Running faster. For a reason.

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The Concept

So, yeah, I'm running the Hamptons Half-Marathon in September, along with some coworkers and pals, and I need your help.

A Half Marathon?

Yeah, what's wrong with that? What, are you already giving me grief because I'm not doing the full? Well, more on that later, but goodness gracious.

I hate running. I always have, since I first detoured from the Husky section at Mervyns to buy soccer cleats and got anxious about the windsprints at the end of practice. I think it's boring. Why run for an hour when you can play a game? Cycling is a much more efficient transportation method, and I burn way more calories playing an hour of squash.

So Why the Hell Are You Doing This?

"Because I never have before" is usually a lame reason, but it's one of many in this case. I've never been in a race. Like I said, I hate running. But I come from solid stock (my dad's gym is littered with medals and trophies from running accomplishments) and want to take this challenge on.

But there's a much more emotional challenge too, stemming from a desire to focus time and effort towards a goal of doing something good. In training for and running this race (and, accordingly, you supporting me) we'll be doing something very important: sharing concern.

Sharing Concern...

The training has actually been pretty easy--after all, it's just running, a really basic human thing we've been doing for eons.

It's even easier when you think about friend and neighbors and people who've had to endure lots more. Luckily, someone who's got a tougher challenge than me came along to help keep the real focus of what we're doing in mind.

I'm raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through its Team in Training program, with the goal to pull together $5,000 toward research and experimentation to eradicate blood cancers.

I truly believe in my lifetime we will find a cure for cancer. The process will be directly accelerated by funding for related scientific initiatives.

...With Friends and Neighbors

I've known Jack Cheng for a little while, but only met him a few times. We first met at a Likemind morning, and I kept up with him via his blog, where he'd deliver occasional well-thought-out nuggets of inspiration couched in awesome, clean design.

A couple weeks ago, Jack posted on a dilemma. I'm interested in dilemmas, because there's never a good solution; a dilemma, contrary to popular belief, is a choice between two equally unpopular options. It turns out, though that the hypothetical Jack wrote about had tangible roots, and it was bad news about his mom. I'll let him explain:

Those of you that follow me on twitter know that I’m in Michigan for the summer. I’m here because a couple months ago, my mother was diagnosed with stage 1A Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Quick cancer lesson: Hodgkin’s is a blood cancer, and typically more predictable than its non-Hodgkin’s cousin. There are four stages, with the lateness of the stage reflecting how far the cancer has spread. The ‘A’ designation means that Mom wasn’t showing any outward symptoms like night sweats, fevers or weight loss.

...

The day Mom scheduled the times for her two-plus months of chemotherapy and radiation, she was finally able to land an appointment with a fourth, well-respected hospital she had previously (unsuccessfully) tried to get time with. Here’s where things got complicated: the doctors at the fourth hospital reviewed the previous tests, conducted their own, and came to the conclusion that there wasn’t enough evidence to call it cancer at all! Their recommendation? No treatment, just monitor the situation closely.

We had to make a choice — in one scenario, we would (and were about to) endure chemo and radiation (no stroll in the park by any means), and in the other, we’d take the risk that it really wasn’t cancer and pray that nothing happens (or if something does happen, that we don’t catch it too late). Like in my thought experiment, it was a choice between the certainty of shorter-term suffering and the uncertainty of a possible longer-term, severe suffering.

The Chengs chose to go through with the chemo, and Jack's mom Jane Zheng is currenty receiving chemotherapy treatments at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, one of the top cancer centers in the world.

This past Monday, Mom, had her first of four chemo sessions. Parts of the Detroit-area hospital doing the treatment look like they were taken from the interior of a spaceship designed during the cold war. They hand out buzzers in the waiting area like they do at Shake Shack.

...

We’re still learning and getting used to the side-effects of chemo. Some days go by like nothing happened at all, while on others Mom says it’s like she’s pregnant all over again. My little brother flies in at the beginning of July and I’m looking forward to spending time with him too. This summer is going to be one of the most difficult of our lives, but I think, at the same time, we can make it on of the best.

I've never met Mrs. Zheng, but Jack's message arriving the day I started my training revealed a strong point to me--anyone can get sick, and when they do, it's up to us to display solidarity and do what we can to help.

I'm honored Jack was stoked when I broached the topic of running in support of his mom; I think she's doing the right thing by heading off any potential problems at the pass with chemo now, and I'm absolutely certain the professionals at Karmanos will do their best to help her get better. If the knowledge that some random pal of her son who's running a half marathon is keeping her in his thoughts helps her tough this out one iota, then the race is won, so to speak.

Jane Zheng, in front of the Bird's Nest in Beijing

The Execution

Training Diary

The Team in Training guys are great--coaches, motivators, mentors, all of 'em. So much so that this has been a breeze. Should I step up and do the full marathon? I guess we can decide that down the road. But here's how it's going so far.

