Boston 2013

We thank everyone for their outpouring of concern and support over the past few days.  We are both now home safe but feeling a deep sense of sadness for the victims and families impacted by this senseless act of violence.  The Boston Marathon weekend is always an unforgettable experience- the runners, supporters, volunteers and entire City come together to create a sense of camaraderie and community.  To think that someone would target defenseless runners and the people who support them in what for many is a life long dream come true is sickening.  We have both found comfort, though, in the way that the entire community came together to support each other on Monday.   

Both of us have written about the events of the past several days.  Please read our race reports here:
Julie's Race Report
Lisa's Race Report

Lisa's Boston 2013 Race Report

This was my tenth year running the Boston Marathon.  After I first ran the Marathon in 2001, I swore I’d be back as long as I could qualify.  The excitement in Boston is palpable during the weekend leading up to Marathon Monday- signs at the airport welcome runners; thousands of runners, decked in the official Boston Marathon jacket (usually from the first year they ran the race) mill about the city, eager to engage in conversation with other runners.  Stores and restaurants offer discounts for runners, sell Boston Marathon paraphernalia, and are usually packed with crowds.  The Marathon itself is an almost indescribable, magical experience, from Athlete’s Village where runners prepare for the race, to the city of Hopkinton seeing off the close to 30,000 runners on their 26.2 mile route to Boston, to the wall-to-wall crowds lining every single inch of the course.   Running down Boylston Street towards the finish line, the crowds are deafening and for a few fleeting moments, runners feel like rock stars, crossing one of the most storied and revered finish lines in history. 

When I first started running the marathon, I went by myself and knew no one else running the race.  My mother used to worry about me being on my own, but I always reassured her that I was there with tens of thousands of my closest friends.   Over the years, I’ve met so many inspiring and interesting people during my trips to Boston.  The 76-year old man running his 67^th marathon.  The father running for a charity in honor of his brain-damaged daughter.  The mobility-impaired athletes.  Dick Hoyt, a father who pushes his son, Rick Hoyt, afflicted with cerebral palsy, the entire course of the marathon.  I have kept in touch with many people I met in Boston- complete strangers who became friends through the experience of running a marathon. 

Julie and Lisa with Dick Hoyt

Even when I traveled to Boston by myself, I always knew that if I needed anything, I could find someone willing to help.  Case in point: after running the Marathon a few years ago, I was on my way back to the airport on a crowded T (Boston’s subway) when I fainted.  No less than 20 people- runners, friends/family of runners and Boston residents- stepped up to help me, offering me food and drink, making sure I was ok, and even accompanying me all the way to the airport to make sure I arrived safely.

Lately, I travel to Boston with a pretty large group of people I know running the race, and look forward to visiting with friends and family members who live in the city.  My dear friend and co-coach Julie and I look forward to our Boston Marathon girls weekends, exploring the Expo and the City, and spending Saturday night together in a hotel, staying up late (ok, late for runners) into the night talking.  Every year when my Marathon weekend is over, I get a little depressed that I’ll have to wait another entire year before I get to do it again. 

Lisa and Julie at the Expo

This year Boston meant the same traditions, and I tried to live in the moment, knowing the weekend would go by all too quickly.  Race day dawned cold- a welcome change from last year’s 90-degree day- but sunny.  Because of a hamstring strain I took the race a little slower this year, making efforts to take in all of the sights and sounds that make the Marathon so special: high-fiving the kids lining the course, the “scream tunnel” through Wellesley, the famous Citgo sign that signals you’re close (but not THAT close) to the finish, thanking volunteers and spectators cheering us the entire 26.2 miles to Boston.  I was so grateful for support from cousins who came out to the start line to see me off and friends who waited for me in Newton with a “Go Lisa” sign. 

After crossing the finish line, I hobbled through the mass of runners waiting for water, mylar blankets, food and, of course, the Boston Marathon medal.  For a fleeting moment during that process, I realized how vulnerable we were.  Thousands of runners, log jammed, surrounded by metal barriers (to keep spectators out of the finish area).  One runner next me joked that we should start mooing because we were like cattle.  What- I wondered- would we do if there was an emergency?  I pictured a stampede and confusion but quickly pushed the thought out of my mind as I headed the two blocks down the street and off to a side street on the right to retrieve the bag I had dropped off at the start line. 

