GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL

Today at Noon I reached my fundraising goal of $6000 for the incredible Mass Eye and Ear! It has been an absolute pleasure running for Team Eye and Ear and I really must thank everyone there (especially Kristina Sym) for their support and encouragement throughout the training season and especially on race day. It was such a challenging experience but for every rough day or rough mile, the reward was 10 fold.

Thank you for the bottom of my heart to all the companies that supported my fundraisers and all of the individual donors. You are incredible people. I am still accepting donations through tomorrow for those still interested in donating you can visit http://www.firstgiving.com/shawnwolfgang

Eternally grateful

Shawn

Mission Accomplished: Boston Marathon

Just past halfway

When I set out to run the Boston Marathon many years ago after the inspiration of a college mentor, part of me never thought it would happen. On Monday, when I was actually running the Boston Marathon for Mass Eye and Ear, part of me didn’t believe it was happening.

It was easily on of the defining moments in my life. I can’t tell you how great it feel to run down Boylston St knowing that I had just run 26.2 miles. Along the way I saw so many great friends and family members that cheered me along. There were so many people screaming and cheering my name and those of everyone around me that I was so glad I didn’t run with my iPod. Those screams and cheers kept me going over the hills of Newton. They made me run again when I was walking and was wondering where the hell the finish line was.

I saw a woman, bald from chemo, whose shirt said “My PR was beating cancer”. I saw another man whose shirt read “Boston 2009, Cancer 2010, Boston 2011″. At one point I ran past Team Hoyt and even Ray Allen’s Mom. There were Batmans and Robins and clowns and cavemen, there was even a burger and fries.

By mile 19 my feet hurt from my ankles to my toenails. Then at mile 24, I saw a sign that said “Know why your feet hurt? Because you’re kicking so much ass.” My feet still hurt, but suddenly it was an good hurt. There were cheers for Team Eye and Ear and there were simple “thank you”s.

While I may not have set a world record, I most definitely won this race. Another sign on the hills said “Today you go from a runner to a marathoner”. Perhaps even more impressive is that I went from a non-runner to a runner to a marathoner. In the process I set out to teach you all a little bit more about Mass Eye and Ear and the great docs and research that they are doing. Tens of thousands of pairs of eyes watched as I ran past in my red Team Eye and Ear singlet and I couldn’t have been prouder.

Thank you Mass Eye and Ear for this great opportunity and for those who have supported me along this journey. I am still accepting donations through April 27th and am less than $900 from my goal. Check out my progress here http://www.firstgiving.com/shawnwolfgang

Post race with my parents

Shawn

4:30:11

I’m still coming off the runner’s high but I wanted to at least let everyone know that I finished (and my legs feel surprisingly good)! I’ll update with more in depth recap hopefully this afternoon.

Thanks for all the support.

Shawn

Bib number acquired, 2 days til Hopkinton

This afternoon I got up and headed into the city. While evidence of the marathon started earlier in the week with barricades and no parking signs, this was my first venture down Boylston beyond 939. Getting off the T at Copley and walking down Boylston was more overwhelming than I expected.

2011 Finish Line

It finally sunk in. On Monday I will be running to support Mass Eye and Ear for 26.2 miles. While today is cold, overcast, and windy, all signs point to a sunny and warm race day on Monday. Approximately 27,000 of us will start the historic race in Hopkinton and finish in Copley in anywhere from just over 2 hours for the elites to closer to 6 hours for the slowest members of the pack. I hope to fall somewhere between 4 & 5 hours.

Years ago when the seed was first planted to run a marathon there was a part of me that thought it might never happen. There are definitely a few of you reading this that probably thought the same. When the weather was bitter and the roads were ice there were pangs of doubt again. But then I think about all of the people that benefit from the doctors and services at Mass Eye and Ear and I think about the limited few people who have the privilege of running the Boston Marathon.