6/9: 2.43 miles at 30:00, 12'30" pace, AM

Phew. Get the lead out, slo poke. For my first run in a while (maybe six months) I took it slow and went up to Prospect Park and back with mylady Juno. I dislike running, so much so that she had to practically pull me out of bed to get going. But once we were moving, my blood started circulating, and it became an energizing start to the day.

6/11: 3.34 miles at 30:09, 9'01" pace, PM

I think I might run a little better at night. I pushed myself and ran a little further and faster than Tuesday. Similar track as last time, up through Prospect Park. The night was warm and foggy and as I ran I'd go face-first through low-hanging branches and leaves and get a cool splash of condensation.

6/13: 6.2 miles at 63:10, 10'16" pace, AM

Today was my first practice with the group. We ran out to Red Hook. We started early, but it got hot quickly and by the time we got out past IKEA and Fairway and onto the old cobbled streets I was wishing the NY waterways were safe to swim in. It would be unfortunate to get a terrible disease training for a run to help cure terrible diseases. Over six miles, eh? That's the longest I've ever run!

On a related note, I got some new shorts that are definitely running shorts, meaning shorter-than-any-other-kind-of-shorts-except-Daisy-Dukes-shorts. "Pics or it didn't happen," you say. Hold tight, my threshold for humiliation is gradual.

UPDATE: Look at this killer photo of Team Crain BKLYN. What a group of crazy athletes! (from left: Abbey Klaassen, me, Tim Dalbey and Angela Carola)

6/15: 3.5 miles at 32:58, 9'21" pace, PM

Good run, up to Prospect Park and around through some of the paths, then cutting back onto the main path to head home.

Ran without headphones; not listening to music wasn't as tough as I thought it would be--there were plenty of birds chirping and sounds in the park to keep me listening.

6/21: 9.3 miles, trails, ~10' miles, AM

This was a fun run.

My dad's a big runner--he's done a ton of marathons, and is still fast as hell as he enters his sixth decade on this earth. I was back in Detroit, and it was Father's Day, so I decided to finally humor him and do something I've been avoiding for, oh, say a dozen years--go running together.

It isn't that I'm worried about my dad showing me up. He'd never try to make me feel bad or run fast and leave me behind. I've just never really been interested.

So early on Sunday, with my legs still very sketchy after 48 holes of disc golf at Hudson Mills the day before, we broke out and went over to Island Lake State Park along with one of my dad's running buds. We did almost ten miles on the trails, up and down hills, through mud and sunny fields--the farthest I've ever run before. And we didn't even go terribly slow.

6/23: Interval training, ~2 miles alternating 200m lengths with fast pace and recovery, PM

I like doing intervals. It's fun to test yourself, and, as is the goal of this half marathon, train your body to go faster. I'd prefer to do them on an oval, though, because my mind tends to wander and I need some sort of heavy visual cues as to where to go. Case in point this time; every 200m we had to alternate between a very brisk pace and a recovery pace, but I forgot to turn around at the nearly invisible designated point and went on doing the push-recovery sets for another half mile or so, until I got to the bottom of the hill. I jogged back to see the others and finished things off but my absentmindedness really threw off my rhythm.

6/27: 6.7 miles at ~ 73, 11' miles, AM

Had a good run and chat with Angela of team Brooklyn after we couldn't bring ourselves to head to Manhattan to work with the rest of the group. Fun, light run, no music, just chit chat, two loops at Prospect Park on a hot day.

What Can I Do?

A few things, actually. I'm after your time, your effort, and your connections. Or any combination of them.

If you're short on time but have some effort (or, what your effort produces) to spare, please donate to help me reach my goal of $5,000. You can see how I'm doing here. I'll keep you posted on how things are going on this page, and personally check in a few times during the training to keep you updated.

Be certain: I understand the value of money, and the hard work you put into earning it. But this is a worthy cause, and you can make a difference.

If you've got plenty of time, (or you'd prefer to have few drinks too) come and hang out at our team fundraiser on July 8th at 6:30. Angela Carola, seen above, put it all together to help Team Crain reach out to our industry pals. Ang sez:

...we will be holding an Industry Social at Red Sky on East 29th between Park and Madison on Wednesday at July 8th at 6:30pm.

We will charge attendees $20 for a bracelet when entering. Anyone wearing the bracelet will have extended happy hour prices for drinks; all of the money from bracelet sales will go to Team in Training. To help fill the bar with his industry friends and fans, Ken Wheaton has agreed to guest bartend from 6:30-7:30.

Details:

Team Crain TNT Fundraising Event for Lymphoma and Leukemia

featuring guest bartender, AdAge's Ken Wheaton

Wednesday, July 8, 6:30-9pm

Red Sky http://redskynyc.com

E. 29th btw Park and Madison, Upstairs Bar

$20 Donation plus cost of drinks

If you've got friends or colleagues who might want to support us, please let them know. Send a link to this page, give us a social network shoutout.

As they say on the subway, penny, nickel, dime or quarter, all are appreciated. Blog post, Facebook update, Tweet or link love, all are welcome.