Training begins in earnest

Running up a hill, small by comparison to the one I’ll be running up on May 7th, wind roaring like a freight train, my light running jacket snapping in the wind like the stars and stripes, I wonder to myself “why am I doing this?!” I’m gasping for air through the neck / face warmer I wear snowboarding because it’s only 25F and that’s before the windchill sets in. Oh, and I feel like I’m going to toss my cookies on this very short three-mile run.

I’m a cigar-smokin’, vodka drinkin’, motorcycle ridin’, software geek. I’m not a runner. By any stretch. Forget that I’ve run two marathons, I’m not built for this. At least that’s what’s going through my mind in the moment. But then I think back to how lucky I was that Children’s Hospital was around, and to what an absolutely amazing experience the NYC Marathon was in 2007, and I gradually re-focus on the end goal, running 10 miles and completing 22 obstacles at the Tough Mudder New England at Mount Snow in an effort to raise some money for Children’s.

I’ve trained in fits and starts over the past couple months since I signed up in November, but this week I finally got a schedule together and have started running regularly. Ok, so two days in the first week doesn’t quite classify as running regularly, but really, I will. And so, as I promised, I’m going to share some of my training thoughts here on the blog. Check back here regularly to see what I’m doing (and feel free to comment when I’m not doing enough).

And finally, if you can spare a couple dollars, head on over to my fundraising page here. Thanks to those of you who’ve already contributed we’re at $650 on a $2500 goal. I greatly appreciate all of your generosity.