Bag in hand, and changed into dry clothes, I headed to meet friends from our local running club at a restaurant behind the luggage busses.  I spent about an hour and a half there as we welcomed each runner as they entered the restaurant.  Julie had started two waves (40 minutes) after me so I eagerly tracked her status on my phone and waited for her to finish.  I thought about trying to make it back out to the finish line to watch for her, but knew that it would be hard to do that between the crowds in the finish area and my own physical inability to move very far.  Instead, I waited for her to arrive before heading back to my hotel to shower and get to the airport.  I left at about 2:55, less than 10 minutes after the explosions, which we did not feel in the restaurant. 

When I got outside, I saw the first ambulance arrive in the finish area, sirens blaring and lights flashing. It didn’t surprise me, and I assumed that a runner was injured in one of the medical tents.  My father then called me on my phone to ask me about the race, and as we spoke I saw more emergency vehicles arrive: two fire trucks, four police cars, then another two ambulances.  My dad and I remarked on the noise and wondered why there were so many trucks headed to the finish.  When I got off the phone with him, as I made my way to my hotel (opposite direction from the finish line), I started to hear comments about explosions and injuries. 

At first, there was a lot of confusion: was there one explosion or more?  Was it something benign (like a generator, which is what I had assumed) or more sinister?  Were there injuries?  Where exactly did it happen?  There was no panic, but I think that’s because no one knew exactly what was happening.  The news was trickling out of the finish line area and out towards the side streets via word of mouth and phones.   Knowing I had spoken to my husband, father and sister, I called my mom to let her know that I was OK and she turned on the TV to the very beginning of coverage.   It was then that I realized this was something much worse than a small explosion.   By the time I tried to call my husband, cell reception was down but luckily texts and email were still able to go through.  My phone started exploding with texts from concerned family and friends as I tried to make my way back to the hotel.  Eventually, I showered and made my way back to the airport (via the T, which was still operating outside of downtown) with a woman I met at the hotel.  Despite rumors that air travel had been held, my flight took off about 40 minutes late.  At the airport I met a woman who had just crossed the finish line when the explosion occurred, a woman whose fiancé was 200 meters from the finish when it happened, and others who witnessed the blast firsthand.  They all asked the same question: “what if.”  What if the woman stopped to give a few extra high fives and finished 15 seconds later?  What if the fiancé ran a little faster? 

I had such mixed feelings about leaving Boston.  On the one hand, all I wanted to do was get home and hug my family.  Part of me, though, wanted to stay and support Boston, the runners, and their friends and family.  I hated leaving Boston on such a sad note. 

The past 36 hours have been a mix of emotions and sorting through so many thoughts.  I am devastated for the victims and their families and friends.  I am grateful to be home with my family, and that my children were not there to experience this tragedy.  I am sad for the runners whose Boston experience was marred by an act of senseless violence.  My heart goes out to the City of Boston and all of its residents who open their arms to the runners every year.  I am angry that someone would take an opportunity to target defenseless runners and the families, friends and even strangers who came out to support them. 

At the end of the day, though, my belief in the goodness of people, and the running community in particular, prevails.  The people of Boston, and the runners and their friends and families who come to Boston during Marathon weekend, will continue to help each other and demonstrate the kindness, compassion and warmth I have come to admire so much over the years.  I look forward to returning to Boston, hopefully with my family, in the future.

Julie’s Boston 2013 Race Report

We all know how Boston ended yesterday.  Originally, I planned to write a quirky race report about my sixth Boston marathon on April 15th--how I spent a winter torturing my running partner, Felix, to run hundreds of laps around King Farm Park with me in morning darkness in an effort to end my streak of flat lining at Mile 23; how my Montgomery County Road Runners Club (MCRRC) training group came together to successfully coach ourselves under the name Broderick to Boston in memory of our beloved coach Mike Broderick; and how I fought off the voice of negativity in my quest to redeem myself after running last year’s Boston with a chilly towel around my neck in 85 degree heat.  I wish more than anything that I could write that race report, but I can’t because my sixth Boston culminated with the detonation of two bombs at one of the happiest places on earth--the Boston Marathon finish line.

