Instead of hearing from me this week, I thought I would share this message that the Team MR8 runners received from Bill Richard today, as his words are more meaningful than mine could ever be. I also wanted you to see first hand how truly grateful the family is for all of the support they are receiving in the memory of their child, as well as some of the initiatives they are considering with the funds raised.

This weekend I ran a total of 22 miles – 18 yesterday and 4 today. Both days were perfect running days – beautiful, sunny, not too warm and not too cold. I think of Martin and his family often during my runs, and always carry his picture with me as a reminder of how truly precious this life is.

Thanks to all who have supported me already – I am extremely grateful for all of the donations I have received. If you would still like to contribute you can do so here: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/LauraDonia/team-mr8-boston-marathon-2014. Six weeks to go and counting…

Dear Team MR8,

We hope you are all doing well and perhaps back from a training run this morning — the weather is certainly warmer.  Our son Henry just left with his MR8 hat for a two mile loop we do in our neighborhood.  His first day of cross country practice is this Monday evening.

We write for a few reasons, not the least of which is to remind each of you how grateful we are to have you as an inaugural runner for our first marathon team.  Clearly it’s been a brutal winter for training (here in the northeast), but we expect and hope you will reap the rewards of such harsh conditions with a strong run on April 21.  We have 99 runners and will be adding our final runner in a day or two, so we’ll be 100 strong on Marathon Day.  You may notice our number of runners doesn’t match the number of fundraisers on the First Giving site and that’s because we allowed some registered runners to join and fundraise as a team – the amount raised being the same as if they we fundraising alone.  A few runners who are part of our team that you may not know about are Amby Burfoot, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon and current Editor-at-Large of Runner’s World; Dave Mcgillivary, Race Director for the BAA, well known for his run across America in 1978 but still runs Boston every year, at night, when his work is done; and Blake Boldon, Executive Director of the Indianapolis Marathon, and among his many accomplishments the third Iowan to complete a sub-four minute mile.

Speaking of First Giving and your fundraising efforts, we are amazed at the response and the amount raised to date.  THANK YOU.  After some discussions here, we intend to raise our goal to $750,000 from the current $500,000.  This is not to move the goal line but rather to hopefully incentivize folks to donate to each of you and not be deterred as we approach or reach our goal. If we close in on 750K we will raise it to 1M.  Now that we have our official letter from the IRS authorizing all donations as tax deductible, we hope to raise funds from corporate donors as well, which will all be tallied on the First Giving page.  If anybody needs a copy of this letter please let Susan or one of us know.

**We are planning an event at a neighborhood restaurant, Tavolo Ristorante, www.tavolopizza.com, on on Sunday April 6, time TBD but likely 3-7pm.  Here you will be able to meet many of your new teammates and re-connect with some you’ve already met.  But also it will be a chance to pick-up your Saucony Gear which includes your race singlet, jacket, sneakers, hat and shirt.  If you can’t make this event we will UPS everything to you.  Note:  An email e-vite will be sent to you this week, please kindly respond so we can plan accordingly**

Since the Marathon Weekend falls on Easter Sunday this year, the events in Boston are largely crammed into Friday and Saturday but I am quite sure the BAA is still sponsoring their Pasta Dinner that Sunday night — you should check their website for details.  We will not be doing anything, team-wise, on Easter Sunday before race day.  On Saturday the 19th we will have up to 150 runners participating in the BAA sponsored 5K run:  family, friends and youth.   We will be wearing the same long sleeve shirt in your Saucony gear pack, so if you are in town Saturday morning feel free to come cheer us on.  The race starts at 8am.  And following the race on Monday you are welcome to stop by Equinox  Health Club just a few blocks from the finish line: www.equinox.com/clubs/dartmouth.  There you can shower, rest, get a massage from one of our on-site masseuses and have a light post-race snack.  More details as we get closer to race day.

Foundation News: We continue to plan and meet with larger foundations and corporations who are interesting in helping or partnering on various initiatives.  As you should all know by now, our Mission is to: Honor Martin’s message of ‘No more hurting people – Peace’ by investing in education, athletics and community.  Many of your donors, and perhaps yourselves, would like to know what exactly that means (?)  Our ideas are still fluid and we continue to meet and discuss, but some ideas range from Library Peace Corners and peace-based curricula (Education); retrofitting or making ballparks and playgrounds accessible to all children (Athletics) and thru Community by inspiring and mobilize kids through service, to make a difference in the world.  Also, to help families like ours, who suffer tragedy and are in need of community and/or financial support.

Every Monday, beginning tomorrow, you will receive an email from us – a “Monday Countdown” till Marathon Monday on April 21.  The email will offer an update on what we’re up to, maybe highlight a particular fundraising effort, but really just to give you greater insight of our efforts while you all continue your training for the big day.

Thanks and enjoy your Sunday.

Peace,
Bill and Denise Richard

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.