Team IMPACT: Meet Abby Dennis
The 49th New York City Marathon commences on Sunday, November 3rd, and IMPACT Melanoma will be well represented with our powerful and dedicated group of runners, Team IMPACT. Each of our runners share a passion for our cause – which is to spread awareness and prevention initiatives with regard to the incidences of melanoma around the United States, and, with our lead, the world.
Each of our team members have unique reasons as to why they’re contributing efforts to Team IMPACT, and, as such, we’re highlighting a handful of them in support of their run, and their campaign to raise necessary funds.
With that in mind, please join us in welcoming and thanking, Abby Dennis!
IMPACT Melanoma: How’d you learn about IMPACT Melanoma and Team IMPACT?
Abby Dennis: My sister and I ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 2015, and after that, we promised we’d retire from marathons and come of retirement only for New York. She got in off the lottery this year so I searched for a charity spot to join her. I specifically searched for organizations associated with melanoma, because I had Stage 1A in my mid 20s. I found IMPACT Melanoma and their work around education and prevention resonated with me and I decided to apply.
IM: What made you decide to get involved and commit to a spot on the team? What does said spot mean to you?
Dennis: Abby: As mentioned above, I was seeking a charity spot in the New York Marathon and, with my personal history of melanoma, I was drawn to the work IMPACT Melanoma does with education and prevention. I know this is Team IMPACT’s first year at New York, and thus the team is small, so I’m honored to have been chosen. I want to make sure I hit my fundraising goals and run a solid, healthy race, so as to improve Team IMPACT’s chances of returning next year with an even bigger team!
IM: How many marathons have you run in the past? What do you take away from these experiences?
Dennis: I’ve done one – the Marine Corps Marathon, my hometown marathon here in the nation’s capital. I take from that experience the knowledge that I can do another one if I put my mind to it. The Marine Corps Marathon, while obviously physically demanding, was a big mental feat. Around 18 miles, my iPod stopped working, I hit the wall, and the sun came out – even though I wanted to walk away from it all in front of the Washington Monument, I kept going – one foot in front of the other. No music also enabled me to really engage with and enjoy the crowd!
IM: I know it’s hard to predict, but how do you think this particular run will stack up (from a philosophical/humanitarian/or just straight physical point of view)?
Dennis: I’m hoping to run a solid, healthy race. I’m no speed demon. Whether it’s a 5k, half marathon, or full, you’ll always see me at a steady pace. I want to carry that steady pace throughout, enjoy my teammates and the day, and support a great cause in IMPACT Melanoma.
IM: What is your personal stance / battle cry with regard to skin cancer and taking care of one’s skin?
Dennis: Stay under the umbrella at the beach! Lather up with sunscreen! I don’t mess around with the sun after my melanoma diagnosis. No tan is worth it.
IM: What’s your pre-race ritual? Some sort of specific cuisine the night before? Specific stretching routine? Special socks? You tell us!
Dennis: None really, except I do set my iPod to play the same song at the start of all the races I do. The very first road race I did was the Beaufort Dance Academy 5k in Beaufort, SC, in 2008 (with a big field of 30 runners). I didn’t have a iPod or shuffle then (still jammin’ to a discman), so I borrowed one from my sister (I was visiting her – she lives in Beaufort), which had her music on it. When I pressed play at the start of the race, the first song was Poison’s, “Talk Dirty to Me” (my sister’s husband plays in a cover band and actually plays that song so I guess that’s why she had it on her list). It stuck and over ten years and probably 100 races later, it still kicks me off!
To get involved and make a donation:
Visit Abby’s runner profile here to help her reach her personal goal: www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/impact-melanoma-nyc-2019/abbydennis
Visit our Team IMPACT profile page here: www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/impact-melanoma-nyc-2019/impactmelanoma
Get social by following along: #TCSNYCMarathon
