Jesse Runs Boston

Finding your running and fundraising philosophy

2012-01-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

I originally wrote this as a guest blogger in 2011 for Firstgiving.com.

In thinking about what to tell the runner's I am coaching in the build up to this year's Boston Marathon, I wanted to talk a bit about how I approach both raising money and training for endurance events. My belief is that by thinking about your running and fundraising philosophy in an explicit way, that you will be able to channel this perspective throughout your marathon preparation.

Some people run because it is fun, healthy or because running provides a great means for social connection. I don't fall into any of these camps. I run marathons, particularly the Boston Marathon, because they are hard and they ask for a great deal from us both physically and mentally. For me, a "no fear" mantra while conquering the event is what leads to joy. My 5 year-old summed up what seems to be a family philosophy a few weeks ago after biking to school in a downpour by saying "we're hardcore!" As you go through your marathon preparations, note what helps keep you motivated and moving forward in your training log along with your miles and the weather conditions. Turn these notes into material for a fundraising letter, blog post or a tagline to guide your fundraising. Last year, several people told me that they only run when chased so my tagline for the 2010 Boston Marathon became "I'm running so you don't have to!"

My "no fear" philosophy seems to mesh well with my perspective on fundraising. Because of taboos around discussions of money, fundraising for many can feel more challenging than the marathon training itself. Remember that by talking about your training and by asking those around you to give, you are helping them to join you in experiencing the marathon. Although some disagree with me, I believe strongly that everyone in our lives is able to contribute some small amount, regardless of income. Last year, a homeless man heard about the reason I was running and offered to donate $5. When I declined his donation, he reminded me that I wouldn't decline the donation if he wasn't homeless and told me he can count many who are even worse off than he was. His voice serves as a reminder that as runners and as fundraisers, we should be open to endless possibilities rather than falling prey to ideas about who should become involved in our fundraising and training efforts - only then, in my mind, are we truly channeling the no fear approach.

So, how do we merge our running and fundraising philosophies? For me, I talk and blog constantly about the run or workout that I conquered that morning. Frozen gel, 27 inches of snow, or anything else that happened that morning is fair game for discussion. I am equally transparent about how my fundraising is going. When the homeless man offered to make a donation, I mentioned it to those around me and it forced them to ask why they hadn't parted with a donation when someone living on the street had. Have no fear about asking for donations, talking about the challenges in training and in fundraising and openly celebrate the small victories that help get you to the marathon start line.

So, you are running this year so I don't have to - what's keeping you moving?

Back At It

2010-05-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

So, I've recovered from the Boston Marathon and have gotten back to my regular running schedule. The arrival of spring has also meant a return to the world of bike commuting in our house. I've been spending quite a bit of time with Coach Speedy out on the roads and bike paths in recent weeks. Today, I did 14 miles on the bike commuting to the office with 2 hours of heavy lifting during a project for work - I wonder if that counts as weight training?

As spring turns to summer I'll be gearing up for the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC but before that I'll be running the Chase Corporate Challenge, Bill Oliver 5k in NJ and the Somerville Road Runner's Summer Steamer. Along the way, I'll blog a bit about summer training challenges, summer races in the Boston area and anything else that comes to mind.

I have a few friends tackling new running distances, running their first race this spring, and some who are taking their first (adult) running steps - good luck out there everyone!

Marathon Recap

2010-04-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

The Marathon weekend has come and gone with spectacular highs and some challenging moments. My son was home sick on Friday with a stomach virus (yes, you can guess where this is going and be fairly accurate). I spent the first half of the day with him before heading to Hynes Convention Center to pick up my race number and bag.

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of photographing the BAA Invitational mile. What a fantastic set of races from the middle school 1000 meters through the professional mile! Absolutely inspiring performances! I was also happy to get great shots of many of the races and of Sara Hall.

Sunday evening was spent eating the traditional pre-race pasta and sauce with Carolyn, Speedy and Lydia, my fantastic mother-in-law. I had forgotten just how long it takes to prep your bag for race morning - shorts, singlet, timing chip, food for the bus, IPOD, Bodyglide, band aids and the list goes on.

Monday's wake up time was 4:30am so that I could be at the bus to Hopkinton by 5:40. I rode out with my running club, the Somerville Road Runners so that I could have a seat that was more comfortable than a school bus and a bathroom! That bathroom was key.

