What a winter it has been. I don’t think I have ever been so happy to say goodbye to February. For a short month, February sure felt long.

Despite the neverending snow and the really (really) cold temperatures, I am right on track with my training. I have been able to complete all of my long training runs outside, while running most of my mid-week, shorter runs inside on my treadmill. My foot is holding up really well (must have been the great physical therapy), and I have been feeling really strong through all of my long training runs. I am not running as fast as I would like, but I am OK with that.

As Boston bids farewell to February and welcomes March, we are starting to hear a lot more press about the 118th running of the Boston Marathon. Just this week, the B.A.A. announced the new policies for participants with regards to baggage and gear check, bib pick-up, items allowed on the course, finish area (for runners), and rules regarding unauthorized participants. I understand the need for most (if not all) of these new policies in the wake of last year’s events, and I am optimistic that these changes will not alter the experience for runners and spectators too much. However, I think it goes without saying that the marathon this year will be significantly different.

For me, March is actually both the most challenging and the most rewarding month for training for the Boston Marathon. The marathon starts to feel like it is not that far away (because everyone else is starting to talk about it now), but in reality most runners training for the marathon still have four or five long training runs planned before the taper, and those runs are usually pretty long. And in New England, March is still pretty cold. But by the end of March, I will have completed my longest training run and started to taper for the final weeks leading up to Marathon Monday.

Tomorrow I will be running 17 miles – if you are driving in Hudson and you see me out on my run be sure to beep! I may jump but I promise you it will help get me through my run!

At the Team MR8 kick off, we were given a wallet size, picture of Martin Richard running in the B.A.A. Kids Fun Run last year. The picture was taken on Sunday April 14th, the day before Martin was killed at the Boston Marathon finish line. I carry this picture with me on every long run and is a constant source of strength and motivation for me.

I want to thank everyone who has contributed so far to my fundraiser for the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation. I started my fundraiser exactly one month ago today and in that time I have received almost $5,000 in contributions. This is beyond amazing and I am so grateful for this opportunity to continue to promote Martin’s message of – “No more hurting people – peace”.

If you are able and haven’t already, please consider donating to this special charity through my fundraising page. It is easy, fast and secure, and no amount is too small.

Thank you again so much. I truly appreciate your time and your support. I wish you all continued strength, healing and peace

It has been just over a week since I notified you all of my plans to run the 2014 Boston Marathon in memory of Martin Richard and in honor of his wish for peace. In that short time I have already raised over $1,100 for the Martin W. Richard foundation. As a team of 72 runners, we have collectively raised over $160,000 which is an unprecedented pace for the first week of fundraising. This truly symbolizes the impact that 8-year old Martin Richard made on so many people, especially the city of Boston. Thank you so much to all who have already supported me and this special cause.

Tonight I attended the Team MR8 Kick Off event which was held in the State Street Pavilion at Fenway Park. I wish I had the words to adequately capture what an amazing experience this event was. Speakers included John Henry, Mayor Walsh (the mayor of Boston), and Dave McGillivray (the race director for the Boston Marathon). I enjoyed listening to all of these speakers, but most of all I enjoyed meeting and listening to Bill Richard, Martin’s father.

It was a humbling experience to be the guest of a family who has been through so much since last April. And it was sad to hear stories from a father, about a little boy I will never have the opportunity to know. But I am grateful for the opportunity to support and share the mission of the Martin W. Richard foundation – “No more hurting people – peace”. Martin will never have the chance to make the world a better place, but we can do it for him. Please consider donating to this special charity through my fundraising page. It is easy, fast and secure, and no amount is too small.

On Saturday morning, I will be running 14 miles, while dodging ice patches and snow banks. Please send warm thoughts my way and if you happen to see me running around Hudson – be sure to beep! I may jump but I promise you it will help me get through my run.

Thank you again so much. I truly appreciate your time and your support. I wish you all continued strength, healing and peace.

Out of respect for the Richard family, I did not take any pictures during the presentations. But I did take this picture of Fenway in February – covered in snow. It was, very appropriately, a quiet and peaceful setting for this special event.