My journey to 26.2 - lots of things have happened since my last blog, including LOTS of steps. I’ve had some good runs, and some bad runs. One of them, the first 13.1 I tried, I had to jump on the T and take it home because the area around my scar tissue was getting sore! On another day, I ran 18 and still had more fuel in the tank even! This weekend I’m up for 20+ !! Framingham to Boston. Imagine that?? I cannot, actually – will believe it when it happens. I do think it will be hard actually, because I'm a little sore from training so much. Here is one picture along my 18 mile snowy run (you never know who you're going to meet out there!):
So many of you call me an inspiration. Me? I appreciate your kind words, and they keep me going whenever I want to quit! But, I do not feel like an inspiration - I'm just putting one foot in front of the other for extended periods of time.
There are so many who inspire ME! Rosanne Ameno, who fought so hard to have a few extra years with her family. Rosanne’s family, who are so proud, and loving, and connected – carrying on bravely without her. My marathon is dedicated to Rosanne - she inspired me to do this, and in some ways is saving me by doing so. The Megna/Whipple family, carrying on without their Alexander. Cathy McDermott inspires me tremendously – raising two strong, smart, beautiful teenagers, after the loss our her husband and our friend Tony (I'm SO proud to be among her friends - she's my hero!). Richard, carrying on without his dear Willie. Debbie Rech-Whitmore, fighting the same cancer Rosanne did - a young, beautiful wife and mother, with Rosanne's spirit of rockin' the halls of Dana Farber! My beautiful friend Kim's Mom, fighting cancer hard, as Kim continues to run and bike and swim to raise money to cure cancer. Luisa Zauli inspires me – she fought cancer and won, while Max and Daniela were babies. Luisa taught me, through her struggle with cancer, to appreciate the little stresses in life, that she hoped to get back if and when she was cured. My Mom inspires me, always, and throughout life has always been my biggest fan. She also battled cancer and won. She has always been "The wind beneath my wings". Even when she thinks I'm taking on something too big for me (like this marathon within 6 months of having major surgery), she is my biggest cheerleader. Thanks, Mom!
When my Grandfather had cancer, one stretch of it was during the Blizzard of '78. My Mom and Uncle took my Nana to visit him at the VA hospital in JP. They were the only ones on the highway that night, except for stranded cars, with a police escort, because my Grandfather was scared and need to see them.
THESE are inspirational stories. These (and so many more) keep me going. I think about my Nonna traveling from Italy with one trunk, pregnant, with kids in tow - to meet my Nonno in Leominster. Imagine how scared she was?? Just so my brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews could have a better life? Nothing along my journey has been hard comparatively......
SO now that we have all that out of the way, THIS IS IT!! Six weeks from YESTERDAY I will be running with some of the world's most elite athletes from Hopkinton to Boston (well, we are registered for the same race, I know I'll never see them). Talk about a THRILL! I hope I can make it. I worry that I won't. (But another inspiration of mine, Lisa Gallagher, helps me keep my thinking on track here). I'm paranoid that I'm going to get injured, as March Training Madness is INTENSE. For example in the past 24 hours I ran a 10k, took a Core Fusion Yoga class AND swam 2500 yards! For now, the training, however, is on track for me to finish my first marathon on April 15, 2013 right here in my favorite city.
