We want you on our team!

The 2013 Boston Marathon was a life altering event for so many. In the days following the tragic events, many sought solace in the peace that is Franklin Park.

The post-marathon events are not the only time that Franklin Park provides peace, comfort, tranquility, and beauty in life. This fabulous urban greenspace does this daily for thousands of visitors.

5624 runners were unable to cross the finish line at the 2013 Boston Marathon. The Boston Athletic Association has kindly offered them entry into the 2014 event. The Franklin Park Coalition also wants to extend an offer to be a part of a team atmosphere. For a $500.00 fundraising minimum, those runners who were unable to cross the finish line and who have secured entry via the special registration can apply to be a part of the Franklin Park Coalition Marathon team.

The team offers supportive and customized marathon coaching, indoor track clinics, team gear, fundraising events, and more. For the past two years, it has been the support of the team that has provided an atmosphere of cheer, goodwill, and a "get-it-done" attitude for all things related to training.

For an application, please email Julie Arrison (julie@franklinparkcoalition.org).

The Summer Youth Conservation Crew

        One of the simplest ways to describe my working experience with the Franklin Park Coalition, would be to say that I was always put out of my element, but in a good way. Uncountable amounts of times, I was told I had to try things I never would’ve tried outside of this job, and come to find out some of these things, I enjoyed.

But, of course, with all of the good, comes the bad, and, for me, that was always being told what to do. For me, being told what to do was always hard, but I have learned how to deal with it and continue to do what I have to do because I realized, that’s how the working world can be, when you’re not on top.

As far as working within Franklin Park, I learned there’s a lot more to the park than just the Zoo and the Golf Course. I learned Franklin Park is huge and it’s 527 acres worth of history, woodlands, trails, and activities for all ages. Lastly, aside from everything I learned, I also met a some cool people within my crew who I wouldn’t have been able to meet outside of this job. This has been my experience working with the Franklin Park Coalition this summer.

Allysiah 

This is part of a series of writings from members of past Summer Youth Conservation Crews. The Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Team raises money to support different programs in the park each season. 

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.

The 2013 Franklin Park Coalition Team is Ready to Rock!

Current members of the 2013 Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Team had the opportunity to meet on Sunday, January 6 at the Franklin Park Coalition office in Roxbury. Members of the team, both returning and brand, spanking new, were welcomed by the staff with bagels and coffee and fruit and covered the essential topics from a lesson on the Franklin Park Coalition to what exactly is a tempo run.

So far this year's team is made up of all sorts--we have a marathoner looking to complete 50 marathons in 50 states and another who will use the Boston Marathon as her first ever road race. We have accomplished fundraisers and those new to the life of development. We have folks with kids, folks with grandkids, and folks with dogs. There are Olmsted geeks, those who work with youth, and those who just love urban parks and want to see them get even better.

If you'd like to join our team, we still have space available and it's not too late to catch up and join the fun! Please visit our "Application" page for full details and contact Marathon Charity Team Leader, Julie Arrison, with any questions.

See you on the run!

Run the 2013 Boston Marathon® with Franklin Park Coalition Charity Team

The Franklin Park Coalition is proud to announce that it has been selected to be part of the official 2013 B.A.A. Boston Marathon Charity Program for a second year.  Applications are now available for interested runners at FranklinParkCoalition.org.

The 2012 Boston Marathon ® team raised over $60,000 that was used for a number of Franklin Park Coalition’s summer programs including equipment and salaries for the Youth Conservation Crew and athletic equipment and barbeque nights for the popular Youth Sports Drop-In Nights which served over 1500 kids this past summer. Money raised by the  fifteen selected charity runners of the Franklin Park Coalition Marathon Team will be used for these programs, 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; repairs to the Playstead basketball courts including resurfacing or new hoops and backboards; and for cultural and family programming provided by the Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park Program.

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 s, 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 White Stadium. This event will take place on October 7, 2012 and information is available at www.baa.org.

Julie Arrison, a longtime volunteer for the Franklin Park Coalition and author of Images of America: Franklin Park will be returning 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., will be returning 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.” The 2012 Boston Marathon ® was one of the hottest on record and the Franklin Park Coalition team had a 100% successful finish rate.

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 part of the Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon ® Team:

·         Guaranteed race number for the 2012 Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013

·         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 including a hooded sweatshirt, long sleeve tech, and singlet for race day

·         A planned team kickoff fundraising party.

·         A race weekend pasta potluck.