I picked up my bib number (24835 for those following along at home), bought my official Boston Marathon jacket, and returned back to my apartment to start eating pasta and relaxing for the next 48 hours before the big day. I cannot wait to get to Hopkinton. The family arrives tomorrow and it will be even more real.

Want to feel inspired? Watch this video about Dr Rizzo (who passed me on my 21 mile run) and Will McNamara who are both part of Team Eye and Ear. http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/04/15/doctor-blind-patient-run-boston-marathon-to-help-each-other/

-Shawn

PS I am still accepting donations. I’m at 75% of my goal. Even $5 will make a difference. http://www.firstgiving.com/shawnwolfgang

One week from now I’ll be mid marathon

It looks like the stars are lining up, and barring disaster, next week at this time I will be running the Boston Marathon. I’m excited, anxious, and nervous all at once. This week I’m just doing some short runs to keep my legs fresh and hoping to get some good sleep in. Unfortunately my friend and teammate (and reason I’m running for Team Eye and Ear) Annie injured herself and will not be able to run next week. Last year I watched her cross the finish line and it inspired me to do it this year. I know that she will be on the sidelines cheering me on.

I still need help getting to my fundraising finish line. I’m only about $2000 from my goal of $6000. Every single dollar matters. So please consider donating even $1. It will make a difference, simply visit my donation site for more information

Thank you for all of your support and encouragement!

Shawn

Must beat Oprah, will definitely beat AC Slater

So the other day my friend Kevin sent me this great link of 25 celebrity marathon runners. Oprah ran the Marine Marathon a couple years ago and finished in a respectable 4:29:20. Mario Lopez on the other hand finished the Boston Marathon in 5:41:41. Now I’m not expecting to set any records (although Eric said his donation only counts if I win) but I do believe that I can definitely beat AC Slater’s marathon time and there is a good chance I’ll beat Oprah’s. Will Ferrell did Boston under 4 hours! For the full list check click HERE

Two weeks from right now you can check back and see how I did.

Shawn

McDonald’s Diet?

One thing I’ve noticed over the past couple months is that I’ve developed a major sweet tooth. Between cooking pans of brownies and eating candy now almost every day something about training (or maybe it’s giving up coffee?) has triggered this need for junk food. Something I haven’t succumbed to is fast food. Joe D’Amico recently ran the LA Marathon and did it by eating nothing but McDonald’s for the month leading up to it. Here’s his story:

You’ve heard of Big Macs, McNuggets, McMansions and McJobs — now meet the McRunner.

Palatine dad Joe D’Amico plans to run the Los Angeles Marathon on March 20 after training for 30 days on a diet of McDonald’s fast food alone.

It may sound more like a recipe for getting the runs than running fast. But ultra-lean D’Amico aims to beat his personal best time of two hours and 36 minutes — a six-minute-mile pace that should put him among the top 50 finishers.

“My wife told me I was crazy,” D’Amico, 36, said. “But I love McDonald’s and I love running, and this was a great way to combine the two.”

Read the rest by clicking HERE

15 days until the marathon. I still need your help. I’m just about @ 60% of my goal for fundraiser. Check out my progress and donate HERE and BOSTON don’t forget Tuesday is the California Pizza Kitchen

-Shawn

20 days, 21 miles, and PIZZA!

This past Saturday I ran 21 miles starting in Framingham and running back into the city covering the majority of the marathon route. I never thought a year ago this is where I’d be, but I did it. It started out a cold morning, but a few miles in I had warmed up. At about mile 11 we hit the hills of Newton. The hills are tough when you are starting there, and with 11 miles already under my belt they were downright daunting. By the time I reached the last water stop with 2 miles to go I thought there is no way I can do this PLUS another 5.2 miles on marathon day, but then I started thinking about all of the great doctors and researchers at Mass Eye and Ear, and all of the patients that have received great care. I also thought about all of you who have supported me in this journey so far. Then I was passed by Doctor Rizzo, one of the docs running from the hospital for his second year, who yelled THANKS and blew past me. I found my second wind and I cruised up the final hill and finished in just under 3.5 hours. There is no doubt now, that in 20 days I will defeat the Boston Marathon.

