A Wonderful Day, Despite my Injury

Well, the North Shore Cancer Run was great.  This year's run was just perfect.  Beautiful weather, great crowd, and very well organized.  However, my calf was still hurting and I ended up running it very slow (33:47).  Better to take your time then risk a major injury.  Besides, I have a whole summer of training ahead of me and I have to be healthy.

One good thing was that I felt great at the start.  I could have run at a very fast pace if not for my calf.  So, perhaps I will run another 5K, or a 10K, later this summer to see how I can do at such a fast race once I feel better.  I'll keep you posted!

Ready for 5K...sort of!

OK, so the first of my three races is this Sunday.  The North Shore Cancer Run 5K kicks off at 7:30 am the Bentley School in Salem, MA.  I ran this last year and it was so much fun.  My fellow runners were great, and the stories of hope and love were inspiring.  My favorite part about this race are the customized tee-shirts.  Everyone is running for someone and they make sure the world knows it.

Well, this year I get to do the same.  My wife made a tee-shirt for me.  On the front it says "Outrunning Cancer, In Loving Memory of Joseph Grasso".  On the back it says "Team Grasso".  Not only do I have a tee-shirt, but so does my pit crew.  My wife and kids all have the same shirt.  How's that for fun, inspiration, and love all wrapped in a tee-shirt.

Only one problem right now.  I have a small pain in my left calf.  It seems to be healing fine, but I am a little worried I may not be able to run.  If that's the case, I'll walk, shuffle, sashay, or stroll.  Whatever gets me from the starting line to the finish line.  It's more important that I'm there and giving my support to the cause, than if I run fast!  The first of three races.  Upward and onward to the half marathon and the marathon!  Wish me luck! 

10 miles!

I just did my first 10 mile run!  I'm happy to report that I feel great and I am looking forward to longer distances!  Something about long distance running.  Some say it's lonely, as was the case in Alan Sillitoe's 1959 short story, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, also a 1962 movie based on the story (and a song by Iron Maiden, but that one's less well known).  However, I disagree.  I love it.  It gives me time to collect my thoughts and be a little more introspective about my life and running.  Yes, I often run with my Ipod on listening to Podcasts, but I often go without.  Today, I confess, I went with the Ipod.  That doesn't mean I didn't keep my mind working.  Mainly, I was focused my physical condition to make sure I did not over work myself.  I was originally planning on only running 9 miles, but I felt so good at the end that I tacked on the extra mile to round it out to an even 10 (besides, 10 miles comes with more bragging rights!)  Anyway, looking forward to longer runs and, hopefully, faster times (I did 10 in 1:33:58 with two stops).

Happy Running!

Surprise Inspiration

Visiting my family in Vermont this weekend I learned that the Vermont City Marathon was being held on Sunday, May 27th.  I had a chance to be inspired by many different runners.  Of course the first place finishers for the men and women (my daughter especially routed for the woman) were great.  Then there were the super heroes who were running the form of three young men dressed as Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor!  Very entertaining!

But there were the unsung heroes that were especially inspiring.  The army cadets running with full backpacks.  The injured vet with a scar on his leg that clearly demonstrated how much he sacrificed for our country.  The young handicapped woman who ran with a guide and jog stroller.  There was an older runner who was plugging away with the 5 hour finish pacers who ran with such dignity and grace that you couldn't help but cheer louder.  Then there was the young woman who injured her ankle yet she continued to walk the remainder of the race.  This young woman reminded me of the 1968 Tanzanian Olympic marathoner, John Steven Akhwari, who injured his knee early in the race, yet he continued on.  Nothing I write will do this story justice, so why don't you watch it for your self.

If only we all could have half the amount of courage and perseverance as Mr. Akwari!

Painful Memories

My father-in-law, Jerry Alimenti, was diagnosed with melanoma last summer. He had a mole removed and seemed to be doing well.  We just learned this week that two lymph nodes in his neck were tested and found to have cancerous cells and he will have to have surgery.  While he seems to be in good spirits and not that worried, I think he is just trying to put on a brave face.  I commend him for doing this in the face of so much uncertainty.

All this brings back painful memories of when my father was sick with cancer.  He had melanoma and leukemia and was undergoing successful treatment for both for 7 years.  I was a freshman in high school when he was first diagnosed, so I did not have a complete grasp of the situation for the first few years.  But when I was starting my senior year in college and we learned that he had malignant tumors in both his hips, I remember being really scared and worried.  Those memories were brought to the surface again this week when I learned about my Jerry's situation.

At this point, all I can do is keep Jerry in my prayers and hope that the surgery is a success. 

Keep running!

I made it to 8.5 miles!

The longest distance I ran prior to Saturday was about 8 miles.  I ran 8.5 this Saturday and I felt great!  A small victory, for sure, but now is the time for me to start increasing my long run distances, and I was worried that I may be in pain on Saturday.  The fact that I felt great, and felt like I could have done more, was encouraging.  It means the cautious approach I have been taking so far is working. I am traveling next weekend, so no long run for me.  June 2nd will be a 9 mile run.  It won't be long before I break into double digits!

On another note.  June 24th is fast approaching, and I am still way behind with my fund raising.  While I have until September 30th, I would like to break $1000 by June 24th, and that is less than $300 away.

If you reading this and have not already sponsored me, please do!

If you know someone who would like to sponsor me, please tell them!

Visit my fundraising site: https://nsmcgiving.partners.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=510

Thanks,
Neal

Put off for way too long

I've be neglecting to write about my brother-in-law, Bill Leavey who had a scare with cancer a few years back.  Cancerous cells were identified in his eye.  He underwent treatment at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and had wear an eye patch.  He stayed with me and my family during while he underwent treatment, since he lives in Vermont.  It was indeed a scary time.  I love Bill very much and it hurt to see him so uncomfortable.  What more, it was scary thinking about the prospect that the treatment might not work.

I've known Bill since I was 13 years old.  He is as much a brother to me as my own brother, so you can imagine how I felt seeing him this way and worrying that we might loose him.  He is great person, and a wonderful father.  This scare effected everyone in our family, and while in the end the treatment worked, I don't think any of us will forget it.  Bill demonstrated a tremendous amount of strength and courage dealing with this situation.

After this situation concluded, Bill felt as if he had a new lease on life.  I was proud of Bill for reflecting on his life the way he did.  He ultimately made some life changing decisions, which I will not discuss here.  Suffice to say, today he is happy and doing well, for which we are all grateful.  I am proud to be running for Bill, and respect him so much for his strength and perseverance.