I don’t know about you, but when I get inundated with technical information or features and benefits for some new product I tend to zone out kind of like this:
My point is, when you run for a charity you need to inform potential donors about the program. As you know, I’m running for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team (DFMC). The Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research was established in 1987 by Dana-Farber Trustees Delores Barr Weaver and her husband, Wayne, in memory of Delores’ mother. Now in its 25th season, DFMC’s annual roster has blossomed to include hundreds of dedicated athletes who share the Weavers’ vision of a world without cancer (700+ this year!).
One very important this I like to mention a lot is that one hundred percent of the funds raised by DFMC team members support Barr Program research. That’s right, 100%. Not many charitable organizations can claim that. To date, DFMC has raised more than $61 million, and nearly 200 innovative scientific investigations have received critical funding. In 2014, the team aims to celebrate its 25th year by raising $5.3 million. I believe the DFMC just passed the $5 million mark last week so it looks like it’ll be a very good year!
Instead of listing all of the very impressive impact statements go here for some of the program’s most significant results to date. These impact statements provide information about specific, quantifiable Barr Program achievements. A lot of great stuff is being done at Dana-Farber. This program plays a pivotal role in the development of early-career scientists who work on a broad range of research investigations in order to yield new clues about cancer. It is also critical for conducting basic research, which is not eligible for federal fundraising until well along in proof of principle.
There are lots of official charitable teams that participate in Boston Marathon. 29 total this year. There are also many more unofficial teams. I keep coming back to the DFMC because of the aforementioned reasons. Plus, I have a connection with cancer in my family. My mother was a breast cancer survivor (who ultimately succumbed to Parkinson’s dementia just past her 60th birthday). My aunt died from lung cancer and her son/my cousin died from melanoma when he was just 19. And this isn’t my first time running for a friend on the DFMC. In 2007 I ran for my dear friend Suma who was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia the previous year.
And this year, it’s Ezra. We’ve been internet buddies for the about the last couple of years and met less than a year ago the Brooklyn Bike Cult show. I’ve been following his blog for several years. Not unlike many of you. There is just something very compelling about Ezra that prompted me to run the 2014 Boston Marathon with the DFMC and dedicate this effort to him. If you’ve met Ezra, you know what I’m taking about. Even if you haven’t, you probably also know what I’m taking about. You are here reading this because of him. Either directly or indirectly. Like me, you’re on pins and needles waiting for his next blog posting (which I was told yesterday by Ezra that he is working on at the moment). And what made me run? Maybe because he is a peer. Maybe because his brutal honesty in the way he shares his life with perfect strangers. Maybe because I just couldn’t sit by and do nothing. By running the 2014 Boston Marathon with the DFMC, I am not going to make Ezra live longer. I truly wish that was the case. I am counting on the donations I receive will create new cures and better treatment regimens and raise awareness for early detection. Running a marathon isn’t easy. Fundraising isn’t easy either. But it’s nothing compared to having to deal with terminal cancer. So here I am. Running yet again. I just felt I had to run and I did.
Speaking of running, tapering is going well. The speed workout was a 2 X (400, 800, 1200, 1600 meters) @ 5K race pace with 200, 400, 600 and 800 meter recovery, respectively (whew!). A quick photo of inside the track:
http://instagram.com/p/mjHl9hLAb5/
I did my final Arc run of the season last night. Was lucky to hook up with a couple of other DFMC teammates on the T ride out to Woodland. They were running at the same pace so we ran the entire 8 miles together. I recently purchased a FlipBelt and tried it out for the first time last night. Worked like a charm! Easy to access my phone so I can take photos during the race. I’ve never carried my phone with me during any of my 5 previous marathons, but with the events form last year, I want to have one on me. Plus, it’s going to be an amazing day so want to document as much as I can. Anyway, I also put my wallet and keys in the belt and nothing bounced around. Very secure. With all the rules and regulations at this year’s Boston Marathon (and they seem to change by the day), like no bags to the start, it’s nice to have a little storage.
http://instagram.com/p/moEOnsLAbz/
http://instagram.com/p/moG0zSrAf-/
http://instagram.com/p/moR3m-rAS8/
http://instagram.com/p/moSyzhLAUl/
Here’s the route (go here for the Garmin):
I’ve also been digging through lots of stuff from my previous Boston Marathons. This was a special “key” to unlock the NIKETOWN (Newbury & Exeter) Prize Vault back in 2002. I didn’t win the $1000 shopping spree.
http://instagram.com/p/mm9wlXrAUA/
http://instagram.com/p/mkWH97rAXR/
we make a mean team, my Adidas and me. 