Beautiful and true.

http://10yearscancerfree.blogspot.com/2009/04/rememberance.html

Twice now I have been touched by someone who has recently passed, their spirit telling me it was OK, that they were making their way around the world to touch and say good bye to those in this world. We are all eternally safe.

And even now, I get my hawk and heron visits, reminders of their love and presence in our hearts.

Update Letter DFMC - 4.8.09

Less than two weeks until the big day – it truly stuns me how far this effort has come since I was accepted onto the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team in September 2008 and began my training. Back then “long runs” were 4 mile walk/runs and my focus was mostly internal – remembering and celebrating the two incredible women that I had lost last summer and, as always, my brother, Brian too.

Today, I sit here at my computer nearly dumbfounded at the incredible support from family, friends, colleagues and more – In four short weeks you have shown amazing generosity with over $4000 in donations. I am over half-way to my goal of raising $7500 for the Claudia Adams Barr Program at Dana Farber and have been inspired to reach my own training goals by your stories of strength, courage, humor, generosity and just plain fun folks you are donating in the honor and memory of. Thank you so much again and again.

There is still plenty of time to make a donation – any amount is great and very much appreciated. Click here to make a donation on my DFMC webpage: http://www.runDFMC.org/kerrys2009 or donations can be made by check (Payable to either “DFMC” or the “Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge”) and sent to me, Kerry Swift, at 11 Woodland Drive, Underhill, VT 05489. I then complete the necessary paperwork and send the checks along to the DFMC program.

Remember: 100% of any donation goes towards fostering scientific breakthroughs via the Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana Farber. Thank you again for any support you can give and for joining us in the fight against cancer.

Training-wise, I’m feeling more confident than I ever thought possible that I will be able to run the whole marathon. On March 28^th, I completed the storied “20 mile” training run in about 3 hours and 20 minutes. At 19 miles, it just hit me, “I’m going to be able to do this,” and I think I will be able to if I just make sure I don’t go out too fast, slow myself down during those” fun” miles between 8 and 15 miles, and just keep going through the Newton hills and beyond! Experienced marathoners, please keep those helpful hints coming, I can use them all!

A good number of you have let me know that you will be down in Boston on April 20^th on the course cheering folks on. Please let me know where you think you might be and I’ll try and say “Hi”, if I’m not breathing too hard! You can also track me online at the Boston Marathon website: http://www.baa.org/BostonMarathon/113thMarathon.asp . My bib number is 22436 and I will be starting with the second wave of runners at 10:30EST. On race day there will be a runner tracking function active on the site that will give you my progress every 5K. Alternatively, you can check out the AT&T Athlete Alert program, details are available here: http://www.baa.org/BostonMarathon/Att-Athlete-Alert.asp

Thank you again for all your support!
All the best, Kerry

Runners' World Quote for Today

"Knowing that you can run 20 miles is a big breakthrough mentally, when it comes to tackling the marathon distance."

Joan Benoit Samuelson

Yup, Joanie, you are right on with that one!

JOAN BENOIT SAMUELSON

All down hill from here....

The weather for Sunday was predicting cold, cold rain, so rather than spend a ton of time with logistics and forcing my family to take care of me during the Eastern States race, I ran from my parents' house in Durham and did the whole 20 miles in just over 10 minute miles, including a 6 minute stop to change clothes, water bottles, and to pee. Actual running time worked out to about 9 and a half minute miles and my second loop was about 5 minutes faster than the first. Sweet!

It was also the first time that I really truly believed that I was going to finish this marathon, maybe even run the whole thing!

In typical fashion I was fussing about the house, looking at loop mileage, fixing my bottles when my Dad came by and asked, "you are going running aren't you," "Yup," I said "just checking my loop mileage." "Good, just wanted to make sure you weren't procrastinating or anything" I was out the door within five minutes...laughing my head off for the first mile!

Sappy song that made me cry during the run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=188fVog7KiI
Kick butt U2 song that always makes me go fast whether I'm on the erg or running: U2 Lady with the Spinning Head

Snow....

Yup, we woke up to two inches of "freshes" on the ground and another inch or so fell during my run, that plus a nice "breeze" made it feel like spring in VT again! All this warm weather was making me feel strange...I shouldn't get sunburn in March, that has to wait until April!

Today's run was likely 17, if not more. Conservative measurements brought up 17.4 on the gmaps pedometer, but because I ran three 5+ mile out and backs, along with a two mile addition, it was hard to calculate perfectly. The last mile was definitely pushing the legs - but walking for a short bursts allowed me to finish running - downhill hurts, but I'm glad I have ours to prepare for Boston's last few miles. Now I think I need to do a bit more flat road running, I really feel better going uphill, strange as it may sound.

I ran this strange three loopie thing in order to test out a fueling strategy. I think most folks are familiar with the phrase "hitting the wall" and I've had experience with this when I was 23 and thought I could run a half marathon on coffee and a muffin. Bam, 12 miles hit and I just shoke my head and laughed - so that's what they mean. You really feel like you've hit a wall. The cure for this is to make sure you have enough carbs and electrolytes (and protein, some think) in your system as you run (or do any exercise) over an hour. So over the years I've been experimenting with the new gel, drinks, etc and just haven't had much success of finding something that works for my stomach and allows me to run too (I can eat most everything while I ski or row).

