Running the Boston Marathon Virtually in Dedham

Last spring I finished the Boston Marathon for the 3rd time. I came off of a torn quad muscle that sidelined me from the 2018 edition of the race and one month after my most recent finish I needed surgery for compartment syndrome. I possibly could have lost the lower half of my right leg if not for this surgery. Despite my best efforts I truly have not been the same person or runner since this happened.

I have started running again, but have some nerve damage in my leg as a result of the surgery. I've gone through some depression over not being able to run as well as I had hoped and I wasn't myself for quite a while. Bad eating habits have come back and the much slimmer person I was in 2016, the first time I ran Boston seems like a lifetime ago now.

There are days I go out and try and run and my leg feels funny because the lower leg gets numb and I try to push the issue and my weight has hindered me. I know some folks will think this is odd, but I do take my faith seriously and sometimes I think maybe he's trying to tell me my running days are over. Maybe I've done enough. And my body won't do this like it used to, but my heart still loves it. I still love it. I still crave that moment. The anticipation of the starting line, going out and running and feeling free. There is nothing else like it and there isn't anything like the Boston Marathon experience.

I'm not normally this candid about my feelings, but I've had people tell me I inspire them. Some have even told me I give them hope. Right now I sit here writing this and I'm looking for hope. I have other things I enjoy. I have a 3rd children's book near completion and will be writing a new one very soon about my ancestry. I also enjoy yoga and my charitable efforts. I haven't stopped trying. This January a very special opportunity came my way. The Michael Lisnow Respite Center offered me the opportunity to run my 4th Boston Marathon. I had fundraisers planned and started training and was very excited. My work location was then moved and more uncertainty and I was now working near Downtown Crossing. I made the best of it and started running the Common at lunch and just weeks later everything closed down due to COVID-19. I couldn't have any fundraisers due to restrictions and due to people being out of work most folks have been unable to donate to my cause.

The Michael Lisnow Respite Center helps families by allowing very ill children, many with special needs to live at the center 3 days per week to give the parents rest and be able to go to work during the week without having to be concerned about their daily care. They also house adults that in some cases the staff is their family as they may no longer have family. This is a special place and they truly do God's work here on Earth. Right now they are facing uncertainty as they have lost 50% of their state funding due to the pandemic. I feel like I have failed them due to my very unremarkable progress fundraising. I'm hoping over the next month I can try to get a few more donations for them because they are counting on the marathon team now more than ever to help them.

I decided to bring the Boston Marathon to Dedham on 9/12/20. I am running an out and back from the Dedham High School parking lot to down Whiting Avenue to Mt. Vernon Street and left on Mt. Vernon to Jefferson Street and back. This is a two mile loop and I will be running/walking it 13 times and then well complete the remaining .2 miles on the track at the school. I've invited old friends who remember my journey to my first Boston and this is also an open invitation to come root me on or join me and take part in the Virtual Boston Marathon. I'm hoping we can make that on mile stretch out and back pretty rowdy that day. This is Dedham so I'd love to see some maroon and white support. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Here is a little video about the respite center and the wonderful work they do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJNPwouvobc&t=83s Their official website is: http://www.hopkintonrespite.com/ I haven't gotten the chance to meet any of the folks on this team in person yet nor have I been able to tour and come visit the children they service due to the pandemic, but I am inspired and invested and a place like this is special and so necessary. There are families that count on them and they are counting on me and all of my teammates on this team. The last link I will include is my fundraising page. https://charity.gofundme.com/donate/project/michael-lisnow-respite-center2/danoneil1?fbclid=IwAR1T4QJZ88TufUpstTDpJBg_KLCuQ75-ZCNC5KXMwlxW32puzkKZwQZgI7w

We've all had a rough year. I hope if you can you will consider helping me help this wonderful cause. Thank you and be safe and god bless.