My bib # for the marathon is: 26232
My start time is: 11:15 a.m.
There are over 32,000 participants.
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
Monday, April 4, 2022
Two Weeks, and Good News.
There are two weeks left until the marathon. I'm excited with some mild anxiety. I have no idea how my body will respond to this grand feat, but it will be good to have the date come closer. I had a good run today. It started out fairly warm and pleasant and then I turned the corner at Dorchester Harbor and I met a fierce wind that seemed to push back at me. I felt like I was being held down, but I pushed forward and made a good run. Something that seemed so difficult a month ago is now fairly easy.
During the marathon, I wonder about chaffing, what is best to wear to prevent chaffing, whether I will get blisters or nails pressing into my toes, if I will get sunburned, and other such questions. I seem to maintain a good pace for the run and I'm not tired or winded when I finish, but I have not done this before and I haven't learned necessary lessons, and yet, I still look forward to it.
Now, for my good news. I was invited by John Hancock, the official sponsor of the marathon, to their private suite at Fenway Park for Opening Day for the Boston Red Sox because they are recognizing me as one of their top fundraisers. What a hoot. It happens to be on Good Friday, but I will go to an evening service of veneration. I have to remind myself that I am bringing news of the care for the homeless to the consciousness of the sponsors.
Click on this link to the online donation form. You will see two big red buttons with the word "Donate" on them. Click on the link and follow the easy instructions. This will add your total to my fundraising page and it will generate a tax donation form for you.
Saturday, April 2, 2022
Time, Time, Time
Running was pure joy today. The temperatures hovered around 51 degrees and the sun was shining brightly. Perhaps the best part of the day was when a young running man came up to me, ran alongside me, and gave me a fist bump. I must be quite a curious sight to these young runners. A few minutes later, a runner from the opposing direction waved a big hello and smiled. I noticed that so many runners are the same. We are in this outdoor track together and we are partners and teammates.
For some reason, the running was easy. I just ran 5.5 miles, and I could have kept running, but I still want to be steady and controlled with it so I build up endurance.
The difficulty I ran into this week was with time. On a priest schedule, it is a fight to get time dedicated to training. Nearly each day this week, I had to battle to get some time to walk or run. I was getting down on myself because I couldn't run each day and the date for the marathon is approaching quickly, and I'm not ready until I can get in a few long runs. I had to let go of my frustration and decide I can only do what I can do, and I made a resolution to rise each morning at 5:30 to get my run in before the day begins. It will exhaust me but it is what I have to do otherwise other commitments will tug at me.
The forecast for the next ten days is seasonably cool, which is great. I hope this weather continues through Patriots day.
1. The Best Way to Donate.
Click on this link to the online donation form. You will see two big red buttons with the word "Donate" on them. Click on the link and follow the easy instructions. This will add your total to my fundraising page and it will generate a tax donation form for you.
2. The next best way to donate.
Send a check made out to: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
to this address:
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
780 Albany Street,
780 Albany Street,
Boston, MA 02118
In the memo field, write "for John Predmore"
Sunday, March 27, 2022
March: In like a Lion; Out like Simba
The old saying about the month of March: "In like a lion, out like a lamb" is not coming true this year. Today and the next few days will be quite cold in Boston. It makes training for the marathon less joyful to run in this blustery weather. The wind was whipping in Dorchester Harbor this morning, and when I went to Cambridge to say mass, it felt quite balmy because there was an absence of wind. It would have been pleasurable to train in the Cambridge microclimate.
As I pulled into the church parking lot, I saw a distraught woman topple over the statues of children near the Mary, Fatima, statue. I rolled down the window to take a photo of her as she was destroying the placement of the statues. I asked her to stop and she yelled, "My daughter had died." I informed the parish staff who said the woman was sitting there on the church steps with only one shoe. Certainly, I don't want to see those statues destroyed, but the poor woman is filled with such pain. I can imagine she is angry with God for taking her daughter away from her.
Mass was just what I needed and I think I hit the right notes in the homily because many people wanted to speak after mass. Next week, we will speak about the 20th anniversary of the Dallas Charter in which the US Catholic Bishops laid out standards and compliance issues for priests and bishops. Also, I mentioned that as Catholics were are to pray for both Ukraine and Russia as they are at war. The Pope on Friday consecrated the two countries to the Heart of Mary.
At the studio, I had a number of interesting conversations with all sorts of people passing through. As studio artists, we see a whole range of people with various behaviors and levels of social engagement. It is really fun when people stop, ask questions, engage, and speak about what they find intriguing. Well, I was sitting down on a sofa as I felt a little sluggish and I must have dozed off in the chair because the lighting was much different than when I sat down. I tidied up and went home to help prepare the evening meal and to get a run in before dinner.
Tonight, the Celtics have a chance of taking over first place; St. Peter's in Jersey City plays in the Elite Eight, and the Academy Awards are on. I just want a slow easy night before the week begins.
