited to be out there, and I was definitely motivated by the positive energy on Heartbreak Hill.

I did a quick, three mile run on the treadmill this afternoon and stretched for another half hour. Stretching really felt good! My legs are definitely as strong as they were when I was skating every day because I don't really feel very sore after finishing almost sixteen miles in only two days.

I was originally going to title this post "Longest Run Ever," but then I realized that I'm going to probably experience my longest run ever just about every weekend between now and April. I'll save the "Longest Run Ever" post for when I actually cross the finish line at the 2008 Boston Marathon.

My roommate just commented on how she loves that I'm blogging about my marathon training with a glass of champagne and three batches of homemade chocolate chip cookies in front of me. I think I need to start reading the Jack Fultz Marathon Champion Guide to Nutrition!

Wake Up!

My roommate, Kay, left the following note for me on our whiteboard:

Katy -

I'm going to bed, but am setting the alarm for 6 - 6:15am. Come get me when you are ready tomorrow!

This is just the extra push that I needed to get out of bed this morning to complete my crosstraining. My first workout with Kay was a success! She jumped out of bed as soon as I knocked on her door, and we were at the gym just a few minutes later for some interval training on the elliptical machines. It was strange working out at 6am considering that I had just finished a run only ten hours earlier. Now we're all fitness gurus in the Kate, Kay, and Katy household! I'm going to try to talk Kay into running with me and Kate sometime soon. I've got a twelve(ish) mile run tomorrow morning with the rest of the DFMC team, so it's off to bed for me!

Cool Runnings

Last night was COLD, but I ran! The weather channel reported that it was only FIVE DEGREES outside, but I ran! My water bottle froze to solid ICE, but I ran! My running buddy reported that her "boogies were FROZEN," but I ran! I couldn't talk, but I ran! My cheeks were beet RED, but I ran! My eyes WATERED, but I ran!

Keegan, Sarah, and I ran down Commonwealth Avenue to Cleveland Circle and back up Beacon Street to complete a great, eight mile run! It was chilly at the start to say the least, but we felt almost comfortable after about a mile into our workout. I actually found our workout rather humorous, and I have to admit that it was probably my favorite run thus far. I'm so proud of us for getting out there because we are going to be seriously ready for the 2008 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge! A few highlights of the evening included working out with a ninja bodyguard, listening to Sarah's stories, guessing games galore, trying to suck the ice out of my water bottle for six miles, conquering the MEGA hill on Commonwealth Avenue, deciding not to sprint to the corner, and tagging the pole at the end of the workout. Go team!

After the workout, I slipped into something a little more comfortable (a.k.a. warm), ordered a hot bowl of soup, and finished every drop of water that I couldn't sip during my run.

To Be Continued

My original plan was to complete one more eight mile run before the start of 2008. I was going to run outside, but I didn't want Troy to worry about my safety on the icy roads. I hopped onto the "dreadmill" after work sometime around 3:30pm with my IPod Nano, and I was having such a great workout until I noticed that I was the only person on any of the machines at 4:15pm. I was beginning to feel a little bit self-conscious being alone at the gym on New Years Eve, so I decided to ask the gentleman at the front desk about the mass exodus. It turned out that the gym closed at 4:00pm. I quickly packed up my things, but I was glad to have at least four more miles under my belt. It's probably good that I didn't run nineteen miles during my first two workouts after the holiday break because my legs are really yelling at me for the fifteen miles that I finished.

I'm off to the gym in just a few minutes to do some intense crosstraining and hatha yoga to make up for the four miles that are to be continued. I predict that this year shall be full new accomplishments, and I wish everyone a happy, healthy 2008!