Enter a sample pack of HEED, a desperate Mom of a toddler with no time to go to the sports store to buy something else, her first 13+ run, and the rest was history. One of my best runs and no stomach issues. I've tested a few other things since that run, but nothing buffers my stomach better and today my energy level was consistant through the run (it was just my legs that pooped out). This run I also tried their endurance drink (for exercise longer than 2 hours) - that stuff looked and tasted horrible before the run, but at 2+ hours, it was strangely exactly what my body was craving. Weird, but cool. I've got my fuel.

I think that's it for now. Got a few other posts rolling around my head, but got a body and a Bryn to feed!

Spring in VT

For those of you who have never experienced mud season, it's a glorious time for running: warm sun on your face, soft road under your feet, and a few patches of ice just to keep your attention from wandering too far towards garden plans and summer time adventures. I was actually in shorts and a short sleeved shirt on my run on Tuesday - pity the onlookers as my pearly white legs went flashing by! After being in multiple layers all winter it's a new thought process to pack for my running jaunts during the week and I'm going to have to make sure that all this exposure doesn't lead to sunburn (yes, I always get my worst burn in March/April) or chafing in weird places!

6 miles on Tuesday and a hard 45 minutes on the erg on Wed. Will go out for a run this afternoon, when hopefully the icy wind that returned yesterday subsides and I can enjoy the mud again!

Oh yes, and I bought new shoes...I have my road shoes already breaking in for the racing "season", but it was clear I needed new trail shoes, so I busted the budget and bought another pair of the Brooks Adrenaline ASRs that I ran most of the winter in (a kind of cross trail/road show perfect for dirt, ice and mud) and a striking flourescent green pair of Cascadias for more serious trail running - watch out Catamount Trail Series, here I come!

I feel very spoiled with these shoes and can't wait to use them!

Support

I just wanted to send a quick shout out to all of you who took the time to read my email, visit my site, make a donation, and/or send me a note of support. I means so much to me to hear from you all, whether or not you are able to make a donation. It's been really incredible how many of you have responded after only a week. Thank you!!!!

My list of names that runs through my head is getting longer too and brings a smile to my face (a few tears too). Thanks for sharing your stories and offering your good wishes!

Busy week

We had a pretty decent training week considering various travels (NYC for Nate, NH for Bryn and I), colds, various stomach ills, teeth (Bryn now has all her eye teeth and the last set of molars are making themselves known), and the usual busy work schedule. I got out for three runs and one long (2 hours!) walk pushing Bryn. I managed my long run today without any real foot pain and I think with some good stretching this afternoon should end up in pretty good shape. I only ended up doing 12 miles - there were definitely a few more in me, but I decided that increasing my long run mileage in a week by 50% was good enough! Based off of a very rough estimate of time I think I was doing 10 minute miles too....a great pace for our hilly road.

It's funny, I was going to run the long run in Durham, but for various reasons it didn't happen, one of which was I just felt blah on the roads, especially compared to today here in VT. I wonder if the flatness had something to do with it....if I don't get that first one and half mile hill for a warm up then the rest is just blown? Oh dear....hopefully the 20 miler at the end of the month will help change that.

Pacing is another concern...my pace clock is totally messed up when I start nearly every run with this hill, it slows me down, but then I feel so good I start to push it a bit for the next few miles. Sigh. I've got to take a look at some of those pacing charts and work out a plan for the 20 miles and from there do the same for Boston...taking into account all the stops for hugs and high fives, of course! :-)

Spring!

After a hard rain last night, it's definitely smelling and feeling like spring here...although there is still plenty of snow on the ground! After two weeks of nursing foot pain in my right foot and cross-training like crazy, I ventured out into the mud that is Cilley Hill Road and got 7 miles under my belt for this weeks long run. No, not close to where I should be, but it was pain-free and so nice to be running again.

Looking ahead, I will try for 10-15 miles next week, and 16+ for the week after that, then I'm signed up for the Eastern States 20 mile race on the 29th to guarantee that I have at least one 20 miler under my belt. I'm looking forward to it since it follows Rt 1A along my favorite seashore: NH's coast!

Running in the New Year

After a day of rest on the 1st, Nate and I went for a 4 mile run in Durham on the 2nd with Hailey. Boy, is Hailey a heck of a lot easier to run with when she's not on a leash...although today she was much better when I took her on the first two miles of my 8 mile run....hmm, maybe a little training would take care of this issue.

Today's run was an 8.3 mile run: 1.8 miles with Hailey through town and then 6.5 on to one of my old running routes out Madbury road, down Perkins, through Caney farms, and back around the high school and through town. I should have gone further - legs felt good, the pace was about 9 and a half minute miles, but I still haven't gotten my feed/water plans together yet and I think I really need that to go further. My task for this week is to get that together in time for a 12 mile run either Sat or Sun. 

I doubt I'll run tomorrow...maybe erg, but we'll see how things develop between getting back to VT, emptying the car of all the presents (aka toys for Bryn) and getting things prepped for the week...and that means it's been a 21.3 mile week. Not bad.