Guest Blogger - Regi Garvey

Hi, there! Mary asked me to be a "guest blogger" a few weeks ago. I'm sorry it's taken me this long! I wasn't sure what I would write about. (Those who know me, know that I am very rarely at a loss for words!)

First of all, I want to thank Mary for running this race in memory of my son, Aidan. Every day without him is a bigger struggle than the day before. I miss him more than I could ever put into words. Our 2 1/2 year old daughter, Ava, and the continued outpouring of love from our family and friends, are what keeps us going. (This picture was taken exactly one year ago today in Crystal Cove, Newport Beach, CA.

I was a member of the San Diego Chapter of Team-in-Training back in 1998. I ran in the "Midnight Sun Marathon" in Anchorage, Alaska. (I know that training in that beautiful California sunshine was a lot easier than running in the cold, dark New England winter!) I ran in memory of my cousin, Adam Ridge, who died from the combination of two types of cancer, ALL and AML, just before his 7th birthday. I also ran in honor of a little girl from San Diego named, Courtney. She was 5 1/2 and had ALL. (I never imagined that 11 years later, I would have a 5 1/2 year old son, also diagnosed with ALL.)

For those of you who aren't familiar with the details of Aidan's passing, he was only 3 weeks into his diagnosis, and already in remission, when he died from the swine flu. Thanks to the Leukemia Society, and other organizations like them who raise the money for Leukemia and other blood cancers, they have made amazing advances in treatment and have saved millions of lives. Aidan had a 90% cure rate, and today Courtney is a thriving college student.

So, if you've already supported Mary with a monetary contribution, you should feel good about how those funds will be used. If you haven't contributed, yet, then please do. Even $5 will help. It all adds up quickly!

Love, Regi

A shout out to "The Home Team"

Good Morning!

From day one, this marathon journey has been a group effort. You have all been so supportive in a variety of ways. Thank YOU.

Today I want to give a special shout out to "The Home Team," Ed and Katherine Rose :) Yesterday morning was a great example of the many small and big ways they are bringing me along...

It was another cold, inky black Saturday morning when I got up to head to Wellesley for the 13 mile training run. I was trying to be quiet and not disturb the sleeping house when I heard Ed say from the dark room, "Would you like me to start your car for you?" Music to my ears. And leaving a warm bed to go out into the fridid blackness to make it happen... priceless. You're the best, Ed!

With this start to the day the training run was a blast and another phenomenal experience with my fellow Team in Training runners :)

We finished off the day with a trip to Rocket Park to go sledding. Katherine Rose helps me to keep it all in perspective and racing down the hill, piled on the Bresnahan's 35-year old toboggan was exhilarating and uplifting.

Another day for the memory books!

m

Quote of the week:

"Those who live passionately teach us how to love.

Those who love passionately teach us how to live."

What's on the iPod:

"I Gotta Feeling" Black Eyed Peas

Thanks for the song suggestion, Emma!

Typo!

Greetings!
This past weekend, James was in town to celebrate mom's 70th birthday. It was so great to see him and we made plans for him to fly back in February and March for training runs. Lots to look forward to as the training heats up.
Funny thing happened yesterday... I went to the training schedule and read that we were supposed to complete "10, 1/2 mile repeats at your 5K pace". So, doing as I was instructed, I hopped on the treadmill, turned up the speed and started running along. By the 5th repeat I was huffing, puffing and basically weak in the knees. Not a good sign. I took an extra long slow jog and though not pretty... managed to finish the last 5 repeats. I'm thinking... OK. I have a lot of work to do in order to be ready for April 19th!!
Just learned that there was a typo in the memo and the pace was supposed to be your marathon pace not a 5K pace! Well. That makes me feel a whole lot better :) Still a lot of work to do but perhaps not the mountain I thought I was facing. I'll take it.
m
Quote of the Week:
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
Theodore Roosevelt
What's on the iPod this week:
"Live Like We're Dying"
Kris Allen

First Run with the Team!

Greetings!

What a weekend... Saturday marked my first official run with my fellow Team in Training teammates. Left Worcester just after 7 a.m. and enjoyed a sparkling winter day running 11 through the streets of Wellesley and Natick. Met some fantastic people and ran the back half with a colleague from Assumption, Sarah Swillo. She's a talented runner, uplifting person-- and I learned that she's also a running coach. Who knew?

Headed back home just after 11 a.m. feeling inspired by all the wonderful people I had met and the dedication and goodness in their hearts.

Lucky.

m

Quote of the week:
"The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best." Epictetus
Go Team!

On the iPod
"Suddenly I See" KT Tunstall
Love the opening guitar riff of this tune

Time to get serious...

Greetings,
Happy New Year!
Turning the calendar to 2010 gave me a reality check... April 19th will be here before we know it and the training is now going to take on a new tempo. Excited and nervous.
On New Year's morning, I woke up very early and in the process of organizing some Christmas items I came across a photo album. I plopped down on the couch and flipped back the cover to discover it was an album from 2000-- tha last time I ran the marathon. Funny how those things happen, huh?
It had some awesome pictures of family, friends-- as well as the old training log and mileage chart. Did I say "reality check?" :)
Bring it on.
m
Quote of the week:
"To mature is to accept imperfections."
From the inside of a chinese fortune cookie!

What's on the iPod:
"You get what you give" New Radicals
(I heard this song blaring back in 1999 watching my first Boston marathon standing on Boylston Street. Every time I hear it, it brings me back to that moment.)