Race morning is fairly boring. We sat on the bus in Hopkinton all feeling fairly nervous from 7am until around 9:45. Our wave kicked off at 10:30 on the nose. The first miles are always slow as the pack is so close together. Things don't loosen up until mile 5 or so.

At mile 7 it began to dawn on me that the digestive problems I had on the bus were only the beginning and that Speedy had given me the "gift" of his stomach virus and that, yes, it was hitting on race day. I will spare you the details except to say that I barfed at mile 7, waved the medical personnel off (who looked at me like I was nuts) and kept running. My stomach was at war with my goals the entire day but I kept moving toward Boston.

After Heartbreak Hill, it became clear that taking fluids in was the wrong choice. I knew I was dehydrated but the gatorade and water were making my stomach problems worse. I managed to see family and friends at Mile 22 and then another set of friends just before entering Kenmore Square. I so badly wanted to curl up on the sidewalk in a sunbeam but kept reeling in the Citco sign instead knowing that MBHP staff would give me hell if I dropped out (not to mention what clients who found out would say!)

The race ended well - off pace considerably (4hrs 25 minutes) but a 28 minute personal record despite the "gift". With the support of a fantastic community I raised just over $12,000 for Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership which beats setting a new marathon PR any day of the week!

Thanks to everyone for reading, giving, hosting events, and following along with the marathon on race day. I have already registered for the Marine Corps Marathon this fall in Washington, DC so check back in later to find out how training is going. In the meantime, I'm going to step back, rest and celebrate the moment!

Jesse

And The Winners Are...

2010-04-18T18:15:00.000-07:00

Coach Speedy pulled 6 names out of a hat to determine who the winners of my 2010 Boston Marathon MBHP Raffle were. He was very excited about the process and was designated for the duty because he can only read a little bit which helps keep the results fair! Thanks to everyone who purchased tickets and supported the MBHP Marathon team! The winners are:

Peet's Coffee - Ben G and Liz W.
JP Licks Gift Card - Susan Shea
Amex gift card - Giovanni
Ryan and Sara Hall Autographed Turtleneck - Maura P
Ryan and Sara Hall Autographed Vest - Christiana B

All Systems Go - 3 Days Left

2010-04-16T06:08:00.001-07:00

There are just 3 days until the 2010 Boston Marathon! I go this afternoon to pick up my bib number, t-shirt and timing chip. As always, my taper has been somewhat frustrating because my level of physical activity has been relatively low for the past two weeks. My body has been a bit tight but I can tell I've been much better rested. My legs are feeling strong and I feel confident in my training.

As the weekend passes, I am sure nervous energy will come. Someone at the office asked if I thought I would win. With a smile I said that it depends on how you define winning. I have had a great training cycle and if I execute my race plan well then I should set a new personal record. Even if a new PR isn't fast compared to what others run, it will be a win for me. Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership is the big winner in all of this. Thanks to the 2010 MBHP Marathon Team, more than $17,000 has been raised. This will go a long way to housing stability for countless individuals and families in the Greater Boston area.

There are several options for finding out how my race is going this Monday:

1. Simply text the word RUNNER to 31901 using your US mobile phone. You will then receive an sms text response with instructions on how to submit a runner’s bib number. (Message and data rates may apply. You will be opted in to receive four messages during the race. Send STOP to quit. Available on participating carriers AT&T, Alltel, Boost, Nextel, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, and Virgin.)

2. Respond to the athlete alert text message you receive by entering my bib number - 25353

I want to thank everyone for your support and donations over the past months. The marathon is never easy to train for and without you support I would never have made it to the starting line!

Hay is in the barn

2010-04-04T17:05:00.001-07:00

The long miles have been logged, the body fueled and now it is time to rest. With 14 days until race day, I have just a few short runs left and my primary job is to get to the start line confident in my training and uninjured. I suspect my family and co-workers would add sane to that list but with so little exercise happening over the next 2 weeks, it is likely that I will be a little cranky.

I ran my last long run, a 20 miler last weekend. The run went VERY well. I finished feeling that I had another 6-10 miles left in my legs and ran the 9:40 pace that I had set as the goal for the run. The weather was perfect for running and I picked a fairly challenging course with nice long uphill and downhill sections of 2-4 miles each way. I finished the 20 miles in 3hrs 17 minutes - faster than I have done before despite the conservative training run pace.

