FLYNN2010's blog

I ran on the treadmill at the Weymouth Club this morning ... the first segment anyways. I can only take running on a treadmill for so long before I am bored to death, so I'll go back tonight and do another hour. I have met with several clients recently who are caring for a spouse or a parent with Alzheimer's. This disease takes such a significant toll on the caretaker as well as the patient ... and my greatest challenge lately is convincing clients to accept help. While I understand their difficulty in delegating some of the care due to a sense of moral obligation, the reality is that if caretakers do not take care of themselves first, they will not be able to care for their loved ones for long. The Alzheimer's Association is a significant resource for those who suffer from the disease and their caregivers, and I am determined to raise as much money as possible to support the great work that they do. If you would like to support the Run for the Memory please go to http://www.alz.kintera.org/boston2010 and select "sponsor participant" then type Judith Flynn. Thank you!!
74 Days to Go
$3,175 Raised

I did a 10-mile run through Hingham and Cohasset, along the Harbor, up through Scituate and back again today. It was pretty cold, but the sun shone through now and then and the scenery along the way was amazing - especially down at Cohasset Harbor. The last couple of miles were tough, but hopefully this course will get a little easier each time I do it. I just found out that headphones aren't allowed in the marathon -- that's horrible news since listening to the music is the only way I am getting through this insanity! Oh well, I figure I'll use them for a few more weeks until I feel comfortable doing 13-15 miles, and then I'll start to wean myself off of them in preparation for the marathon. I spoke with Beverly Moore recently, who is an amazing Alzheimer's coach. She has volunteered at the 20-mile water station to support the Run for the Memory, so a big thank you to Beverly! If any of you have family or clients who are dealing with the challenges of Alzheimer's Disease, check out Beverly's website at www.stilmee.com to find resources and information about how her coaching services can help to ease the process.
79 Days to Go
$3,025 raised

I can NOT believe it is only 80 days before the Boston Marathon. How can that be? I just started this challenge yesterday with something like 113 days to go ... Panic has not officially set in yet, but I do feel it looming close by ... I just keep reminding myself that the primary goal is to raise as much money as possible to fight Alzheimer's Disease and it puts it all in perspective. You can make a donation online at http://alz.kintera.org/boston2010 and select "sponsor participant" and type in Judith Flynn. Thank you!
80 Days to Go
$3,025.00

I felt stronger than I have in a long time during my run the other day ... I don't know if it was because the training is finally starting to pay off or because the SUN actually came out. This challenge is about 90% mental after all, and the sun makes it a completely different experience! The sun was short-lived, however, as this is New England and there is no consistency, particularly in the winter. So, the roller coaster ride of weather, injuries, and illness interspersed with moments of actually enjoying this continues... This all reminds me of what Forrest Gump said ... "life's like a box of chocolates .. you never know what you're gonna get!" It's so true ... each day I set out for what I hope will be a decent training session, and each day it seems I get a different experience ... some good, some forgettable, but all for a great cause.
90 Days to Go
$2,600 Raised

I subscribe to the philosophy "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," so I've never gotten a flu shot. After being sidelined for nearly two weeks from the flu and a sinus infection, however, I will probably be more proactive next year. While I'm not where I'd hoped to be by now, I'm finally back to the training. It's a little scary to think there are only 93 days before the marathon, but it's also encouraging that the days are getting longer and the worst of the winter is, hopefully, over. I met with a few clients this week who are caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease. While each situation is unique, the challenges of this disease are universal and every encounter I have with this disease reinforces the need for us to raise as much money as possible to fight it. If you would like to support the Run for the Memory, please go to http://alz.kintera.org/boston2010 select "sponsor participant" and enter Judith Flynn.
93 Days to Go
$2,550 Raised

I've been knocked out by the flu for the past couple of days. Can hardly breathe sitting still, never mind running. I feel like precious days have slipped away - I don't have time to be sick! I'm determined to be well enough to get back to the training tomorrow so I'm downing orange juice by the gallon. I hope to have a training update to post tomorrow.
105 Days to Go
$1,450 raised

There's no where to run outside with all this snow, so I've resorted to treadmill training until some of it melts. I focus on whatever music I'm listening to on my IPOD and break it up with some intervals at varying speeds and inclines.
108 Days to Go
$1,400 Raised

I had to do an alternate workout today (stairmaster) to rest my heel ... plantar fasciitis is flaring up. If you've ever experienced it, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, I can best explain it as holding a large nail over a flame until it's really hot - then jabbing it into the bottom of your heel! It's painful. I've had it for years and just deal with it, but I think it has flared up because I needed better sneakers - which I bought today! So, tomorrow is another day.
109 Days to Go
$1,350 raised

I had a nice run from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights today. It was snowing lightly and a little desolate. Quite a different view than I'm used to in the summer - there was grey and white all around me -- even the ocean -- but beautiful just the same. I felt stronger today than I have in a while, so I'm (cautiously) encouraged. I know I just have to stick with the program no matter how I feel on any given day and hope that my conditioning and stamina will improve each week.
108 Days to Go
$1,350 raised

Today's run was a mental challenge before I even left my house. I'm glad it's over with and all I can do is hope that tomorrow is a better day. On the bright side, donations are beginning to come in and that helps me to remember that I'm not just crazy for signing on to do this -- that there is meaning to my madness!
Please be safe on this New Year's Eve and here's to a happy and healthy 2010.
110 Days to Go
$1,350 raised