The Summer Youth Conservation Crew

One of the biggest pieces of the pie of the Franklin Park Coalition's Boston Marathon Team's fundraising goes to the Summer Youth Conservation Crew. The "crew" consists of 20-30 teens as well as supervisors who spend their learning about the environment and history of 527 acres of Franklin Park by caring for it each day. Besides working to preserve the park, these kids also get lessons in landscaping, gardening, landscape architecture, and managing a business as well as a chance to explore the White Mountains. For many, this is their first time exploring a wooded area, let along garnering an appreciation for it. 

Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing stories from the Summer Youth Conservation Crew and their experiences in the park. Some are funny, some are touching, some show a passion for history and the environment, and some show an appreciation for earning real money. Some are a combination of all of these factors.

We invite you to continue to support the Summer Youth Conservation Crew and the good work of the Franklin Park Coalition. To learn more, visit www.franklinparkcoalition.org. 

Start Training for 2014

Our very wise runner Owen Kendall, and one of the co-founders of the Forest Hills Runners, pointed out that it's not too early to start training for 2014. Small improvements on every run, every day, will make a snowy training season easier to bear.

Check out the Forest Hills Runners for group runs and weekly workouts--many taking place around the beautiful Emerald Necklace.

Short shorts are optional.

Team Member Highlight: Kristen Day

Leading up to the Boston Marathon, we'll be spotlighting our team members as they train and raise money for the Franklin Park Coalition.

Kristen Day will be running her first road race on April 16. This is certainly no ordinary road race, as Kristen has chosen to run the Boston Marathon for the Franklin Park Coalition to make her debut. Kristen loves Franklin Park and has fond memories growing up there and hopes to pass along the same nostalgia to her three kids, Josie, Noah, and Violet. "The park has become a very special place for me. I remember it from when I was a small child visiting my grandparents that lived alongside the park. When they got just big enough, we started sledding behind the golf course clubhouse. The first day we did this, my daughter was 6 and my son was 4. We stayed at the hill for 4 ½ hours! The sun was setting and the moon was rising. It was so quiet and beautiful, it felt like the city was a million miles away. The park inspires children’s imagination and offers places for kids to run, climb, sled and pretend. And it does the same for adults."

Kristen lives in Jamaica Plain with her family. Besides enjoying running for the sheer sake of enjoying running, she is an active volunteer in the park and has also just established a Boy Scout Troop. She believes that if her kids are involved now, they'll also recognize the work that goes into preserving such an important place in Boston.
This weekend, Kristen and her husband will be sponsoring a Neighborhood Night at their home on 25 Cromwell Street. The night will feature light hors d'ouvers, cocktails, music by Ulysses, and short talk on the history of Franklin Park by author Julie Arrison. The suggested donation is $1.00/mile, or $26.00 to support not only Kristen's fundraising efforts, but the great work of the Franklin Park Coalition. You can RSVP to kdaymatt@aol.com.

If you can't attend, but wish to support Kristen's fundraising efforts, please visit: http://www.razoo.com/story/Kristen-Day-S-Boston-Marathon-Fund-Raising-For-The-Fpc 

Bleeding, Breakdowns, and Buzzes...Just Another Weekend with the FPC Boston Marathon Charity Team

The latest installment from our On the Run page.

Dale, Julie, Owen, Coach Toomey, Jason C., and Paula are smiling after completing their last indoor track workout at the Reggie Lewis Center last Tuesday night.

Weekend of February 18:

The team had some great efforts put in last weekend around the Emerald Necklace, around the hills of Brighton, and in the wilds north of the Tobin Bridge. The common denominator? Perfect February weather! We’ve all been chatting with friends who have run the Boston Marathon in the past—especially last winter—who have shared their jealousy and anger that this is the weather that we have been training in. Then again, last year’s Boston Marathon was 50 degrees, light sunshine, and a tailwind, so if karma means anything…

The miles are definitely creeping up. Julie and Dale set out for a jaunt around the Emerald Necklace and a detour onto both Huntington Avenue and Centre Street in JP. All in all, it was 14 miles of lovely views and good company. It was great coming back into Franklin Park at the end of the run and seeing so many golfers enjoying the nine holes of open turf, again, in February!!!

Jared also enjoyed 14 miles around the J-Way and the Fens (how did we miss him?!). While the knees are healing, he is now realizing the importance of body glides and well placed band-aids on his chest. Bleeding nipples will only toughen up a runner and the team has faith that he’ll recover well. Jared was also looking for more hills on his run. Perhaps he should have joined Laura for her 12 hilly miles with her Dreamfar team?!

Jason C. joined a number of members of the Wicked Running Club and a few thousand others for Half at the Hamptons. He’s been training hard and said he felt great! Shari, on the other hand, had a relaxing Friday night in a hot tub with martini and realized that soaking in water does not mean that a marathon trainer is hydrating…nor do martinis…and as she set out to meet her training buddy for a hybrid road/trail run to get in 16 miles, she realized just how under hydrated she was! There were many comments, akin to Owen of a few weeks ago, about throwing herself into traffic, but the team is happy to see that she recovered nicely and sparked a good discussion about pre-, during, and post- run nutrition habits, which, sadly, does not include martinis!

Speaking of Owen, our speed demon found some company with some speedy guys from the North Shore who planned on on-course run at varying breakneck speeds. Owen and Mike kept a 6:10-6:30 pace for 14 miles when Mike decided that maybe his nutrition was a little off for a run at that pace. Owen swears he tried to bring the pace down, but “it's hard to convince oneself to slow when fast feels so good.” Following leaving a dehydrated Michael Smith on the road in the fetal position, Owen strided out a few sub-6:00 miles for good measure. Mike is fine and recovered with a nine mile run in Lynn Woods the next day. No one worry.

Nichole is excited to get back on track with her training. She has been on the job hunt and in a yoga certification program, leaving little time to focus on the long runs. The good news is that she has accepted a job offer with a group that encourages family fitness and is so excited to have her many loves coming together…and re-focusing on the Marathon!

Kristen took on a 13 this week…not with all the gusto the world had to offer, but everyone in Marathon training has those tough weeks. She took some time to rest and regroup, which in the end is the most therapeutic thing a runner can sometimes do!

We’ve had two flu victims on our injury report this week—Carleen and Paula—who are rumored to be recovering slowly but surely. Elizabeth is also starting PT for her bum knee this week, but has been keeping up her efforts on the bike and elliptical and in the pool.

Event Alert! Leap and Run for Franklin Park

Join the Jamaica Plain contingent of the Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Charity Team for the Leap and Run for Franklin Park Night at Bella Luna. The marathon runners are raising money and awareness to support summer jobs, athletic activities, and preservation in Franklin Park and could use YOUR support.

Meet us at Bella Luna, located in the Brewery Complex, 284 Amory Street, JP on Leap Day (2/29) from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Advance tickets are $15.00 and available here. Tickets at the door are $20.00. Enjoy unlimited gourmet pizzas and meet the team members and staff who are working to make Franklin Park a better place for you and your families.

All ages are welcome. A cash bar will be available. Bring along a little extra money to win a chance at some great, local raffle items. A very special thank you to Bella Luna for putting together a fantastic night for the FPC!