Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hello again readers! I am currently waiting in the Tampa airport and contemplating a little stretching activity before boarding.

The vacation was glorious and filled to the brim with fun! I toured around the Floridian landscape with my cousin and parents. I played three incredible rounds of golf, jet skied for the first time, made sure to enjoy one or two afternoon drinks, walked on the beach to view the dolphins jumping, relaxed with yoga on the beach, screamed at Animal Kingdom, cheered on the Red Sox as they beat the Yankees at Fort Meyers, drank my last Coors Light at Downtown Disney (more to be explained later), and didn’t get sun burned!

I ran a few times too! When I arrived on Thursday morning, I hit the beach and swimming for a little and then headed out for a run. To my delight, I’ve found relief and an explanation for some of my leg pain. When I run on even level terrain, my legs are happy and pain free! I ran 10 miles that day, not quite on purpose, but it felt good to accomplish a run so early in the vacation.

Friday was a scheduled rest day, and I enjoyed a game of golf and prepped for the next day! My mom read in the local paper about an 8K- 5mile race starting and ending at Sharkie’s - our favorite waterfront restaurant! A T-Shirt would be given, along with prizes for age groups, door prizes and water stops! Thrilled at the chance to get in another run in the midst of my crazy vacation schedule, and one with water stops sounded too good to be true. Even though I attended my first Sox game of the season, I kept my promise of discipline and did not drink anything and it paid off!

I won the race! Well, winning has a fuzzy definition for me. My goal was to run 8 minute miles and finish under 40 minutes and I blew it out of the water so that means I won! I finished with an official time of 35:48 seconds, earning a 2nd place medal for my age group, and finished 29th overall in a group of a few hundred. My motivation to run fast came from my cousin Lynn, who mentioned before the race that the whole course is FLAT so I better run fast. Very good point, the course was flat and pleasant to run on! My first mile was 8:10, then my second mile was around 6:30 and I averaged just over 7 minutes per mile! It appears that I'm in pretty good shape! I had to run off to Disney World immediately after the race, and I figured that only the top finisher received a prize. Anyway, I picked up my second place medal from the YMCA a couple days later.
Race Results

Pictured below is me with my parents following the race.



Heather explains that a 25-year-old woman is not allowed to drink Coors Light. I’m taking her advice, but here’s the documentation of my last silver bullet.


My cousin Lynn Wille and I travel around the island together.




Thanks Karen and Chris for the St. Patrick's day donation!!!

Best Day Ever!

I started my day with a good workout at the gym in the morning.

I had a great day at work, for no particular reason.

Then to my delight, I stopped at the local convenient store to quickly pick up a beverage for my sister's birthday party. Sam Adams Summer Ale is out! I found the Sun! The summer has arrived!

Time to sign off for a few days.

I'm going on vacation to Florida! The official Golf season begins! I went to the driving range about a month ago, but I will be golfing for days straight! I'll fit in some runs and I've already scouted out a gym. Have a good weekend everyone!

Progress Report

Hey everyone! Thanks for reading! I noticed on Sunday through my statcounter, I had 73 visitors to my blog. I hope you're all enjoying the content.

Update for you. My body feels better, much better than it did on Saturday! And my spirits have improved as well.

If you're on the fence about my last post, go buy the book! I cannot wait to visit the gym each day to read it. I worked out harder and longer yesterday than I ever have before in my life... while at a gym, that is! David McGillavry's story is very inspiring and motivating. I came close to tears while riding on the little exercise bike, but in a way that I cannot wait for Marathon Monday. I can't believe I'm going to have the opportunity to run with and through so much history!

Happy Day Light Savings! I've made it! We've made it to safer running times!! I am actually all suited up at the moment, packing in some energy of yogurt, accelerade, and toast for a quick 5 mile run before my buddy's charity fundraiser at the Fireflies.

Time to fess up and a Quick plea, I lost my iPod over a week ago. I might have left it at the gym, but the real problem is I'm scared my marathon training is going to fall. I'm not sure where it will fall to, but it could go to an 11 or 12 minute pace. I WILL HAVE NO IDEA and NEITHER will YOU! Extra pod anyone? I'm not sure I can afford another one at the moment. It's a ridiculous question, I know, but I'm not certain who those 73 readers are. Maybe Steve Jobs is reading and wants me to succeed as much as all of you!

Okay, it's time to run in the cloudy, but warm fun!

David J. McGillivray

David J. McGillivray is the race director for the Boston Marathon. He first came to fame, as I learned from reading, info also located on the BAA website, for his cross-country run for the Jimmy Fund in 1978. He has run for 24 hours straight, biked 24 hours, run 122 marathons and generally impresses me in many ways. All of the charity runners had the pleasure of hearing from Mr. McGillivray on Thursday evening has he hosted a logistic meeting to calm our nerves and pump us all up. He's a hoot! His jokes were light and witty, and all well delivered in the company of scared, naive, excited charity runners.

This afternoon, as I recovered from my over eating at breakfast, I sped off to the bookstore in search of a running motivational book. I looked around, and within a moment of fret and dismay, I noticed, "The Last Pick" by David McGillivray. As mentioned in the forward by Joan Benoit Samuelson, "this book seems to belong everywhere. It's a management book, a self help book, a sports book, a biography, and even a history book." Perfect, it speaks to all my literary interests. I immediately start reading, and only put it down for driving, but continue reading as I pump iron at the gym. I had decided during the charity meeting on Thursday that I'd love to work in some way for the Boston Marathon. What better way to get there than to read about the path of the great David J. McGillivray? Even if I don't end up in the ranks of the Boston Marathon management team, I'll be further inspired for my April 20th run, and moving in the right direction.

