One More April……Two More Races

To support Jason’s fundraising: http ://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/Kroot

After reaching my goal of 10 Boston Marathon finishes in October 2021 and attaining the Lifetime fundraising achievement level for Dana Farber Marathon Challenge, I truly did intend on taking a break for a few years. Hoisting Cooper Brian at Mile 25 in the same spot I was first greeted by my Dad in 2012 felt like the appropriate time to step away. When I realized that 2022 marked the 10th anniversary of my father’s passing and the reason I started running Boston, I started to reconsider my decision. As time passed into the early winter, something felt off about walking away after an October race, it felt incomplete. I’m excited to share that I will be running my 11th Boston Marathon, the first since 2019 on Patriot’s Day and we all know that Monday is for the Marathon!

Recently losing my aunt to a cancer battle that only lasted a matter of weeks has solidified my need to continue fundraising. This disease continues to change and evolve despite the incredible achievements and progress that has been made in recent years. It’s clear to me that the funds for innovative cancer research will remain increasingly necessary for years to come and I will continue to remain committed to raise funds in many ways but I do expect this will be the last April for some time that I will take the trip from Hopkinton to Boston.

11 Marathons Feature – NBC 6 Portland, Maine – April 2022 – Video Link

2022 Big Sur Announcement Video

The Boston to Big Sur Challenge

Truth be told, there had always been a third part to completing my goal. Run 10 Bostons, achieve the Lifetime Fundraising Achievement Award for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge and complete the Boston to Big Sur Challenge all in the matter of one week. When COVID moved the 2020 Boston to virtual and the 2021 race until October (also cancelling Big Sur), I modified my goal and thought that it would be “OK” to skip the Big Sur portion of my goal.

I soon realized that 2022 was an important date for many reasons and the idea to run the Big Sur Marathon on the California coast directly after completing Boston became a renewed idea. Taking a break after the only October running of the Boston Marathon didn’t sit quite well with me and I wanted the true send-off with all of the Patriot’s Day traditions. More importantly was that 2022 marks the 10 year anniversary of my father’s passing and how was this going to be the first year that I didn’t run race?

So here we go….

Monday April 18th I will run 26.2 in Boston, fly to California on Wednesday and then on Sunday will lace up to run the hilly 26.2 course on the famous US Highway 1 just 6 days after crossing the finish line on Boylston Street.

If my experience running with the Dana Farber team taught me anything it was that channeling my loss into a personal challenge was the best way for me to grieve, heal and grow so it is fitting that I will be taking a break from this chapter of my running life with one final challenge.

Thank you for your love, support and continued donations – these things have truly have been the fuel to my personal journey and shaped my life into what it is today.

Jason

“10 Bostons” A Video of Gratitude to my supporters