I may reconsider....

Running the Boston Prep 16 miler in Derry NH.

I'm not feeling ready.. and i could run a 14-16 mile group run with DFMC instead here in Boston.

I have heard horror stories about this race and I don't know if i want to get out there in the potentially sub freezing temps, and not run a good race. If i have to walk by myself in this weather in the secluded mountains, I will be quite an UNHAPPY runner.

As a supportive friend said, "there are vulchers and ice picks on the tee shirt/website for crying out loud!! After all you are training for Boston, not Derry." This is true!

I will make a decision soon.

Boston Marathon Count Down Event March 5th ~ 7-9pm ~

You’re Invited!

Please join me in the Boston Marathon count down to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Thursday, March 5, 2009

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Vlora Restaurant
545 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02118
(entrance is downstairs)

Featuring…
Authentic Mediterranean hour devours
Cash bar available
Drawing for many fabulous prizes
“Guess Anne’s marathon time game”

$20 donation suggested

I'm about to embark on one of the biggest challenges of my life: completing the 2009 Boston Marathon. But my personal quest, no matter how difficult it will be for me, pales in comparison to the challenge facing cancer patients. By participating in the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC), I'm supporting Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s goal to find better therapies and, ultimately, cures for cancer. While training and logging hundreds of miles between now and April 20, 2009, I ask for your support. I ask for your support through words of encouragement, running expertise, and last but not least your monetary support towards my $6,500 fund raising goal to the Dana-Farber Institute. I have put together a fundraising website in which you could make a dontation online: http://www.runDFMC.org/annew2009

Thank you for helping me help Dana-Farber reach the ultimate finish line:
a world without cancer.

I look forward to seeing you there,
Please bring a guest or five!
awestrich45208@yahoo.com


Parking at Vlora: valet parking available $16; parking lot on Claredon Street right next to Skipjack's $10 dollars after 5pm; minutes away from the Green line (both Arlington and Copley) and Orange line (Backbay station) for those guests who will be taking the T.
http://www.vloraboston.com/

Yak Trax!

I'm so excited.. YAK TRAX is what i have been looking for... they are the running treads I was searching for online and could not find.

I'm going to buy them tonight at the Greater Boston Running Company in Lexington.. before or after my run with the group there. I hope they really work. here is a link to a site that has some good info. www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1080, and here is the original product info link i found: http://www.yaktrax.com

P.S. It's 31 degrees right now... wow that's a heat wave for us lately!

Fundraiser Party! SAVE THE DATE!

I am planning my fundraiser event! Good news, I think I found a great location- Vlora, 545 Boylston St. I have been here for an event before, which led me to call them. They are extremely interested in hosting charity events, so please give them a call if you're looking for a venue. Here is the link: http://www.vloraboston.com/

The dates I am considering are: Thursday Feb 19 and Thursday March 5. Please save these possible dates. I think Thursdays work for several reasons. Runners need to stay in on Friday or Sat. night if they plan to run a Sat. or Sun. AM. I hope everyone can make it into Boston for a night of fun!

There will be a drawing for some prizes, as well as appetizers! More information to follow once it's confirmed!

If you have anything that you would like to donate please contact me. It would be greatly appreciated!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

It is COLD here in Boston, and it's making it tough to train! I knew it would be cold, but didn't think much about how hard it would be to run outside on icy snow covered sidewalks. it's tough to run in the street, dodging cars and snow and ice... it makes for a stressful run. Our group run was cancelled this morning due to the snow storm that came through last night/this morning!

I am realizing i may have to start thinking about going to the gym and running inside more often, which i do not like. i prefer running outside. i think i may invest in a pair of running shoe snow tread attachments. I heard about them at one of our meetings for DFMC, it attaches to your shoe to give you more traction in the snow/ice. I hope they work!

I have signed up for a few upcoming races. The Frostbite 15K is next Sunday in Reynard Ma. I signed up for the Hyannis Half Marathon on Feb 22, and also the Boston Prep 16 miler in Derry NH, which is often referred to just as "Derry". And, i have heard this race is extremely hard! I hope I am prepared for these runs!
Here are the links to the race websites.

http://www.baevents.com/frostbite/
http://www.hyannismarathon.com/schedule.php
http://www.coolrunning.com/major/09/bostonprep/

I am packing my bag to go to the gym tomorrow after work, i am not going to try and run in the ice/snow again in the dark. Tuesday I am thinking of heading to the Greater Boston Running Company run at 6pm at the Lexington Store for the first time.

I am looking for a venue to hold my fundraiser party in Boston. I am thinking it should be in Feburuary or early March. If anyone has ideas please let me know! More info to follow!

It's time to put the running in high gear

Happy New Year 2009!

I have to admit that I did not do a good share of running over the holidays. With travelling and way too many of my Cincinnati holiday favorite foods and homecooked meals, it's time to buckle down and run run run!

Thank you to everyone who was so generous to donate recently to my fundraising for Dana Farber. I am behind at recognizing everyone on this page, but will update it very shortly. Thank you so much!

I am brainstorming some ideas for a fundraiser event in Boston. If anyone has ideas of locations, etc. Please let me know. Otherwise, look for more information on that soon!

Running recently has been challenging in the ice and snow. But once I get out there it isn't bad, sometimes it's a must to run in the street due to the snow covered sidewalks. I have met a few friends that live close to me in Watertown who are also running the marathon, so i look forward to many snowy runs with them.

I am going to be learning even more about disease research, including cancer research due to my new job! I just started my new job this week at a Medical Research/Life Sciences company. Our clients are Research Scientists, including Dana Farber! I have alot to learn, but it is very exciting stuff.

I think i'm going to sign up for a half marathon very soon, and also plan to run 10 or so this weekend! Hopefully no ice for the weekend!

Did you know....

that the first 17 miles of the Boston marathon are downhill? and, the "heart break hill" is actually 5 miles of uphill? Alot of the training will be on these hills, but I think maybe I will go out and drive the marathon course soon.

I went to the DFMC December meeting last week and listened to the coach talk about the course a bit. We also received some great fundraising tips and also cold weather running tips. Lots of good information!

It's been raining for the past few days here, but I think i'm going to head out in the rain later today for a run. Running in the rain can be fun!

I will join the DFMC for the first group run on Sat. morning. It's so close to my apt. in Watertown, so I can get maximum sleep, roll out of bed and get over there quick. I missed the first timers run since I was out of town, it will be good to finally run with the team!

More to come!