Running For the Gang

The Final 4 days

2006-11-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

Today I was featured on Bronx News Channel 12 and will be on the air, running and stretching, every hour for the next 24 hours for 1 1/2 minutes, reducing my lifetime fame allowance to 13.5 minutes. I ran 6 miles on Sunday and my knee is feeling better. Nevertheless, I'll be icing and downing my naproxens before the run and after.

I am mostly stretching and icing these days in anticipation for the marathon. Weather looks good for Sunday, although a little cold -- 49 degrees to be exact. If you'll be out there, let me know!

I have raised over 2,000 dollars with your help so far. Thank you so much to everyone. It looks like we'll be sending someone to Paul Newman's camp next year. It has really been a long 4 months and I am sincerely indebted to all of you.

The camp allows terminally ill children to be children again and fish, horseback ride, climb rock walls, act and do so much more. I will always remember this experience and you should be proud of yourself for helping make it possible for another terrific kid.

I am 400 dollars short but there is still time to donate! I'll be thinking of all of you on Sunday...

One Week to Go!

2006-10-27T19:45:00.000-07:00

Some of you might be wondering what I am doing in my last week of training. Well, I have just taken a week off after developing what appears to be iliotibial band syndrome. I will run anyway, but I thought it would be best to give my body some time to heal. Walking is less painful now so I return with a new vigor... and a lower mileage.

This weekend I will do a 12 mile run and then two 8 mile runs this week. I will start eating high carb meals as early as Thursday. All the while, I will be studying for my Neurology shelf exam which is on Friday.

Fundraising is going well. With the help of the Einstein community, friends, and family, I have raised nearly $2,000 and am just $500 short of my goal. I think we WILL be sending a child to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp this year. Thank you to all!

PS. If you'll be out there during the Marathon, let me know where and I will be sure to look for you!

T minus 26 days

2006-10-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

Last week's run in San Franciso definitely had its ups and downs. While visiting my brother, I did a 14 mile run along the periphery of the city. I tried to keep to the flatter coastal grounds and had not planned on the cliffs that rise high above the Pacific Ocean.

I have 26 days to raise $1200 more. As a counselor at the Hole in the Wall several years ago, I can attest to the difference the camp experience makes for each of its campers. I am spending all of this time fundraising, training, icing, and in pain to raise $2,500; enough to send one camper to Paul Newman's camp. Don't forget about corporate matching, but Please help me with my goal!

A view from last week's run:

Week 7 of 16

2006-09-08T15:34:00.000-07:00

Running has been a task these days with crazy hours in the Emergency Room and a commute to top it. In fact, last week, I was only able to run once, and that was my long run! Nevertheless, I am down to about 8 weeks left and my schedule is normalizing.

I want to thank all of you who have already donated to support my goal and tell you a little story about the camp. When I worked there in 2001, we had a whole session for sickle cell children. The camp raised the temperature of the pool to 90 degrees so they could go swimming without invoking a crisis. Since most of them had never gone into a pool before, we counselors found ourselves carrying them on our backs across the length of the pool and back to help them pass their swim test. I have never heard such laughter and seen so many smiles around a pool before, but I know these kids wait for the opportunity to go back to the camp to go swimming. Or horseback riding.

It should give us all great pleasure to be part of the Hole In the Wall Gang Camp by helping a child go there. I know it will be such a special experience for whoever that kid is. I hope maybe a few of you reading this even decide to volunteer a week of your time to find out how magical the camp can be.

Week 5 of 16

2006-08-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first 10 mile run since 2002 and it felt great! I ran East on Pelham parkway, up Shore Road on the bike/run path into Pelham, over to the golf course (a great frisbee spot) and back.

No more shin splint problems since I changed my posture, iced up, and started stretching every day. It has become more difficult to run this month with an unpredictable schedule, night shifts, and 5am alarm clocks but I'm more enthusiastic as we come to the last 2 1/4 months. Also, the surprisingly positive support I am now receiving from my new medical school class of 2007 is boosting my confidence that I am not alone when I run. Thanks to all of you!

As I write, I am at 49% at week 5 of 16 -- nearly half way there.

Week 4 of 16

2006-08-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

This week's long run was 9 miles. I ran to Pelham in Westchester County and back. I was getting shin splints for while and have been changing everything about my stride and warm up routines. I finally figured out through rest and ice and stride changes how to reduce them. Now they are completely gone!

Also, I bought new running shoes last week and they seem to be more supportive than the cheapies I bought earlier. Apparently running shoes are only good for 400 miles so I will need a third pair before the marathon. No matter what they say, running is an expensive sport.

I am at nearly 40% of my fundraising goals right now and I could definitely use the help of anyone reading this. If I don't raise another 1500 dollars, I will not be able to run in the New York Marathon this November. Thank you to those who have already helped me.

Week 2 of 16

2006-07-31T15:42:00.000-07:00

Last week's long run found me outside of the Bronx and in rural Maryland. I did six miles "around the block" of my old neighbor Larry as Ines biked alongside for support. It was a beautiful area to run, despite the hills, the mossies (as my Australian friends say), and the 95 degree humid heat. The jump (read: fall) into his pool, however, felt like a dream come true.

Fundraising is a tougher prospect than I had anticipated. Although i am very excited to support Paul Newman's wonderful camp for terminally-ill children, every hundred dollars is another struggle. I appreciate the support I have received from all of you reading this and please please please, if you know someone who might be interested in helping me out, contact me at: rdavid79@gmail.com

2006-07-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

At the Hole in the Wall, 2001: a chance to touch our slithery, scaly friends

Week 1 of 16

2006-07-19T07:57:00.001-07:00

Running in 102 degree heat means drinking a ton of fluids throughout the day. I'm starting off with light 3 mile runs and my big run this week will be only 6 miles because I'm trying to improve my mile time.

During my last Marathon I ran an 8 1/2 minute mile. Currently I am running an 8 minute mile but I would like to bring this down to 7 1/2.

Please click the Donate Now button and make a tax deductible contribution to help me reach my goal of $2,500. I really need your support! and I thank you in advance for helping make a difference in their lives.

On your Marks!

2006-07-13T15:21:00.001-07:00

Hello folks! And thank you for checking out my blog. Each year thousands of precocious children with debilitating illnesses have the opportunity to take a one week vacation to a place where dreams really do come true. Paul Newman created the Hole In The Wall Gang Camp in 1988 to give children whose lives revolve around hospital admissions, blood tests, often terrible medicines, and sometimes too little hope the opportunity to make crafts, go fishing, act, rock climb, swim, and so much more. Having worked as a volunteer at the Camp for two sessions, I appreciated what a magical place it is. Although swimming may not seem like much to you or me, to children with Sickle Cell Disease for example, your neighborhood pool would bring about a terribly painful crisis. At the Camp, they raised the temperature of the water to 90 degrees so the kids can swim for the first time in their lives. These children are the stars of the camp and it is only through the good spirit of people like yourselves that keep them shining summer after summer.

Although I do not have the time to volunteer at the camp as a fourth year medical student, I have found another way to support these terrific kids. I am training to run in the New York City marathon this 5 November as a member of the Hole In the Wall's Team Go-The-Distance. My personal goal is to raise $2500 dollars the cost of sending one child to camp. Please help me reach this goal by clicking on the link on the right and making a tax-deductable donation. You can give anonymously, give under your name, or on behalf of someone you know, but most importantly, give today. Help me send another terminally ill child to a place where dreams come true. Thank you!

In the meantime, I will keep this page as a diary of my training process.