Running Towards Fitness

Personal Awareness
The ancient Greeks used to believe that a healthy mind and a healthy body not only went together, but were both critical for happiness and a successful life. They were also intertwined, meaning that a weakness in either area would affect the other. When I started this transformation I was overweight and full of excuses. And by overweight I don't mean just a few pounds - I weighed over 70 pounds more than I do now. I finally took my life into my own hands and started exercising. At the time, I had no idea where it would lead - to a stronger body, a happier, more nimble mind, and a chest full of race medals. Healthy mind, healthy body, indeed! It hasn't been easy, or without issues, but I wouldn't trade the experience for the world.

Two more hours

Started on the treadmill, did a mile and a half. That’s the first running I’ve done all week - its just been crazy. Still, only eight miles tomorrow, and I’ll try hard to do better next week.

After that, did bench presses - 35×8, 40×6 and 45×2. Yeah, x2. It was a pretty lousy day for weights. Followed that up with some bicep curls (3 of 27.5×10), a few dips, and one long set of single-arm tricep pulls (20 reps of 15). Back to the bench room, and we did incline press - 25×10, 30×8, 35×2. I found my limits for the day, at least.

Followed that with a little light leg work - 3 sets of calf extensions at 240×10, mixed with some … I don’t know what they’re called, but you stand with a bar at about groin level and raise it in front of you to chin level, then back down. Anyway, did that with 25s on the bar. Next, hit the frame for some pulldowns (80×10, 90×10, 90×10) interleaved with more tricep pulls (70×10, 75×10, 80×10). Did a few leg-raises for the flabbyAbs, and a little back, and we were out of there.

Days remaining: 16

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About

I'm Richard Stanford, a fit, happy runner. Of course, that wasn't always the case. Dip into the archives to follow my progress from couch potato to sub-four hour marathoner.

I also like to cook, write, code, and play with power tools...

Personal Records

DistanceRaceTimePace
Marathon2006 Freescale3:54:078:56
20 Miles2006 RunTex3:00:089:00
30K2005 RunTex2:42:448:45
Half M2006 3M1:42:577:51
20K2005 Decker1:40:428:06
10 Miles2005 Pervasive1:20:138:01
10K2005 Dublin Dr Pepper48:437:51
5 Miles2005 Turkey Trot37:017:24
5K2005 Margarita Run22:327:15
4K2006 Fila Relays17:247:15
1 Mile2006 Congress Ave6:236:23

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Famous Marathon Times

RunnerTimePace
Al Gore4:58:2511:23
Oprah4:29:3010:17
P. Diddy4:14:549:43
Will Ferrell3:56:129:01
George W. Bush3:44:528:35
John Edwards3:30:188:01
Carrie Sapp3:29:067:59
Boston Qualifier3:10:597:17
Lance Armstrong2:59:366:51
Gilbert Tuhabonye2:23:075:28
Paula Radcliffe2:15:255:10
Paul Tegat2:04:554:46

People I Train With

Alex - Addicted to Exercise
Carrie - Tri to be Funny
Erine - Thousand Miles
Frank - Running Blog
Gilbert - Gilbert's Gazelles
Jay - Leotian Blog
Mike - BROTH