January 4, 2009

Team Donahue’s training is in full swing. This Saturday morning we had a DFMC team run out of the Mt. Auburn club in Watertown. It was a beautiful morning, and we were treated to a nice view of the sunrise from the meeting room on the top floor of the club. We didn’t realize we’d be zapped with a pretty strong headwind for the first few miles as we headed up to Comm Ave and the marathon course. With so many of us running drafting was possible, at least when we could stick with the pack. Mike shot out ahead – seemed as if he was motivated to run off some of the happy hour cheer he had enjoyed on Friday night. Heidi, Christine and Sharon fell in with Julia, a first year DFMC runner and marathon veteran who is running to support lung cancer research.

The route was a bit clearer than it had been last weekend, although there were definitely still some treacherous patches. The well staffed (and stocked!) DFMC water stops were a welcome sight for all of us.

We battled some serious headwinds on the way back to the club as well (it’s not supposed to work that way!), but the team all made it back in one piece, better off for having done the run (especially Mike!).

On Sunday, Christine and Sharon hit the Minuteman Trail for their last 20-miler in preparation for the Miami marathon at the end of the month. With a starting temperature of 18ºC, we were both bundled up and grateful that conditions on race day are expected to be much better. Even the neoprene sleeve didn’t prevent Sharon’s camelbak hose from freezing! Something to keep in mind for folks running the Minuteman – it’s plowed through Somerville, Arlington and Lexington but not Bedford! Despite frozen water, some last minute route machinations, knee pain and a bit of left over fatigue from the previous day’s run, we ground through the 20 miles and are really looking forward to Miami!