First Dana-Farber Thursday Night Group Run

This past Thursday was my first experience at Crossroads for the weekly DFMC group run/drinking/eating extravaganza. Lucky for me this Thursday it was 70 degrees out at 6pm on December 3!!! I hate running outside in the cold, so really this was an especially night treat. A group of us that decided to run the Charles River so we set off with Tyler, an experienced DFMC marathon runner, leading the pack. How quickly I realized that these people were EXTREMELY fast. I managed to lose sight of them at about mile 3, so there I was, running in the dark in my little tank and spandex, waiting for the boogie man to jump out (sorry Mom and Dad!). But I actually felt pretty safe b/c I knew the crew was ahead of me, and two other Dana-Farber runners were only a little ways behind me. Of course I go out for a group run and I end up running alone, oh well! I managed to run about 6 miles and at what I thought was a 9 minute mile pace but it turned out to be closer to 8...I guess I'm running a lot faster than I thought I was capable of!
Apparently the main point of these Crossroads nights are the socializing afterwards. I've been so excited/nervous to meet my teammates, so this was a good opportunity to sit back, have a beer, and chat. In typical Grasso fashion I was STARVING! But I definitely got a chance to talk to some people and get to know them better. Had a nice chat with some fellow NESCAC alums and we're now having a little competition of sorts amongst the NESCAC schools...so many BOWDOIN alums (boooo--kidding) and they are all so fast (ummm Amanda Allen, former Bowdoin lax player is running 7 minute miles. Nuts).

I felt like an old woman bailing at 9, and the team gave me such a hard time for leaving early (apparently beirut starts soon after) but I was in need of a shower and sleep. Can't wait for the long run on Dec. 19. Until then, it's intense study mode!

First DFMC Runner's Meeting!

So last night was the first official Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Runner's Meeting...all I can I say is WOW! These people are so excited and pumped about running and they got me even more excited about participating. Apparently so far this year the group has raised $270,000 towards the $4.4 million goal, with some individuals having already raised over $20,000--talk about setting the bar high! Tonight is going to be one of the first of many group runs and luckily the weather in Boston is unseasonably warm--70 degrees in December! We'll be meeting up in Boston and then heading out to Wellesley to run some of the hills...I am a little nervous about it since I've mainly been training on the treadmill, but I guess it's time to really dig in and start running on the road because April will be here before I know it.

Other than that, I'm really trying to balance training with studying for my exams, and trying to fundraise all at the same time. Special thanks go out to my mother who has become the treasurer of my marathon campaign and helped me garner a lot of donations, Go Moira!!!

I'll try and keep this updated as the training continues. Also looking forward to finding out which Jimmy Fund child I will be matched with, I cannot wait to have yet another person to be running for.

Happy Holidays, xo!