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.

Clothing, Fuel, and Other Fripperies

I just remembered something that I meant to mention in my last post. I’m not terribly used to running in the cold weather that we’ve been having here lately, but I was perfectly warm thanks to a little preplanning. I just wore my running shorts under a pair of wind-resistant loose pants, and a new long sleeved shirt that my darling wife got me for Christmas. Its a form-fitting Nike, and I have to admit that I was a trifle self-conscious when she gave it to me, but not only did it keep me nice and warm all by itself, its snugness prevented any chafing as well. Cool. I also scored some new shorts and socks, some of which I’ll be wearing for tomorrow’s long run.

Speaking of the long run, I’m glad that I’ll be fueling during it because today’s eating was not fantastic. I mean, the food was great, but heavily biased towards protein and fat with nowhere near enough carbs. Between the extra-cheesy macaroni and the multiple handfuls of nuts, I pretty much set myself up for dietary failure. Still, at least I’m not completely stuffed. Anyway, I’m whipping up some late-night noodles as I write this, and I’ll have something appropriate for breakfast tomorrow as well, so that should do the trick.

What do you eat before a long run?

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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

5 total comments, leave your comment.
  1. Well, the macaroni is pasta. Ok, the cheese isn’t.

    The morning of the long run? Just my usual breakfast at least 2 hours before. Fiber filled cereal with a banana and raisins. The night before I’ll have pasta if its a very long run. These days they have been short, so there isn’t too much fueling needed the night before.

  2. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and many wishes for a blessed New Year!

    Aloha,
    Michelle

  3. Dani
    Dec 26th 2004
    11:10 AM

    Merry Late Christmas! As for eating before long runs, I usually have my traditional bowl of oatmeal about 1.5 hours before a run of 12 or more miles. For something between 6 and 12 miles, I just go with a graham cracker or two. Typing this, though, makes me realize I haven’t run over 9 miles in a long time!

  4. I usually don’t eat anything before my runs, as I run first thing in the morning, plus I have a very touchy stomach and can’t stand to run within 3-4 hours of having eaten. I’m so nervous about being sick that I just can’t do it. But I think that hurt me a lot at White Rock when I basically bonked at mile 16 and it was all I could do to keep going. I’m going to work on that this spring and try to get at least some toast and banana down before anything 8+ miles.

  5. Bex
    Dec 29th 2004
    10:26 AM

    I don’t eat much before a long run, though I haven’t run more than 11 miles yet. I usually have a few bites of strawberry yogurt and a banana and some water. That’s about it.


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Will Ferrell3:56:129:01
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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