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.

Five miles

I decided to run down on the trail today. Its not in terrible shape, considering the flooding, but parts of it are pretty bad and will be needing some TLC. That makes me glad that I’m doing what I can, by Racing for the Trail to try to raise money for improvements. But that’s neither here nor there. I set out to do seven miles today, but about 4 miles into the run my left achilles started aching just a trifle, so I cut it short. It was getting much more of a workout on the trail at night than on a brightly lit treadmill, that’s for sure. Anyway, I ended up with 4.95 miles at an 8:48 average pace.

I haven’t done the elliptical at all this week - a combination of being busy at work and sick of it from last week. No spin class tomorrow either. Next week my goal is to follow my core schedule faithfully though. Oh - and I went bowling last night. Does that count at all?

Probably not, no.

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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

7 total comments, leave your comment.
  1. jeff
    Dec 9th 2004
    8:09 PM

    bowling? only counts if you tell us what your score was!

  2. vj
    Dec 9th 2004
    10:05 PM

    Hey, sure, bowling counts! It’s cross training!

    Glad you’re getting the server situation in hand. I missed visiting your blog!

  3. Alex
    Dec 9th 2004
    10:07 PM

    Nope. Doesn’t count. Catch you on the trail…

  4. I’ve seen some pretty long stretches for crosstraining but bowling may be just too far. Was there beer with the bowling?

  5. because if there WAS beer, that might count as carb-loading, which makes bowling OK in my book.

  6. Megan
    Dec 10th 2004
    10:12 AM

    For a 150 lb person, bowling burns 415 calories in 90 minutes. I have no idea if this figure is for “competitive” bowling or sit-on-your-ass-mostly bowling.

    I’d say it counts. Most definitely.

  7. Hey just wearing those shows in public should count for something.


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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