Fundraising is beyond on track - I'm almost at $7,000. I was going to have one more fundraiser and dedicate it to Rosanne, but that is just too hard emotionally still. Maybe it's too soon still. My North End Bingo fundraiser (see picture below) was a HUGE success, and so much fun, but every time I thought about why I was raising money, I cried. As I was dedicating the fundraiser to people who have inspired me and thanking all of you who helped me make it great, my hands shook, and I almost broke down. I cried hard that night for Rosanne, Alexander, Willie, Tony. I cried for the people who are supporting me that are left here to carry on. I thought about Mario, who worries when skiing that his friends are going to ditch him. I was thinking about this, and wondering why he worries so much about that, but then I understand. I think of Rosanne's beautiful parents (who came out on that snowy Sunday after the blizzard to support me to the North End from East Boston!). I think of Michael Ameno, finding his way without the love of his life. Michelle and Jay, also without Rosanne - who was SUCH a life force. It's all too fresh still, and missing Rosanne seems to get harder and harder with time right now - and I only knew her for such a small portion of her life. So, I'm going to wait for a better time, and work with Rosanne's lovely daughter and parents to plan something to truly dedicate to the memory of this remarkable woman. Instead of this fundraiser, I'm going in with some of my Red Sox Foundation teammates, and having one last fundraiser at Game On! I hope you all can join me. It will be held on March 27 from 6pm - whenever. Come for dinner and some drinks, and meet the amazing people on my team. I'll be starting a facebook page for this, and will keep everyone posted as the date draws near. In the meantime, please save the date. Here is a picture from the "Blizzard Bingo" fundraiser - such a fun day:
Fundraising is beyond on track - I'm almost at $7,000. I was going to have one more fundraiser and dedicate it to Rosanne, but that is just too hard emotionally still. Maybe it's too soon still. My North End Bingo fundraiser (see picture below) was a HUGE success, and so much fun, but every time I thought about why I was raising money, I cried. As I was dedicating the fundraiser to people who have inspired me and thanking all of you who helped me make it great, my hands shook, and I almost broke down. I cried hard that night for Rosanne, Alexander, Willie, Tony. I cried for the people who are supporting me that are left here to carry on. I thought about Mario, who worries when skiing that his friends are going to ditch him. I was thinking about this, and wondering why he worries so much about that, but then I understand. I think of Rosanne's beautiful parents (who came out on that snowy Sunday after the blizzard to support me to the North End from East Boston!). I think of Michael Ameno, finding his way without the love of his life. Michelle and Jay, also without Rosanne - who was SUCH a life force. It's all too fresh still, and missing Rosanne seems to get harder and harder with time right now - and I only knew her for such a small portion of her life. So, I'm going to wait for a better time, and work with Rosanne's lovely daughter and parents to plan something to truly dedicate to the memory of this remarkable woman. Instead of this fundraiser, I'm going in with some of my Red Sox Foundation teammates, and having one last fundraiser at Game On! I hope you all can join me. It will be held on March 27 from 6pm - whenever. Come for dinner and some drinks, and meet the amazing people on my team. I'll be starting a facebook page for this, and will keep everyone posted as the date draws near. In the meantime, please save the date. Here is a picture from the "Blizzard Bingo" fundraiser - such a fun day:
For those of you who have not been able to make a fundraiser, but would still like to support my journey financially as I raise money for The Red Sox Foundation, here is the link to my fundraising page: https://www.fundraise.com/the-red-sox-foundation-inc/marias-boston-marathon-page.
When I run Heartbreak Hill, something mystical happens. I feel the ghosts with me. I could not be more serious. I feel Rosanne and Tony especially, and music that I run to that reminds me of them always comes on during that time. I can see Willie on the side of the road having a cocktail, cheering me on, while telling me I look fabulous of course :). And I see Alexander with his mother, my friend Nancy, his grandmother Alice, his father and sister, Julia- which is where he belongs. I am brought to tears each and every time I see Boston College at the top of Heartbreak Hill. I cannot imagine what this will feel like on April 15!!
My recovery from surgery on November 14? Well, I feel better than I have in years. Not even 4 months post-op yet - hard to believe that. I do believe that tumor in me was wreaking all kinds of havoc and I'm happy to have it OUT. But I can feel where my stomach is healing - especially during long runs and times when I'm training a lot. I have learned to listen to my body and back off whenever that happens. It reminds me of my limitations but also how far I've come. Sometimes, I still have to take walk breaks, but not nearly as often as I thought I would. Truly, everyone who reads this, thank you for all your support! I'm blessed with such incredible friends and family. I'm so grateful for this journey - each step at a time, one step at a time, has brought inner and outer growth and strength to me. Love to you all.
I do have one more blog coming about training, diet, and other things I'm learning along the way that supplement my education in physiology, but that's for another day. Stay tuned......but I have one more picture for you today. The inspiration behind everything I do, my sons, Tj and Nicholas. Thank you both for being such supportive sons! I could NOT do this without you-
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