A few weeks ago, I ran at the New Bedford half-marathon and knocked 3 minutes off of my half-marathon personal record. I am hoping that I have a chance to knock some time off on the Boston Marathon course this year.

I have also passed my initial $10,000 goal and raised my sights to the $12,000 mark. If you are reading this and have not donated, take a moment to ask yourself why - why pass up the chance to help someone find or stay housed? $5, $25, $50, $500...any amount makes a difference.

A few closing notes: 1. we'll be celebrating my 34th birthday on Tuesday - and I look forward to diving into some ice cream cake - especially after being hungry for much of Passover! 2. The last day to purchase raffle tickets and win coffee for a year from Peet's (West Coast folks - you could use this too!), JP Licks gift card, American Express gift card or items autographed by Ryan and Sara Hall is FRIDAY, APRIL 16th at 5pm. Tickets are $2/each or 6 for $10

Raffle Time

2010-03-11T06:14:00.000-08:00

I am 88% of the way to my $10,000 fundraising goal with five and a half weeks until race day. This week, I have started selling raffle tickets for $2/each or 6 for $10. The drawing will take place the evening before the marathon as friends and family dine on the traditional pasta and sauce. I encourage everyone to purchase tickets by e-mailing me, leaving a comment on the blog or donating through my firstgiving page and leaving "Raffle" in the comment section. The prizes are:

$50 American Express giftcard
$25 J.P. Licks Ice Cream gift certificate
Free Peet's coffee for 1 year (2 of them!)
Boston Marathon Vest autographed by Olympic Marathoner Ryan Hall and Sara Hall
John Hancock Turtleneck autographed by Olympic Marathoner Ryan Hall and Sara Hall

My goal is to knock out the final $1299 in fundraising by March 31st and raise my goal heading into in final stretch in April. This raffle is a great way to help me meet that goal and win some fun things along the way!

Looking Forward, Looking Back

2010-03-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

With 6 weeks until race day, I have made it to the part of training that feels a bit like having tunnel vision. This week, my mid-week run lead to the first 18 miler of the training cycle. I start with a 6 mile tempo run tonight followed by 1 mile repeats later in the week. On Sunday, my wife and "Coach Speedy" will act as my crew as I run 18 miles on the earlier part of the Boston Marathon course.

The 18 miler is a fairly exhausting task. It is run 30 seconds per mile over race pace while preparing my legs and cardio system for the intense work of race day. Mentally, this is a good opportunity to prepare for the discomfort that the last miles of the marathon brings. Luckily, I will have this run and the 20 miler a few weeks later as the last of my real long runs. The key is to take your body to the edge with enough time to recover for race day.

In preparing for the upcoming really long runs, I have found myself looking back and the past weeks of running. Last week, I knocked out a 9 mile tempo run and had a track workout where I managed to run at a 6:30 pace during the interval portion. That left me pretty excited for race day. In addition, here is this year's Top 10 list:

Top 10 Things About Training for the Boston Marathon:

10. Talking to a 1st grade class at Solomon Schechter Jewish Day School about my run
9. "He is eating again" jokes from my co-workers
8. High fives from small children while running through Cambridge on a long run
7. Coach Speedy cheering and clapping when I get back from long runs
6. Fantastic dinner parties to raise money for MBHP
5. A client trying to donate $5 to my marathon run
4. A random man in Arlington stopping me at a red light to find out why I am running the marathon - and having a cold gatorade and $5 donation when I arrived at the same light 30 minutes later!
3. 4am runs in the rain and snow
2. Having an duck boat "Quack Quack" for the runner (me) in downtown Boston one Sunday
1. Knowing that I will hit the $10,000 mark thanks to your help

Boston Marathon Course Preview

2010-03-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

For those who haven't seen it, here is a great video preview of the Boston Marathon course with a little Bruce Springsteen to get you going!

Training with "Coach" Speedy

2010-02-22T17:18:00.000-08:00

When my wife and I first heard our son's heartbeat while she was pregnant, we were shocked at how rapid a baby's heartrate is. He instantly gained the nickname "Speedy" and has never lost it. Recently Speedy, who is now 4, has decided he is going to "coach me" for the marathon.