The events leading up to the race did not disappoint this year.  Between meeting Dick Hoyt with Coach Lisa at the expo and belting out Sweet Caroline at Fenway in seats just a few rows behind home plate with my wonderful family, I enjoyed a perfect Boston day before another perfect Boston day--Marathon Monday, a day that is so much more about spectating than running, as what makes this race so special is not the course itself, but the spectators eager to greet thousands of runners streaming through each town with deafening cheers, kisses, beers, massages and beautiful children eager to give high fives to every runner who will to take a moment to do so. 
 

The pre-dawn school bus ride to Hopkinton with my fellow MCRRC runners the following morning was, as always, eerily similar to a bus filled with middle schoolers--plenty of laughter, raunchy jokes, and complaints of people needing to pee after drinking volumes of Gatorade en route.  We all remarked that the 85 degree temperature run last year, which, we affectionately referred to as the Boston Massacre, was a distant memory, and that unlike last year, this race was going to be a superb opportunity for a personal record.

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My biggest concern, like everyone else, was whether I would bomb my race.   That word has now been erased from my vocabulary as a means to describe a race performance.  With my Sandy Hook baseball hat in tow, I walked to the start line prepared to dedicate my 26 miles to the 26 victims of the Newtown tragedy without knowledge that yet another tragedy would occur that day.

 

Using my time from last year’s Boston, I was assigned to the third wave start at 10:40 armed with my own pacer, my friend Ken, a 2:40 marathoner who generously offered to pace me to hopefully a new personal record, while selflessly foregoing the opportunity to set his own personal record on a glorious day.  The gun went off and we calmly began our journey from Hopkinton to Boston.  My breathing was a bit off, but I remained calm and repeated my mantra, “Believe you can.”  By mile 8, I was believing I couldn’t.  Ken could tell I was dragging, and my thoughts wandered to leaving the course and calling it a day.  I got myself together and kept going hoping that these negative feelings would disappear.  They didn’t, and by mile 13, I knew I would not meet my expectations that day.  I adjusted my goal, moved forward and focused on taking in the moments--seeing my husband and children along the course with their “run like a mutha” sign , my supportive friends and family all over the country tracking me online, and--my legs--how lucky I was to be out there running on a course that so many will never have the opportunity to experience.  I crossed the finish line at approximately 2:15 pm.  My time--3:28--about 10 minutes off my goal, but well within the qualifying time I needed to return next year, and at that moment, while still hyperventilating with my quads screaming, I couldn’t wait to return in 2014.

 

 

 

After receiving my medal and my drop bag, I made my way to the local watering hole, Fire and Ice, a few blocks away from the finish line, to meet my fellow MCRRC runners.  Just minutes after entering the bar, reports of a bombing at the finish line began to materialize.  CNN images on television were horrifying, and cell reception was non-existent.  A nightmare was unfolding before us just blocks away as we remained inside confused, shaken to the core, and eager to find our fellow runners who had not yet arrived.  Thanks to Facebook, all runners in our MCRRC family were accounted for within a relatively short period of time.  Nonetheless, we are all family out there--spectators and runners alike--and members of our Boston family suddenly became victims of an unspeakable tragedy that instantly turned the finish line into a crime scene.

 

As we all grapple with this unfathomable act of terror,  I find solace, like so many, in the reports detailing what occurred within moments of the blast.  First responders, race volunteers, and bystanders exhibited extraordinary courage in response to the horrifying scene, while runners, exhausted from running 26.2, ran to nearby hospitals to give blood. The resilience and strength of the great people of Boston and the running community immediately surfaced in the midst of chaos and devastation at one of the most celebrated sporting events in the world.  

