Training Begins

Day 1 (day's total: 6 miles; projected week total: 20 miles) - As I approach my 27th year of living on this planet, I am training for marathon lucky number 7. Today I begin the climb to making a qualifying time (under 3:40 for my age group) for the Boston marathon, which is often considered the apogee of a runner's career. While I've self-trained for six marathons in the past three years (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Palos Verdes, Santa Barbara, and Orange County, in chronological order), I've yet to document my training experience and reflect on the wild ride with others.
I'm writing in this virtual space to share my own trials and tribulations of training for the upcoming Santa Barbara Marathon (82 days away) with friends and strangers also interested in perhaps taking the plunge someday.
Anyone can run a marathon. I've seen all ages and sizes passing me on the road to the 26-mile finish. And it doesn't matter how busy you are or perceive yourself to be - I'm a PhD student, working part-time, just adopted a puppy, and I travel regularly. I hope that this space will inspire you to take a physical challenge, in whatever mode it might be, beyond your status quo. Admittedly, it is also my hope that readers may lend me some words of encouragement and motivation.
I will record the number of miles that I run everyday and weekly, for anyone that wishes to follow a training schedule. I will also probably provide details on diet and cross-training and any mishaps along the way. This is my first time keeping a runner's log, the "leg log," and I will probably make some changes as I go the 1000 pre-marathon miles...