A few weeks ago I was reading a Runner's World article about getting core workouts done while balancing family life, running, etc. I pulled one of the ideas to test out and it went someting like this:

Step 1: locate a full deck of cards, including jokers if possible
Step 2: have toddler or other small person who can tell the number or card type pick a card
Step 3: select an exercise (sit-ups, push-ups, supermans, etc) and do the number specified on the card. Then, help your small person learn to count backward by doing the number of exercises again
Step 4 (A Coach Speedy Special): If your small person pulls a jack out of the deck, you have to do 10 jumping jacks and then 10 more as they count backward.

Here is an example after this weekend's 14 miler on hills:

I returned from my run and began to stretch while Coach Speedy got his handy, dandy deck of cards. He asked what exercise I would do first. I chose sit-ups (front, left side, right side as one rep). He took the top card and told me it was a face card. This means sit-ups 1-10 as he counts. Then I had to do the same sit-ups again as he counted backward. Effectively this gives me 1 set of 20 sit-ups. We switched exercises and this went on for another 10 minutes or so. Then, he hit a jack and got a big smile on his face. "Time for your jumping jacks Abba. I hope your legs aren't tired yet!" Cue the pre-schooler singing his version of "Gonna Fly Now" from Rocky as he jumps up and down while I do the jumping jacks.

You get the idea...Coach Speedy struck again this morning as I rollerbladed him in the running stroller (combined weight of 60 lbs for 3 miles). "Faster Abba, you are going too slow. You can't win the race if you go this slow!" Lucky for me he sang a different tune with his teachers..."Do you know how we got here? We skated. My Abba skated me to school - he's so cool!"

Thanks Coach Speedy!

5 weeks down, 11 more to go!

2010-02-08T18:01:00.000-08:00

With 5 weeks of "official" training and fundraising down and 11 weeks left until race day, this is where things start to get interesting. The excitement of starting the training cycle is beginning to wear off. Waking at 4am for a 8-10 mile training run is feeling a bit harder. My body is significantly stronger than it was after the Philadelphia Half-Marathon in November but this is the part of training where it starts to warn you about the dangers of over-training. A sniffle here, a tight calf muscle there - these are the things any runner starts to pay attention to in training. A delicate balance as my grandmother would say. I realized after my run that one of the things that helps me win the mental game is regular check-ins, blog comments, facebook wall postings, and donations with fun messages from friends, family, co-workers and complete strangers who have heard about my run from others.

In the past week, I have bounced back from a cold to nail all 3 of my running workouts plus 3 days of intense cross-training. I did mile repeats on the track this past Friday and am growing to enjoy to track (much to my surprise). The marathon course was packed with runners on Sunday morning! There was a strong 18 mile per hour headwind heading outbound from Brookline and it was fairly cold. The return trip up and over the Newton hills was warmer with no wind. I managed a quick pace through the hills with a focus on the mental images I need on race day - strong stride, good arm movement, relaxed shoulders. Overall, a great 13.1 mile run at 9:15 pace!

There is a mental game for fundraising at this point as well. I have raised $3194 to date - just over 30% of my goal. I am excited and grateful to everyone who has contributed. A good friend is hosting a dinner party fundraiser this weekend and it is sure to be a great time! I need to begin focusing my energy on getting fundraising letters out and pulling together an event here in Boston. My 34th birthday is just a few weeks before race day and I would like nothing better than to hold an event raising $3400 to celebrate.

Why I run

2010-02-05T10:11:00.001-08:00

This training cycle feels very different than any I have done before, largely because I have spent more time reflecting on why I run and why I run to raise money for MBHP. I regularly have people ask why I take on challenges like the marathon and not infrequently, I struggle to answer them. So, here is my answer:

Not so long ago, I didn't have a stable place to live. After head injuries, repeated knee surgeries and other injuries from domestic violence, I made the difficult decision to leave my parents home - even if I wasn't sure where I would be going. I kept a job and went to school despite staying on couches and sometimes outside, ignoring health issues and the need for better quality food - in short, surviving. I was lucky enough to have someone cut me a break and provide a stable couch to sleep on as long as I needed it. I was slowly able to pull my life back together, save money to pay for start-up costs for an apartment and address some of the health issues that I had been neglecting.

10 years ago, I moved to Boston. 6 years ago I had the last of 14 knee surgeries and as a joke my surgeon said I could go run a marathon, so here I am. I am here because someone took a risk and helped me get my life together. Someone said, you are smart enough to survive on your own and you are going to do good things in the world. When someone asks me why I am running for MBHP, the answer is now easy for me to articulate...the men, women and children we help at MBHP deserve that same chance. They too are smart and surviving despite the difficult decisions they face daily- choice between food and medication, rent or an empty stomach, time with their kids or an extra shift at work. I run because I had the chance to not only survive but to thrive - my clients deserve the same thing.

