"Meet Me 'Round the Corner, in a 1/2 Hour"

Each year during holiday season, as a family, we normally see a show. From Phantom to Ain't Misbehavin', we have a lovely tradition. Very secular. This year we're going to see A Chorus Line. I think I saw the production for the first time when I was 8 or 9. I'd obviously seen Annie before that so I knew what those Rockettes looked like. Hello, haven't you been to Radio City Music Hall to see the LIVE Nativity with camels and such- right in Manhattan?? Sweet baby jesus, indeed! But whoa, who knew that the showcase of salacious leg kicks and body suits Jane Fonda style could apply to running.

This morning was one of those mornings in River City where I made myself run to the fire hydrant, that USPS post box, that corner about 5 times. Some mornings are like that though, Sam I am.

STATS
wind, sleet and rain
5.88mi
52 minutes
6.8 mph/8.7mpm

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock

Today's recovery run took place with approx. 4,000 other runners around Davis Square as part of the 2008 Somerville Jingle Bell Run. Santa and a million and a half of his clones were there as were elves- who must have been union to get a day off so close to the holidays, reindeer and many fools in Santa hats. The best costumes were the red and green stripped onesies and the grown up footies that featured dinosaurs and the planets. I hope that final trick didn't include Pluto, for accuracy's sake.

STATS
5K-3.1 miles
26:08
And a partridge in a pear tree

Donate to BMC for my 26.2 mi ultimate run!

The Extra Mile

TODAY was my first long run with Team BMC. I ran from Boston, through Brookline to Newton. Mass Ave-Kenmore Square-Coolidge Corner-Washington Square- Cleveland Circle-Chestnut Hill Reservoir- Boston College. I ran almost 10 miles. My legs felt like led but it was fun and I ran with a team member to just shy of mile 6! The last time I ran this far, was when I ran the half with M.Bond last January...

The run was cold, and WINDY! as New England weather normally allows but heck if I can run in this, I can run in anything!

STATS:
9.68 mi
approx. 1:38 hours/10.1 mpm/5.6mph

The GREEN

STATS
30 min (8.7mpm/6.8mph)
3.41 mi
--------------
4x180m hills & recovery

On my way

Moderation is key. I haven't reached my goal yet. I'm feeling almost right on schedule and I'm not pushing it too hard. Yoga certainly has helped me listen, slow down, and then stop without undermining my personal capacity to deliver. I believe that this will be my first marathon and not my last and so maintaining yoga practice has been key. Getting enough sleep and training minimally will get me through this injury.

My yoga teacher's teacher has a method that was adopted by the NY Runner's Club. Beryl Bender Birch (my teacher's teacher), founded the Hard and Soft Yoga Institute. A key axiom to all hatha yoga (the physical practice) is that it is 99% practice. Additionally, in that practice, is the recognition of balancing strength and flexibility-- an effortlessness in the effort. My teacher's, style then is an accumulation of BBB and her own unique interpretation. My practice is all that came before me and my own. The foundation is part of a journey, a direction and an aim without forcing the outcome or pre-defining the results.

Before beginning the Astanga practice, there's a chant where you say, in sanskrit, "Thank you, thank you. Thank you, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you." Thank you: for the time to practice; the health to practice; the patient to practice. It's just practice. So, I hit the pavement (brick and frozen ground) again today, thankful to still be at it.

STATS
4.75 miles
42 minutes (8.8mpm/6.7mph)
2 advil pre run/minimal-no pain!!
no ice bath!
weighted lunges

Mother : Daughter

Today, Team BMC had their first long run. It's what I've been working towards for the past month. I had to be able to hold my own. The beginners were running 6 miles, the intermediates 8. I am a fast learner, but I didn't want to push my luck; this is my first marathon. Instead, however, I slept in for a breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes and a Power yoga class. This afternoon, I hit the pavement. Next week, I'll meet the team. cross my heart <3.

So, while mom ran 5.5 miles, I came in at 7. We started running at the same time and she called me when she finished. (If anyone else wants to do a duel city run, I'm always game and will accommodate your schedule.) My personal update then is as follows; you can search for my course by name.

7 miles high
Stats:
chilly
3:36 pm
6.92 miles
57 min (8.2 min mile/7.2 mph)

My hamstring hurts and although I don't have to do any product placement in this blog, I will 100% vouch for Alleve, an ice bath (I perfected one leg in, one let out. investing in a bath pillow helps) and Ghiradella chocolate chips. All great post run remedies.

Contribute to BMC and make me accountable!

Food for Thought Dinner

Every year, the Monday before Thanksgiving, some of BMC's most generous philanthropists raise money for the Preventive Food Pantry and the patients in the Grow Clinic. Last week we gathered to celebrate the successes and perseverance of the clinic that treats Failure to Thrive. Below is a story of one of the Grow Center patients.

MICHAEL

From birth, Michael had difficulty gaining weight. Multiple hospitalizations and surgery to repair a heart valve did not give him the necessary energy to grow, and at almost 8 months old, he weighed what a normal 3-month-old weighs. His health was compromised because his family was essentially homeless.

With a referral from the Grow Clinic staff, Michael’s mother Toni secured a temporary apartment through the Shelter Program. Toni is using nutritional and social services provided at the Clinic and through home visits, and the additional support of the Food Pantry and supermarket vouchers to ensure sufficient food resources for Michael.

At 16 months, Michael still only weighs what a normal 7 ½-month-old should, but he has been gaining weight and has not been sick. Additional calories are beginning to help his muscles develop so he can learn to stand. He is still vulnerable, but there is hope yet that he will thrive.

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