Volunteer at a race

Since I was not running the Boston Marathon this year, I decided that I wanted to give back to the organization that made last year’s run so easy for me. If it hadn’t been for their organization and assistance in fundraising, I would never have been able to exceed my fundraising goal nor be so relaxed that morning as I waited to head over to the corrals. This year I signed up with Dana Farber to work at the Hopkinton Start Area - Runner Refuge at St. John’s Parish Church.

I got to the church at 6:00 am so that I could get my assignment. I was excited to be there to see all of the DFMC runners getting pumped up to run Boston. I was also excited because my friend Helen would be there to work with me. Unfortunately, due to some health issues and a minor surgery, she was unable to run for Dana Farber this year. But, she has already signed up for next year. Helen is quite a dynamo and will surely set a PR in next year’s race. I will be there to cheer her on.

Helen and I were assigned to the medical table. This was probably due to our extensive medical training. Who better to answer medical questions or help runners than a couple of business people, right? I do have first aid training through the Boy Scouts and felt that I could help answer questions since I have been running for so many years and have dealt with various minor ailments. Besides, as Helen said, “They can’t need anything to dramatic since the race hasn’t even started yet.”

Helen and I had a lot of fun talking with the runners who came to the table looking for blister guards, band-aids, Vaseline, ibuprofen and aspirin. You could really tell the difference between the runners who had run a marathon and those who it was their first time. We tried to calm those who seemed nervous and handed out advice when asked. I even taped up a couple of ankles for runners who needed the extra support. I hope they did ok. I am not the best at that task.

Once the runners headed over to the starting line, Helen and I decided to go and cheer our DFMC team as they headed across the starting line. It took every ounce of willpower not to jump over the barricades and join them on their run. It is an awesome site watching 26,000+ runners cross the starting line on their way to Boston. Some seemed excited, some apprehensive. But overall, the atmosphere was upbeat. Once all the runners had passed, Helen and I headed back to the church to jump in our cars to head home. When I got home, I went onto Facebook and noticed Helen’s post which summed the morning up for me. It said, “Helen Morey Gallo Has never given so many men advice on how to keep their nipples from bleeding...”

I have to take a minute here to say that I was surprised to hear how few people volunteer with the organizations they have raised money for in the past. I had never volunteered at a race up to this point either. But, I can tell you that the time I spent as a volunteer was one of the most fun and educational experiences I have had in my running life. With Helen there, it included humorous entertainment - free of charge. Seriously though, I can’t tell you how many of the team thanked us for being there to support them. I realized that I will do it again in the future for the energy and fun meeting fellow runners and helping them prepare for a great experience. I have to say that it was a very satisfying experience and I recommend it to everyone. I will definitely be there next year whether I am running for Dan Farber again or manning the medical table.

Here are my training totals:
Apr. 20 – 6.20 miles (54:08, 8:44 pace)
Apr. 22 – 6.20 miles (51:16, 8:16 pace) – Tempo Run
Apr. 23 – 6.20 miles (52:54, 8:32 pace)
Apr. 24 – 10.40 miles (1:28:40, 8:26 pace

Total Miles: 29.00 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 507.30 miles

One Year Ago

A year ago I was in my taper phase getting ready to run the 113th Boston Marathon as a member of the Dana Farber team. It is hard to believe that it has been a year already. It seems as if it was just yesterday that I was trying to decide what my goal should be for the marathon. I can admit right here that I had no thought of trying to run a 4 hour marathon in Boston. Everything I had read and heard about the Boston Marathon was that you should not try and run a PR in this race. But, as you know, I did set a PR in the 113th Boston and finally achieved my goal of running a 4 hour marathon.

During the past week of rest I am taking due to being in the Rivers’ Edge Players production of The Importance of Being Earnest, I had a chance to think about my favorite memories from the race. The race starts in Hopkinton a little over 4 miles from my front door. The town of Hopkinton has hosted the starting of the marathon since the race moved there from Ashland in 1925. What I remember most about the area is the circus like atmosphere in the corrals as we waited for the starter’s gun to go off. Then I had to run the steepest downhill of the marathon course. It drops 130 feet from the starting line before you start to level off.

