Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

This week’s long run was supposed to be a custom designed ramble by Owen through the Emerald Necklace for the Franklin Park Coalition Team. Even though we had about four feet of snow on the ground last winter at this time, we panicked about the 5” expected and called off the group run. Luckily, we found some great ways to enjoy the snow—or in Kristen’s case—get the miles in on Friday and avoid the slippery roads all together!

Jason G. described the snow running best when he said that he did fifteen miles through snowy streets with the “consistency of mashed potatoes.” Laura did her Brookline-Newton route with the Dreamfar team and ran into some urban turkeys on her jaunt home—always a shocking sight to see turkeys wandering around the city—and even more shocking when they are hopping around in the snow!

Carleen took advantage of a run to her son’s basketball game—which she had missed out on the past couple of weeks while doing long runs and got the other 10 in on Sunday through Dedham, Hyde Park, and Milton. Paula and Julie stayed north, making snow angels along the way. The streets were a mess on Saturday and some time in Lynn Woods, on snowshoes, was the perfect solution. It was no Franklin Park—but what is?

Finally, Nichole took a field trip to New Hampshire for the annual Derry Boston Prep. It’s notorious for sixteen miles of hills, hills, when you think you are done, more hills.

So, while it wasn’t all “gravy” out there training this week, it certainly was fun!

Laura's Beacon Street running buddy.

Julie taking a rest during a Lynn Woods Reservation snowshoe hike.

Paula taking a rest on the streets of the North Shore...exact location unknown.

Freezing for Franklin Park

From our "On the Run" page...here is this week's installment from some chilly group runs: 

The FPC Boston Marathon Team was scattered far and wide this week for their long runs. Jared was across the Pond enjoying a vacation of “running around scenic London in the morning, sightseeing in the afternoon, and gigging at night [with Sidewalk Driver]. He had the warm end of the deal and Jason C. and Owen battled to the death for the icier face-off…literally. Owen described his icy moustache, “old man” eyebrows, and inability to blink as he ran to Cambridge and back, but Jason C. provided picturesque proof of his frozen face for his run in Nahant.

Carleen made it up to the North Shore for a 10 miler out of Salem, over the Beverly Bridge, and along Route 127 with Shari and Julie. The rolling hills and ocean views almost made us forget about the nasty headwind that found us on every ocean-y vantage point. Nichole took on 14 miles of fun, including a spin up the infamous Heartbreak Hill while Dale enjoyed the scenery of the park and what one could only think of as a very empty golf course. Her face mask suggestion should be shared with Jason C.

Before departing for Vegas, Laura got in 8 miles from Brighton to Cambridge and back again. She’ll get the warm weather award for this week…or win big and donate it all to the FPC.

The running song of the week is Rosanna…whatever works to get someone through the miles is fine with us. The team, especially Owen, is looking for a transportable heater. To keep up with Owen, you’ll need to lug this heater at a 6:00/mile pace, but that’s doable, right?

Next week, we take on the Emerald Necklace and the FPC Winter Volunteer Day.

Birds-eye view from a run in London with Jared.

Carleen, Shari, and Julie take on the rollling hills and ocean "breezes" in Beverly.

Fueled by the song Rosanna, Owen killed it for his long run this week.

$3700 Raised for the Franklin Park Coalition at the Boston Marathon Team Kickoff Party

What a night a Doyle's Cafe! We danced, we sang, we toasted, we ate, we had fun with our friends, families, and supporters. Most importantly, we raised almost $3700.00 for the Franklin Park Coalition. This money will benefit hundreds of local kids who use the park for recreation and athletics through programming provided by the hard work of the FPC. 


We could not have asked for a better trio of performers for the night. First up was Gregg Harper, who played his guitar and harmonica with passion and gave us all some songs to sing along to. Next, we had the chance to hear original music by Eric Stepanian. Our night was capped off with an acoustic set by members of the local band Sidewalk Driver. Sidewalk Driver holds an extra special place in the night since the guitarist, Jared Egan, is one of the runners on our Boston Marathon team. If you liked what you heard, please be sure to check out their websites or albums in the iTunes store. Supporting local music is appreciated!

