The Need for Speed

Owen's Uncle Will showed me this video sometime around the holidays, and I've been meaning to add it to my blog for quite some time now! I mean ... watch a video of my last training run! Check it out at:

http://www.boston.com/sports/marathon/course/video/

Daily Kick in the Butt

Now that the marathon is less than four weeks away, friends and family have been sending an overwhelming amount of motivational quotes and videos. My marathon buddies made me a chain of inspiration to officially kickoff the marathon countdown! Just wanted to share a couple of additional surprises that I found in my email today!

1. Kate sent me the following video to keep me motivated:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xR0Rj9Dh-dM

2. Karla sent the following inspirational quote because the weather is a little unmotivating today:

"I have to race. I'm like a Ferrari. You can't keep it in the garage." - Regina Jacobs

Waitress!

I've now conducted several events to raise money towards my run for Dana-Farber. I've offered skating lessons, organized a canister collection with the Wallace Figure Skating Club, and produced a skate-a-thon with Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour. Since Dana-Farber does not allow recognized events to mail cash or deposit proceeds into a personal bank account, I've made several trips to the post office for money orders.

The mailman at the post office that I frequent tends to be somewhat nosy. For example, I was mailing a box of Valentines Day goodies to my friend Chelsey. At the time, she toured on Disney Princess Classics, so I addressed the package to "Princess Chelsey." The mailman wanted to know every possible detail about this foreign princess.

Now, you can only imagine this mailman's reaction when I stopped in with over $700.00 in cash from one of my events!! He was just itching for the facts! He never did find out where I got all of that cash!

Yesterday, I walked into the post office with $359.25. I could tell that my mailman was ready with questions as I walked towards the counter. "Where did you get all this cash?" He asked. "Did you become a waitress in your spare time?" I told him very proudly that I am running the 2008 Boston Marathon to raise money for Dana-Farber in less than four weeks, and that the money came from a canister collection. There was a major sense of accomplishment on his face when he finally figured out the story behind the loot. Next time, I'm going to ask him to sponsor my run! I just need a cryptic package or a large sum of cash to do it!

22141 ... Not Just a Number

I just got my bib number! I've never been so excited to be "just a number" in a sea of faces -- at least not since graduating from UMass Amherst. Keep a close eye on the face attached to bib number 22141 on race day because it might just be the most determined face of all!

Gifts of Bread and Water

With less than a month to go until the marathon, running seems to be the last thing on my mind this week. My lovely grandmother passed away (ironically on the first day of spring) after battling both cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Calling hours took place on Monday and the funeral service was this morning. My family came across a previous blog post about my grandmother and asked me to spontaneously share some of my favorite memories during the prayer service. I was also asked to "bring the gifts" during the funeral service on Monday morning with the other grandchildren. In other words, the cousins were responsible for bringing the bread and water to the priest in preparation of Communion.

After I arrived home late this afternoon, my body felt physically and emotionally drained of all energy. I put on my pajamas sometime after five o'clock in anticipation of a nice, long nap. As I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over my head, I remembered Jack's comments about the importance of a good attitude. I've never seen my grandmother frown, so I decided to "turn my frown upside-down." I traded my comfy, green pants and fuzzy slippers for black running tights and blister-free socks. I laced up my running sneakers and went for a fourteen mile "jog." I guess I had some leftover energy after all! I didn't bother to wear a watch because I wanted to run for the "sake of finishing." I ran seven miles to Owen's house. When I arrived, he gave me the same "gifts" that I delivered to the priest earlier on in the day. I snacked on a quick slice of bread and Owen filled my water bottle before I ventured back outside to finish another seven miles.

I'm so glad that I decided to run this afternoon because the fresh air soothed some of my inner aches and pains. Today's run was both steady and slow, but I enjoyed reminiscing about some of my favorite "Grandma memories." My workout gave me a good kick in the butt and a hug at the same time. Now, it's time for a well-deserved nap.

The Lion and the Pace Car

I ran 14 miles on Sunday! If I had to use two words to describe my long run, I'd use "slow" and "steady." I started my run in Worcester. It was only supposed to be a 12 mile run, but my body gave me the "go ahead" to push it a little bit further. I tagged the lion at my old high school before turning around to finish the second half of my run. There was a major hill at mile nine, but my parents decided to surprise me in their "pace car." They couldn't have visited at a better time! I was really huffing and puffing up that hill until I saw the old Mercury waiting for me at the top. I forgot about the hill and ran straight towards my mom and dad. I wasn't possibly going to fail them on that hill! I finished the run in two and a half hours without any knee or foot pain during the run.

King of the Hill

One week ago, I ran an eight mile route along the Boston Marathon course and over Newton's "rolling hills." I legit laughed-out-loud when I recalled that one of my DFMC teammates named my three favorite hills, "Whine," "Bleep," and "Moan." I censored the name of the second hill because it is my responsibility as an Event Compliance Officer to ensure that Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is represented in a positive light.

