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Journey to the Boston Marathon 2024

By Leanne Ginty

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$5,131

My Goal

$5,000

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At the Toronto Marathon on May 7th, 2023, I achieved a finishing time (3:41:49) that qualifies me to run the Boston Marathon. I've decided to continue my Champions of Care campaign but focus my fundraising efforts to benefit the world-class nurses at Sinai Health. As I train during the months leading up to Boston on April 15th, 2024, my hope is to raise $5000 toward our Nursing Week Celebration in May 2024. I am seeking a donor to match my fundraising goal.

I have worked at Mount Sinai Hospital for over 30 years in various nursing roles.  My passion is supporting nurses and their education needs but also in promoting resiliency and self-care. For me, running, paddling and other forms of exercise are part of my daily routine to help me step up to the challenges we face in health care, cope in stressful situations and be present to support the people in our Sinai Health family. 

I know my friends, family and colleagues care about the future of health care as much as I do, so please help me become a Champion of Care and reach my personal best by making a donation now. Every gift counts! 

Together we can help change lives and push the boundaries of care!


My Achievements

50% of Fundraising Target

50% Distance Travelled

Reached Distance Goal

Reached Fundraising Goal

Self Donated

Uploaded Profile Pic

My Updates

I did it!

Monday 6th May
Well, it was the most challenging race I have ever done but I finished. So grateful for all the support and kindness. Thank you for all the texts and messages. I can't believe how many people followed me during the race. Amazing! Thanks for John and Sue for catching me at the finish!

Final countdown to race day!

Saturday 13th Apr
It is race weekend!  I am packed and ready to head to the airport. Race kit pick-up is on Sunday and the race is Monday around 10am.  Dad is showing small improvements every day. Here he is on April 12, up in the chair. He is weak but his perseverance is inspiring. I will endure the pain and challenge of Boston knowing that Dad has overcome much worse since we almost lost him on  March 29th. Thank you for your prayers for Dad and for all your support in this journey for me. I'm so pleased by all the funds raised to support our new Nurse Champion of Compassionate Care Award at Sinai Health. <3 <3<3

8 days to go!

Saturday 6th Apr
Well, a rocky couple of weeks but things are looking up and feeling more prepared for Boston. Dad has been quite unwell and still in hospital, but showing encouraging improvement. My sister Sue came to see Dad for a week. She kindly did a couple physical therapy sessions with me to address some underlying issues with my left leg. Running 5-9 mile runs alternating with cycling & pool deep water running to maintain my conditioning. Lots of stretching & core work to mend/optimize. Tapering and rest will be my secret weapon :) this last week. Thank you for all your support! $3700+ raised for the Nurse Champion of Compassionate Care award- woohoo! 

Taking care of the aches and pains of 18 weeks of training

Thursday 28th Mar
I am tapering my miliege as I enter the last 3 weeks leading up to Boston. My body is speaking to me. Time to listen and focus on my health and well-being. My dad is in hospital fighting a bad infection. Some sleepless nights and providing some heavy lift/transfer support at home has added to my soreness. He is getting the care he needs now in hosptial. Thanks to our Rehab and Well-being unit at Mount Sinai, I am getting the help I need too. Prayers for Dad please! Thank you for all the ongoing support and encouragement. 

Chilly Half Smiles <3

Wednesday 13th Mar
Although mild for the Chilly Half, it was still "chilly" for support people at the event in Burlington. John, my loving and loyal support person was there with smiles, coffee and a warm car to jump into after the race. Training for a marathon is no simple task and it takes a village to support you through the journey. John, my kids, my dad, siblings, friends and work colleagues are all very supportive and more importantly, they have been understanding as I hobble around at times, moan when walking up/downstairs and fall asleep watching TV :) I'm very grateful. Thank you all!

Chilly Half and 4 1/2 weeks to go!