The next town on the course is Ashland. We were still heading generally down hill and it is as this point where I felt really comfortable with my pace. I really was not thinking too much about my finishing time at this point. I was just trying to take in all of the sites and sounds of the race. You cross the first 5K marker in Ashland and I remember thinking that I was running a bit too fast at that point. My split time was 28:18. I knew the Newton Hills were ahead and I didn’t want to struggle when I hit them.

I passed the 5 mile and 10K mark in Framingham. I work for Staples and my office is in Framingham. I really enjoyed the first truly flat portion of the course. I hit the 10K mark at 56:58 and was feeling like I could run at that pace forever. Still in the back of my mind I felt I was going a little too fast. The general consensus from my running magazines and podcasts is too not go out too fast as the hills later in the course will take their toll.

The 15K marker is in Natick. This is also the portion of the course where you have another downhill to the 10 mile marker. You then level off until around mile 12 where you hit the early rolling hills that will lead you into Wellesley. When I crossed the 15K mark, I was at 1:24:36. Some how I was running a very even pace. I wasn’t sure how long I could sustain it. I just decided to continue along and just try and enjoy the experience. I was really loving every step of the race at this point.

The half marathon mark is in Wellesley. But, what I remember most of all is the “screech tunnel” at Wellesley College. I don’t think that I can truly describe how loud these girls are as you run through the “tunnel”. The girls reach out to touch the runners and are begging the men to kiss them as they go by. I couldn’t disappoint and did give one of the girls a kiss as I went by. When I hit the 20K marker I was at 1:52:44 and at the Halfway Point I was at 1:58:54. When I noticed that I was on pace to potentially run a 4 hour marathon, I thought, “I have been here before and faded at the end. Better not think about it at this point.” But, I was not feeling any fatigue or aches or pains at this point in time. I left Wellesley crossing the 25K mark at 2:21:04 and knew the next stop was going to be the Newton Hills.

I crossed the town line into Newton. What is interesting is the most difficult hill in Newton is actually the first hill. It was tough. This hill on Washington Street (Route 16), climbing from the Charles River crossing at 16 miles, is regarded by Dave McGillivray, the 2007 race director, as the course’s most difficult challenge. The hill follows a 150 foot drop over the course of ½ mile and forces many runners to a walking pace. I hit the hills and knew I could handle them. I just wasn’t sure how it would affect my time. When I hit the 30K mark just before Heartbreak Hill, I was at 2:49:51.

Heartbreak Hill rises over 0.4 mile and is between the 20 and 21 mile markers near Boston College. It is the last of four "Newton Hills". Heartbreak Hill itself rises only 88 vertical feet which really is not that bad. I actually don’t recall it being hard at all. The nickname "Heartbreak Hill" originated with an event in the 1936 race. On this stretch, defending champion John A. Kelley caught race leader Ellison "Tarzan" Brown, giving Brown a pat on the shoulder as he passed. His competitive drive apparently stoked by this gesture, Tarzan Brown rallied, pulled away from Kelley, and went on to win—in the words of Boston Globe reporter Jerry Nason, "breaking Kelley's heart."

After cresting the final hill, I knew I had a fairly easy course left. Some down hills and a couple of minor hills were all I had left. I hit the 35K marker 3:18:19. It is here that the course briefly touches Brighton and then immediately enters Brookline. This is also the point where at Cleveland Circle you turn onto Beacon Street and know you are in the final miles of the race. I was still not feeling any major fatigue. I was actually feeling really good. It was also the point of the race where I thought for the first time I might actually break 4 hours. I had 40 minutes to run 4.5 miles.

I finally could see the Citgo sign and knew that I was going to finally be entering the City of Boston and approaching one of the greatest finishing lines in all of marathoning. It was absolutely crazy along Beacon Street and Kenmore Square. The crowds really pumped me up as I crossed the 40K mark at 3:47:25. I had only 1.4 miles to go and 12 minutes to reach my goal. I could not believe it. I had a real chance to break 4 hours. Somewhere deep inside me, I found the energy to finish strong.

As I turned onto Boylston St. and could see the finish line, I knew I was going to reach a goal I was not sure I would ever reach and in the Boston Marathon. I pushed my pace and crossed the finish line in the shadow of the Boston Public Library at 3:59:21. I did cut it close. But, it doesn’t matter. I broke 4 hours and felt a rush that is indescribable. My father when I told him about the race and the fact that I had stopped a couple of times to take pictures along the route and kissed the girls in Wellesley said, “You could have run even faster if you hadn’t been doing all that business on the course.” He is right. I don’t care though because I reached a major life goal and in the most prestigious marathon in the country.

