Run, Pray, Love!

I would like to offer the following prayer for all the medical personal who assisted Boston Marathon victims.

Divine Physician, healer of bodies and souls, stretch out your hand and touch us.  Recreate us in your own image, and restore us in Christ, so that we may run the race and receive the prize of everlasting life.

I first heard this at church last summer and at that time I adopted this as my running prayer, since I was training for my first marathon and raising money for the North Shore Cancer Center in Salem, MA. 

However, after the Boston Marathon bombing it has taken on a deeper meaning for me.  So many people performed such incredibly selfless acts to help the injured.  Acts that I can only hope I would have had the strength, courage, and love to perform myself if I were in the same situation.

Now when I repeat this prayer I no longer do it for myself.  This prayer is for all those who run toward the smoke, or run up the burning building, or out into traffic, to help another human being.  This prayer helps me remember that we were put on this earth to help, love, and support one another. 

I say this prayer before I run so that I will remember that running is supposed to be peaceful and that those who help others will always win the race!

Peace and happy running!

Tips for Running In The Heat

Running in this heat has been quite a challenge, and very draining.  I'm looking forward to some cooler weather this weekend.  I've noticed a plethora articles about how to stay cool when running in the heat.  There is a lot of information out there, some of it seems odd.  However, no matter what you do, you are going to sweat, and you are going to sweat a ton!

The key is to be smart.  Here are a few smart, practical, tips that I follow as well as a few articles with more details if you're interested.

1. Stay Hydrated:  Don't be a fool, drink and drink some more.  You may have heard of people getting hyponatremia from drinking too much water, but that only happens when you drink too much water under normal temperature conditions.  Basically, if you are not sweating too much, yet you drink too much, you get hyponatremia.  When it's hot, humid, and gross out, and you are going for a long run, drink lots of water.
2. Drink a Sports Drink:  You need electrolytes, so drink a sports drink.  I like to drink water before my run, then mix water and a sports drink in my water bottle.  I then follow the run with undiluted sports drink.  It works for me.
3. Run Before The Sun Comes Up:  I run ridiculously early in the morning (5am).  If it's hot, you should too.  In the summer you have to wait way too long for the sun to go down and the temperature to go down to do it at the end of the day.  Plus, by then you are wiped out, so get up early.
4. Wear Sunblock:  No matter what.  You don't want to be burned.  That's just common sense.
5. Wear Light Colors: You may recall from grade school that light colors reflect heat and dark colors absorb heat.  Again, common sense.
6. Wear a Hat:  This will protect your head, provide some shade, and if it's white (see above) will help keep you cool, especially if you have dark hair like me.
7. Wear Long Sleeves:  OK, so you may say I'm crazy for this one, but if you are are wearing a sports top that is breathable and wicks away moisture, and it's white, the white surface reflects heat and keeps you cool.  I read this an article recently and it sounds smart, so I'm repeating this smart idea.  Plus, the white sleeves are most likely lighter than your skin, but won't burn like your skin. 

So, these are my tips.  Simple, but smart...at least I think they are!  Here are a few useful articles too if you don't trust me:

• 6 Tips for Summer Running 
• Seven Hot Weather Training Tips
• Three Ways to Safely Run in a Heat Wave

Happy Running!

Why I stopped in Newton

As many of you know, I ran one leg of the One Run for Boston relay from Los Angeles to Boston.  This relay raised funds for the Boston One Fund.  To date we raised more than $85,000.  I posted the following on Facebook recently.  I've re-posted it here, with some edits, for posterity. 

I ran the second to last leg; Leg 318.  I didn't run Leg 319. I choose to do this.  While I probably could have continued running 8 more miles to cross the finish line in Boston, I decided not to for the following reasons:

1. I had to get up early on Monday (OK, a weak excuse, but true). 
2. I'm coming off an injury and didn't want to over do it.  6 miles and 14 miles do different things to an injured body.  
3. I didn't want to impose on those who were more closely connected to this tragedy. I'm sure that running the last leg and crossing the finish line was a much needed healing moment for them.  I didn't need the same closure, so I felt I would defer to them.
4. I've never run the Boston Marathon and I want my first time crossing the finish line to be after I've logged the full 26.2 miles.  I plan on running Boston in 2015.