Is $10,000 going to end homelessness - no. But raising $10,000 gives someone in the 30 cities and towns MBHP serves a chance to thrive and not be afraid of not having somewhere to sleep safely tonight. Join me in giving them that chance. For those who have been wondering, this is why I run.

Thanks to Ryan and Sara Hall

2010-02-05T10:02:00.000-08:00

I want to take a moment to thank Ryan and Sara Hall for donating items to raise money for Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership. These items, donated through the Hall Steps Foundation will allow MBHP provide outstanding service to thousands of low-income folks throughout the Greater Boston area. On April 19th, we will be one small step closer to ending homelessness 26.2 miles at a time thanks to their generosity!

Stay tuned for auction and raffle details!

Critical Elements #2: Shoes

2010-02-02T16:28:00.001-08:00

I am officially back on the streets after taking a week off to battle a cold that felt more like the plague. While I was becoming reacquainted with my pillow, the box containing my new Asics Speedstar 3 shoes arrived! I have run each of my previous races in Asics GT-2100 series shoes and been thrilled. I had always wanted a slightly lighter shoe for training and racing but never been quite fast enough to try it - until now!

I took the bright yellow and black shoes out for a run by the Charles on the way home tonight and it was 5 miles of pure, light weight joy! My smart brain is telling me that I have to alternate these new, beautiful, happy feet shoes with my current shoes (a pair of orange GT-2120s that I can't seem to find in my size anymore) but my "I want to be fast" runner brain just wants these puppies glued to my feet for the next 75 days.

And, to top off the joy of running in my new shoes - I am almost positive I got passed by Ryan Hall today.

When your body rebels...

2010-01-31T17:49:00.000-08:00

Last week's 10 miler seemed a bit harder than it should have been and I was more tired than usual the next day - this should have told me something but I wasn't paying attention. On Tuesday I was still tired and took an extra day off. My spin workout on Wednesday was great but if you look at the Captain's Log to the right you'll see I haven't done anything since. I went to bed on Thursday with a fever and have been on the sidelines since. I was, in fact, so sick that I didn't work on Friday. I have 95+ sick hours - I never call in sick.

So, what happens now? I have done little but sleep since Friday. Today I finally am fever free and tomorrow I'll do a cross-training workout. My hope is to do an easy run on Tuesday and return to 3/4 speed later this week. I'm trying to remind myself that if I kept pushing through the workouts that I would lose more time to illness. I've missed more time in previous marathon years and been fine...now to do the mental work to remind myself that 1 week isn't the end of the world!

If you build it, they will come

2010-01-26T17:42:00.001-08:00

Today's mantra is "If you build it, they will come" from Field of Dreams. I had the pleasure of conducting a training on appropriate interventions for hoarding cases for a large state agency here in Massachusetts today. The training, 1 of 3 we will be conducting comes after several years of challenging work to argue that hoarding has a direct, serious impact on the clients they serve. The training went very well and I was able to enjoy the drive home and a stop for a celebratory glass of bourbon with my colleague with a sense of satisfaction that I have rarely felt.

When I returned home, my inbox was filled with more great news of the "If you build it" variety. Another friend e-mailed to ask if I could talk briefly with a group of school kids about tzedakah and homelessness issues. The same friend also sent an additional e-mail with a donation from her company to support MBHP and my marathon run. Finally, a Twitter friend tipped me over the $2500 mark in my fundraising campaign!

These are the kinds of days that are few and far between in the housing and homelessness world. As the miles add up and I am running before what is sure to be a long day at work, these moments will help me push through - even when the hills are rough.

Moo!

2010-01-20T14:40:00.000-08:00

I ordered Moo Cards some time ago to help raise money for Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership. Over the past few years I have photographed the Boston Marathon, Hyannis Marathon and other races in the area. I used some of those images for the front of the cards and put the mantra I am using on my 4:30 am training runs "Running a marathon is hard but not having a place to call home is harder" along with my donation URL on the back.

I've always felt proud of my race photography and seeing them in this format was pretty exciting. Now, lets hope folks take them and remember to donate!