Wednesday 13th Mar
The Chilly Half race on March 3rd was a good practice race and a character builder. It was not my best half but definitely my best time for that distance since starting this 20 week training period. I realized very quickly that I was still recovering from the 37k run only one week prior. My left hamstring is upset with me. Fortunately, Dr. Davor Cepo in our Sports Clinic was able to do some timely acupuncture intervention. I am working through the tightness and pain with lots of stretching, roller work, cycling, strengthening exercises and some easy paced runs. I am hoping I can optimize my performance in time for April 15th. I've put in lots of training. I'm taking my vitamins, and I got a COVID-19 booster.  Now, I need to stay healthy, avoid further injury and work on my fundraising campaign! I am proposing a peer nominated Nursing Champion of Compassionate Care Award for Nursing Week in May. This recognition will come with a monetary gift thanks to the generous people who have contributed to my campaign. Spread the word please!

37k run and Tremblant ski adventure

Friday 1st Mar
On Sunday, I did a gruelling 37k run in the wind. It felt great to get that distance done. From here on out, I feel confident I can do the distance but need to stay healthy and do some pacing & hill work. My cross training has been beneficial in many ways. Cycling, row erg, paddle erg, weights and body weight circuits help prevent injury but also prepared me for a ski adventure at Mont Tremblant with John and his sons. The conditions were tough at times, but I was very careful. It was a good change of pace and fun get-away.We also had a nice hike to the village when the conditions were really not safe for my level of skiing experience. Chilly Half Marathon is March 3rd. Will post an update after that race. Six weeks to go before the big race day!

week 13/20 Training

Thursday 22nd Feb
I'm entering the last 8 weeks of training for the big race day. The long runs are getting really challenging both physically and mentally. I have never been one to listen to music (mainly for fear of not being alert to noises and potential hazards around me and I am clumsy :). During my runs, I appreciate the sun and nature around me. I find myself doing a restorative form of meditation. I think a lot about things that are "stressing me out" or consuming my time and energy. I explore, unpack, reflect and plan. Amazing how the monotonous pounding of my feet on the pavement actually leads to creativity and solutions. I think about my family and those close to me and their struggles. More recently with this campaign, I think about all my amazing nursing colleagues and how they inspire me to keep running. I think of nurses who work long hours, then go home and take care of kids or parents. One nurse in particular is a member at my church and she revealed to me that her mom has dementia. Her parents live with her. Recently, she and her dad went to an Alzheimer's Society session to learn about how to support their loved one with dementia. She herself was also volunteering her time with her daughter at a Pancake Tuesday fun event. That impressed me. Now there is a Champion of Care!

week 10 out of 20 training

Saturday 3rd Feb
Today was a tough run. Apparently Boston is hilly especially later in the race course. Today I ran 12 k, then did 5k of hills, followed by 5k steady run home. Keeping it "G rating", my posterior chain tightened up. Just shows me the training is necessary. Thankful for the milder winter for training outside and being able to use our inflatable spa for post run soak. See my photo gallery - enjoying a coffee in the hot tub :) What a glorious sunny day!

32 k run

Saturday 3rd Feb
Latepost - Week 9/20 training 32 k run - managed a long run ahead of schedule. Posted a picture of me at 3k mark and then after 32 k. The winter has  been favourable for training so I am getting as many long runs in while the weather co-operates. Interesting, after the 32k run I was down 4 lbs! Even in cold weather, it is amazing how much sweat loss occurs. I struggled the last few kms. I can see it in my face. I need to mange my nutrition and hydration better... training is not just about putting in the mileage. 

Happy New Year!

Tuesday 2nd Jan
Starting week 6 of 20 training for Boston with a New Year's Day run with John and Archer. Loving my new winter running hat from John. Longest run so far 25 km. Feeling good. Hoping in 2024 I can stay healthy and continue this promising training path. Grateful for milder temperatures and my supportive family & friends. Thank you!