Doyle's Cafe put out a great spread of appetizers, pizzas, and salads (for the runners!). Our server, Shannon, was great in the room, too! Never once did she seem flustered with 130 people looking for pints of Guiness.

The team and Franklin Park Coalition look forward to your continued support over the next few months as we train to run 26.2 miles and fundraise for an amazing cause. Thank you to all of our guests...we hope you had as much fun as we did!

Each of our runners brought a prize along for our guests to win. It was a great selection.

Boston Marathon Team member Jason C. is ready to greet guests...and, no, he won't share his Guiness with you.

Gregg Harper was awesome!

What an amazing crowd of supporters!

Eric Stepanian was awesome!

Sidewalk Driver was awesome!

Paula (far left) is catching some relaxation with her friends. She will not be relaxing like this on Marathon Monday!

Two of our team members, Carleen and Kristen, catch a quick photo with Christine, the executive director of the FPC.

From our "On the Run" Page...

Weekend of January 6-8:

This week’s run took the Franklin Park Coalition’s Boston Marathon Team as far as Walt Disney World and as close as…Franklin Park! The nice weather on Saturday made for some glorious January running on the local front. I don’t think anyone thought they would be running under blue, sunny skies in 55 degree weather on January 7!

As for workouts, Coach Toomey suggested generally a 10-12 mile run for some of us, a little bit more or less for others. Nichole took advantage of some yoga time and ran from Casey’s Tavern with the Somerville Road Runners on Sunday. Jason C., Paula, and Julie all ran the Olde Salem Greens Snowshoe Classic. Without the “snow,” this turned into a super challenging 3.4 mile trail run on one of the hilliest golf course and wooded single track trails you’ll ever see. Kristen and Dale stayed around the neighborhood. Kristen enjoyed 14 miles around the Pond, the Faulkner, and Larz Anderson Park, while Dale did 5 in Franklin Park with her dogs and 5 on her own. Elizabeth took a jaunt from Lexington to Brookline and got a lesson in pacing along the way!

Shari gets credit for having the run farthest from home. She competed in the Walt Disney World Marathon Relay this morning. With a friend from the Wicked Running Club to push her to her 13.1 limit, rumor on the street is that she broke her PR!

Owen is currently out for 12 miles with a bit of a head cold. Send him some well wishes or hand him a tissue if you see him.

Coach Toomey is rumored to be at the Reggie Lewis Center this morning.

Our newest runner on the team, Laura, tried to get the scoop on the new Sox season by running from Brookline High to Fenway Park. Besides a great run, she had nothing good to report on the 2012 lineup.

And, that’s our reported lineup for this week. We hope to see many of you at Doyle’s for our Team Kickoff Fundraiser this Wednesday night! Buy your tickets at: www.razoo.com/story/Fpcmarathoncharityteamkickofftickets

Join us for the Boston Marathon Team Kickoff Party at Doyle's Cafe

Join the members of the Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Charity Team for the Kickoff Party at Doyle's Cafe.


Advance tickets will cost $20.00 ($25.00 at the door). Tickets will include an appetizer buffet, live entertainment, and 10 complimentary raffle tickets for an amazing array of prizes from local businesses. Additional tickets for the raffle will be available on the night of the event. A cash bar and full menu will be available.

Advance tickets are available at http://www.razoo.com/story/Fpcmarathoncharityteamkickofftickets. When you purchase your ticket(s), be sure to share on the post which runner you are buying your tickets to support (i.e. "I can't wait to come to Doyle's to support John Doe!).