A Week In Review

2010-01-17T16:44:00.000-08:00

Last week I did more cross training than running in an effort to let my foot heal without losing ground marathon training. I have a tendency to run through injury and this training cycle is largely devoted to breaking my bad training habits. Much of last week was spent reminding myself that there are times when less is more.

This week, however, has marked a return to foot health and some challenging training. The tempo run that I did at 4:30 in the morning with a -2 degree windchill was mentally quite challenging. My time was slower than it should have been because my body took longer to warm-up and get to tempo pace than it should and I was using a huge amount of energy shivering while I ran. All of this despite 2 layers of clothes from the neck down!

Friday brought the long dreaded hill repeat workout. I survived and might eventually learn to like these workouts. At the very least, I need to learn to make friends with them - marathon survival depends on it.

Today was my 12 mile long, slow run. I've struggled to hold back on recent long runs but nailed my goal pace today. The route was beautiful and challenging. I covered Winter Hill in Somerville, Bunker Hill in Charlestown and a few other smaller hills along the way.

In between, I have stuck to a fairly strict routine of cross-training, weight lifting and core work. I realized toward the end of today's run that the core work is really starting to pay off. The other realization I had while out running the streets today in 2 week I entering the challenging training weeks where encouragement and check-ins are critical (Hint,Hint: leave comments).

Up this week: more running, mailing letters to potential donors and working on a fundraising event. I need to raise an average of $630 per week for the next 13 weeks to meet my goal. I'd like to ask you to give $5, $10, $25, $100 to help meet that goal. My 4-year old keeps asking why more people don't give - you can help to shift the conversation with him to focus on all of the fantastic people who do.

Preparations

2010-01-12T17:08:00.001-08:00

I thought I would share my current facebook status as I wash my new Asics tights, face mask, and shirts for tomorrow's tempo run. So, with my apologies to Zefrank and his "thinking so you don't have to":

Jesse Edsell-Vetter is running 7 fast miles tomorrow morning before work. It will be 4:30am, 12 degrees with a -2 degree windchill. I love my work...really love my work. You love me - so you should help me love my work more (and remind myself why I do these crazy fundraising things) by giving to MBHP. Remember, I'm running so you don't have to.

Critical Training Elements #1 - The Play List

2010-01-09T17:02:00.000-08:00

Critical Training Elements #1 - The Play List

I have entered the world of modern technology and now own an IPod Nano! It took me about 45 minutes of playing on Itunes! to realize that the technology is only part of the problem and I need to move my running play list past the 1990s gay club music that I was loading! This is pretty embarrassing but in my own defense we don't have a TV, I rarely listen to the radio and haven't seen the inside of a club since well before my son was born. So, what does a runner do when their current play list makes them feel like an old man? Easy, between Deena Kastor's playlist and recollection of the music the 20-somethings at the office listen to, I had enough information to do a little investigative work.

2 hours and one Itunes! gift certificate later I have discovered P!nk, Adam Lambert, Lady Ga-ga and others. I've kept the old standby list like KLF (who the 20-somethings had never heard of!), Madonna and some frat rock hits like Smash Mouth too. In no particular order, here is the list:

We Are The World - U.S.A. For Africa
Sober - P!nk
Just Dance - Lady Ga-Ga
You Gotta Be - Des'ree
Superman - Five for Fighting
Barracuda - Heart
We're Gonna Fight - 7 seconds
Unsung - Helmet
3 AM Eternal - The KLF
Vogue - Madonna
stupid Girl - P!nk
Pump Up the Volume - MARRS
Walkin' On The Sun - Smash Mouth
Tonight, Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins
What I Got - Sublime
For Your Entertainment - Adam Lambert
Anywhere Is - Enya
Homeless - Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Sarah McLachlan
New Star - Tears for Fears
So What - P!nk
99 Red Balloons - 7 Seconds
Rooster - Alice In Chains
Like A Prayer - Madonna
Rock and Roll All Nite - KISS
Everybody Knows - Concrete Blonde

Right now P!nk and Adam Lambert are the current list favorites and may the musicians that get put on repeat on April 19th! Got other suggestions for The List - help get me out of the 1990s music scene by posting to the comments!

