Tag: Boston

Win Skis & 2 Passes to Okemo Mountain!

On By eatplayrunkirbyIn Boston, Running, TrainingLeave a comment

I feel so fortunate to have received some very generous donations this year to support my fundraising efforts for Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital!

10 more days to get your entries in to win 2 all day passes to Okemo Mountain for the 2017 season and a new pair of women’s skis! (For yourself, your family member, your friend or to trade in!) $10 per entry, which I’m collecting via Venmo/PayPal/Google Wallet. Drawing will be on Feb 1st. Please feel free to spread the word!  I’m happy to coordinate shipment of the skis if you’re not local, so please don’t let that stop you!

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If skiing isn’t your thing, you can always support my fundraising for Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital as part of the 2017 Boston Marathon Race for Rehab team by donating at my crowdrise page :

crowdrise.com/spauldingrehabboston…/fundraiser/kirbymatthess

More about the Skis:

The new Salomon Quartz is a perfect ski for the advanced to expert skier that is looking for a ski that will make smooth and lively turns on the hard pack. Built with Salomon’s Light Density Wood Core with a single Ti Layer the Quartz give you a stable ski that will not be overly heavy, and still have a very quick and lively feel. The new All Terrain Rocker 2.0 has a little more Rocker in the tip to engage your turns quicker, and dampen out vibrations. Slight tail rocker has been added to release you out of your turns effortlessly. RKS (Rocker Stabilizer) makes the Quartz ski smoother without any extra tip wobble by adding a 3D layer of composite fiber in the contact zones, and improves your control. Salomon also has the X-Chassis that has extra reinforcement to give you more torsional stiffness for better edge hold in ice or firmer slopes. If you are looking for a ski that will crush it down the groomers with a light and lively feel that will be stable no matter how fast you ski, the Salomon Quartz will not disappoint you.

RKS (Rocker Stabilizer)
All Terrain Rocker 2.0
Light Density Wood Core
Single Ti Layer
Semi Sandwich Construction
X-Chassis

Hills are hard, and other Christmas revelations 

On By eatplayrunkirbyIn RunningLeave a comment

So Christmas Eve was a bust , from a run perspective, with crazy rain and sleet (of course only up until we had to leave the house to head for holiday celebrations with family!)  I was conflicted (and antsy!) all day about whether to just suck it up and head out for a run in the rain.  I checked the weather, but I was thinking, “Hey, this is New England.  What does my weather app know!?”  In the end, realizing I hadn’t really brought any water-wicking run gear (I know, I know, first the horrible shoes for snow running and now this! I promise, I’m slowly but surely getting back into the organized runner game!) I decided I would flip flop days and do my 6-7 mile hill run on Christmas Day.

So while this was a little rough after the evening of merriment the night before (read: a few too many glasses of wine) this ended up being the best choice! I don’t get back to my hometown often, but the fact that the first real hill run of training fell over the Christmas break when I would be able to run from my home to the oh so very fitting “Hill Street,” it felt like fate.

I love running through Suffield, CT.  Especially down around where my parents live, there is just tons of open farm land and tobacco barns.  Very few cars on the road, it was the perfect setting to heave and wheeze as loudly as I wanted while I pushed myself on the various hills without a soul to hear.  While I look forward to returning to the days of not feeling like I’m dying when I run hills, I was still able to dig deep, get out there, and get in the miles.  6.68 miles, to be exact.  With 848 ft of gain.  Sure, parts would be considered a run/walk, but that works for me!

Being able to enjoy this run solo and on the open country road (literally), was just what I needed to further focus my brain and body on my goal ahead.  Running the Boston Marathon for the second time, I’m not so concerned with pace or finish time, rather feeling strong going into, during, and after the experience.  The people I have met through my work at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital have really shown me what putting your mind to something can achieve.  While the goals may be different, deep down the spirit of accomplishing a goal is similar.  I want to do all my patients and colleagues proud as I take on this challenge as a proud member of the Race for Rehab team!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and is heading into a healthy and happy New Year!  Below are some pics from my Christmas run and of course the link to support my fundraising!

 

Spaulding Race for Rehab 2017 Boston Marathon Team on CrowdRise

Race for Rehab, Round 2!

On By eatplayrunkirbyIn #RaceForRehab, Boston, Marathon, Running3 Comments

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I am so excited to announce that I will be running the 2017 Boston Marathon as part of Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s Race for Rehab Team!

If you are a long time follower of this blog, you know that back in 2014 I started this site as a way to chronicle my training for the 2014 Boston Marathon, my first marathon adventure, and I have not stopped running yet!  I have a ways to go to ramp back up to marathon level endurance, but I’m wicked excited!

There will be lots more to come regarding my training adventures and fundraising, so stay tuned!  To start, head over to my CrowdRise site to read a little more about why I am running.

This go around, I really want to highlight the work Spaulding does.  Those of you that know me well probably have a sense of what I do day in and day out, but many of you may not truly understand the work Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital does and the amazing stories of strength that abound.  I look forward to sharing some of these Stories of Strength from my past patients with you throughout my training.  My patients are truly an inspiration to me.  I have never known the will to overcome adversity and dig deep to channel an inner mental and physical resilience until I started working as a Case Manager at Spaulding.  I want you to donate to support me, but I want you to really understand what sort of impact your donation has on the individuals we work with every day.

So with all of this said, it’s time I reinvigorate my running selfies and weird antics while on my training runs , so get excited!  I thank you all in advance for your support!  Please share my links with your friends and family and check back frequently to join me on this journey over the next 5 months as we approach April 17, 2017 and the 2017 Boston Marathon!!