Let's Get Ready

While I am getting ready to run the Boston Marathon in less then two weeks, I hope you are getting excited about following the race and maybe even going out to the course to watch it.

If you will not be in Boston on April 19th, you can still follow my progress along the race course. AT&T provides a way for you to receive text message or email alerts when I cross the starting line, the 10K point, the half point, 30K point and the finish line. The following link, AT&T Athelete Alert Program, provides the instructions for setting up the alerts. My bib number is 22583.

If you are in Boston, I hope you get a chance to come out and cheer the runners along the course. It is always super exciting to see the elite runners zoom by. Of course then you might have to wait awhile to see your friends, i.e. me, to come crawling along a few hours later.

Here is an excellent interactive guide to the course map and good locations for the spectators: Boston Marathon Interactive Map. Personally, I would suggest that you avoid the finish line, and if you do go out to the Woodland T station to watch the race along Rte. 16, please be prepared to wait in crowded line to go back into town.

If you make a decision on where you will be before Marathon Monday, please let me know. I love seeing my friends along the course, and if I know where you'll stand I will be able to keep a lookout for you too. I will post what I will wear a day or two before the race to make it easier for you to spot me. At this point one thing is certain--I will definitely be wearing my Dana Farber Marathon Challenge singlet (a photo of it to follow).

Why Run So Many Miles So Many Times

I am running the Boston Marathon in memory of my aunt Ada, who died of cancer almost a year ago at the age of 60. Her father had to bury his only child. Her grandson, who was not yet two years old at the time, would not remember his grandmother who spent so much of her time taking care of him.

My aunt Ada was technically my second cousin--she was my dad’s cousin, but I always called her my aunt. Growing up I did not see her very often, as we lived in Moscow and her family lived in Sevastopol, a large port town in Ukraine on the Black Sea. Thus the rare occasions when I did get to see her were extra special. Later on, when her family and I were living in the Seattle area, we spent more time together.

Always upbeat and energetic, she always knew which movies to watch and which ones to skip, and what new book to read, and which noteworthy musician was giving a concert in town. Whenever presented with a chance, she tried to feed me into a food coma. More importantly, she was a great listener, and always knew how to make people relax, talk and feel better.

Aunt Ada’s death came as a shock to my family, as we knew nothing of her illness. Aunt Ada was diagnosed only a few months before she died, and she did not want people to know that she was sick. She was always a strong woman.

I run in memory of my aunt Ada, but I also run for the living—for the cancer patients both old and very young, for the families, for the children, for everyone affected by this terrible disease. If we put our efforts together, we can conquer this monster. I hope you will join me in the fight by supporting cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.