Updates

2010-01-09T16:57:00.000-08:00

I have spent the past two weeks in North Carolina relaxing with family, testing new training routes and getting a massage from Xanie Adams (the world's best massage therapist in my opinion). The training runs went very well for the most part. I started my training time in North Carolina with a wet and muddy 6 mile tempo run. This run was in a bit of a down pour and I had to negotiate flooded sidewalks (where there were sidewalks at all) and significant red clay mud. My moderately clean running shoes are now dyed a lovely brown to go with the orange trim! I was a bit faster per mile than my planned pace but did not feel that I was pushing the pace at any point. Overall, a great run that accomplished the goals set out.

A few days later, I had a tough interval workout. I HATE interval work with a passion. For those who don't know, an interval workout involves running a set of repeats extremely fast. In running like in most things I do, I don't like failing and sometimes avoid things that I am not good at. In this particular workout, I wanted to focus on my running form and fast foot turnover. The workout supposed to be in .10 mile intervals because I was on a marked trail rather than a track. I started with a 1.5 mile warmup and then moved to I did 8 runs of .10 mile with jogging between each run. Unfortunately, I didn't accurately convert .10 mile to meters and was WAY TOO FAST (Read 5:30 per mile pace instead of 6:30 per mile pace). I finished the workout and did a 1.5 mile cooldown feeling more wiped out than I wanted. This training run, while reminding me that I like being fast can also lead to injury and if it happens too often, a slower than planned race. Luckily I have friends and family members who know a great deal about running and can help me remember to leave some gas in the tank for race day.

I also had the chance to do a 10 mile run in Washington, DC. It was 19 degrees or so with a significant headwind for the entire route but I'd never been to Washington as a tourist so I squeezed some site seeing into the run. Just how much site seeing you may ask - the National Zoo, White House, Congress, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, National Mall, Washington Monument, Reflecting Pool, Lincoln Memorial and Veteran's Memorial. I saw 1 runner, had hands so cold I couldn't work the key coming back in the door and my Clif Blocs froze but it was a great route. The only downside is that I tweaked my foot about 8 miles into the run and have had to take a bit of time off to let it heal. I am betting that part of the lingering pain has as much to do with spending the 6 hours immediately after my run at the Smithsonian Natural History and Air/Space Museums with an excited 4 year old as it does the rock that attacked me while running.

On a fundraising note, I have passed the $1200 mark and several folks from around the country have volunteered to host small fundraising parties that increase the size of circle giving to MBHP. Want to host something? If so, leave a comment or drop me an e-mail! Tomorrow I get to pull on my running shoes and hopefully (foot injury permitting) bang out 10 miles!

On vacation...and trying not to worry

2009-12-29T12:58:00.000-08:00

Before leaving for my vacation last week, my supervisor had me make a promise. She asked (read mandated) that I actually take a vacation - with no work, no checking my cellphone voicemail, no calling clients or the office if the weather got bad. I was doing just fine until I looked at Boston.com a few minutes ago.

It is 19 degrees in Boston right now with 55 mile per hour winds and -10 degree windchill expected tonight. This is exactly the kind of weather that concerns housing advocates like me. The shelter system in Boston, as is the case with much of the country, is over-taxed and beyond nightly capacity. In addition, there are many folks who because of mental health issues or other concerns have a difficult time coming into a shelter even during this weather.

I am keeping my promise to not check voice mail and feel thankful that most of my folks are currently housed but I know there are plenty of men and women with no where to go tonight. If you see homeless folks out tonight, ask how they are holding up in the weather. If there are signs that something may be wrong, call 911 or in Boston, the Mayor's Hotline at 617-635-4500.

The Official Start of Training

2009-12-29T12:40:00.000-08:00

The Boston Marathon will starting gun will be on April 19th - 16 weeks from yesterday. In training terms, this means the official start of training. For me, there are different ways to remember how close the marathon is - counting down the weeks, watching the total mileage hit the 500-550 miles run mark, 100-120 hours of cross-training. My body also has certain reminders, many of them not the most pleasant - calories consumed weekly, blister count, number of frozen water bottles or frozen Clif shots consumed, and my personal favorite...the number of lost/blackened toe-nails!

I will be posting a weekly summary of the training for the upcoming week and ask for comments to keep me going and to hold my feet to the fire when I am tempted to skip a workout. It is reasonably warm here in North Carolina where I'll be for a few more days but when I return to Boston my job is to be out in cold, wind and snow 3-4 times per week. You job is to give $5, $10, $25, $100 or raise some from your friends through dinner parties or other fun means and to kick my ass a little bit when I am getting slack.