At first, I was feeling guilty about not continuing on to Boston.  I drove a head and cheered on the runners a bit, and that made me feel better.  However, upon reflection I think it was the right choice. I, like so many of us, passed the baton to the next team to continue the journey.  Now I count myself lucky to have been part of this incredible event.

Thanks to my new One Run for Boston Family!  It was great.  Let's continue to the momentum!

Long time, no post...oops!

It's been a while since I've posted.  With the holiday and business travel, it's been hard for me to keep up with the blog.  However, I've had some good running lately.  Since my knee injury in March I haven't run more than 6.5 miles.  However, last weekend (7/7) I ran 10 miles with no problems.  Even better, I ran 12 miles this past weekend (7/13), and I felt great!  So far so good!

I'm starting week 5 of my training for The Maine Marathon.  It's been going really well.  My legs feel good, my knees feel great, and I'm maintaining a high level of fitness.  What else can be better?

Oh, and my fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is going great!  I've surpassed my minimum fundraising goal, and I'm looking forward to reaching my maximum goal of $3000.

Speaking of my fundraising, I recieved the following from John Walters, President & CEO of LLS.  I think it's worth the read.

Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $814 million in blood cancer research. We fund more blood cancer research than all other voluntary health agencies.

An LLS-funded researcher developed Gleevec®, a pill for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). Now, more than 95 percent of newly diagnosed CML patients survive more than five years with a good quality of life. LLS was also instrumental in the development of Velcade®, a targeted treatment approved for patients with multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.

While much has been achieved, there is so much more that can and needs to be done.

It's nice to  know that the group I'm supporting does such good things for with the money it raises.  However, it's clear that more needs to be done.  If you support my efforts, not only will you be helping me help those affected by blood cancers, but you will be helping an organization that uses it's money wisely.  What else can be better!

Thanks to those who have supported me so far.  If you are still on the fence, please consider supporting me and LLS.  It's worth it!

Peace, and thanks!

An Emotional Run!

Wow, what an experience it was to be part of the One Run for Boston!  I was part of a group of about 100+ runners who ran the second to last leg (Leg 318 from Wellesley, MA to Newton, MA) of this incredible relay.  Lots of love and sweaty hugs!

My emotions ran high, as did those of so many others!  All I could do we keep saying how incredible this was.  I met incredible people, I felt connected in a positive way, and I knew that what I was doing meant so much for the victims and their families.  I am so humbled to have done my small part in this journey!

The relay ran a little late, so we had to wait around for a while.  This gave me and my fellow runners some time to get to know each other.  We were supposed to start at 5:30pm.  Instead we started our 6 mile run more like 10:20pm! 

This is Miles

Miles, the nicknamed baton with built-in GPS that was carried, by hand, from LA to Boston, had other plans.  I think as emotions starting running high in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts (the last three states of the relay), and the weather became unpredictable, thinks started slowing down.  A few hours is not that bad for a journey that began on June 7th!  It was worth every minute of lost sleep to know that I was a part of this historic event!

Me and kids

Since my kids could not go with me I got plenty of hugs and kisses before I left the house.  They knew I was heading out to do something important.  My daughter said to me "you're an awesome guy", and my son gave me a high five!  Awesome!

 

While waiting to run my leg I met Melanie Eversley of USA Today.  We had a great exchange.  She posted this tweet!

Neal Grasso, waiting at Wellesley handoff 4 @OneRunForBoston: "This event is taking something so horrible and making something great."

Funny thing, I let her borrow my car.  It worked out perfect for both of us!  She got a ride from Wellesely to Newton, and I had my car waiting for me!  Thank you again Melanie!  It was awesome meeting you!

 

I also met Cheryl Morin Greeson, who was interviewed on NESN during the Red Sox game on Friday June 28th.  It was so cool talking with her and sharing stories.  Cheryl, I'll see you running the Boston Marathon in 2015!

Needless to say, my emotions are still running high and I am just so proud of the running community and this country.  We will never let the horrible events of April 15, 2013 be forgotten, and we will never let terror win.  The world is a better place if you believe it and you stand up for peace, love, and good will!

Thank you to my new ORFB running family!