The people of Boston are defiant--they will rise above the chaos, and, like thousands of other runners, I am undeterred and eager to proudly cross that finish line next April.  As runners, we lost a part of our innocence yesterday, but we have not lost our determination, our deep appreciation for the great people of Boston and our love of crossing the finish line at the holy grail of running-the Boston Marathon.  See you next year, Beantown, and until then, stand tall and know that runnahs all over the world are with you.

Announcing the Launch of RunFartherandFaster.com!

We've moved!  Visit us at our new website at www.runfartherandfaster.com!

Helping You Run Farther and Faster

Thanks for visiting our blog! We hope you will find helpful information, guidance and motivation on your way to running Farther & Faster.

We are Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) certified running coaches and accomplished, locally-ranked runners who have completed the Boston Marathon numerous times, in addition to many other marathons and shorter road races. We are also busy moms, juggling our families, work, volunteer commitments, and, of course, our training schedules.

We coach several group programs year-round in the Montgomery County, Maryland area, from programs for beginners hoping to complete their first 5K through a half marathon program for those targeting a fall half marathon and everything in between.  We also coach workplace running programs for corporations and non-profits to help improve employee wellness and morale, as well as youth programs at local elementary schools.   In addition to providing group coaching, we provide private coaching services for kids and adults, including virtual coaching for marathon training, for runners outside of the area or who prefer to train on their own.   We often speak to groups throughout the D.C. area and write articles about the benefits of running and fitting fitness into a busy life.

One of the greatest rewards of coaching has been watching our runners achieve their goals, whether it be their first 5K, improving their 10K time or finishing a marathon. We base all of our programs on principles of progressive overload, making sure to allow adaptation to avoid injury and over training. Our goal is to make running accessible and fun for everyone.

Read more about us in these recent articles.

Please come back and visit us frequently as we add information on training, racing, nutrition, gear, life outside of running and a host of other topics. If you have any questions or topics you would like to see covered, please don't hesitate to leave a comment. You can reach us via email at lisa_reichmann@yahoo.com and jegossma@hotmail.com.

Happy Running!

Julie and Lisa with NYC skyline in the background prior to the 2010 NYC Marathon

Testimonials

Here is what past participants have to say about our training programs!

"I am really, seriously grateful to you guys for giving me a framework for how I can accomplish my goals. It's good to know that I don't need a class or an expensive membership to a gym ... I just need to pace myself and decide to make it happen. I feel like a lightbulb just went on, and I realized that many of the obstacles I've seen in my way when it comes to fitness are actually in my head."--Meg, Kensington, MD

"I can't thank you enough for everything the two of you did over the past four months. I never would have believed I could have gone from not running at all to finishing a 10K in that amount of time. You were both inspirations to me and helped me through some twists and turns along the way.  I'll also say that despite all of the memorable things from Sunday, the two that probably stick out the most are Lisa running with me down the stretch and Julie helping and congratulating me at the finish. You are both truly awesome coaches."--Brett, Gaithersburg, MD

"With Julie and Lisa's expert advice and relentless support and guidance combined with the camaraderie of a solid team of other runners, I was able to successfully complete my first half marathon." – Jessy, Boyds, MD

"With only slight exaggeration, I can say that Run Farther and Faster saved my life. After participating in several Run Farther & Faster programs, I am healthier than ever as a result of the expert advice I receive from Lisa and Julie, two world class athletes who really understand the dynamics and strategy of running. This isn't some program sponsored by an apparel store in an attempt to get you to buy more merchandise -- Lisa and Julie actually enjoy training other runners, whether beginners or advanced runners of all different ages." -Eric, Rockville, MD

"Julie and Lisa are amazingly supportive and encouraging to all participants and truly want their students to succeed. With their guidance and encouragement, I've run in two 5K races and even placed 1st in my age group in one of them." – Ariel, Potomac, MD

"Julie and Lisa helped create a realistic training program that helped me not only achieve my goal, but BEAT my goal. Julie and Lisa really believed in me and in turn I believed in myself. The smiles and excitement are genuine and that is what makes them great coaches." – Caryn, Bethesda, MD

"Thank you Julie and Lisa for all the support. Indeed you have gone above and beyond my expectations during the course of this journey." --Max, Gaithersburg, MD

Congrats to January Runner of the Month John Warren!