I will be volunteering at the Starting Line Runner’s Refuge for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team on Marathon Monday. I will be a little jealous of those who will be heading out on the course. However, I have decided that I don’t want to run the Boston Marathon again until I can qualify. I am not sure if I ever will be able to qualify. But, the fun is in the attempt. If you are running the 114th Boston Marathon this year make sure you take in all the sites and sounds as you run. You will never experience anything like it.

Here are my training totals:
Apr. 4 – 11.00 miles (1:38:50, 8:59 pace)
Apr. 5 – 6.20 miles (54:56, 8:51 pace)
Apr. 6 – 4.50 miles (36:27, 8:06 pace) – Yasso 800s
Apr. 7 – 7.40 miles (1:05:48, 8:53 pace) – Tempo Run
Apr. 8 – 5.20 miles (40:46, 7:50 pace)
Apr. 10 – 10.20 miles (1:26:24, 8:27 pace)
Apr. 11 – 10.20 miles (1:26:57, 8:31 pace)
Apr. 12 – 6.20 miles (55:23, 8:56 pace)

Total Miles: 60.90 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 478.30 miles

Are Flowers Only Red with Green Leaves?

Some of you know that I go to a chiropractor to keep me aligned and in good health. Each time I visit, he has handouts that discuss things that he thinks are important to pass on to his patients. He truly believes that people through chiropractic can be well and stay well without the outside intervention from dangerous drugs and surgery. While I never eschew “regular” physicians and only go to alternative practitioners, I have found that I have had no injuries since I started going to a chiropractor almost 10 years ago. I do believe that an optimally functioning spine and nervous system is not a bad thing when I am logging so many miles.

This week, he had a story that I thought I would share with you.

A little boy went to his first day of school. He took out some crayons and he started to draw. He drew colors all over the paper, because a paper filled with colors is what he wanted to see. The teacher said “What are you doing, young man?” “Drawing flowers” he said. “It’s not time for art yet,” the teacher said. “And anyway, flowers are green and red. Everyone knows that. There’s a time and a place for everything, and there are certain ways certain things are supposed to be. So repeat after me: Flowers are red and leaves are green, and there is no reason to see them any other way than they have always been seen.”

But the little boy was confused. He said “There are so many colors in a rainbow. There are so many colors in the morning sun. There are so many colors in one single flower. I want to use all of them.” “You are a sassy young lad,” the teacher scolded. “Repeat after me: Flowers are red and leaves are green, and there is no reason to see them any other way than they have always been seen.”

The teacher put him in a corner and told him it was for his own good. “You won’t come out until you get it right, and respond like you should” she warned.

The little boy got frightened, sitting in that corner all by himself. Lonely thoughts filled his head. He finally went to the teacher and said what he knew he was supposed to say “Flowers are red and leaves are green, and there is no reason to see them any other way than they have always been seen.”

Time went by, as it always seems to do, and the little boy and his family moved to another town. He started his first day in his new school. On that first day, the smiling new teacher said “Isn’t drawing flowers fun? There are so many colors a flower could possibly be, so let’s see if we can use every single one!” The little boy drew neat and orderly rows of red flowers with green leaves. The teacher asked him why he didn’t want to use more colors. “There are so many colors in that box of crayons! Won’t it be fun to see how many of them you can use?” The boy was astounded. He could use all the colors? He could make yellow flowers with purple leaves? He could color the sky green! He grinned widely as he reached for the box. This was going to be his best picture ever.

When I read this it made me think about all the advice I have ever read about running. There seem to be so many rules and criteria for establishing a training regimen. There are certain prescribed ways of stretching, pacing, etc. We, as runners, are told how to do almost everything. I began to think that isn’t this just like the teacher in the story? Aren’t we all being told how to draw a flower and what color it has to be? Shouldn’t we try to find a way to get back to why we started running in the first place?

I have decided that I am going to escape that jungle of green and red flowers. I am going to try and run for the sheer joy of being out there on the road and experiencing the wind in my face with no real goal other than pleasure. Running gives you the chance to feel completely at one with what you are doing, to know you are strong and able to control your destiny at least for the moment, and to gain a sense of pleasure independent of results.

