Week of February 17: Rockstars

Though it’s a short work week for many, it’s not a short training week at all! The intervals are creeping up as are the miles and/or efforts on the long runs. While a few of our runners took on the famed Hyannis Half or the newer Half at the Hamptons, others came out for 18 miles on the Boston Marathon course and cruised the downhills from Ashland through Natick and climbed the uphills in Newton…and looked darn good doing it!

On Saturday, Valerie, Jared, Jason, Jasmin, Laura, and Lori came out for a run on the course with transport and support by the team leader and the executive director, Christine Poff. Julie said the runners looked amazing and thinks you’ll agree from the pictures below. Who smiles for 18 miles? The FPC Boston Marathon team, that’s who! I guess it helps to feel like a “rockstar” on the course, as Laura said she did…we’re happy to help provide that feeling!

Shari and Margaret were up in the wilds of Hampton Beach while Mike C., Derly, and Julie took on 13.1 miles of Cape Cod seashore and scenery. Reviews from both races were excellent and there was finally a break in the weather—about 40 and sunny for both races! Woot!

As a side note, our former FPC runner, Owen Kendall, crushed Hyannis—again—coming in second overall. While we all had a little rockstar status this weekend, we’ll give the superstar status to Owen!

While some of us travelled about, Marc enjoyed a 20 miler around JP and out to the course and then followed it up with a recovery run by helping his Forest Hills Runners crush their times in Hyannis. I think he sums up the weekend best: “Great day for racing, people seemed to be having a lot of fun out there this weekend on the marathon course as well.”

So, we’ll leave it at that. Looking forward to a fabulous time enjoying a seaside run on the North Shore next weekend! Happy training all!

For more pictures and full details, please visit:

http://fpcmarathoncharityteam.blogspot.com/p/on-run-with-fpc-marathon-charity-team.html

Week of February 10: For the love of running—Valentine Check-in

Valentine’s Day is a time for love and God knows we had all better love running this week. The mileage is building, the injuries are building, the hunger is building. You do miserable things for love. It’s also called marathon training. So, while many other celebrated the Hallmark holiday with chocolates and flowers, we hauled out onto the marathon course despite threats of another impending doom snowstorm, ran on snowshoes, and found Heartbreak…hill that is!

Julie A. did a time versus mileage workout in Lynn Woods on snowshoes and it was incredible. Whoever thinks snowshoeing is easy has never done it on terrain and up and down the hills in the “Woods.” Mike C. chose the natural beauty of the Franklin Park area for his 13.1 and though he was a bit off pace and dodging snow and ice, felt great. Jared also joined up with the Forest Hills Runners for an out and back from JP to Boston. Check out his quick video below for a gander at his Saturday.

Marc also enjoyed a day in Franklin Park, starting with a a counterclockwise loop of Franklin Park, ran through the Shattuck Picnic area and then completed the Doyle’s 5 miler course.  Once that was finished I ran the SW corridor park to Jackson Square, down some side streets and back to Stony Brook to meet up with Forest Hills Runners at 9am (every Saturday!) having completed 10 miles. Marc also kindly reminded us to chant:

50 degrees on Friday

50 degrees on Friday

50 degrees on Friday

Spring is near!

Out on the marathon course, Derly had her first taste of Heartbreak and wants more. Jasmin, Laura, and Debbie also conquered the course for 17.5 miles and enjoyed all of the runners doing the same thing on what turned out to be a gorgeous day. Javier did an out and back from 22-14-22. Next week he’ll be in Florida—not dodging the ice and snow like the rest of us!

Carleen, one of our third year members, competed in the Crash B Rowing Camp at BU this weekend. While it wasn’t running, it was described as an interesting event and definitely defines her cross-training status!

Shawn was out west…way west…and enjoying some 70 degree weather. He said that though he’s winning in the weather department, we’re winning with scenery. Just wait until he gets here after a very long winter to enjoy!

Comedy for the Coalition TONIGHT!

Join Coach Toomey, Shari, Rich, and Julie for an outstanding night of comedy and all-you-can-eat pizza at Prince Pizzeria in Saugus. The trip north of the Tobin will be worth it.

Tickets at the door, if available, will be $25.00. Feel free to email Julie to see if tickets are still available.

Doors open at 6:00. Pizza will be served around 6:30. The raffle will be around 7:15 and the show starts at 8:00.

Get to know Team FPC

Want to learn about the many members of team FPC? Check out our About the Runners page and see what we're all about. We have a number of runners who did not have the opportunity to finish last year's Boston, new runners with a passion for parks and greenspace, some from the wild west and more! 

It's going to be a blast leading up to April 21!

Follow Team FPC on the run

Follow Team FPC with our "on the run" section. War stories are shared right from the team and you can see what we're up to mileage wise and fun wise each week.

To learn more, visit: http://fpcmarathoncharityteam.blogspot.com/p/on-run-with-fpc-marathon-charity-team.html

Support Boston Strong, Support a Franklin Park Runner

Doyle's Road Race before THE BIG ONE

Registration just opened - this is a great run through Franklin Park the week before the marathon. Afterwards - free beer!

Doyles Emerald Necklace Road Race (5 Miles,) Sunday April 13:  Registration has begun:http://jamaicaplain.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/doyles-opens-registration-for-2014-emerald-necklace-road-race?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001&evar4=picks-2-post&newsRef=true

Here are some of the FPC folks who ran last year:

Snow Festival

We had an amazing FPC snow festival yesterday. After two years of uncooperative weather, conditions were perfect. Plenty of snow, bright sunshine, and lots of excited kids and adults.

From our team: Vicma's 6-year old daughter, Victoria, spent at least 3 straight hours sledding down and trudging back up the hill to do it again, her fluffy pigtails flying through the snow. She was a riot! Derly sold cool marathon bracelets amidst board game players warming up in the clubhouse. Debbie cross-country skied and connected with the other skiers. Carleen came with her crew of snow kids.

The snow was a little dry for snowpeople, but a few managed to emerge.

This guy looks like he had a rough day at work.

Debbie took this of the sledding hill from afar as she was skiing on the golf course. 

He's got to be the cutest sledder of 2014!

Carleen's crew with Victoria (Vicma's daughter on the left)

They're Eskimos! They're marathon runners! They're Carleen & Vicma!

Running Cold

More from the Boston Globe on running in the cold. What do you wear when it's below freezing? Share your tricks for keeping warm and not overheating! Hope FPC gear helps. Is it still better than training in the summer for a fall marathon?

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/02/05/through-bitterly-cold-winter-runners-train-for-spring/UJyCupHbFBQA39QHP5uThJ/story.html

This winter, the ‘polar vortex’ has tested those running in the Marathon in spring

By Peter Schworm

 |  Globe staff     February 05, 2014

• Article
• Comments ( 6 )

Wearing the right gear helps runners training in the cold weather for the Marathon. Nicole Quinlan suited up for a recent run.

After all the great long runs this past weekend, here's an article from the Boston Globe this morning about the benefits of running (and being) in the cold weather.

Derly promotes Franklin Park at Super Sunday run!

Derly just emailed this photo of her selling marathon bracelets at the Super Sunday run. (Not sure where it takes place ... but all you runners probably know.)

Great to see many of you on a busy Saturday yesterday at the Zoo for pizza and marathon registration.

Here's all the things going on in Franklin Park yesterday: 1) long Emerald Necklace practice run for team members; 2) Youth job fair for teens signing up for summer job; 3) team of Northeastern students clearing catbrier in the woods to save oak trees; and 4) yours truly stuck in the office preparing for our annual audit.