Round one done!

At first I was thinking this was the low and high weekend. But really we were looking forward to getting started on this I think the whole weekend was a high. Joe has his first dose of Nivolumab and Ipilimumab Friday. I think the worst part was the 2 hours of observation after the last of the Super Soldier Serum left the IV bag when we were getting hungry and tired.

We had a nice warm dinner, conversation, and accommodations with Joe's cousin Marybeth. Saturday we enjoyed some time (and Swensen's) with Marybeth, Dan, Christine, Courtney and Kevin. Later in the evening we were dressed up for the Cornerstone of Hope Gala with Katie's brother Rick, his wife Michelle and other DiGeronimos.  Joe was out of his mind excited about meeting his childhood idol Bernie Kosar. Sunday, after a mandatory stop at Parma Royal Donuts we were on our way home. Mass, and a family movie was a great reentry. 

Shirts

Many have asked about t-shirts. We only printed what we needed for the day (and it was before we had so many interested). We will put in another order. Shirts are $5.20 simple white Gildan.

Use this form to submit your order if you have not done so already.
Payment can be made to us or we can invoice you via PayPal.
Orders will be accepted until 2/14/14.

Before marathon tour

I did not get this posted here in a timely manner but watch it any way to see Joe and JD have fun.

Humbled

A couple of nights before Thanksgiving, JD & Heather Pooley, John & Elizabeth Gorski and I met out at Gorski’s house to talk about this idea for a little marathon. That night, we debated a number of issues; indoor, or outdoor? Trail, or road? Most importantly, big, or little?

That night, I lobbied hard for a small race – just the five of us runners, lacing ‘em up, and doing our thing. One contributing reason to it is the reason I hate to share. There’s a shirt I saw on Pinterest or something that said “If you’re going to run with me, you’d better be ready to do a lot of walking!” My running isn’t running the way it used to be. Anything over five miles, I have to do a mix of walk and run to keep my left leg from seizing up from the blood clot residue from three years ago. I generally run 2-4 minutes, then walk 1-2 minutes, for the whole 26 miles. So if you see me walking, it’s not because I quit, it because of what I do to be able to “run.”

A couple of weeks ago, the homily at church was about what humility really means; it is to be willing to be embarrassed. As this race has gotten larger, I know I’m going to be embarrassed by the glacially slow pace I keep. I know a lot of people look at this as a ‘triumph of the human spirit’ thing with me, but that, too, is kind of embarrassing. I’m willing to be embarrassed, as long as all of y’all are willing to consider the way I really see this thing: It’s a triumph of God’s love through the love of family, friends, and community.

I’m not doing this thing alone – what should impress you is the groups of people who have dropped everything to be a part of this. THOSE are the heroes here. I could never have even started training were it not for Katie and the kids. And it goes without saying that the people who will be closest with me on the run itself are JD, Elizabeth, Meg, & Dr. Rini – who committed, without hesitation, to a race on what could easily have been one of the worst weather days of the year. All the other friends who originally 'adopted  a mile' to run with us! It’s hard to imagine a stronger bond of friendship and love than that. All of our families; in my case, my parents, my sister, and all of the Boyle & Miller kin, from the beginning, have been supportive of this; so too has our church community at St. Al’s. And then the way the running community coalesced around it starting on Monday – from all over the country !; and the way the Bowling Green community – from the city offices, to the BGPD, to Grounds, to the BGSU Athletic Department, Dr. Heather, Alex, Dave’s Footware, the Roadrunners, Team Toledo, and everyone I’m forgetting in the five minutes I have to write this – came together to help as soon as this thing started getting WAY WAY bigger than any of us ever anticipated. I learned a lot about the communities I’ve lived in; from my hometown of GrandRapids, Otsego Local, to the SJ brotherhood, to the old West Hall gang from BGSU, through the Fort Wayne friends dialing in support, and especially the Rogers High/Toledo Public Schools folks who are indeed TPS Strong in every way. I’ve got others who have helped, and are going to run with me tomorrow, too. My Uncle Paul. My grandparents. A lot of you who have supported us along the way –you’ve had relatives you lost over the past few years, and they’re with me,too. All of this support, from the physical presence, to the spirits I feel are with us on this, it’s all the working of the Holy Spirit. How fitting that we’re running on a Sunday, and every footstep can be a prayer of thanksgiving for the ability to come together as a community; a prayer than everyone can feel this sort of love at some point in their lives; a prayer that we can see past our differences, and embrace the feeling of community and family, in all of its different forms!

I’ll see a lot of you out there tomorrow. I hope I get to thank every one of you individually, but I also know that, two weeks ago after my 20 mile run, I was pretty much delirious, with my core temp going low, and if those of us who did the full bug out pretty quickly, it ain’t because we don’t love you all !!!

#RunBoyleRun

Wow! WOW! This is just crazy. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to us, shared Joe's story, and offered support. It is just unbelievable.


I'm (Katie) getting a little freaked out about the crowd we might get. Please be mindful of traffic rules and the runners safety. I don't want to have to have bail money for creating a mob. :)
The runners needs to stick with the (hopefully shoveled) public sidewalks.

This is all reminding me of the scene in Forest Gump when Forest starts running and in the end has a large crowd following him.



Thanks to the Sentinel-Tribune and The Toledo Blade for the great stories on Joe.

