I Know I’m Training Now!

This begins the eighth week (of 18) of my training program leading up to Boston. Last year I was concerned about training through the winter for a spring marathon, as the others I had done were either in the fall, or much later in the spring. It turned out not to be all that bad. As I recall, I shifted one long run ahead by a day to beat a forecast snow storm, and only one day was cold enough that I added a fleece to my normal tight top and long-sleeved tech shirt. This year has been a little different!

We were in Chicago for Christmas with our daughter and her husband. Kenzie and I were out for a couple of short sessions on the sidewalks of the city before Christmas, then the day after Christmas we had a 7 mile run scheduled. She has joined CARA (Chicago Area Runners’ Association), and we met our group along the lakeshore first thing Sunday morning – with fresh ankle deep snow on the ground, and maybe as much as half of our route cleared of snow. Add to that a nice brisk temperature and a stiff wind off the Lake, and we had an invigorating workout. I was smart enough to add a jacket to my normal apparel for that one. Unfortunately, my socks slipped down and my shoes rubbed nasty blisters on each heel – without me being aware of it – and that shut me down for the next week or so. But we did enjoy the run.

Back in State College, I think I have been out without my jacket only once in the last month. Most days have been nice, if cold, and there have been only a few days where we gained up to 2” of new snow during the time I was out. I happen to like the cold, but a start temperature of 1^o, and a finish over two hours later of 6^o, is about as cold as I hope to have to contend with. Today was ‘washed out’ because of freezing rain that made footing simply too treacherous, and tomorrow I will have to stay indoors as we expect up to 1” of freezing rain overnight. Maybe I should switch to ice hockey – every outdoor surface should be suitable as a rink substitute!

I know that conditions will get better, and doubtless before the marathon I will be unhappy with some very hot early mornings. There is variety. The good news, for me at least, is that my times are dropping back to a little under a 12:00 minute/mile pace from times quite a bit higher than that early on. I hadn’t done a lot of power walking during the fall, and it showed. At my age, and as a walker, I am happy to be able to do even the long runs now in not too much over 12 minutes. Throw in the fact that conditions have been far from ideal most days, and things are going well. On top of it all, I feel good at the end of the long runs, so the training is showing. Of course, it gets only more intense with each week from here on.

Kenzie and I are gearing up our fund-raising efforts, but we still have a long way to go to meet our ‘Team Cameron’ goal of $18,000. I invite you to consider supporting our efforts. You can make a donation on line at http://www.runDFMC.org/2011/cameron/ Each of us is participating this year in honor and in memory of people who are special to us. I believe that everyone, without having to stop and think too hard, knows one or more special persons who also have been challenged by cancer. Fortunately, as a result of previous research, many of us (myself included) have survived cancer, but we all know too many who are actively fighting the disease or who have lost the battle. The Barr Program at Dana-Farber provides critically needed funds to support innovative basic research by some of the best and brightest minds out there today. Their efforts continue to bring breakthroughs in identification and treatment of various cancers, and take us one step closer to a World Without Cancer. Won’t you help us help them? Not only will ‘Team Cameron’ appreciate your support, but those who, in future years, benefit from the results of the research that is funded by Dana-Farber Barr Program support also will have a very personal appreciation of your contribution.

I look forward to continuing to train, to seeing the personal results of that training as I feel more and more prepared for the marathon with each passing week, but most importantly, I take deep satisfaction from the contribution the Team will make to the larger battle.

Cheers!