·         Race day hotel “drop zone” near the finish so that you can freshen up to hit the town on Marathon Monday, post-race.

·         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 Boston Marathon Team include:

·         Raise a minimum of $4000 to support Franklin Park Coalition 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 2012 and April 2013. 

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

Applications:

2013 Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Team Application

2013 Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Application for Runners who have Secured Entry Elsewhere

An Update for the 2012 FPC Boston Marathon Team from the FPC Staff

April 16, 2012 did not mark the end of the journey for the 2012 Boston Marathon Team. The staff at the Franklin Park Coalition took time out of their incredibly busy and hectic summer of managing park projects, the Summer Youth Conservation Crew, Playhouse in the Park, and Youth Drop-In Sports Nights to keep everyone up to date on how our fundraising efforts were being used. Christine Poff, the amazing executive director, sent us the blog update that you can find a link to in an article below as well as this thank you.

Her words really put into perspective what the 2012 Boston Marathon Team was able to provide for teens around the park as well as everyday park users.

"..Attached is a photo of the crew playing a game on one of the park's old stone walls. They had to arrange themselves by birthdate without talking, it was pretty funny. Today at lunch they had a huge game of camoflauge ... some love this kind of thing, but the big tough guys act like they are too cool for anything that isn't HARD work, but they join in and get goofy.

Because of all your efforts we did a 2-night camping trip this year, the first time we've done that. Through a great partnership with the Appalachian Mountain Club the crew borrows tents and gear. They hiked, splashed in waterfalls, did a night walk, told stories by the campfire, and all came home thrilled with themselves - for most it was the first time in a tent and for about five of them it was the first time away from home. (I talked to parents a lot ... a few were really anxious)

Last week at Sports Night we had members of two rival gangs, but they played ball and ate burgers together with no problems - it's exactly what we hope will happen. We have a really cool coach who is coming out, used to play with the Houston Rockets."

Notes like this are just one of many reasons why someone should consider joining the Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Team. You truly make a difference.

What the 2012 Boston Marathon Team Provided

As we gear up to start accepting applications for the 2013 Franklin Park Coaltion Boston Marathon team, it's a great time to look back on the experiences that the 2012 Boston Marathon team was able to provide by raising money for the Summer Youth Conservation Crew. For many of the teens who participated, this wasn't just a "summer job," but a work experience that introduced the group to new friends, new challenges, and educational take-aways that will last a lifetime.

If you are considering running for the 2013 team, take a look at some of the statements (unedited!) from the Summer Youth Crew. We hope that you will realize that when you run with us, you are impacting the lives of a deserving group of teens as well as the beautification of Boston's largest urban greenspace.

Applications will be available here and on the website on Monday, September 10.

From Jamie: "Working with the Franklin Park Coalition was very helpful and productive. This job helped me learn about different types of plants and things about Franklin Park that I didn’t know about. I had fun working with my crew and getting projects done. Being noticed for what we did by the people in the community who use the park made this job worth working for."

From Jevon: "I have learned that I am a dedicated, hard worker. I work well with others and I put a lot of care into what I do. From the first day I started working at Franklin Park I have learned why it’s so important to the community. I’ve also learned a lot about its history, for example, the Overlook ruins have been there since 1885. The best thing about this job was learning how hard I can push myself and getting to meet new people."

From Tenia: "This summer was quite an interesting one. I got my first job at Franklin Park. I learned a lot about myself and the park . While I passed by this park almost every day before I had this job, my views of it were that it was disgusting and nasty. But now that I have worked in this park for six weeks, I know the park is not really like that. It is peaceful and nice with a lot of beautiful plants. This is something I learned about the park from my job experience."

Event Alert: Saint Paddy's Day Themed Zumba in the Park!

Join Boston Marathon team member Dale Libkin for her Zumba fundraiser in the Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse this Saturday at 10:30. While there might not be Whiskey in the Jar and Wild Rovers, there will be an hour of a great workout that will make up for all of that soda bread and corned beef consumption throughout the weekend.

Tickets are only $10.00 and you are sure not to forget this Zumba experience!

(yes, this is Riverdance...but you get the idea!)

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.

Long Run Antics

From our "On the Run" section from last weekend. This weekend many of our runners will be gearing up for distances between 13-18 miles on the course. It's a lot of work for a great cause!