Story from Bowling Green Sentinel- Tribune

Story from The Toledo Blade

Marathon Details

Thank you to everyone for the support and interest!

Here are some details. 

As stated before

"... this is informal in a purely legal sense. There aren't going to be any crossing guards, closed roads, formal aid stations, or anything like that. We'll have some friends who offer up water or Gatorade along the way, and you're welcome to stow a warm pair of shoes or spare pair of socks somewhere on the route!  If you run with us, you're running at your own risk, just like you would if you decided to lace up the shoes on any given Sunday and go out for a run with your best friend!"

The date is Feb 2; Super Bowl Sunday and groundhogs day. 

The start is at St. Aloysius Church at 9am. If attending the start, PLEASE park at city parking lot at Clough St and South Prospect St. Please leave the church lot parking to those attending 8am, 10am, and noon Mass.

Finish is also at St. Al. If attending the finish please park at city parking lot at Clough St and South Prospect Street. Drinks, food, and fun for runners follow run.

The runners' route is 8.5 miles, run three times. 

There are 8 runners for the full marathon. Another 30 some that we know of will run part of the course. 

PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF TRAFFIC AND RUNNERS.

There will be a Stagger Wagon traveling the route to pick up runners who need it. Not sure how but the van will be marked with balloons or something.

Call a Ride will be available for runners who need a lift off the course. Contact Katie for her cell number.

Two nurse friends will be stationed at the Boyle house.

Water/Gatorade/Powerade station at St. Aloysius and Boyle house. Roughly miles Start, 4, 8, 13, 17, 22, and Finish. Bathrooms can be found at both location. ("Put the seat down!" was added by Joe when I had him edit this! I have won!-K)

Tshirt can be ordered for about about $5 by contacting Katie. An order will be placed after the run.
Tshirts can be ordered for about $5. Submit your request here.

Many have asked how you can help.

Here are a few things we are looking for:

2 tables to set up for water station Thanks Mom S and Kelly C.

2 drink dispensers- Thanks Veronica U and Mom&Dad S

donation of 2 Gatorade concentrated mixes that make 6 gallons- Thanks Abby R

donation of 100 disposable paper cups  Thanks Katie M

donation of bananas, bagels, cookies, pretzels rods,  oranges/clementines for runners as snack after race- Thanks Mom S, Mom B, Lisa W, Andrea P, Penny O, Natalie P, Dianna B

If you want to cheer on the runners or join in at some point here are some suggestions (marked on map).

--Around miles 2, 11, 19

-Stadium Drive- if it windy this will be hard area to run so encouragement welcome. Parking at Lot 13, Sebo, ice arena.  http://www.bgsu.edu/map/

--Around miles 3, 12, 21

-Ridge Street that runs through campus, Buildings Hayes, Overman, Union, The Oaks- pedestrian only area

-Old Ridge Street School- Ridge between N. Enterprise and N Prospect 

--Around miles 4, 13, 22
-Boyle house, 943 Fairview, best to park at golf course and cheer from there

--Around miles 5, 14, 23

-Kiwanis shelter at City Park- runners run clockwise, car traffic counter clockwise. 

--Around miles 6, 15, 24

-Simpson Garden Park- corner of Conneaut and Wintergarden

-Around miles 8, 16, 25

-Dr. Heather Huntington’s Office at 536 Pearl

-City parking lot at Clough St and South Prospect

The course starts at St. Aloysius traveling north on S. Summit to Wooster. Turn right to travel Wooster east. Cross to the north sidewalks at the light at Thurstin (sidewalks on the University side will be better). Continue on Wooster until Mercer. Turn left to travel north on Mercer to the cross walk (at Mileti Alumni Center) to cross to Alumni Drive, continuing east.  The sidewalk along Alumni Drive passes behind the BGSU Welcome Center. Take sidewalk to Stadium Drive around the bend to start running west. Continueon  Stadium Drive past tennis courts and baseball field. Take a left on Mercer staying the east side. Cross Mercer at the cross walk at Ridge (near ice arena) and continue along Ridge traveling west, through campus. Continue on Ridge off campus (past Dunkin Donuts) to Main Street. Travel north on N. Main Street. You will have to cross Main Street to run west on Poe, stay on south side of Poe. There is a light at Main and Poe but if you have the chance to cross before then take it. Travel west on Poe for two blocks and turn left on Fairiview to travel south on the east sidewalks. The Boyle house is the second on the south west corner. There will be a water table across the street from the house on the same side of the street as you are running. Continue south on Fairview to Conneaut and turn right (west) to cross Fairview and continue on Conneaut. Take the drive into City Park and run the loop clockwise. When exiting City Park continue west on Conneaut. At Conneaut and Haskins cross to the south side of Conneaut for better sidewalks. Continue on Conneaut past the back side of Wood Country Hospital and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Turn left on Wintergarden at Simpson Garden Park to travel south (staying on the east side of the street). Continue on Wintergarden to Wooster. Cross Wooster and take a left on Pearl to travel east. Use the sidewalk on the south side. Continue on Pearl to S. Main Street. Turn left to travel north on Main Street to Clough. Cross Main Street at Clough and continue east on Clough until Summit and back to St. Aloysius. Lap 1 done!

On the last lap at Clough turn right, south, on S. Prospect then left of Lehman (east) then left (south) on Summit and continue on to St. Aloysius. FINISH!