Well, that's Marathon Training

Today I had big plans to run 18 miles. My week was a little busy with training, fundraising and charity meetings that I felt extremely tired and I ended up only running 16.5 miles. My body was in pain for the entire run, but it was a gorgeous Spring sunny morning. It was my first warm Spring day to run so I didn't want the agony of my pain to be an issue, I kept telling myself it was a beautiful day to run, with some pretty funny people, and that I'm training for the Boston Marathon and I have tons of people cheering me on. Hehee No, no one was on the sides of the roads in Southborough, but I could hear them loud and clear from Wednesday night at Owen O'Leary's.

Owen O'Leary's Fundraiser was a blast. I can't thank you enough if you took the time out of your busy week to stop by. It means so much to me!

Anyway, I finished the run and fell immediately into a snow bank. I love Massachusetts. We're running in 60 degree weather, but with the convenience of snow banks for easy relief. When I came home, I finished reading my book while 'snowing' my shins in the snow banks outside my apartment. sweet, right?



Everyone at the GFRC is really helpful. They all gave me tons of advice for all my aches and pains, and I think I'm on my way again...

Anyway, you can check out pictures on the shutterfly from my fundraiser. Enjoy!

Jiaiie (Charles) Su - College Essay

Charles is a high school senior in the Bottom Line program right now. He emigrated from China and is in this country, basically by himself. He wants to go to college, but it is difficult for an 18 year old from another country who has no family here except for grandparents that don't speak English. He comes to Bottom Line for the support that is missing in his life. His story is incredible, but he is not the exception. We have many students in the same situation as Charles. Please take a minute to read his story.

Charles' Essay

Late winter. Early morning. Dawn had just broken.

My mind wandered as I walked to school. One year already, I thought, how time flies! One year ago, my dad and I emigrated from China to America. At the beginning, we lived in my grandparents' home, which was in a senior housing project. We had to sleep on the couches in the living room since there was only one bedroom. A month later, the housing manager asked us to move out because the housing was for seniors only. We quickly found a room to rent for ourselves. After two months, dad told me that he was thinking about going back to China. I did not disapprove because I knew the language barrier frustrated him. Besides, a decent job, a wife, and a daughter were waiting for him in China. He left, and I started to live by myself. He called me once a week, asking how I was doing.

"I'm OK." I would tell him, "Everything's fine."

I lied. Having an independent life was not as easy as I had expected. Buying groceries, cooking, cleaning room, doing dishes and laundry, managing time and money... All of a sudden, I had to deal with things that I was not good at. The biggest challenge, in fact, was the enormous loneliness and homesickness which I had never felt before. The street, the train, the people, the trees... Everything seemed so alien to me. There were nights that I talked to myself. There were nights that I could almost see the immense shadow of loneliness filling up my bedroom and trying to engulf me. I struggled, but I did not feel lost. My father's decision to leave showed his faith in my self-reliance. I strived hard to adjust to this new lifestyle by balancing schoolwork and housework as best I could.

Time went by fast today. The bell for the end of the school day took me by surprise.

Carrying bags of ingredients and a cake bought in Chinatown, I went to my grandparents' apartment. It was just a plain space with old furniture, but it was the only place that I could still feel a sense of home, of belonging. When preparing dinner with them, I could not help but notice that they were aging. I loved them more than anybody else in the world because they had sacrificed a lot for me. In 1998, they moved to America not know any English and had been living here in order to apply for my immigration. They wanted me to get the best education and career. Whenever I think of their sacrifices, I know that I will never disappoint them.

After finishing dinner, I put the cake with a lit candle on the table. I felt grateful to my grandparents for taking care of me in both China and America, and joyful for them still being healthy compared to other people their age.

"Happy eighteenth birthday!" my grandparents said cheerfully.
No crowds of friends. No dozens of gifts. Yet my heart felt warm and bright.
"Hope they will always be healthy and happy." I made a wish and then blew out the candle.
Late winter. Late evening. The silence rested in the darkness. Lying on my cot, I closed my eyes, waiting for a brand new day to come.

Marathon Week! I am so blessed!

Wow, what a week! I am high as a kite and as exhausted as a runner that just finished the Boston Marathon twice!

My Southborough Owen O'Leary's fundraiser on Wednesday, March 4th - Parade Day was a wicked awesome success!!! (the wicked phrase is a shout out for the enjoyment of Aunt Sue, Cousin Craig and Michelle) We raised $1200!! I feel so blessed to know such amazing people that are so supportive! Thank you to my wonderful work friends that extended their day to join me, thank you to the Greater Framingham Club Members that ran 10 miles and still came out for my event, Thank you to all my UMass friends for driving from far and wide to attend, and thank you to my Mom, Dad, Molly, Josh, Laura, and little Elizabeth for all the support. Elizabeth said she enjoyed her first visit to a bar. It was a big night all around.


********* We've raised over $5000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!********
I can't describe how excited I am to have raised $5000 already. Everyone around my office has been so supportive and excited for me. It's been the talk of the office all week and today was a big day as I could joyfully answer the question of "How did last night turn out?" with, "I've made it! We've reached the goal!" Since it was the subject of all discussion, the few times that I had a moment to myself to think, it was almost overwhelming to reflect on all that's happened. All the support has been fantastic. Thank You Friends!

As I mentioned, I am exhausted so I promise to update on my week tomorrow. I'm happily going to bed.