2010 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge

Last April I ran my second Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. In the past two years, you have helped me raise over $12,000! I cannot thank you enough for your support!

Next April I will run my third Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. My goal is to raise $7000 and to run sub 2:35. I am honored and thrilled to be part of the twenty-first annual DFMC.

This year, my teammates and I hope to raise $4.4 million for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Cancer Research. 100 percent of every dollar donated will fund innovative cancer research. The Barr Program has had a tremendous impact on not only cancer research but also the scientists receiving funds. The Barr Program provides seed money to young investigators with unique and promising ideas. Indeed, scientists who begin pioneering research with Barr Program funds are almost all successful in securing future grants from other sources (generally the NIH) to continue their work. Thus funds raised each year can be used to support new projects.

Every donation makes a difference. To make a donation, please see my official DFMC page.

Thank you so much for your generosity!

Running in the Morning

The NYT reports.

My Bib Number

3014

See you in two weeks in the Big Apple.

Spirit of the Marathon

If anyone has not yet seen the movie, watch it here. Enjoy.

Ibuprofen

To everyone who jokes about taking "Vitamin I" to improve performance: read this.

Eating and Training

Some easy reading from the NYT.

101 salads from Mark Bitten and a good article about training.

NYC is rapidly approaching. I need to start posting my runs. Soon.

Getting Faster

. . . without running (much).

The offseason is the best time to make small changes that can make a big difference on race day. Because you are not training at full tilt, you have more time to experiment and to incorporate what works into your routine. Moreover, changing anything when you are running your peak mileage is hard, and perhaps even foolish. The time to change is now.

Here is what I want to do this summer.

(1) Sleep more.
Hard training is worthless if your body and mind do not recover. Worse, hard training without rest simply leads to injury, illness, and unhappiness.

(2) Strengthen my core.
Critical for avoiding injuries. I like Pilates and yoga. And pushups. Start slowly. You have a long time before your next big race.

(3) Get quick.
I plan to run about half as much, yet to do speed work at least twice a week. Fitness will only get you so far. Pushing that top speed is important.

(4) Eat better.
Some people think about eating when they run. I think about running when I eat. But I could still (easily) eat better -- for example, by expanding the range of vegetables I buy. (A friend suggested she wants to eat the way I do. Here is my advice: Your goal is to drive all joy from your refrigerator. What remains is good for you. You will thank me later. Probably much later.)

What are your goals? What are easy ways to get faster that I overlooked?