Butler Athletic Director Running in NYC Marathon

It has been five years since Butler High School Athletic Director David Doty has run a marathon. Next month, he will challenge himself to run one of the most well-known marathons in the country as he prepares to participate in the ING New York City Marathon on Nov. 4.

Doty will be running on behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and has pledged to raise over $3,600 for the cause.

"LLS is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer," according to the organization's website. "LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services."

While he has been fundraising for the past 12 weeks, he has also been physically preparing by training at least five days per week, building up running stamina.

"I always wanted to run one of these as a goal," Doty said.

Doty has previously participated in two other marathons: one in Toronto in 2005 and a Marine Corps. marathon in 2007. For this marathon, Doty was inspired by a close friend and former Delbarton School athletic director, Brian Fleury, who died of cancer.

As Doty has been training and preparing to run, even the high school students have been cheering him on.

"They've been very supportive and encouraging," he said.

Doty estimates he will be able to run the marathon in about four hours, based on prior experience. To work up to that time, Doty has been practicing running long distances when he is not running on the treadmill before school. After he completes the marathon, he hopes to be able to maintain exercising the way he has been.

"I like running to run, not to race," he said.

Visit Doty's fundraising page for the marathon here and leave some encouragement in the comments.