I know that to get to the starting line and to achieve the goals we set for our racing that we need to log certain amounts of miles and complete certain work outs. But, I also know that trying to adhere strictly to a plan can also lead to injury and disappointment if we miss our goals. During this process we tend to forget about the happiness we feel when we are out there on the road. We take the fun out of running. So, I am asking you to add joy back into your running. Take a day and just run with no particular goal in mind. Just go out there and remind yourself why you started running in the first place. You may find that flowers are not always red and leaves are not always green.

Here are my training totals:
Mar. 28 – 10.20 miles (1:32:58, 9:06 pace)
Mar. 29 – 6.10 miles (54:49, 9:09 pace)
Mar. 30 – 4.50 miles (36:30, 8:07 pace) – Yasso 800s
Apr. 1 – 5.20 miles (39:53, 7:40 pace) – Tempo Run
Apr. 3 – 11.30 miles (1:38:14, 8:41 pace)

Total Miles: 37.30 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 417.40 miles

A Brief Political Message

Some of those who read my blog and have known me for years would say that I like to stir things up a bit now and again. As much as I would like to deny that fact, I cannot. I do enjoy taking different sides of an argument even if I do not subscribe to that belief because I enjoy the intellectual stimulation that comes from the discourse. Plus, I truly believe that to be confident in your convictions you must be able to understand the other side’s point of view. Perhaps this is why I have been a fairly successful real estate negotiator for over 25 years now.

It should come as no surprise then to know that I have been posting things on my Facebook page to see what kind of reactions I could get from my friends. I have posted things that incite both conservatives and liberals alike. The responses have been interesting and thought provoking. Not to mention the fact that I am really getting to know my friends on a deeper level than usual. Despite stirring it up on Facebook, I have avoided political posts here on my blog because I felt that it should be primarily focused on my running and how running is interwoven within my life.

Despite my initial intent, I can no longer avoid making my feelings about the current state of politics in this country heard here on my blog. If you want to stop reading right now, I fully understand and respect your decision. I will definitely get back to writing about running next week. I will try to make my point in the most concise and cogent manner. If you chose to read on, I would hope that you might comment on my thoughts. Regardless of your political leanings, I believe that we as a country have stooped to a new low where neither side can have a conversation about any issue whether it be gay marriage, abortion, health care or economic reforms without reverting to name calling and blaming the other side for all the ills that have beset this country in the last few years.

If you asked me today where I lie in the political spectrum, I would have to say that I am fiscally conservative and socially liberal. You might say that there is no way you can walk that fine line. I would argue that you can as long as you are willing to make the effort. If you need to label me it would have to be as a Libertarian Centrist. Let me try to explain my beliefs:

I believe that we need to focus on what I call real politics. Those who try to place litmus questions upon my beliefs on any issue will not be happy with my response. I believe that litmus questions are simplistic questions that people use to try and separate the sheep from the goats, the solid liberal from the conservative. I don’t subscribe to this belief because there are two sides to every issue. Neither side is absolutely correct. Therefore an issue can be a good litmus test even though it is not an important issue to the individual. An important issue should never be a litmus test.

Here is where I stand on one of the key litmus tests people vote on in every election. I am and have always been 100% pro-choice, because I don’t believe that a government run predominantly by men has any right running women's lives for them. Therefore, I support Roe v Wade and reject government bans on abortion. Do I only vote for politicians who state unequivocally that they are pro-choice? No. That would be a very narrow way to make a decision on who should be representing me in our government. We as people are not one dimensional. So, why would I make my choice based on only one aspect of a candidate’s entire political belief system? Wouldn’t that be absurd?

I strongly believe that all Americans are entitled to equality in marriage, adoption, divorce, and access to military service. It should not matter what your race or sexual preference. I have never understood the need for someone else to place their belief systems on my life or others lives. For some reason people in this country have become more intolerant of others beliefs and lifestyles. The main reason for us to fight for equality in marriage and adoption is because for many gay men and women they do not enjoy the same rights of inheritance that straight couples do. We simply need to fight for them to enjoy the same economic security for their loved ones that we enjoy. Married couples in this country automatically share property and inherit from one another, are defined as next of kin in medical decision-making, are allowed to adopt each other's children, receive pension and health benefits, can file joint tax returns and provide citizenship for immigrant spouses. The absence of these benefits has caused severe financial hardship for gay and lesbian couples. This country was founded on the concept that the majority should rule, but the rights of minorities should be protected. This is why we have a Bill of Rights as well as anti-slavery and equal protection amendments. Denying marriage, adoption or access to military service to a gay man or woman is no different than denying marriage to Hispanic or black couples.

