Faces of the Boston Marathon team

Lance, a Miles for Miracles runner, with his twins Lily and Luke When I tell people I’m running the Boston Marathon as part of the Boston Children’s Hospital Miles for Miracles team, the standard reaction is the same. “I could never run 26.2 miles.” My response never varies. “Yes, you can … with the right training, anyone can do it.” My kids can’t give up when they don’t feel like doing something, and neither can I. ~ Lance My feet ache. I’m often exhausted. I’m hungry all the time. And committing to a long run every Saturday — rain, snow or shine — isn’t always fun. But my efforts pale in comparison to what drives so many others on this team. There’s Lance, a non-runner channelling his children’s determination. And Hazel, a Boston Children’s operations manager and one of the fiercest runners I’ve ever met. And Melissa, a quiet presence, shouldering constant, unimaginable grief. There’s no way I can acknowledge every single person who has been — and will be — part of this journey, so I’m approaching it the same way I think about the marathon … in 5-mile increments. Miles 1-5: Beginning and beginning anew For the first few miles of the marathon, you feel like you can fly. The atmosphere and the momentum of the runners around you get into your blood and you feel like pure energy. Hazel Boyd, the operations manager of Boston Children’s operating rooms, is energy personified. Hazel is a completely enthusiastic r...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Health & Wellness Our Patients’ Stories Parenting Boston Marathon cerebral palsy congenital heart defect Division of Sports Medicine juvenile arthritis Type 1 diabetes Source Type: news