Week 2 - Sunday, January 24 - Sat. January 30

Week 2 was a challenging week, mostly due to the inclement weather that I ran in two of the three days that I ran outside. This week I added the forth day of running to my schedule. Therefore I ran M, T, Th and Sat. and worked out on the Elliptical just one day on Wednesday. On Tuesday I decided to do my long run (3.42 miles) instead of my normal Saturday because I was scheduled to run in the Penguin Run 5k Race on Sunday, January 31. The long run ended up being on a very windy day that included gusts up to 33 mph and had a wind chill of about 14 degrees. One nice thing is when you finish a run like that you truly feel like you accomplished something real. It took me 40 minutes, however I know it does a little extra for your training when you are battling a strong wind. If not physically, it does mentally. You never know what kind of weather you may end up on race day therefore it is good to have some tough days under your belt to say you can handle anything that Mother Nature hands you.

So here is what the week looked like-

Sun. 1/24- Off

Mon. 1/25- 2.65 miles 5 min running/1 min walking- 29 minutes total

Tues. 1/26- 3.42 miles 7 min running/1 min walking- 40 minutes total

Wed. 1/27- 25 minute Elliptical Machine

Thurs. 1/28- 2.65 miles on the Treadmill 5 min running/1 min walking- 3o minutes total

Fri. 1/29- Off

Sat. 1/30- 2.28 miles Random Intervals Run/Walk -25 minutes 50 seconds.

In summary I covered 11 miles for the week in a total time of 2 hours 4 minutes and 50 seconds.

I also worked out one day on the Elliptical Machine for 25 minutes total

I looked forward to a strong race on Sunday. Now my plan is to ease slowly into the beginning of week three and end with a long run of 4 miles. I will cover just over 12 miles in week 3.

Week One- Sunday, Jan. 17 - Sat. Jan. 23

The first week felt great. It has been well over a year since I have run on a regular basis so I am definitely feeling some tightness, however it feels incredible. My training will mostly consist of running three times a week while on lunch at work and one long run on the weekend. Two days I will train on the Elliptical Machine. For approximately the first two months of training my primary focus will be to build a base to build on. Then around mid March I plan on structuring my training around a real 1/2 marathon training program. Until that time I will be doing some research and asking a lot of questions of people I know who are great runners.

Well first things first-

Here is how my first week ended up-

Sun. 1/17- 20 minutes on the Elliptical Machine

Mon. 1/18- Off

Tues. 1/19- 2.85 miles 5 minute run/1 minute walk intervals

Wed. 1/20- 22 minutes on Elliptical Machine

Thurs. 1/21- 2.7 mile run 5 minute run/1 minute walk intervals

Fri. 1/22- Off

Sat. 1/23- 3.5 mile run- No walking 42 degrees and Sunny- PERFECT!

Total Mileage running for the week- 9.05 miles. The weather for the week was generally in the low 30s, however mild. Saturday as mentioned above was about as perfect as you can get.

See you next week.

How it all began....

My name is Dan and I am training for the Buffalo Half Marathon which takes place on Sunday, May 30. This will be my first Half Marathon and will be by far the longest I have ever run in my life. The reason I started this blog is to log my training so one day my kids (that I love more than life itself) can look at my training and see what their Daddy did. They are the true inspiration for me to train for this. Running is the primary activity that I have chosen to keep my mind and body healthy. This is important to me because I am not the youngest father to have 2 year old kids. I can't take years off and make my self younger therefore I have to do my best to add some years at the back end. I also hope that someday this will inspire and show them that there are high points and low points when attempting to conquer a difficult goal. However with perseverance you can accomplish anything.

My interest in running just began recently in the summer of 2006 when I finally decided after many failed attempts that I was going to completely run a 5K race. I used the 5k training program that I found on HalHigdon.com. I made a strong commitment and I finished the Ambulance Chase 5k in Buffalo NY on September 15, 2006. It was a great feeling finally overcoming this overwhelming need to complete this goal. Their is no sweeter accomplishment in life than defeating something you have been wanting for so long and for one reason or another haven't completed it. Since that 5k I have completed about eight to ten other 5k races and three 8ks (all local). This year I have decided to take my running to the next level. I am not a fast runner and do not have any goals to place even in my age group. My running goals for 2010 are to complete this Half Marathon and blow by my two PRs. My PR in the 5k is 31:07 or 10:01 per mile set in 2008 at the Jog for the Jake on my first ever Fathers Day and my PR in the 8k is 50:39 or 10:11 per mile at the Shamrock Run in 2007. I hope to have my new PRs at the least in the low nines.

I have just completed week one yesterday and will post my daily thoughts and observations as well as my accomplishments in a separate post. This post was just to let you know how it all began....