Now, for this week's training schedule:

Dec. 28 - Sunday, January 3, 2010:

12/28: 2 mile warm-up run; interval repeats (8 x .1 mile at 6:30/mile pace); 2 mile cool down

12/29: weight lifting; core strength; massage

12/30: 10 mile run at 9:30/mile pace

12/31: cross-train, stretch, core strength workout

1/1: 6 mile tempo run 8:10/mile pace

1/2: cross-training

1/3: rest

I can already tell you that I did the 12/28 interval repeats too fast - 5:25/mile pace instead of 6:30. It was fun to go that fast but I can't let that happen again!!

Watching the Snow Fall

2009-12-20T06:01:00.000-08:00

I am sitting in my living room watching the snow fall while drinking coffee and feeling thankful I was smart enough to move my fast 5 mile tempo run to last night. I had a great run on a fairly hilly course. The focus of my running right now is to work on my form and strength. I recently started to see some positive change from the form adjustments I've made but my body still lacks the strength in some muscle groups to maintain it as much as I would like.

While we are talking weather, I've spent the better part of last night and this morning hoping that the homeless folks that I work with have gotten themselves inside and that families struggling to pay their bills have enough oil in their tanks. With the loss of emergency assistance and organizations who would normally help a family purchase oil struggling, I am more concerned than normal about the impact our cold, snowy day is having on Housing Supports clients at MBHP. My hope is that everyone is inside and warm.

Fundraising is cranking along. Thanks to generous friends and the joys of social media, I have raised $849 so far! My hope is to raise $1000 by December 31st but I will need your help to do it. If you haven't taken a moment to donate to Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership please do. Perhaps a donation to MBHP could be an excellent stocking stuffer for someone in your life or could be the perfect Happy New Year gift! What better way to celebrate a holiday or start the new year than to help a person or family get out of the cold.

The 100 for Homes Campaign

2009-12-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

I posed the question this morning on twitter "I wonder what it would take to get 100 $5 donations for MBHP in the next 24 hours." Several friends retweeted it and a few minutes later my phone rang. A client had heard that I was running the Boston Marathon to raise money for - I reminded him that he needs to save for moving into his new home but it drove home a point. A homeless man on a very limited income is offering to give - why can't those who have a safe place to live, more regular income give $5. Help with the 100 for Homes Campaign - get on twitter, get out the word and give your $5 today.

www.firstgiving.com/jesseedsellvetter

A Letter From a Runner

2009-12-15T18:22:00.000-08:00

Dear friends and MBHP supporters,

As many of you know, my work as a case manager for Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership has gotten more challenging both personally and professionally in the current economic climate. In the past year, we have seen state budget cuts eliminate our emergency assistance funds for individuals and families struggling to pay rent and the state housing vouchers used to provide housing to low-income folks have been under threat. At the same time, the number of families accessing the overflowing state shelter system has risen dramatically. As of September of this year 1,001 families are living in motel rooms compared to 77 in September of 2007. We are also seeing individuals and families experiencing poverty and homelessness for the first time after a job loss, illness or foreclosure.

There has been hope, however. Our 2009 annual report highlights some of the many successes that our agency has had in the past year. We have made due with less but could do so much more. I am writing to let you know that I have committed to do more as 2009 ends and 2010 begins. In addition to my work as a case manager with some of the most vulnerable in the 30 cities and towns MBHP serves, I have chosen to run the 2010 Boston Marathon to raise $10,000 for the Housing Supports Program at MBHP. For so many of those that I meet with every day, a rental subsidy, if available, simply isn't enough. Case management, utility assistance and other services are critical to making sure that our clients have successful tenancies.

In 2008, Carolyn and I made a $1000 per year, 3 year commitment to MBHP. Join us in making a significant commitment to keeping individuals and families housed throughout the Greater Boston area in the coming year. Read about our successes and know that by giving you are making it possible. I believe everyone deserves a place to call home - and together we can make that a reality. Take a moment to read more about my run and make a donation. This April I hope to set personal records in the marathon and in fundraising but I can't do it without you. Finally, if you know of others who might be interested in supporting MBHP, share your donation and perhaps ask them to match it. If your company has a community or charitable giving initiative, please ask them to give.

Together we can create a circle of giving that will reach the $10,000 goal and beyond.

Many thanks,

Jesse