Where has the time gone?
Thank You for the few of you that have already donated. I am more than appreciative of your donations. For those of you anxiously awaiting the debut of the 2012 JohnnyMarathon mailer, sit tight just a little longer. A personal thank you to Michelle Dhanda who did an AMAZING job designing this years cover. She has created something that will resonate on your mantels, fridges, and bookshelves for years.
So lets take care of some business first; Mission Possible: A World Without Cancer. Well just a few weeks ago Dana Farber got some Bieber fever. Yes I did just say that. For Valentine’s Day one of our youngest patients got the gift of a life time. Click on the link below and check it out:
http://youtu.be/hvCTM-3NCA8
I am on this campaign for Dana Farber not just for Avalanna but for all those patients that are battling their toughest enemy. By helping Dana Farber you can claim that you helped contributed to Mission Possible: A World Without Cancer. Some of you may be familiar with the next video, but this is the one that hits home:
http://youtu.be/Fj4nHmV4DEY
As you take that one in I am proud to say that we have all helped build the Yawkey Center. In early 2011 the Yawkey Center was completed. The 14-story building, designed with input from patients, families, and staff, is envisioned to be a model for future cancer centers.
All right now time for the personal stuff. Load up this tune and read on!!! YEAH!
http://youtu.be/wmvQcajq9Eo
Training is not going as well as expected. I have been focusing so much on IRONMAN Texas that I seriously forgot that I have to run the Boston Marathon first. Kind of surreal to say that the marathon is a training run. I still can’t mentally put that all together. I have 8 weeks to get into Marathon shape and my longest run to date has been a little over 12 mile. Usually going into a marathon I have 3-4 20 mile runs under my belt. With having this Friday off I am going to jump the gun and put down a 20 mile run in Central Park.
I can honestly say that I am doing the best that I can in order not to let you down, let myself down, and not to injure myself. My schedule, my personal mental state, and physical exhaustion is holding me back. Right when I think I am off to a good week of training I lose steam. Exhausted. And scratch having a social life, I tried that twice the last few weeks and I paid for it big time with missing training and the need to sleep to recover. But sometimes, in the case of last Thursday, I just need to blow off steam.
And I am scared…a fucking IRONMAN! 140.6 Miles in around 12 hours. Holy Shit! I have no clue how May 19th is going to unfold. I am doing all that I can, but I am not sure it will be enough to get through the 140.6 Miles. I am confident I will get through the 2.4 Mile swim in the allotted time. My hours in the pool seem to be paying off. All I have to do is not panic. I am praying the heat and humidity don’t crush my muscles and energy during the 6 ½ hour 112 Mile bike ride. And than a fucking marathon after that? I can’t even imagine what pace I will carry. I can assure you it will be no where near a 7 minute mile. This is not going to be a cupcake.
Any why? To create awareness for Dana Farber. To do something un shellfish to help those less fortunate.
And that is where I need your help. Please help my teammates and I as we go on our own personal journeys in the next few months; help us and all those unfortunate ones by contributing Mission Possible: A World Without Cancer.
Embarking on my 10th marathon I wanted to conclude this email and the ones to follow with a recap of those previous 9 journeys.
Marathon #1 NYC IMG November 6th 2005.
Weather was low 60’s.
At the break of dawn I traveled to one of the shuttle buses outside Bryant Park. It was an unreal scene that I picture before any marathon. Thousands of individuals boarding buses with very little possession knowing exactly what they were about to embark on. I remember sitting out on Staten Island on a cold curb for close to 3 hours. Nothing really to do but to psych yourself out. The waves went off and by the thousands we were herded onto the Verrazano Bridge. The marathon was off. The fire boats over the bridge sprayed orange and blue water, there ws clothing all over the place. No clue what to expect, I had no training, maybe one 18 mile run and no coaching. As I made my way through Queens I recall seeing my sister, #1 cheerleader, right before the Queens borough Bridge. And that is when I made first marathon error. I stopped and hugged her. During that brief stop, I started to cramp. I wasn’t sure what to do, it was only mile 16, still along day ahead. Over the bridge and up 1st avenue I saw my parents and a few friends. (Hola at you Carrie) I stopped again to take in nutrition and I was off. I was in pain. I felt my muscles tighten and scream one at a time. Right Hamstring, gone, left hamstring gone, right calf, left calf, left quad, left quad, all gone. By the time I made my way back into Manhattan and into Central Park I was delirious. I think I saw my sister again north of the park but I can’t recall. I do recall seeing my clients Howard and Aaron hanging over a barricade in Central Park screaming for me. But I couldn’t stop. But to this day I can remember their faces. I still hold back the tears knowing that they came out to see my on my first journey. I finished in around 4:13? But I don’t remember it. As soon as I crossed the finish line I blacked out I was unconscious. I remember being carried by 4 volunteers, one under each limb to the medical tent. And I remember the salt shaker being poured down my throat. When I did make it out of the park my parents, sister, Aunt, Uncle and cousin Kim were there with smiles. JohnnyMarathon was born.
Sorry for the long email, I know Dominic asked that I keep these short, but this is a journey of how and where I am today as a person and an athlete.
Please donate through http://www.johnnnymarathon.com/. With your help, perhaps the Yawkey Center will indeed be the last building of its type to be built.
8 Weeks until Boston
13 Weeks until IRONMAN
Thank You,
JohnnyMarathon
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