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.

Training Paces

Just for grins, I pulled up the Greg McMillan recommended training plan for my current fitness level. You know what? Its remarkably similar to what I’ve been doing. The idea is that you plug in your performance from a representative event, and then by training at the levels shown you should get faster without putting too much stress on yourself.

400M interval times from 1:39-1:45? Check.
Mile repeat times from 7:13-7:29? Check - hilly ones at that.
Long runs at 9:00-10:00? Check.
Expected 10K time of 46:53? Hmm… I guess I’ll find out in a week.

I am planning on doing the Dublin Dr. Pepper 10K on the 11th. I’ll be a little tired from the trip up there, but its supposed to be a very friendly course so that should help to make up for it. Its been quite a while since I’ve raced, and 10K isn’t exactly my favorite distance, so it should be a really interesting test of my current fitness level.

So. How close are McMillan’s results to your training regimen?

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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

3 total comments, leave your comment.
  1. I use McMillan for getting my target paces for my training. Higdon for the distances, but McMillan for the pace.

    And its funny you that about 10K’s because I don’t like them either. Can’t figure out my pace at all.

  2. Hmm, according to this, I run my long runs way too fast. But i’m experimenting with walk breaks, so I guess if you add in the minute walk, it evens out. I’ll have to read this in more detail. great link!

  3. A soda company sponsoring a 10K race?!? That seems a little ironic, shouldn’t it be a sports drink sponsoring the race? :) I am sure you will do great!


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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