About

Me and my #1 fan, Ottawa Marathon, 2003

Pretty much anyone reading this blog is someone who knows me, and therefore, knows what this blog is about.  However, on the chance that you were referred here by a friend or family member, first, let me say thank you for visiting and, second, here’s the scoop:  I’ve restarted this blog as a training log of sorts while I’m preparing to run the 2011 Boston Marathon in support of the Alzheimer’s Association.  Why Alzheimer’s?  Well, in 2005 this ugly disease became a permanent part of our family when my mother was diagnosed at the young age of 62.  That’s when sh*t got real.

Over the last five years, it’s become clear that the memory loss, though frustrating, is one of the easier parts of the disease to deal with.   Alzheimer’s takes away so much more from the affected person and the impact on caregivers is hard to put into words.  But I believe in translational research and advances in medicine.  I know progress will continue to be made in fighting this disease – we just need to start putting money into research so we can stop putting our loved ones into nursing homes.

This blog originated last year while I was in my final year of medical school and training for the 2010 Boston Marathon.   I was doing a lot of traveling – first across Canada, then Botswana and Greece – training for the marathon the whole way.  I wanted to stay in touch with my supporters from afar by keeping them up to date on my adventures outrunning the minotaur and safari wildlife.

Then something totally unbelievable happened on the weekend before last year’s marathon when I was journeying back to Boston.  Remember that volcano in Iceland that erupted shutting down airspace all over Europe?  Right.  In an utterly crushing turn of events, Mother Nature thwarted my plan to fly home for the marathon.  It was heart-wrenching to know that despite all the training and overwhelming generosity of my sponsors, I would miss running the marathon.   But the silver lining to that ash cloud has shown itself:  I have the opportunity to run this year’s Boston Marathon in April 2011.   With your ongoing support, I know I WILL cross the finish line this year.

The title of this blog came from a sign that my mom and my friend Amanda made to cheer me on in my first marathon (above).  I still get a kick out of this picture cause it reminds me how fiercely and hilariously supportive my mom has always been, shamelessly waving that sign with excitement as if I were one of the elite runners, or a six year old at her first swim meet. Just givin’ er.