This event takes place at Doyle's, located at 3484 Washington Street in Jamaica Plain from 6:30-9:30 p.m. It will be an open house atmosphere, so join us at anytime for the fun! A very special thank you to Doyle's Cafe and the Burke family for sponsoring this event for the Franklin Park Coalition. (www.doylescafeboston.com)

National Recognition for the Efforts of the Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Charity Team

In the most recent edition of Field Notes, the newsletter of the National Association of Olmsted Parks, the Franklin Park Coalition's Boston Marathon Charity team was a featured article. The NAOP is a nationwide association of Olmsted related parks and organizations from around the United States consisting of professionals ranging from landscape architects to scholars to rangers to students. It is a true honor to be included in this publication that reaches out to thousands across the country.

"For more than 30 years, NAOP has raised awareness of the importance of the Olmsted legacy among public officials, community leaders, landscape design professionals and academics. NAOP encourages scholarship, publishes key reference materials, supports local park restoration, and provides technical assistance to preservation efforts." Here in the Boston area, organizations like the Franklin Park Coalition, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, and the National Park Service help to extend a similar mission and vision for Olmsted designed parks.

To check out the November Field Notes or to learn more about the phenomenal work of the NAOP, please visit http://www.olmsted.org/naop-field-notes-november-2011.

A Few Spots Remain on the Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Charity Team

Just a couple of spots remain on the Franklin Park Coalition's Boston Marathon Charity Team. We have accepted runners with a wide range of running abilities and interests in parks and recreation and would love to have YOU join our team!

We are accepting runners that are looking to secure an entry and runners who have already secured their entry elsewhere but would like to fundraise to support the mission and vision of the Franklin Park Coalition.

Money raised by Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Team will be used for salaries of four Summer Youth Conservation Crew members; equipment to be used by the Summer Youth Conservation Crew; the purchase of athletic equipment to be used on Summer Youth Drop-In Sports Nights, as well as continued restoration of the cross-country track, used by thousands of regional high school and collegiate athletes on an annual basis; ; refurbishment of ball fields; and repairs to the Playstead basketball courts including resurfacing or new hoops and backboards.

For more information about how you can get involved with Franklin Park Coalition and the 2012 Marathon Team, please contact Julie Arrison, Julie@franklinparkcoalition.org.

Benefits of being a member of the Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Team:

· Guaranteed race number for the 2012 Boston Marathon on April 16, 2012

· Work with a team of runners who are committed to the mission of the Franklin Park Coalition and training for the Marathon.

·  Receive a handbook with coaching support from Michael Toomey of Toomey Sports Running Center and fundraising support from the Franklin Park Coalition. Online fundraising access will be provided.

· Team training runs

· Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Team clothing for training and race day.

· A kickoff team party at Doyle’s Café in Jamaica Plain, and a pre-race pasta luncheon.

· Frequent support from Franklin Park Coalition coaches and other team members on training and fundraising concerns at our Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Charity Team blog.

Responsibilities of being a member of the Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Team:

· Raise a minimum of $4000 to support Franklin Park Coalition Children’s Services ($750 for those who have already secured their entry elsewhere)

· Be physically able to complete the Marathon in under 6 hours

· If you are local to Boston, attend Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Charity Team meetings between December 2011 and April 2012.  

· $300 B.A.A. race entry fee that does not count towards your fundraising total.

In Kind Donations Now Being Accepted

The Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Charity Team is now accepting in-kind donations of goods and services from local businesses for use at the Team Kickoff Party at Doyle's Cafe on January 11, individual team member fundraisers, runner incentives, and online auction items. Goods and services can range from rounds of golf to shop and restaurant gift certificates to hotel or vacation home stays.

If you have something to donate or a contact that might be able to help the team with a donation, please contact the Marathon Charity Team Leader, Julie Arrison at julie@franklinparkcoalition.org.

Thank You to our Charity Team Applicants

The Franklin Park Coalition staff is in the process of reviewing the fantastic applications we have received over the past two months and will be in touch with runners soon about acceptance to the Franklin Park Coalition's Boston Marathon Charity Team.

We will continue reviewing applications, so feel free to submit one today! Running for the FPC will benefit thousands of area youth through educational, job, and athletic opportunities in Boston's largest green space.