Week 3 of 20 training for Boston done

Sunday 17th Dec
As a wrap of week 3 of 20 weeks of training I am reflecting on my motivation for this run. As I was running 21 km today, I was thinking of all the great things we could do with this fund. It would be great to have a compassion fund for nurses who are caregivers outside of work or who are working on their own self-improvement plan. I would also like to have some special events during nursing week honoring our experienced nurses who are acting as preceptors and mentors of our new nurses. We need to nurture both new and experienced to promote wellness in our field. Thank you

Race update

Tuesday 9th May
Managed to finish the race despite a tumble with 6km to go. I have some road rash on my knees and shoulder and I am a bit embarrassed but otherwise recovering well. I got second in my age group with a time of 3:41:49 which also puts me in good standing to apply to run Boston in April 2024. Thank you for all your support. I think I will continue this page as I look ahead to the next race. 

Thank you to my supporters

$545

Ken Radcliffe

Good luck in Boston.

$515

Bob Ginty

$500

Anonymous

$265

John Harrington

Great cause! Excited to be there to watch you cross the finish line!

$250

Joyce Rankin

Bravo Leanne!

$132.50

Karen Chien

WOw! What a cause! And what an effort! How could we not contribute? :) Excited for you in the lead up to Boston - enjoy it all, it's a very special race.

$106

Dori Greatti

$106

Kara Ronald

Leanne, you are an inspiration and a role model for exemplary nursing care - care for patients, care for each other and care for self!

$106

Dori Greatti

Wishing you the best at the upcoming Boston Marathon Leanne! Honored to help you on your journey to become a Champion of Care.

$106

Julie Harkness

Happy to support Leanne and her colleagues!

$106

Luke Devine

$106

Anonymous

Go Leanne!

$106

Sue Butler

A true Champion of our hearts ! Inspiring to many ! Love you lots

$106

Dan B

$100

Sheena Nelson

You are an inspiration. Wishing you all the best Leanne !

$100

Iona Leong

$100

Charlotte Early

$100

Susan Brown

Best wishes for the race Leanne! And thank you for raising these funds.

$100

Marianne Internicola

You continue to inspire Leanne!

$100

Michael Gekas

Good luck with your training!

$53

Julian Sale

Impressive. Boston marathon - tough to just qualify not to mention actually do it. Your support of hard working nurses is commendable. Good luck.

$53

Jeanne Harrington

$53

Tom Klajnerman

Good luck Leanne!

$53

Barb Griffin

$53

Michael Sim

Let's Go Leanne!!!!

$53

Mary Ellen

Good Luck Leanne!

$53

David Hunt

When in doubt, run faster! All the best this Monday!

$53

Maureen Denny

Yay Leanne! Go fast!!!

$53

Leanne Ginty

$53

John Nishida

Good luck with the training Leanne. Have fun in Boston!!

$53

Nely Amaral

Good luck Leanne! You got this!

$53

Leanne Ginty

$53

Albert

Good luck in your training!

$50

Sapna Patel

Inspiring. I'm rooting for you!

$50

Brenda O'connor

wishing you much success Leanne

$50

John Nishida

Good Luck Leanne!

$50

Mirja Raita

Good luck Leanne! You totally got this. Heartbreak Hill hasn’t met you yet!

$50

Nadia And Brent Warriner

Good luck, Leanne! Your care for others and your commitment are inspiring!

$50

Leia Spencer

Way to go Leanne! Best of luck in Boston 🏃‍♂️

$50

Sandra Dietrich

Good luck Leanne! Looks like the skies will be clear. Sandra

$50

Kate Van Den Broek

Good luck Leanne!

$42.40

Barbara Cleave

Good luck. You are an inspiration.

$42.20

Amanda Sellers

$26.50

David & Shelley Malone

Go Team Leanne Go

$26.50

Suzanne Beauchamp

Good Luck Leanne

$26.50

Joan Bradley

$26.50

Avi Parmar

To my 'running' COACH...you're an inspiration! Boston...Watch Out...here comes Leanne!!!

$26.50

Natalia Solana

$26.50

Elena Nikolsky

Good Luck!

$26.50

Krystal Lawley

You got this Leanne!! I am really proud of you

$25

Kim Dart

$25

Wyllie

Go Leanne Go!

$25

Carmen Chu

Best of luck, Leanne! Enjoy!

$21.20

Lisa

Good Luck Leanne☘️

$20

Rosanna Macri

Good luck Leanne! You'll be great!