I was in the mood for a slight change of pace last Thursday, so I completed most of my run on the soft, grassy area along the carriage path. My joints really thanked me after my workout.

Grandma Higgins was definitely in my thoughts during that run. I recalled this game that she used to play with us in her backyard. She called it, "King of the Hill." As children, we we rarely bored at Grandma's house. Her yard was located on a major hill in Worcester and it consisted of several different "levels." The front part of the yard near the gate contained a mammoth Oak tree and Forsythia bushes. Once inside the fence, there was a long row of Hostas followed by tomato plants on the left and room for the dog to run around on the right. The chair swing was located just next to the deck. We sat on that swing for hours, sipping lemonade and swapping stories. There was a picnic table with an umbrella on the deck, and a set of stairs brought you up to the next level consisting of a small grassy knoll and a stone wall. Petunias and impatients were scattered in flower pots along the wall. My grandmother used to ask us to cut the grass using her push lawnmower. Sometimes we'd use the pinching shears or the scissors. I never had a lawn at my own home in Worcester, so we were always thrilled to help Grandma with this task.

The stairs continued up the hill. I'd guess that there were probably fifteen or sixteen stairs to get to the "backyard." On the right, my grandmother kept a rock garden. Looking back, I'm not entirely sure why she would ask us to water the rock garden. I suppose it was because there was usually a stray piece of rhubarb growing there. The next level was our favorite part of Grandma's "secret garden." It contained a swingset and was once part of the Green Family Estate. We used to dig there hoping to find buried treasure. We once found a Roy Rogers cap gun and various other china pieces. My dad used to display our treasures in an antique case in his hardware store. At the top of the hill, there was another miniature hill. It was more like a big mound of dirt that was never used to level out the top of the garden. My grandmother used to time us to see how long it would take us to get from the bottom of her yard to the top of the hill. I'd race my sisters with the high hope of being dubbed "King of the Hill" by my grandmother, but the dog would always win.

I repeated the words "King of the Hill" over and over in my mind until I reached the top of Heartbreak Hill during my run last Thursday.

Adopt-a-Marathoner

Alyssa recently contacted me to let me know about the Boston Daily Blog's Adopt-a-Marathoner program. The following email was sent to the Boston Daily Blog this evening:

Hi Amy,

I hope all is well. I'm writing to you with a heavy heart this evening because my grandmother just passed away, but I would really like to share my story. Almost two years ago, I took a position at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund as an Event Compliance Officer because I wanted to gain experience in event management. Since becoming a Dana-Farber employee, I have become so very passionate about Dana-Farber's mission to eradicate cancer. At work, we receive phone calls on a daily basis from individuals looking to conduct events on behalf of Dana-Farber. Many of these volunteers have been deeply scarred by cancer, while others simply want to give back to the community. In an effort to a) understand my job better and b) connect to Dana-Farber's mission on a deeper level, I started volunteering at some of Dana-Farber's events. I've been to fashion shows, dog walks, road races and golf tournaments, but the event that impacted me the most was the Boston Marathon. Last year, I volunteered to assist the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge runners from the marathon finishline back to the Dana-Farber recovery zone. It was such a wonderful and emotional experience for not only the runners ... but for me as well. Many of the runners opened up their hearts and shared their stories with me: a perfect stranger. I was astonished when one of the runners admitted to me that he was a cancer survivor. He had been treated at Dana-Farber ... and he just conquered the Boston Marathon!!! Another runner finished his first marathon and skipped back to the recovery zone! Almost all of the runners that I spoke to were running in memory or in support of a loved one who battled cancer. It was then that I decided that I wanted to run my very first marathon for Dana-Farber in support of all of these runners! Talk about motivation!

My application to run the upcoming 2008 Boston Marathon for Dana-Farber was accepted back in October, and I've been training ever since! I used to skate professionally for Disney on Ice, so I assumed that my athletic background would carry me a long way in my training. I have, however, battled ITB syndrome, New England weather, and peroneal tendonitis with the best of them. This week, I seem to be facing a new kind of injury: a broken heart and a bruised spirit. My grandmother was suddenly diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer just a few days ago, and she passed away at 5:15pm today. Until now, I did not really know the feeling "to be touched by cancer." My grandma was my friend, my mentor, and my confidant. We were extremely close. She played an important role in my upbringing, and she will never be forgotten. When I first started my training almost thirty weeks ago, I was running in an attempt to connect to Dana-Farber's mission on a deeper level. Now, I am also running in memory and in honor of my lovely grandmother Rita V. Higgins.

