365.2: Going the Distance, a Runner’s Journey

Have you ever set a goal for yourself that seemed so hard to reach that even when the goal was in sight that you wanted to quit?

That’s what Paul Semendinger did when he set out to run every day for a year. Run every day. That doesn’t seem all that difficult. People run all the time for fun, for exercise, to get healthy or stay in shape. Paul thinks this is a reasonable goal, simple to achieve, even though on two other attempts he never made it past the end of February. This time will be different. But as Paul sets off on his quest to meet this goal, he learns how truly daunting this challenge will be. Injury, pain, and doubt dog him almost every mile of his journey. Major life changes and family emergencies become obstacles that have to be overcome. Through it all, Paul does his best to meet every challenge that he faces with determination, perseverance, and faith. Faith in God and faith in himself. And in the end, Paul discovers that a person can reach middle age and even among the doubts that come with wondering if your best years are behind you to still find ways to succeed.

Paul Semendinger taught middle school history and was a school administrator. He’s a member of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) and a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA). Paul is the Editor-in-Chief of the Yankees blog, Start Spreading the News. Paul enjoys running and has completed more than 20 marathons including the New York City Marathon nine times. Paul also plays competitive baseball. More than all of this, Paul is a family man and enjoys the time he spends as a husband and ＂ Dad＂ with his wife and three sons. Paul lives in New Jersey.