Please contact the Marathon Charity Team Leader, Julie Arrison, at julie@franklinparkcoaltion.org.

Run the 2012 Boston Marathon® with Franklin Park Coalition

The Franklin Park Coalition is proud to announce that it has been selected to be part of the official 2012 B.A.A. Boston Marathon Charity Program. Applications are now available for interested runners at FranklinParkCoalition.org.

The Franklin Park Coalition mission is simple: to restore and preserve Franklin Park, a 527 historic urban green space located in the geographic heart of Boston. Through advocacy and stewardship, Coalition staff, board members and volunteers work to improve park management, public transit options to the park, park entrances, bicycle access, restoration of historic features, and more. Coalition events and programs, such as park walks, history tours, and nature programs to encourage city dwellers to discover the park's treasures; bringing back the “Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park” for free summer concerts to build community and celebrate local artists; hiring neighborhood youth for summer and school year jobs restoring the 220 acre woodlands and promoting the park; and working with community members and public safety agencies to help people feel safe in the park.

Running and Franklin Park have a long history together. According to Steve Vaitones, a member of the Coalition, the New England Collegiate Cross Country Championships have been held in the park since 1912. The current cross country course was designed and built 1989-1991 after the awarding of the cross country World Championships.  USA National Championships have been held in the park throughout the twentieth century as well. The park continues to be the home for the many local high school and college program practices and various local and state meets. Most recently, the B.A.A. Half Marathon has its start and finish in Franklin Park at the George Robert White Stadium. This event will take place on October 9, 2011 and information is available at www.baa.org.

Money raised by the fifteen selected charity runners of the Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Team will be used for salaries of four Summer Youth Conservation Crew members; equipment to be used by the Summer Youth Conservation Crew; the purchase of athletic equipment to be used on Summer Youth Drop-In Sports Nights, as well as continued restoration of the cross-country track, used by thousands of regional high school and collegiate athletes on an annual basis; ; refurbishment of ball fields; and repairs to the Playstead basketball courts including resurfacing or new hoops and backboards.

Julie Arrison, a longtime volunteer for the Franklin Park Coalition and author of Images of America: Franklin Park has been selected as the Marathon Charity Team Coordinator. “I couldn’t be happier to lead a group of marathoners towards two major goals—completing the Boston Marathon and awareness building for an organization that serves Boston so well.” Michael Toomey of Toomey Sports Running Center in Salem, Mass., has signed on to coach the runners for the team. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with a group of athletes as they strive to complete one of the most elite marathons in the world. It’s going to be a fun, challenging time.”

For more information about how you can get involved with Franklin Park Coalition and the 2012 Marathon Team, please contact Julie Arrison, Julie@franklinparkcoalition.org.

Benefits of being a member of the Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Team:

·         Guaranteed race number for the 2012 Boston Marathon on April 16, 2012

·         Work with a team of runners who are committed to the mission of the Franklin Park Coalition and training for the Marathon.

·         Receive a handbook with coaching support from Michael Toomey of Toomey Sports Running Center and fundraising support from the Franklin Park Coalition. Online fundraising access will be provided.

·         Team training runs

·         A $75.00 allotment for Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Team clothing.

·         A kickoff team party at Doyle’s Café in Jamaica Plain, and a pre-race pasta luncheon.

·         Frequent support from Franklin Park Coalition coaches and other team members on training and fundraising concerns at our Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Charity Team blog.

Responsibilities of being a member of the Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Team:

·         Raise a minimum of $4000 to support Franklin Park Coalition Children’s Services ($750 for those who have already secured their entry elsewhere) 

·         Be physically able to complete the Marathon in under 6 hours

·         If you are local to Boston, attend Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Charity Team meetings between December 2011 and April 2012.  

·         $300 B.A.A. race entry fee that does not count towards your fundraising total.

Application for the Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Charity Team for the 2012 BAA Boston Marathon