There is so much to report about. First and foremost thank you to everyone who is in the fight against cancer with me! None of this would be possible without everyone who donates, cheers and volunteers for the runners on our team.I am currently over the $20,000 fundraising mark and because I am there is only one thing to do and that is to keep going. Cancer doesn't stop and neither will I.
This past Saturday I did another long run with the team and then spent the afternoon with patient partners and their families designing posters for our team dinner the night before the marathon. It is one of my favorite events ever since I was lucky enough to be partnered with Nolan. The energy and love in a room where families are there to celebrate the lives of their children reaffirm why there needs to be money for cancer research. The patient partners are living proof of that. While it is also heartbreaking when I hear the stories from people of the research that has helped a child survive cancer I know that there are reasons why the DFMC runners are there.
I have been lucky enough this season to attend well over five long runs with the team on Saturday mornings. I know how fortunate I am to have parents that go with me and a son who luckily loves this team as much as I do. Owen's excitement to see Sandy (Matty's mom) and his friend John make the 4:30 departures worth while. Many people ask why I get up that early and spend the morning on the course just for a few hours and come again weekend after weekend. It is simple. I am committed to this team and they are a huge part of my life. My family is a part of the DFMC family just as much as I am.
My training is going well. After the 16 mile runs and a solid base was built the mileage increased. I have completed two 18 mile runs and a 20 mile run during the last month. I felt great at most of them with a rough patch here and there but nothing I couldn't mentally get through. It's hard to complain when you run for Caitlin and Nolan. I have a 20 mile weekend run planned this weekend with my friend Joy who got me involved with the DFMC program 17 years ago. I am very excited to see her and I am prepared to run hard. She is a qualifier for Boston so I have my work cut out for me on the hills in Middlebury! The following weekend is the last big one. It's my favorite run. It takes place on the course once again and we run out on the hills 11 miles going one way and then return on the hills. It is 22 miles of pure energy and the last real push before the big day. My friend Melissa will be there!! She is running on the Children's team and I am equally excited to see her. Chris and Owen will be volunteering at the Team Matty water stop so there will be a HUGE party going on there.
This is such an exciting time during the season. I start to look ahead to marathon weekend and seeing Peg and Keith and remembering Caitlin at the pasta dinner although she is never far form my mind. It is a time to honor Nolan and celebrate his life. It is time to be with my own family in the best city on the planet. It is a time to celebrate the amazing work of our team and the DFMC staff and all of the volunteers. Above all it is a time to celebrate my family, friends and total strangers who have supported what I do and all have the same goal and that is to imagine a world without cancer.