And so I went out for a run. I hated the thought of doing it. My legs were sluggish, the winds were whipping, and I had little time to get everything done. I could find every reason in the world not to run. I simply did not want to do so, but my first steps were refreshing, and I was glad I was on my way. I am noticing how many nice runners there are. By that I mean, they seem to be nice people. They are friendly, they wave and smile. Many times walkers can look as if they are angry or the world is bearing down upon them, but runners seem to have a connection with one another. I'm kind of enjoying that. I like nice people, and nice people make me nicer. I like being nice.
So, once I'm running, the weather doesn't seem to be as bad as one makes it out to be. I like those days when it is 60 and sunny, but even today wasn't so bad. It is not quite like Tony, the Tiger, who says, "They're Great." And may I'm a little like Simba who is growing into his ability to run, but I know I have to rely upon Aslan, the Johannine figure of the Narnia Chronicles. I guess March can stay as long as I have those companions with me.
1. The Best Way to Donate.
Click on this link to the online donation form. You will see two big red buttons with the word "Donate" on them. Click on the link and follow the easy instructions. This will add your total to my fundraising page and it will generate a tax donation form for you.
2. The next best way to donate.
Send a check made out to: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
to this address:
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
780 Albany Street,
780 Albany Street,
Boston, MA 02118
In the memo field, write "for John Predmore"
Saturday, March 26, 2022
Join us for Trivia
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Friday, March 25, 2022
Am I a runner?
I'm sitting in my bedroom and it is Friday night. The week is over and I'm sitting with a heating pad around my knee. It feels very good as it comforts the pain and allows me some self-care time. Heat has become a constant companion. St Peter's, a small Jesuit university in Jersey City, a school that serves mostly first-generation college students, won against #3 seed Purdue in the NCAA basketball tournament. This is excellent news for the university. With that contentment, I turned on Turner Classic Movies Channel because they have all the Oscar nominated and winners shown during the month.
Earlier today I visited a high school classmate in Worcester as he tragically lost his 22 year old son last week. We spent a couple hours together catching up and just sharing news of our lives. It was good to be with him.
When I came home, I suddenly needed a nap and I had planned to get in a run before dinner. I needed a nap. The other thing I needed was a lot of food. I want to eat a hamburger, hard boiled eggs, and lots os salty things like potato chips. I don't know why this craving has come upon. Last week I hardly wanted to eat. Now I want to eat everything that I can bite into and chew. What a strange sensation.
It would have been okay to eat meat today even though it is a Friday in Lent because it is the solemnity of the Annunciation, so the obligation was lifted, but I stayed with baked haddock for dinner. It was great, and the roasted cauliflower and garlic spinach were tasty. I guess I can be satisfied with those vegetables in place of a burger.
As I wanted to go to the studio tonight, I squeezed in a five mile run before dinner. The weather was just perfect at 60 degrees with no wind. Yesterday was rainy, the day before was cold and windy. I guess I have to run in all weather, but as I was running there were many people also running. Most of them are trim and fit, and I am not. However, as I was running, I was noticing how others ran, and I began to question myself, "Am I a runner?" I'm running each day, but what makes a person a runner? Do I see myself as one or when does one become a runner? I know I will do my best to run in the marathon, and I hope I am enjoying it enough that I will want to run when I am finished. There is something that is aligned when one runs and breathing is easy. Perhaps I would feel like a runner if I did not carry so much weight.
I'm just pleased that I am able to sustain running each day, and I'm not content unless I get some of that movement into my day.
1. The Best Way to Donate.
Click on this link to the online donation form. You will see two big red buttons with the word "Donate" on them. Click on the link and follow the easy instructions. This will add your total to my fundraising page and it will generate a tax donation form for you.
2. The next best way to donate.
Send a check made out to: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
to this address:
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
780 Albany Street,
780 Albany Street,
Boston, MA 02118
In the memo field, write "for John Predmore"
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Stressed? No
This morning I took a stress test on a treadmill to see if I had anr coronary artery disease as I prepare for the Boston Marathon. The doctor said I passed, and then he asked, "Do you want to go more?" I said, "Of course," so we went an extra few minutes at an increased incline and speed. He was happy. I was happy. We had a few good laughs along the way.
He and my doctor, Dan Driscoll, are amazing. They go to Haiti several times a year to work with the St. Rock Foundation https://saintrock.org/ to provide dignified health care for the people of Haiti. Haiti is one of those countries often beset my natural disasters and political instability.
Haiti has an interesting history. Upon declaring independence, Haiti has a singular place in world history. In 1804, it became the first independent nation in the Caribbean, the second democracy in the western hemisphere, and the second black republic in the world.
1. The Best Way to Donate.
Click on this link to the online donation form. You will see two big red buttons with the word "Donate" on them. Click on the link and follow the easy instructions. This will add your total to my fundraising page and it will generate a tax donation form for you.
2. The next best way to donate.
Send a check made out to: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
to this address:
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
780 Albany Street,
780 Albany Street,
Boston, MA 02118
In the memo field, write "for John Predmore"
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