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.

Monthly total

Running: 116.8 miles at a 9:03 average pace
Spin: 3 classes
Elliptical: 3 hours

This was my first - ever - 100+ mile running month. Pretty cool. I broke all sorts of personal records in the Bison half marathon, knocked a good amount of time away from my Turkey Trot record, and basically had a good month.

I’m currently taking things pretty easy to make sure that my ankle is completely recovered before my next 20K race on Sunday. Even so, I should be on target to complete well over 150 miles next month. Life is good.

Popularity: 4%

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

13 total comments, leave your comment.
  1. Wow! 100 miles! Congrats, Richard on burning in the miles. That’s a heck of a lot of miles for one week. And, uh, how long do your shoes last anyway?

  2. jeff
    Dec 1st 2004
    12:07 PM

    100+ mile week?! wow! hehe

  3. Thanks guys - I fixed it. That should, of course, read 100 mile running *month*. Impressive to me anyway, but not quite so … er … elite-level.

  4. Megan
    Dec 1st 2004
    12:56 PM

    I am flabbergasted. That’s really, really amazing, or at least it is for someone like me who’s working on 9 miles a week. Good for you! Sounds like you’re easily on track for 150.

  5. Megan
    Dec 1st 2004
    12:58 PM

    Well, I’m still flabbergasted anyway!

  6. Heh - thanks, Megan. And hey, we all started out with just a couple of miles. They just start to add up after a while!

  7. jeff
    Dec 1st 2004
    1:40 PM

    seriously though, richard, amazing successes this past month!

  8. Mark
    Dec 1st 2004
    2:33 PM

    Rock on there Mr. R!

  9. Meghan
    Dec 1st 2004
    2:57 PM

    Hey Richard,

    So how’s your ankle feeling these days? Thanks for asking about mine. There’s no pain anymore, which is great. It seems to get kind of stiff on the few longer/harder runs I’ve done (or attempted). But, with ice and rest, it seems to be making progress.

    I’m hesitant to stretch the tendon (for me it’s actually one on the outside of my ankle) because it’s the one that, when you start to roll your ankle, it contracts and keeps you from a full roll (or theoretically, it’s supposed to). The doctor said not to stretch it too much, because it’s supposed to be tight for that reason. Are you doing a lot of stretching? Is it helping?

    Congrats on all of this month’s accomplishments! I really liked some of your philisophical running entries in the last few weeks.

    Meghan

  10. susan
    Dec 1st 2004
    6:29 PM

    100 miles a month. You should be proud of that. I can’t even imagine it. Watch that ankle, and keep up the great work.

  11. Astounding! I’m thrilled to bits when I’m consistent enough to do 100 *km* a month. Way to GO!

  12. vj
    Dec 1st 2004
    10:04 PM

    VERY impressive, Richard! You go!

  13. deva
    Dec 2nd 2004
    11:50 AM

    Wow! Great work Richard. What a great month of running!


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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