My goal is to raise $10,000 for the Claudia Adams Barr Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. I've raised almost $4,000 so far, and I'm hoping that the Boston Daily Blog can adopt me/start a rally to raise funds towards my run because cancer is the kind of disease that can hit absolutely anyone at anytime. It doesn't play "favorites." I'm totally convinced that Dana-Farber will develop a cure for this disease in my lifetime, but we really need your help to do it! If it makes any difference, I'm a Boston resident and a huge Red Sox fan. Thank you for listening, and I hope that you will consider "adopting me."

If you or your readers would like to make a gift, please go to my running blog at http://kcounihan.blogspot.com. Just click on the "sponsor me" image on the left side of the page. Feel free to track my progress towards my marathon as well! Your support is greatly appreciated!

Many thanks,
Katy Counihan

A Tribute to My Grandmother

My 87-year-young grandmother was recently diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer. On Friday, I learned that she only has four or five more days to live.

My grandmother has been a true inspiration in my life. She's been my friend, my mentor, and my confidant. She always lived just around the block from my family, so I would spend every possible after-school hour and summer at her house and in her "secret garden."

I went to visit Grammy in the hospital on Saturday with Owen and the rest of my family. I did not recognize her from the side, and she didn't fully recognize me because she's also battling Alzheimer's Disease. Despite her memory lapses, she's still my witty grandmother. I remember telling her that she should become a stand-up comedian when she grows up. She quickly replied, "Only if I can sit down." When she took some awful tasting medicine at the hospital the other day, my aunt asked her if she wanted something to wash it down. She said, "Yes, whiskey." My grandmother is truly grand, and I'm so thankful for our special relationship.

I intend to finish the 2008 Boston Marathon for my Grammy. I finished a ten miler on Sunday afternoon after visiting her in the hospital on Saturday. I thought about my Graham and her impact on my life during the entire run. It was just what I needed to do. Whenever my 4'10" tall grandmother looked into the mirror, she saw a 7'10" tall woman. I enjoyed the company of my 7'10" tall shadow during my run.

My relationship with Grandma has been so very special. She has been my mentor, my friend, and my confidant. Grandma has taught me so many of life's most important lessons, and I'd like to share a couple of them with you:

• When life throws you a lemon ... make lemonade!
• Improvise. If you've made hot dogs ... and you run out of ketchup ... use chocolate sauce!
• Work hard ... then relax on your chair swing.
• A little dab will do you.
• I am small ... but mighty. Stretch every day!
• Take care of things and people that are smaller than you.
• God made a beatiful earth. Take in your surroundings because every snowflake and flower is truly unique.
• Use it or lose it. Sing aloud every single day ... or you will lose your singing voice. Walk every day ... even if it just means walking to get the mail.
• Plant a garden ... and help it grow.
• Your cheating heart will cause you pain ... especially in checkers.
• Read. Read. Read. Arm yourself with knowledge ... for the purpose of winning Boggle.
• Be a "star." Be a "lady." Own many hats and scarves. You never know when you'll be asked to sip tea with the Queen of England or to go "yachting" with Clark Gable.
• Put another nickel in. In the nickelodeon. All I want is lovin' you and music, music, music!
• Do unto others ... and it's the thought that counts.
• It isn't Christmas without molasses popcorn balls.
• Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty and your feet wet. It's just a little dirt and water.
• Cut, cut, cut, cut-a-dit says the little hen. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. nine. ten.
• Oh wa ta si lee-goo siam.
• Never try to lift one of Uncle Elliot's bowling balls.
• Spring is coming ... wake up little rosebud. Hold your head up high ... or you might miss the first signs of spring.
• Simply remember your favorite things ... and then you won't feel so bad.
• Share and share alike. Cookies taste much better when you share them.
• Say a prayer every day for those less fortunate than you.
• Keep an album and a journal. Someday ... you will want to share your memories with your grandchildren.
• Use your imagination. Be an archaeologist in Egypt; a schoolteacher; an entrepreneur; a writer; a mother; or a grandmother.
• Always stay young.
  

These are a just a few of my favorite memories with my Grandma. I cannot thank her enough for looking after me and my sisters when we were young. I'll never forget fish fridays or our franco spaghetti days. I'll never forget watering her rock garden or rocking on her chair swing ... next to Chancy. Her lessons and stories will forever be on my mind and in my heart.

I love you so very much Graham. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being my one and only ... very special Grandma.

Tasty Treats

There's a little ice cream shop along the marathon route called the White Mountain Creamery. I've run past it about one hundred times, always wanting to stop in for a sundae. On April 22, 2008, the day after the marathon, I'm going to celebrate my hard work at the White Mountain Creamery! Some runners will pamper themselves with a drink and a good massage, but I'm going to treat myself to ice cream! I'm going to park myself at one of the little tables with a banana split and watch as runners pass by the window. If you're in the area, please feel free to join me!