Congratulations to John Warren, January's Run Farther & Faster Runner of the Month! John was nominated by his sister, Judith, and not only is he a great runner, but he's also a great brother, as reflected by her entry:

The person I think most deserving of Runner of the Month is my brother John Warren.

John started running at age 54 mainly to keep his overweight sister (me) company on my journey towards health. Starting with that first 5k together in November 2009 he has been my biggest cheerleader and my biggest inspiration.

He is quite a bit faster but without fail is waiting at the finish for me cheering. This has extended to the wider circle of friends we have met through running and our local running club. He is the go-to guy to drive the gang to races, he is one of the guys to make sure that everyone gets back off the trail safely, and will run the slower club members in during hard races. He is a geniunely nice guy and is friends with everyone.

He has struggled with injuries including his achilles but is always upbeat and positive. Though John is very competitive, he also celebrates effort from all - no matter ability level - but at the same time pushing to help others improve.

Since that first race in late 2009 he has done almost 60 races and age-medaled in over 1/3 of them. He has raced distances from 5k all the way to doing the Chicago Marathon twice. He continues to improve despite some earlier injuries and PR'd the marathon by over 43 minutes this year.

Running has brought us even closer together and I love running with John. My brother. My inspiration. My hero.

Know a runner who inspires you and others?  Nominate them and they may be our next Runner of the Month and win a Run Farther & Faster prize package. Post your nomination on our Facebook page and stay tuned for our February Runner of the Month!

Winter/Spring 10K/10-Miler Program Registration Now CLOSED

ENROLLMENT FOR OUR 10K/10-MILER PROGRAM HAS REACHED CAPACITY.  REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.  In order to maintain the personal attention that is so important to our coaching, we cap participation in our group programs.  If you are interested in joining a future program, or in our private "virtual" coaching, please contact us (contact information in right hand sidebar).  We look forward to running with you in 2013!

Although it's not even officially winter yet, we're already looking forward to out next Sunday morning group training program, our annual Winter/Spring 10K/10-Miler Program.  This program begins on Sunday, February 3 and runs for 12 weeks through the popular (and beginner friendly) Pike's Peek 10K on Sunday, April 21. For more experienced runners looking to target a longer distance race, the program will prepare you for the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler (entry must be earned by lottery opening December 3), the GW Parkway Classic 10-Miler, or any other spring 10-Miler race.  The program can also accommodate runners training for late spring or early summer half marathons such as the Nike Women's Half Marathon on April 28.

As with all of our group programs, registration includes:

• A comprehensive 12-week training calendar tailored to your experience and goals;
• Weekly group runs held on Sunday mornings in the Rockville/Bethesda area;
• Presentations and guest speakers on running-related topics including injury prevention and nutrition;
• Personalized coaching and access to experienced, certified coaches for questions and schedule modification;
• A technical running shirt;
• Discounts on race entry for Pike's Peek and on gear from RunningWarehouse.com.  

Runners should be able to complete a long run of about three miles and be running at least eight miles per week  (no pace requirement) at the start of the program.  Those wanting to train for a spring 10-miler race should be able to run at least six miles with a total weekly mileage of approximately 15 miles per week.  If you are interested in participating but are not yet up to running these distances, please contact us and we can provide you with a build-up program that you can use over the next few months to establish a good base before February.

Register early and save- registration is $100 through January 2; after January 2, registration is $120.  Register with a friend and if at least one of you is new to the Run Farther & Faster programs, pay just $190 for both runners ($95 each) through January 2 and $200 ($100 each) after January 2.   To register, select "Spring Sunday 10K/10M" from the drop-down menu to the right (select "buddy program" if signing up with a friend and please note their name/email address).

We look forward to another rewarding season helping our runners Run Farther & Faster!

True Spirit of the Marathon

Thousands of runners registered for this year's ING NYC Marathon were faced with conflicting emotions when, after Superstorm Sandy ravaged much of the City, the announcement was made early in the week that the Marathon would still go on.  For personal reasons, some decided not to run the race while others decided to move ahead with their plans after months of training.  Most agreed that they felt a sense of relief when the race was cancelled late on Friday.