Thank you for everyone who has supported me by donating to Team Eye and Ear. It is the thought of your support that gets me through these long runs. If you haven’t donated, I would ask that you please consider it whether it is $5, $26.20 or even $100! I am just $2600 away from my $6000 goal. It’s as easy as visiting http://www.firstgiving.com/shawnwolfgang or mailing a check to Foundation of Mass Eye and Ear Inc to:

Kristina Sym

c/o Development Office

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

243 Charles Street Boston, MA 02114

Your donation goes towards great research that helps docs like Drs. Douglas Henstrom, Tessa Hadlock and Mack Cheney who have discovered that a procedure which helps people with facial paralysis can greatly improve their quality of life. Here’s an article featured in US News and World Report

If you live in Boston there are two more events coming up that you can come support and proceeds will go towards Team Eye and Ear! Tomorrow WEDNESDAY MARCH 30 @ both Naked Pizza Boston locations they will donate 10% of their gross sales for the day to Team Eye and Ear from 10:30AM to 10:00PM. On Tuesday April 5th California Pizza Kitchen @ Prudential Center will be donating 20% of all bills for take-out and dining ! This includes food and drinks. So come join me at these two great locations as I carb up and support a great cause.

Thanks again and as always more updates will be posted soon

Shawn

24 Days! #24835

It’s crazy to think I am just 24 days from running my first marathon. My bib number is official too! I’ll be running as #24835. For those of you following at home you will be able to use my number to track my progress on race day. You go HERE and get all the info on how you can receive text or email alerts.

Going for a short run this afternoon and taking tomorrow off from running in preparation of the big 21 miles on Saturday. Now is when the mental training takes over from the physical training and I need your help to keep my focus on the long runs. Thank you to everyone who has generously donated, but I am still about $2700 short of my goal. If you haven’t donated please consider donating. If you donate just $.25 per mile that I will run that is a donation of $6.55. If you donate $1 per mile that I will run that is a donation of $26.20. Every single dollar counts.

Patient Joe Wright and his family

Your donations go directly to support the incredible research that goes on at Mass Eye and Ear as well as to support continued excellence in patient care. For example, patient Joe Wright was helping one of his workers remove a particularly stubborn nail when it shattered and struck him in the eye. He didn’t know at the time that he was injured so severely he could potentially lose his vision. When his eye got worse despite treatment in his town, his wife, Heather, insisted he come to Boston and Mass. Eye and Ear, A few hours later he was in an operating room having a cut in his eye repaired by Dr. Ankoor Shah. Dr. Shah later removed a cataract caused by the trauma of his injury. Today Joe has 20/20 vision in his injured eye – and he routinely wears safety glasses.

On April 18th I will be running to celebrate the great achievements of Mass Eye and Ear. Join me in the celebration. Thank you for helping to make a difference and for supporting me along the way.

Shawn

Come eat & drink and CPK will donate 20% of your bill to Team Eye & Ear!

Print This!

I’m in the final stretch with just under a month to go until the Boston Marathon. I’ve raised just over half of my goal, but I need your help sealing the deal. Graciously California Pizza Kitchen at the Prudential Center has offered to host a fundraiser on Tuesday April 5th. All you have to do is show up any time between 11:00AM & 10PM and dine in or order take-out with THIS FLYER–> CPKFundraiser and CPK will donate 20% of your entire bill. I’m going to be going for lunch AND dinner and will post those times as we get closer.

Everyone needs to eat right? So why not eat and drink (and be merry) and raise money for a great cause. This afternoon I run again in preparation for the big run on Saturday! I’ll update you all soon. If you have any issue downloading the flyer let me know and I can email it out as well.

Shawn