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 28th, 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 20th 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
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