Marathon Monday: One week to go for Michelle and Team

The Boston Marathon is merely days away, and we are so proud! Here at Dermatology & Skin Health of Dover, we’re beyond thrilled to announce that at the time this blog hits the screen, $26,293 has been raised for Team Running for Cover, https://dermskinhealth.com/running-for-cover, to help meet (and surpass!) its $20,000 goal to benefit the Melanoma Foundation of New England.

Our engine, the person doing the actual miles on the pavement, is DSH’s own physician’s assistant, Michelle Roy.

Michelle will be part of Team Running for Cover, which will be running the 118th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 21. If you haven’t been keeping track, Roy is an important team member of both DSH and Team Running for Cover and you can catch up with her training and fundraising online at https://www.crowdrise.com/michelleroy.

We caught up with Roy ourselves, in between strides to ask her thoughts the week before the race:

QUESTION: How did you get involved with the Melanoma Foundation of New England and Team Running for Cover?
MICHELLE ROY: I became involved with MFNE to get the message out regarding melanoma. It is a real killer. I spend my days talking with my patients regarding the risks and dangers of it. I really wanted to put more action to my words and also honor those patients who have it and those who have lost their battle.

QUESTION: What are your personal goals for the marathon?
MICHELLE ROY: I want to enjoy the experience. This is the official start of my race season, so I do not want to injury myself. Marathoning is all about pacing oneself. As a master runner (over age 40) , it would be great to finish around 3:40.

QUESTION: Describe what your training regimen has been like leading up to the race. How long have you been preparing for this event?
MICHELLE ROY: My training began in November. I run an average of 60+ mile weeks with some races sprinkled in for good measure to make certain I am meeting my target paces.

QUESTION: How many marathons have you participated in?
MICHELLE ROY: This will be my sixth marathon.

QUESTION: You've raised more than $26,000 to date in support of the cause. How does that make you feel?
MICHELLE ROY:  The money that the office has raised has been amazing. I’m so proud of all of my office co workers and their strong work in fundraising. It has taken a village to make this all work. I’d like to give a special thank you to Laurie Seavey and Dr. Campbell for their unwavering support throughout this process.

QUESTION: What are your top three ultimate marathon soundtrack songs that will be playing in your head as you run the race?
MICHELLE ROY:  Oh, this is tough. I love music and my shuffle is constantly changing. I listen to Scottish bagpipes, yes... I said... Scottish bagpipes… when it is raining on the coast or you find yourself running up steep mountains ... it helps. Otherwise, I have everything from "Happy" to "Testify" by Rage Against the Machine.

QUESTION: What's the last meal you will eat prior to the race?
MICHELLE ROY: Since Boston starts at 11:20 a.m., my last meal will be breakfast. I do steel cut oats cooked in apple juice with blueberries, cinnamon, and brown sugar.  I am sponsored by Osmo and Honey Stinger for the 2014 race season, so that is what I will be sipping and noshing on during the run.

QUESTION: What is your preferred brand of running shoes?
MICHELLE ROY: MIZUNO.

QUESTION:  What does this race mean to you on a personal level?
MICHELLE ROY: Marathons are always very special. The distance is one that you must respect. Boston is unique in that it is mostly downhill, with hills in the middle. I am looking forward to the experience of running this year: so many people, so much meaning, and just plain gratitude for being healthy enough to do it.

QUESTION:  What does this race mean to the notion of raising awareness about Melanoma?
MICHELLE ROY: One of my teammates lost her son at the age of 21 this past December to melanoma. Every day I think of Connor as I speak to my patients about melanoma. Our entire team's running singlets will honor Connor. He was a "ginger." A beautiful young man who lost his life way too early. We are all running Boston to support his mom with her loss, but also to Run for the Ginger! I will have it tattooed on my arm as my mantra for the race (a temporary tattoo, of course).