Run Farther & Faster friend and two-time Boston marathoner, Amanda Kunstmann, of Columbus, Ohio was one of those runners.  Below is her story of the true spirit of the marathon.

My NYC 2012 Marathon experience began in January 2011 when I crossed the finish line of my favorite half marathon, the ING Miami Half, in just enough time to qualify for guaranteed entry to New York.  I was beyond proud and excited and spent the next year and nine months in eager anticipation of the “race like no other.”   There was something magical about the prospect of New York.  Each race I’ve run has a special place in my heart, its own character, challenges, and friends with whom I’ve shared those unique experiences.  New York was going to be special because my husband and I were running it together, and it was my first time doing it.   

Seeds of doubt began to sow themselves the weekend of the Marine Corps Marathon 2012 in Washington DC.  Hurricane Sandy battered the east coast and created daunting weather conditions for runners of that marathon which took place the week before the NYC Marathon.  I had been following that race closely because I had several friends running it and /or pacing it.  Fortunately, the conditions for that marathon ended up being fine, although many people experienced travel difficulties after the race.  My attention turned towards the ominous predictions of the wrath of Sandy on NYC, which was expected to ravage that coast next.

We all have the benefit of hindsight now.  We know that the marathon should have been cancelled immediately following the devastating hurricane.  The fact that so much deliberation took place in spite of the dire circumstances leads me to believe that the mayor and the NYRR really wanted to continue the race, to send a message about resiliency and fortitude.  Of course canceling created its own set of logistical and financial complications that they also wanted to avoid if possible, but I keep in mind that to their credit, these individuals got into their positions of power because of their tenacity.  They don’t give up easily.  It’s harder for some people to let go of their aspirations.  Thankfully, in the end, concern for public safety prevailed, and the right call was made to cancel and divert resources to those in need. 

I spent the entire week before the marathon unable to sleep.  So much was happening; it made my head spin.  Mike and I were planning to go along with whatever the City decided to do, but I was completely conflicted about continuing and unable to enjoy the idea of running the marathon anymore.  It wasn’t going to be the experience I expected.  We received an email from our hotel that essentially read “Dear Guest, We regret to inform you that your reservation is cancelled due to there being a dangerous dangling crane on our block, the result of high winds during hurricane Sandy.  The hotel was indefinitely evacuated. Sorry.”  I will print that and put it with my bib and other race memorabilia.  We rebooked at the race headquarters hotel, and I started to get very concerned about all the hate mail directed toward race organizers and runners.  What started as conflicted emotion about participating turned into outright fear as I read FB messages on my flight to LGA.  By the time we checked into our hotel on Friday night, it was a bit of a relief that the race had been cancelled.    

My first reaction to the news was to send a message to my run club back home:  marathon cancelled, this marathoner is still running 26.2 at some point this week, join me for all or part and please donate to the relief effort.  Then my husband and I donned our party clothes, as planned, and headed to the New York Athletic Club for a dinner with friends and keynote speaker, Joan Benoit Samuelson.  It was an inspirational evening.  By the end of it, Joanie managed to turn what could have been a very disappointing night into an uplifting and hopeful one.  Her spirit of determination and genuine love for the sport left us all excited about running and racing again in NYC 2013.  A better way to ease the tension there could not have been. 

The next morning, I woke up to an email message from my friend Aaron, asking “who’s in for a marathon today?”  I had planned to meet with the group in front of the NYAC to do the scheduled run with Joanie, but I had gone to bed on Friday night at midnight, after several glasses of wine, not planning to get up and run 26.2.  However, it was the opportunity of a lifetime:  it was a beautiful, perfect day, I was trained to run a marathon, and Aaron would be an excellent guide, as this would have been his 15^th consecutive NYC marathon.  He knew the course.  I decided to go for it.  It would be an adventure!  We ran the course backwards, starting with Joanie in Central Park for the first few miles, then setting out on our own, weaving through traffic and pedestrians, stopping to buy water and Gatorade at convenience stores, and waiting in line for restrooms at McDonalds.  New Yorkers were out enjoying the sunshine; however, remnants of Sandy were apparent.  There were long lines of people and cars at every gas station, and areas of parks, roads, and sidewalks were still blocked by downed branches and debris.  Some places lacked electricity and safe drinking water.   Running the course that day made me even more thankful that the race was cancelled and resources from it were given to people in need.  We finished our makeshift marathon at the base of the Verrazano Bridge. My finisher photo:

