Franklin Park Snow Photos

Franklin Park is beautiful all year round, but there is just something about a coat of white that makes this place really stand out.

If you visited the park this weekend or got to take advantage of a training run in the park or around the Emerald Necklace, share those beautiful pictures here: https://www.facebook.com/Franklinparkbos/photos_stream

Gotta Scratch?

Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Team Member Brain Parsons has the way for you to be set for life...maybe...Super Bowl Sunday is the last day to be entered into the raffle to win 100 $10.00 Massachusetts State Lottery Tickets. It begs the question, what might be hiding under there?

The best part? All of the proceeds from the raffle will benefit the good work of the Franklin Park Coalition who provide summer jobs, athletic opportunities, and cultural events in Boston's largest urban greenspace.

To purchase your raffle tickets, visit http://www.razoo.com/story/Run-For-Franklin-Park and make sure to leave a note that you are buying a raffle ticket with every $20.00 donation you make. 

Toomey is Full of Tips

Here on the Franklin Park Coalition Boston Marathon Team, we've got a coach who is not only USATF certified, but loves to help us out in anyway he can. Last year, he attended many of our fundraisers and was even a guest bartender for one of them.

That being said, he also knows how to torture us as well. If you've been on the hunt for a great core workout, look no further than this set of core torture:

Core Circuit

25 x Jump Ups - from the crouching/squatting position, spring upward and extend your arms fully over your head then return to the crouching position and repeat as quick as possible in one fluid motion.

10 X Decline Push-ups Like regular push-ups but with your feet at least 2 feet elevated over your head.

15 X Superman Lie on your stomach, flex your arms and legs upward until you form a half circle, relax and repeat.

10 X Yoga Push-ups - Place your hands and feet roughly 3 feet apart-{you should form an upside down V), but directly lined up with each other-this is called the downward dog position in yoga. Now scoop your head/face forward along the ground until you are in a sloped holding position with your arms and shoulders locked. This be should a position that has your whole body in it's forward most position. You knees should never touch the ground. Now return to the original position in the same manner that you arrived at the locked forward position.

5 X 30 Count In-n-Out Abdominal Holds Lie with your legs and back flat and your hands at your sides. Raise your feet 3 inches off the ground and hold for five seconds, then move your legs out to the fully spread position, keeping them 3 inches off the ground, and locked for another five count. Continue until the total time is a 30 count, then rest for a 5 count and repeat.

15 X Regular Push-Ups

30 X Alternate Leg Chinnies- Lie with your back flat on the ground, with your legs bent in the 90-degree position. Now alternate bringing your elbow to the opposite knee. These are also known as bicycle crunches.

10 X Triangle Push-Ups - From the standard push-up position; place your hands directly below your chest and form a triangle with them using your thumb and index finger. Your legs should also be as far apart as possible, forming a big V. Now do a push-up.

40 X Weighted Crunches - Use a heavy book or a weight {5-15Ibs) to do a standard crunch.

25 x Chair Dips – using the tallest chair you can find, place your hands on the front edge. With your legs out in front of you resting on a surface as tall as the chair, lower yourself until your butt touches and then raise yourself.

15 X Morning Glories - Lie on your back fully extended with your arms stretched above your head. Now bend upward until you form a U with your hands meeting your feet directly above your waistline. You should be perfectly balanced on your butt. Relax back to the starting position and repeat.

25 X Leg Lunges_(each leg) -Standing with your hands on your waist for balance, take a giant exaggerated step forward so that you end up with your forward leg in the 90- degree position and your other leg fully extended and straight. Your back should be straight the whole time.

Meet our newest runner!

Kevin Meehan is from Quincy, MA. He currently works at Tufts University at The Fletcher School. He started running 2 and a half years ago. After running three half marathons in the Spring of 2012 he realized that it might be time to try the full 26.2. Picking November 2012 in Philadelphia as the spot to do it in as he sees it as a second home. After cheering on the runners in Boston last year he realized he wanted to be there too recently. He is looking forward to raising money for a cause that means something to him as he is a Boston boy at heart who loves nature and photography. 