I am against the proliferation of government intervention or meddling in our lives and trying to fix everything that is wrong with this country. I love history and spend a lot of time studying the lives and teachings of our forefathers. Thomas Jefferson wrote: "To take from one, because it is thought that his industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry or skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry, and the fruits acquired by it." I could not have said it better myself. Why should what I work so hard for be redistributed to those who chose not to work hard and take advantage of what this country has to offer? At the same time, we must help those less fortunate than us in every way we can to ensure that they have a chance to reap the fruits of their efforts. I believe that there are much better ways to help our poor, elderly and educational hopefuls than through governmental interference. Why can’t we establish more private sector entities to improve efficiency? I have found that these private sector entities are much more sincere in their intent to help others than bureaucrats.

I am a strong supporter of our Constitution. However, I agree with Jefferson who believed that we should be open to frequent constitutional change. He stated clearly that as circumstances alter, "laws and institutions ... must advance to keep pace with the times." He believed as I do that no work of man is perfect.” We have seen over the years that the imperfections of our Constitution became apparent and needed to be fixed. Moreover, the passage of time brings changes to society which our Constitution must accommodate if it is to remain suitable for our country. It is therefore imperative that we be willing to keep our Constitution current with the times. Jefferson actually wrote a draft Constitution in 1776 that called for a ban on slavery, spelled out the rights of natives, outlawed most capital punishment, and stated that sitting politicians could not run for reelection. What a different America we would be today had our Founding Father’s adopted some of these ideals. There is no reason we cannot adopt them now.

Although I believe in God, I also believe in modern science. Those who oppose fact-based knowledge including evolution deniers and anti-immunizationists, or people who still claim that the ozone holes could not possibly be caused by chlorofluorocarbons fit in well in with those who explain that these beliefs are in direct contradiction to a belief in God. I do not see God and science as polar opposites. You see I believe that God is a boundless unknowable force. My finite human mind cannot ever truly comprehend God. Since I cannot truly comprehend God, how can I say what is one day in God’s time and space. Couldn’t it be the equivalent of several million years? I think I could be and therefore, I don’t think that the theory of evolution contradicts what is written in the Bible. To take it even further, I believe that in some ways science is actually finding ways to explain the different aspects of God and how God works within our world.

I could go on forever trying to outline my political beliefs and why I feel that the current parties who are running our country are actually creating a major rift. We need to find free thinking people who can see both sides of a coin and try and find solutions that work for the majority of the people – not a small vocal minority. Being a Libertarian Centrist, I believe that we can do better for America and ourselves. I strongly believe that America is an amazing nation and that great things are things are possible to those who are willing to work hard and who have integrity and compassion. We should be searching for candidates who are willing to listen to the public and enact the most efficient and effective solutions to our country’s problems that are in the interest of the American people. We need candidates who are independent, reasonable, and do not care about politics but about public service.

I won’t apologize for my beliefs. I will simply say that I am saddened by the recent actions of those who advocate violent acts because they did not get what they wanted. I also believe that neither of our major political parties have clean hands in the mess we find ourselves in today. It is time to stop finger pointing and get down to business and find workable solutions that are reasonable and do not serve each politicians home constituency at the expense of other people in other states.

And as Forrest Gump said, “And that's all I have to say about that.”


Here are my training totals:
Mar. 21 – 2.80 miles (1:12:59, 25:10 pace) – Backpack, 35lbs
Mar. 22 – 6.20 miles (55:46, 8:59 pace)
Mar. 23 – 4.50 miles (36:31, 8:07 pace) – Yasso 800s
Mar. 25 – 6.20 miles (49:36, 8:00 pace) – Tempo Run
Mar. 27 – 10.20 miles (1:28:23, 8:39 pace)

Total Miles: 29.90 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 380.10 miles