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.

Take a Hike

Since it was time to pick up my car from the dealership and it was already after 5pm, I figured I'd get another 2+ miles in. Not running - although times are sad when I can't do 5 miles in a fscking day... but still, any exercise is good. ...

Another tenth-marathon

Alright, so its not a half marathon, but hey, 2+ miles is still a lot better than nothing. And hey, when it comes to nothing, I've become quite the expert over the last few months so I should know. This time I was still breathing fairly hard after ...

Back to the Gym

Its been months, but I've kept my Gold's membership current (not for any good reason, I'm just too lazy to suspend it even hen I'm not allowed to work out). Today, finally, I got back into the gym thanks to a little prodding from my lovely wife, who was ...

My Second Start

I'm back! Again. This time, I took my car into the shop and decided to pass on the courtesy ride home. Its only 2 1/4 miles, after all. I tossed on my running gear, drove in, and ran home (flat, no dogs, even slightly downhill). ...

Doctor’s Orders

Nothing until my back stops hurting. Not a damn thing. Luckily, I'm used to that. Then, once there's no pain, I have a week of core exercises to do. Then I can get back to running, with a couple of restrictions. First, no dogs. ...

Soda is bad for your health

Even diet soda. Especially Fresca. You see, my back was almost back to normal until I wandered around our small grocery store, carrying a 12 pack of the stuff for 2-3 minutes. Standing at the checkout it hurt a little, and I kept adjusting the weight. ...

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Or was that two steps for... no, I was right the first time. But I get ahead of myself. This morning everyone I know (with maybe two exceptions - maybe) was out running. On the trail, on the street, wherever, but they were running. And so was I! ...

Another good run

I did the same route that I did on Monday with Thon, this time going out to the corners. That made it a little longer, but still not much. I ran more consistently this time, but not a whole lot faster. Not a whole lot to talk ...

Today is the First Day…

... of the rest of my running life. But first things first. We made it home alright, and it was a pretty uneventful trip. Just a couple of thoughts before I get to the good stuff - first, why does everyone thing that West Texas is flat ...

Hit it!

It's a 588 miles to Austin. We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of gum, it's daytime and we're wearing sunglasses...


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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May 20th 2007
Tags: Running, Races

One Comment

2007 North Trail Half Marathon

I'll start out by saying that this wasn't a PR.  Not even close.  It was, however, a really fun race, taking place in the middle of a fun weekend, surrounded by fun friends. Fun! Going into it I knew that I wasn't going to PR.  To be honest, I was more than ...
May 19th 2007
Tags: Running

No Comments

Update

Well, so much for keeping the blog current, eh? I've been doing pretty well, most of the time. I'm currently in Dallas just a few hours away from running in a small half marathon (400 people, give or take) - and I've only managed to get up to 10.5 miles ...
April 10th 2007
Tags: Running

No Comments

Lunchtime Ladera

This was my third time to run Ladera Norte, and its actually getting easier.  I walked once, about 3 minutes into the hill, for a minute (timed), then ran the rest of the way.  Not that I was fast - the remainder took me a solid 5 minutes - but I ...
March 4th 2007
Tags: Running, Races

9 Comments

2007 BagelFest 5K

I'm very glad that I did this race.  I almost didn't - the idea of doing something where I know that I wasn't going to come close to a PR was not terribly enticing - but I've done it every year since I started running, and its been a whole ...
March 1st 2007
Tags: Running

One Comment

Unplanned 3 Miler

Well... I know that I said that I wasn't goint to run today... but I did anyway.  You see, at lunch today Thon offered to run his 3 mile hill loop with me this evening.  Naturally I stuck to the gameplan and told him that I wasn't running until Saturday.  ...
February 27th 2007
Tags: Running

One Comment

Rollingwood Revisited

I went to Rollingwood for the second time - or at least the second time since my recovery - and while ended up running a slightly different course due to inattention, it was a fantastic run.  Last time I averaged a 9:41 pace (9:54, 9:30, 9:46) around the hills, and it felt ...

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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