That night Mike and I ventured out to a small drug store in midtown to purchase the recommended relief supplies for our morning mission on Staten Island.  We were checking out when in walked 2012 Olympian, Kara Goucher.  At the risk of seeming like a stalker, I politely introduced myself and told her I was a big fan. She was as friendly as can be, talked to me for several minutes about the marathon, and agreed to pose for a picture. 

I will never forget that events of that marathon day.  It began with a leisurely run with Joanie in Central Park, continued with a makeshift NYC marathon accompanied by my talented and knowledgeable friend Aaron (two weeks prior to this run of ours Aaron ran a 2:48 in Columbus),  and ended with the most amazing chance encounter with Kara Goucher.  I have a lot of great race memories…I’ve run five marathons, two of which were Boston, but I can honestly say that THAT marathon day was one of the most unexpected and memorable days of my life. 

The next morning, my husband, two of our friends and I took a cab to the Staten Island Ferry where we joined hundreds of eager runners with backpacks full of rescue supplies.  It was a sight to behold.  There would be no marathon, yet this many enthusiastic runners showed up anyway, to make the voyage on behalf of runners for relief. 

It was a loosely organized effort, but that didn’t stop us from taking to the streets and running and walking with our heavy loads, in search of people and places that needed assistance.  We ended up walking about ten miles that day. My group dropped our supplies at a high school that had been converted into a shelter by the National Guard.  Victims and their families were living there.  Preschool children were being led through a series of games and activities while their parents searched for food, clothing, and supplies.  It was heartbreaking.  As runners, we choose to challenge ourselves and push through pain to achieve our goals…we experience heartbreak and sadness when we get hurt or fall short of our expectations.  There is a lot of emotion and passion involved with running, but I think we know the difference between sport and life.  The unasked for battles facing these poor victims needed to be fought and won before the city could turn its attention to a marathon.  That will happen, and the NYC marathon will be back and better than ever next year.     

Even though we all saw it coming, hearing the official news of the cancellation caused feelings of disappointment, then relief, then activism.  Ultimately it created an intense desire among many runners to preserve the legacy of the NYC marathon as an event that unites people, rather than divides them.  That amazing power of united NYC marathoners was tangible on what would have been marathon day, among thousands of athletes running their own marathons in Central Park, flags proudly displayed on their shirts and smiles defying the circumstances on their faces, and it was tangible among runners for relief aboard the Staten Island ferry that morning, gathered not for the race but to distribute needed supplies to one of the hardest hit areas of the hurricane.  I was never more proud to be a runner than I was on that morning.  The NYC Marathon 2012 was not at all the experience I expected, but it ended up being one of the most memorable weekends of my life.  I can’t wait to go back next year.   In the meantime, PLEASE consider making a donation to the relief effort at www.racetorecover.nyrr.org. 

Fall 5K/10K Sunday morning program off to a strong start!

We had a perfect morning to kick off our Fall 5K/10K Sunday morning group training program, waking up to a cool, dry autumn morning- a welcome change from the hot, humid weather we had this summer.  This is our largest program to date with 50 runners, including many returning RFF alumni, friends and family inspired by runners from our past programs as well as new faces!  Erin Linton, another RRCA certified coach, joined us to lead the runners along the Millennium Trail from Wootton High School.

Following the run, Rachel Miller of ProAction Physical Therapy and an expert in treating runners demonstrated some effective stretches, strength exercises and answer questions about avoiding injury as runners ramp up their mileage towards their goal races later this season.  As always, Rachel was a popular speaker and even the veteran runners in the group took away helpful information.

Side planks are an easy and effective way to build core strength

We love the energy and enthusiasm of this new group of runners and look forward to helping everyone reach their goals over the next several months and beyond!