Tag: NYC

My Marathon Sermon 2026

Published on by drpaulsem1 Comment

Each year I serve as the Co-Chaplain for the Religious Services start of the New York City Marathon.

I no longer run the race. (I ran NYC 12 times and completed 27 marathons in my running “career.”) Still, I return to Staten Island to be present at the start to to share God’s love, and to talk and pray with the runners who attend our services.

This morning I helped to officiate five different services. I miss the big race. It still holds a special place in my heart, but I am also glad to be able to inspire the runners before they embark on their own 26.2 mile journeys.

The following is my sermon from this year:

NYC Marathon Sermon 2026

Today is a glorious day, one of the best of the entire year, we are at the start of the greatest race and were are in the greatest city in the world. 

Continue reading “My Marathon Sermon 2026” →

CRUSHING The Long Run!

Published on by drpaulsemLeave a comment

17.5 miles. Yes, you read that correctly. 17.5 miles. A great 17.5 mile run!!!

The long run was CRUSHED!

The long run was DESTROYED!

The long run was CONQUERED!

The man Is MARATHON READY! OH YEAH!

No, not me. I covered the distance, yes, but I didn’t run that far. It wasn’t me. It was Alex!

Continue reading “CRUSHING The Long Run!” →

16 Weeks Until The NYC Marathon, But…

Published on by drpaulsemLeave a comment

July 13, 2025

***

Well, this is a strange and unique feeling for me.  The NYC marathon is 16 weeks away and today would be the start of my marathon training season.

But I’m not training for marathons any longer.  

My most recent marathon last January was my last marathon.  

As I completed the Dopey Challenge in Walt Disney World in January, I determined that my marathon days were over.  My reasons for retiring from marathoning are legion.  I’ll touch on some of them below, but I have written a lot about that on these pages before.

The following are some of my scattered thoughts as I break away from the 16-week training period for the NYC – a ritual I followed for the better part of a quarter-century:

Continue reading “16 Weeks Until The NYC Marathon, But…” →

NYC Marathon Sermon 2024

Published on by drpaulsem1 Comment

Each year, at the start of the TCS Marathon, I serve as one of the chaplains who run the Non-Denominational Christian Service for the runners in the Start Village.

The following is the sermon I delivered this year before the big race:

Marathon Sermon 2024

I am going to begin this year’s message with a passage from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 9:

“You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win!”

Continue reading “NYC Marathon Sermon 2024” →

28,433 (When Is Enough… Enough?)

Published on by drpaulsemLeave a comment

I Love running.

I run, a lot.

I have been running for decades.

I have completed 25 marathons. This fall I’ll be running the New York City Marathon (for the 11th time) and then, in January, I’ll do the Dopey Challenge at Disney World.

Tomorrow, I turn 56-years-old.

I still play baseball as a pitcher. I exercise every single day, usually twice a day. This (of course) includes a lot of running.

I run, a lot.

Continue reading “28,433 (When Is Enough… Enough?)” →

My Book: 365.2 – Featured on the WOFC Podcast

Published on by drpaulsemLeave a comment

Here is the Podcast link: https://ksje.podbean.com/e/write-on-four-corners-with-delsheree-gladden-interview-with-paul-semendinger-1719863217/

Click on the image below for link to purchase the book:

From the Write On Four Corners Podcast:

“Dr. Paul Semendinger returns to the show this week to discuss his newest book, “365.2: Going the Distance: A Runner’s Journey,” which details his effort to run every day for an entire year. He talks about the challenges he faced on his quest to achieve his goal and how he motivated himself to keep moving forward. “

Reaching, Failing, Reaching Again

Published on by drpaulsem1 Comment

I am a marathoner.

In less then three weeks, I’ll be running the New York City Marathon. This will be my 25th lifetime Marathon and my 10th New York.

I have always said that I will run forever.

Nothing has ever stopped me before. A torn Achilles? Nope. Stress factures? Nope. Other aches and pains and the like? Nope.

I just kept moving forward. (I did have surgery to repair the Achilles, but got right back at it afterword.)

Nothing ever stopped me… except… me.

Nothing ever stopped me, until I did. Or, better said, until I almost did.

Continue reading “Reaching, Failing, Reaching Again” →

A Smart Choice

Published on by drpaulsemLeave a comment

In 2022, I determined to run every single day for a calendar year. I set out on January 1 and I ran each and every day.

I set a lofty goal, and then, through perseverance, determination, tenacity, and will, I accomplished that goal.

I ran 1,700 miles last year, or an average of 4.65 miles each and every day. I am proud that I was able to do that.

I’m now writing a book of this experience which I hope will serve as motivation for other runners and goal-setters. We can all do more than we ever imagined. You just need to set a plan and get out there and do it.

We also can’t let failure get in the way of pressing forward. I had plenty of years when I thought about and/or tried to run each day and didn’t make it. I learned as I failed from each setback.

But last year, I accomplished my goal.

Then, on January 1, 2023, I went out and ran again. I only did three miles in a new running shoe I was trying out (the Saucony Tempus), but it was three miles and the running streak continued…

But then, on January 2, I made a very sound decision. I made a smart choice. Sanity prevailed.

I didn’t run.

Continue reading “A Smart Choice” →

TOMORROW!!!

Published on by drpaulsemLeave a comment

Tomorrow is the New York City Marathon.

I just completed my 16-week training period with a slow and easy 2.80 mile run. That run put me at 680 total miles for the 16 weeks. I averaged 42.5 miles a week for that entire period.

I’m in my mid-fifties, but those 680 miles were the most I ever ran in any training period. My previous high came way back in 2007 as I trained for the Marine Corps Marathon. I did 674 miles in training that year.

Continue reading “TOMORROW!!!” →

300 Days

Published on by drpaulsemLeave a comment

October 27, 2022

***

I wanted to make sure I was correct so I counted and recounted and counted again.

Yes. Today was the day. I had it marked on my calendar so I assumed it was, I was sure it was, but I needed to check and double-check, and triple-check just to make sure.

I had to be certain about this.

300.

300 consecutive days of running!

Continue reading “300 Days” →