See that guy on the left? That’s Tom Holland, a former high school classmate and teammate of mine.

Some time since we last ran 440s under New Canaan football coach Lou Marinelli’s watchful eye (back in the 80s), our lives went in separate directions. Tom is now one of the most sought-after fitness experts, and today’s Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon was literally a jog in the park for him.

As for me - I get winded hopping into the back of the media truck which paces the top runners in the field. And I break a sweat again when I get let off at the finish line. Needless to say I haven’t kept myself in shape. I even considered retiring from slow-pitch softball a few weeks back because I would be wiped out after pitching four innings.

But that’s all going to change. Instead of covering the event for a fourth-straight year, I will participate in the 2009 Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon. Yes, that is my goal, and I hope I can achieve it.

The problem is, I have no idea how to train for such an event. That’s where you readers come in. Any tips or training ideas you have, please give them to me. I’m a clean slate. A clean slate of Silly Putty, but it’s still clean.

A lot of people watch a big event and say they want to participate the next year, then go right back to the coach. And I hope that’s not the case for me. That’s why I plan on blogging here about my training - both good and bad. This way, simply put, I’m putting myself out there.

Now the last time I ran in a race was a 5K at Waveny Park in 1988, as part of a summer concert series. My friends were in the band, and I was going to show off and win… without training. I kept up with the front for the first half of the race, then died. I actually blocked it from my memory.

And I do have some things to deal with. For one, my neck isn’t 100% healed yet from November 2007 cervical fusion surgery (though I’m living my normal life). I also have a strain or pull of some sort in my lower left leg that I’ve been dealing with for a little more than a year. And I need to switch my work habits to give myself some time to hit the gym.

But I’ll do what it takes.

My annual physical is in October. Hopefully by then most of the nags will be done with and I’ll be well into training.

Wish me luck… Now here’s Tom Holland to talk about the half marathon:

-Tim Parry