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For one of the vice chairmen of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Hospitals, what is another 10 hours out of his hectic week to train for the Boston Marathon? In between seeing patients, delivering babies on the fifth floor of the Connors Center and sleeping, Dr. Jim Greenberg still manages to train four days out of the week.
“I didn’t want to be a spectator this year,” said Greenberg, who recently turned 40 and used that as one of the inspirations to run the marathon. Already actively involved in fundraising for BWH, Greenberg will run as one of the 78 members of Team Brigham helping to support BWH’s Community Health Initiatives Programs. “This whole experience is even more rewarding since I’ll be raising money in addition to attaining a personal goal.” He will also be joined along the 26.2 mile route by two college friends, who both happen to be avid marathoners. Not so for Greenberg.
“I haven’t run competitively since participating in sports as a college student. Although I enjoy staying fit through biking, swimming and other activities, running wasn’t part of my regular exercise regimen until this fall,” said Greenberg. It was last Thanksgiving when one of Greenberg’s brother-in-laws joked about his weight. Ever since then, Greenberg has been determined to train to run the marathon.
However, during a recent training run, he injured his leg which he said, gave him an “opportunity to see BWH from the patient side.” The injury is not serious enough for him to stop training or for him to not participate in the marathon, but it has slowed him down a bit. Compared to once having a goal of finishing the marathon in approximately four hours, he now hopes to just start the race. “I’d rather start the race and not finish than to not participate at all.”
Greenberg’s excitement for the race is apparent, as he is quick to share his progress, which he tracks diligently on his palm pilot, faithfully recording distance and time. Before his injury, he was completing eight-minute miles for those miles under the 10 mile mark.
This year, instead of enjoying the event on the sideline and through post-race parties, Greenberg is ecstatic that he will be one of the runners in the 2002 Boston Marathon.