First-time Marathoner Raises $9K for Charity

Marathon Experience:

Susan Smith just started running last summer. She has never run a marathon before, but she’s been training hard for the 2012 Boston Marathon. Her first race ever was the Tufts 10K on Columbus Day, 2011, which she ran with Resa Sherr of Westborough as part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. In February, Susan ran the Disney World Princess Half Marathon in Orlando, Florida, her first half marathon ever.

Reason for Running:

“When I learned that the LLS Team was running for five year old twins, one of whom has leukemia and one who does not, I knew that I wanted to be part of the Team. If this little boy was brave enough to endure rigorous lifesaving treatments, then surely I could train through the winter to run the marathon,” Susan said.

According to Susan, this young child is just one of the “Honored Heroes” who inspires her to run and to reach her goal of raising $9,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. If you’d like to contribute, click here.

Susan posts a weekly update on her fundraising page that often describes a patient’s monumental battle against a blood cancer. Susan is mentored by Ed Sherr, and coached by Team in Training’s Sarad Tomlinson and Kelly Flynn. Susan adds, “I just can’t say enough good things about the support from Team in Training – I couldn’t imagine training for a marathon without them.”

Training Tips:

Susan has been attending weekly training runs on Saturday mornings since early December. The training originates in Wellesley and alternates running the flat stretch out to Framingham one week and the hills of Newton the next week.  During the week, Susan runs several times, cross trains and recently began pool running to help heal an injury.

“As a new runner, (I) suggest that you stretch more than you run! Oh, and even though an ice bath sounds horrible, I have come to realize that is a valuable recovery tool after longs runs,” says Susan.