To support Kevin's efforts in bringing neighbors together in Boston's greatest park, please visit: http://www.razoo.com/story/Kevin-S-Running-The-Boston-Marathon-For-Franklin-Park

Thanks to Zoo New England!

Big thanks to the Franklin Park Zoo for the very generous donation of zoo passes for the Franklin Park Coalition Team to use at upcoming events and raffles. The zoo staff is also kind enough to provide us with meeting space for our February 16 meeting and pizza lunch.

If you haven't been to the zoo in awhile, you need to check it out! The zoo is comprised of 72 acres of animal habitats, nestled in Franklin Park. The zoo opened in 1912 and has just finished a year-long centennial celebration. 

Visit the website or call 617-541-LION for hours and information. More importantly...get out there and explore! 

Carraro's Cornhole for the Coalition a Great Success!

If you didn't get a chance to enjoy Sunday Funday at Murphy's in Salem on Sunday then you missed out on a great fundraiser for the Franklin Park Coalition! Team member Jason Carraro put together a fun-filled day with a local pub and Boston Cornhole. There was camraderie as well as smack talk, but at the end of the day, all raised a glass to the success of the FPC...and other walked away with Celtics tickets and wine and steak baskets.

To join in the fun for other events, please check our team calendar often! We've got pub nights, pizza eating, more cornhole, comedy nights and more...all to make training and fundraising more fun for our team and to give our donors a little something back.

Emerald Necklace Fun Run with Playworks; Pounding the Pavement in Florida; Ocean Breezes

Our runners have been busy the past couple of weeks as training for the 2013 Boston Marathon has kicked off. Coach Toomey has some members running circles at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury on Tuesday nights, but the real fun has been in the long run...or what seems like a long run at this point!

Julie and Goofy pal Andrew cooling down after 39.3 miles .

On January 12-13, Marathon Charity Team Leader Julie Arrison participated in the Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge in Orlando, FL. "There is nothing like 39.3 miles of running to kick off marathon training," is what she says, followed by a "never again." While the run was well supported and blast, it was also hovered between 80-85 degrees for much of the runs. Needless to say there were some 2012 Boston Marathon flashbacks!



True to her 2012 form, Shari will continue to entertain us with her stories and fun from her runs. Shari followed Route 127 on the North Shore from Beverly to Manchester-By-The-Sea...which makes for a lovely summer run, but a challenge in the winter months! Reports of head wind on the loop back along with a nasty uphill added to the challenge, but we're sure a post-run red wine warmed Shari up quick!

Franklin hanging out in Tampa Bay.

Team member Michelle Collier has been away on business in Tampa, but that hasn't stopped her from taking in 13.5 miles with sightings of loons flying, and fish, ducks, and even a dolphin in the Bay. Plus, our NH runner just thought that running in shorts in January was a perk! Plus, she found some shoutouts to our fair city along the way.

"I went a long way to find a taste of Boston."

The highlight of the week was the our first joint run with the Playworks team. In order to consolidate resources and bring groups of charity runners together, great minds collided and great runners practiced for around 12 miles on the Emerald Necklace. The plan was to start in Franklin Park, travel along the Arborway, loop around Jamaica Pond, and head back...but one knows what they say about best laid plans! Team leaders Julie and Jon tried to keep up with the loops and wrong turns of our teams and eventually everyone got their needed miles and needed hydration along the way...plus they were treated to some great sites along the EN!

Babbling Winter Brook in Franklin Park...while waiting...waiting...waiting for lost runners!

Teammates flying around Jamaica Pond

Almost done...through the Forest Hills Underpass

Fanciest water stop on the Emerald Necklace this weekend!

Next week, the team tackles the North Shore, some increased mileage, and continued fun in preparing for the Boston Marathon!