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....