Welcome

OK, here goes, my 1st post.

I started running in High School, back when the Phillies where World Champions (28 years ago!). I got away from it thru my 20's & early 30's. I played a bunch of different sports (street hockey in many different leagues, ultimate Frisbee, co-ed volleyball). After the birth of our 1st son, I needed something to burn off stress, besides drinking. Something that I could do without being gone for hours. Something that I wouldn't come home battered & bruised. Something to keep the weight in check. So.. what could I do? Well, I found an old friend, collecting dust in my closet.. my running shoes.
I went for the occasional run, did the occasional local 5k, with some friends, and life was good. That was until I happened upon a marathon running in Wildwood 3 years ago. Well that race, the Ocean Drive Marathon, had an accompanying run, a 10-miler. That sounded good to me, why not take the next step. So 2 years ago I ran the OC Drive 10 miler. From Cape May - Wildwood, NJ. It was a learning experience, running 10 miles the majority of the time into a brutal 20-25mph headwind. That run made me long for new challenges.

I found a du-athalon, again in Wildwood, The Do-Wop DU. It was a 2 mile run / 11 mile bike / 2 mile run. It started & finished on the boardwalk. Again, what a great experience. I have a new respect for bikers. While I did train for this, I really took for granted the biking part. Getting off the bike, and having to run, ouch! That was really hard on the legs.

This past year, I ran the OC Drive 10 miler, bettered my time from the year before, with worse conditions than the previous year. The northeast winds off the ocean, 25+mph, in your face for 10 miles is rough! I couldn't imagine doing that marathon.

It was after seeing the dedication in the marathoners that day, that I decided to look into competing in one myself. I talked it over with my wife, and decided on the Philadelphia Marathon this fall. I needed her blessing on this because I need her to push me out the door to do the necessary training. I half ass a lot in life, and really want this experience to be all it can be.

So that takes me to today, starting this "blog". I've read a bunch of good blogs about running, and so here is mine. Runners set... GO !