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.

7 mile loop

Coming up to the office today, I found myself stuck in traffic as I was getting close to the Riverside exit. Rather than doing my run this evening, I just said, “Screw it,” and pulled off to the RunTex parking lot - got changed, and went out for seven miles. The weather was beautifully cool - low 70s with 85% humidity - and it was so much easier than running in the heat. I ran on the Town Lake trail loop from MoPac to I-35, which is about 6.9 miles, and took around 66 minutes to complete it for a 9:34 pace - right on target.

It felt good, too. My left knee is a little sore, and I was feeling it a little during the run, but it wasn’t ever painful. I could have done a better job of hydration last night (driving back from Dallas in the evening) and this morning (skipped breakfast). The first few miles were really fun; I lagged a little bit about five miles into it (not that I couldn’t go faster, just kinda relaxed a little too much) but picked it back up for the last couple. All in all, an uneventful, relaxing run - just what I needed.

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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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Activity

9 total comments, leave your comment.
  1. What a great way to start the day - and get away from morning-commute-stress! Nice run!

  2. haha! that’s great! I love that.
    screw it and run maybe that’s my new motto.

  3. What is wrong with your knee. I have been complaining about mine for so long I haven’t asked you about yours??

  4. What a great idea! I wish I could walk to work every day. It would be a great start to the day. Way to make the best of an annoying situation.

  5. Rickeydad
    Sep 21st 2004
    2:04 PM

    Ah, the benefits of working for yourself (you do, right?)

  6. To a certain extent, yes. I work for (and am part owner of) Blue Sky Logistics, and its fairly easy to move time around. There’s always more work than hours in the day anyway, so its not like I’m doing 8-5 :-/

  7. Aaron: I just have some very mild - and fading - patella tenodonitis from my rampup after my MCL injury.

  8. Um, there’s a shower at work right? See, if I even consider showing up anywhere besides the shower after my run, they call the police, and a hazmat team, and John Ashcroft.

  9. Jon: Yes. Absolutely there is a shower, and I take full advantage of it.


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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