A slow Saturday

Dear all,

I've almost reached half my fundraising minimum, with two weeks to go before kickoff! Thanks to all of you who have contributed, and to those of you who haven't yet had a chance, please please PLEASE click "Donate Now" on the left-hand side of this page.

I ran 6 miles with the TNT Winter team this past Saturday, and although I'm pleased to report that my calf strain seems to be 100% better, I had a pretty slow day. For some reason, I was feeling sluggish and tired for the first 4 miles or so and couldn't quite hit my stride. Those of you who run regularly around the river probably know the stretch of the bike path between the BU bridge and the Mass Ave bridge on the Boston side. Every time I run that stretch (which is straight, quiet, and lined with trees on both sides), no matter how long I've run already, I always feel better as soon as I hit it. I settle down, speed up, and the run gets easier. This time was no different, except that I hit it 4.5 miles into my run, so my euphoria only lasted another 1.5 miles.

I have a bunch of runs planned this week--5k with Cooper's girlfriend Victoria this afternoon, a fundraising Halloween 5k on Thursday (Phil and I have a great costume that is still more or less a secret, but I'll take pictures), and then one last team run on Saturday (probably 6-8 miles or so). Katie O (who's also on the Boston team and who lives about 5 blocks away from me) and I have planned to alternate speed workouts with hill workouts every week that we're training, and we're also going to do core workouts together to ensure that we're (by which I mean I am) maintaining our (my!) core strength to avoid injury.

Last Thursday I was one of the guests of honor at an LLS pizza party in Natick, where I got to see the TNT office for the first time. It was great to meet the Massachusetts LLS Executive Director, Sharon Klein--I seem to be quickly infiltrating the LLS inner circle, which I won't complain about. I also met Max, who's 4 years old and in remission (!) for his leukemia. Max and all his brothers and sisters were fingerpainting for everyone at the party, and he made a great picture of a giant victorious runner on a rainbow-striped sidewalk. I know that if I see that inspiring picture on the Boston marathon course, I'll either speed up or burst into tears. Or both.