P.S. While we're on the topic of tasty treats, thank you so very much to my secret "marathon buddies" for leaving a surprise cupcake from Party Favors on my desk at work! Biting into that cupcake after my workout was a truly magical moment!

Up to Speed

Tonight, I met the DFMC team at the Woodland stop. I completed eight miles along the marathon route without any pain! I can't say that this was my fastest run thus far, but I ran up Heartbreak Hill without stopping for the first time in some weeks! Lately, I've been allowing myself a full day off from running between each workout, and my muscles really seem to appreciate the recovery time. I haven't experienced an ounce of pain during any of my workouts this week! My days off are spent stretching and strengthening, crosstraining and deep water running.

Extreme DFMC Makeover

After battling two injuries in two months, I've decided that it's time for a runner makeover. My mom taught me to operate under the philosophy that change is an important part of life, and I'm convinced that it's one of the first stops on the road to happiness. Whenever my mom finds herself in a rut, she takes drastic measures. I'll never forget when she dyed her hair platinum blonde in an attempt to "have more fun."

Everybody needs a fresh start every now and then. Remember how you felt at the start of each new school year when your teachers gave you the "clean slate" lecture? It's the same feeling that I get whenever I wear a new outfit or get a haircut.

Lately, I've been in a bit of a running rut, so I made a few changes:

1. I bought four new pairs of SIZE 5 running shoes on Zappos.com. I've had such poor luck with the local running stores because none of them seem to carry more than one shoe model in a size 5. All four pairs of shoes arrived the day after I ordered them. I'm keeping my Brooks and New Balance shoes and returning the other two pairs. The Saucony's arrived in two different colors!

2. I got a massage! I went to Boston Bodyworkers on Tuesday after work. This was my first clinical massage and it did wonders for my body. I told the massage therapist about my ITB injury and peroneal tendonitis, so he spent a half hour on my legs. I left the room feeling at least an inch taller than normal!

These small changes worked wonders for my confidence because I feel like a whole new runner!

Mud Therapy

Six miler ... cChHeEeEcccK. Five miler ... cChHeEeEcccK. I've been coming up with some creative ways to get my running hours in without wreaking too much havoc on my body. Concrete offers no shock absorption, so it's best to run on soft, even surfaces whenever possible. I decided to revisit some of my summer running routes because many of them contain dirt paths. On Sunday morning, I ventured outdoors for my first run after battling peroneal tendonitis. I signed a contract with myself, however, stating that I, the undersigned, would take things slow and stop my workout if I felt any "bad pain." Keep in mind that there's "good pain" and "bad pain" in marathon training. Good pain feels like: WOW! I just finished eighteen miles and I can't move. Bad pain feels like: OUCH! Sharp, stabbing pains just shot up my leg and it's time for that amputation.

Let's change the subject: The weather was beautiful on Sunday morning. I completed six pain-free miles in the MUD! Yes, MUD! It was FANTASTIC! The feeling of stomping through the MUD was so invigorating and empowering that I decided to do it again on Tuesday! I followed a different MUD path early in the morning and experienced no pain in my knee or foot! Now I understand why some women pay good money to soak in a MUD bath. The MUD treatment comes highly recommended!

She Works Hard for the Money

Have you ever spent two hours on an arc trainer or three hours on an elliptical machine? If so, were you ever tempted to quit? What kept you on the arc trainer?

Last week was an emotional week for me. I spent most of my after-work hours "resting" at the gym. Once I stopped limping from my peroneal tendonitis, I jumped right back into crosstraining.

Before my DFMC days, running would give me the opportunity to think about "me." It was a complete and total stress relief. I would reflect on my day and plan for new days ahead. In the last few months, however, my mind has too preoccupied to focus on "Katy." I actually found my eyes watering during one of my recent indoor workouts. I don't remember the name of the song that came on my Ipod, but the lyrics reminded me of my patient partner. The music moved me and I found myself pedaling as hard as I could possibly pedal on that machine -- for Jazmine.

I've still never met my little friend, but she is with me during every single run and every single workout. I've made several attempts to connect to her family over the telephone, but all have been unsuccessful. The most interaction that we've had together is through her photograph. Never has an image had so much meaning in my life. I take it with me whenever I go to work in the morning, and I see her picture whenever I'm on the arc trainer. Sometimes, I envision crossing the bridge just before Kenmore Square and meeting Jazmine for the very first time during the 2008 Boston Marathon. She is my strength and inspiration, and she is going to be with me on Marathon Monday -- every step of the way.

I was originally going to use this post to blog about another image that kept me motivated at the gym the other day. Some little hooligan decided to etch "She Works Hard for the Money" into the big picture window at my gym. Oh, the fundraising irony!