Here I go again. I have joined the 2014 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team and will be running this year's Boston Marathon on April 21st, 2014. This will be my eighth marathon, fourth Boston Marathon, and fourth time running for such an amazing cause.

I will be running 26.2 miles in honor of my Mother, a breast cancer survivor. I am also running in memory of my Grandfather James H. Smith, Grandmother Nancy Baumhauer, Uncle Ray Saddington, and friends Patricia Marchetti, Frances Angino, Anthony Marchetti Sr. and Heather Thibodeau.

A full 100% of funds raised by DFMC benefit the Claudia Adams Barr Program in innovative cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, widely recognized as one of the largest and most successful programs of its kind. Based on rigorous and highly selective process, the Barr Program funds the brightest, most creative scientists making research discoveries that are transforming cancer treatment. Barr investigators have made numerous major breakthroughs resulting in improved survival rates and quality of life for thousands of patients everywhere.

I need your help. I have committed to raise $4000 to run for this cause but my goal is to raise over $9000. You can help by making a donation for this amazing cause, to find a cure for cancer.

Click here to support my cause.

Thank you in advance for your support. It really means so much to me.

Nancy C. Smith


Saturday, April 14, 2012

36 hours and counting

I'm only 36 hours from running my 2nd Boston Marathon, 4th marathon all together.  I'm very excited!  I met some very iconic people today at the expo.  Meb Keflezighi, Olympic silver medalist and also on our 2012 U.S. Olympic team, and Kathrine Switzer, the first registered women to run the Boston Marathon.
I was quite stressed for a few days until today.  The weather they are calling for is exactly what I was praying we would not have.  At the starting line it will be in the high 60's, by the time I get to Boston it will be almost 90 degrees.  Luckily we have 10-20 mph tail winds the entire way.  I am typically not a good runner in the heat.  Since this year I was already expecting to run slower because of a hamstring injury, I'm not as bummed that I'll have to run slower because of the heat.  I'm going to enjoy this race and run it at the pace my body can handle.
 My strategy is, I'm taking a bus to Hopkington and I need to get back to Boston somehow.  Best way for me to get there is to run.  I'm going to look forward to a few points in the race, Kim at mile 6, Wellesley scream tunnel at mile 13, Jim and Hunter at mile 17, Gail at mile 20, the drunks at BC at mile 21, my coworkers geared with water, salt, oranges, sponges, and 5 hour energy at mile 23.5, Jim and Hunter to join me for the last few at mile 24.5, DFMC patients and supports at mile 25, the insane cheering at Kenmore at mile 25.5, and then of course the finish line.  With the warm weather it will bring out even more supporters.  I'm also really looking forward to a glass of wine, a cupcake and a greasy bacon cheese burger at Eastern Standard after the marathon.  I gave up good food and drinks for the last month leading up to the big day so that will be quite the reward!  80% of what gets me to the finish line is mental.  Having mental markers throughout the race will help make 26.2 feel shorter.  If I can spend weeks training doing 20 mile runs around the 1.6 mile per lap Chestnut Hill Reservoir, I can run a 26.2 mile straight line with supporters.
24 more hours of carbo and salt-loading.  That's right, salt-loading.  Salt will help me retain water for a hot marathon and of course the carbs to fuel my muscles with glycogen.  
Time for the fun to begin.  My next post will be post-marathon.  Yippy!


 
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)