"BAA On Course Charity Run, Breakdowns, Build Ups, and Mack Trucks"

Carleen, Dale, and Kristen took advantage of the BAA Official Charity Training Run that departed from Natick Town Common and extended to the FINISH LINE on Boylston Street. This run is organized by one of the BAA legacy charities, the American Liver Foundation, and provides runners who are training for Boston and working hard to raise some serious money with the opportunity to have a fully supported and simulated Boston Marathon training run. All three of our lovely ladies conquered “Heartbreak Hill,” and while the fear may still exist for race day on April 16, all were on “cloud nine” about a wonderful day with the other charity runners. Thanks also to the FPC executive director, Christine Poff, for taking Dale and Carleen to Natick and giving them a great sendoff!

Onto every bit of marathon training, a little injury must fall. Keep the positive vibes out there for Elizabeth who is battling a knee injury and spending a lot of time on the elliptical and in the pool right now. Jesus is also conquering an IT band issue and will be taking it somewhat easy for the next few weeks. On the flip side, Jared’s knee is FINALLY cooperating with his training plan and he is able to add on some miles. He completed half-marathon distance through Forest Hills Cemetery, Franklin Park, and a loop through the Arboretum. The moral of the story? There is hope for the injured!

Owen’s weekend of running was definitely hurt by a post-dental surgery infection, which has put him on two different antibiotics, dexamethasone (med student talk?!), and Percocet, plus lots of ibuprofen for the swelling. After consideration of jaw removal for the pain, Owen instead decided to go out and kill a long run…15.25 miles at race pace…which felt great. He credits the rest and good form, but perhaps the Percocet had something to do with the numbing effects of running 15.25 miles at a 6:00/mile pace?

Our ladies of the North Shore had some rough goings over the weekend. Paula may have still been in recovery from her 40^th birthday extravaganza the weekend before…or her tempo run the night before…but said that she eventually got all of her miles in and done. Shari, on the other hand, had a series of malfunctions including getting lost on back roads (in her hometown), loose pants (no, she didn’t moon anyone), and dehydration…followed by a wine tasting to rehydrate. Celebrating the small victories in training is as important as celebrating the large ones!

Laura ran 15 miles Saturday morning in the snowy/rainy mix from Brookline High down Beacon Street through Kenmore Sq over the Mass Ave Bridge, down Memorial Drive down to the Cambridge St Bridge, turned around and went back to Brookline High where I left my group and ran the last 4 miles home to Oak Square in Brighton. Her map is pictured below.

Julie was up for a ski weekend in NH. Apparently she didn’t follow Jason G.’s advice from a few weekends earlier and certainly had a case of Jello legs when all was said and done. The run also wasn’t well planned on her part. It was much hillier than expected and the traffic on Route 16 was frightening to run towards. The views on her left hand side might have been babbling brooks and wooded glens, but the views on the right were giant 18 wheeler Mack logging trucks going about 50 MPH. Luckily, for every Mack truck that passed, there was a chance to stare up at Mount Washington…certainly a different vantage point than running around MA.

Carleen, are you confident you can finish the Boston Marathon...I think your answer needs to be YES!!!

Sprinting up Boylston!

The lovely NH views the Julie enjoyed on her left side...the right side included dodging Mack Trucks and Apres Skiiers from NY.

Laura's Running Map...if only it captured the glow of snow and ice!

Miles of Margaritas FPC Fundraiser was a Great Success

On Monday, January 23, the North Shore contingent of the Franklin Park Coalition's Boston Marathon Charity Team held a give back night at the Chili's Grill and Bar in Danvers, Mass. Charity Team Leader Julie Arrison normally bartends on Monday nights here and all were grateful that the management team and staff were willing to give back 10% of sales from the night to help support the FPC's youth and athletic programming.

Friends, family, and members of the Wicked Running Club indulged in nachos, fajitas, Sam Adams Winter Lagers, and a special variety of margaritas for the event. Coach Mike Toomey was the "celebrity bartender" for a portion of the night and provided a decent drink and entertainment for all. In total, $450.00 was raised for the Franklin Park Coalition and fun was had by all.

The Franklin Park Coalition Information Table is ready to go.

Coach Toomey is ready to make some money for the FPC.

Charity Team Leader Julie Arrison coached the coach in making the perfect margarita.

Some of our lovely friends from Salem joined us at the bar to support Franklin Park.

Wicked Running Club president Tim Short and his daughter Lily and learning about the good work of the FPC.

Team member Shari Hewson is having a blast with FPC team supporters.

Team member Paula Renzi Gibbs is making the rounds.

A wicked blonde contingent to support the Franklin Park Coalition.

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

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.