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.

Recovery Run

My mileage for the week was pretty low, so I met up this morning with Carrie and Thon for a very comfortable seven miles around the trail. We actually ran at a true recovery pace; to be honest I don’t think that any of us were in the mood for much more than the 9:30-9:45 or so we did today. Carrie broke off after five to go and swim a few miles, but Thon and I finished it out and headed for Auditorium Shores. Doing strides afterwards turned out to be a really good idea, since it showed me just how stiff I was still feeling and worked a lot of the kinks out of my legs.

One of these days I’d like to get a good solid massage, but who has the time?

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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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One comment, leave your comment.
  1. Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and giving me such wonderful words of encouragement! It’s greatly appreciated. I’m so impressed with you, because 70 pounds still seems like an awfully long way from where I’m at right now. I love hearing from people who have made it to their goals and are out there living it up now - it really makes me look forward to the days when I might consider anything in the 9 min mile range a recovery run! (As opposed to my current 13ish paces : )


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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