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.

Taking it Easy

I've been taking it easy this week to let my tendonitis go away, and just because its been a really busy week. Still, I found time at lunch to do my Friday upper body workout at least: As last time, high weight with three sets of 8/6/4 reps, supersetting two ...

Short yet Satisfying

I had to go to a different gym than my usual one to find somewhere open at 9pm before labor day - still, not that far afield. I was a little tight in my upper body from Friday, and wanted to just get a little motion in. This ...

Upper Body Lunch

Got to work out with my buddy Marcus at lunch today - its been a while. We did upper body, high weight with three sets of 8/6/4 reps, supersetting two exercises at a time. To save time, we used the Hammer Strength machines - all weights are "per ...

Workout

Got to the gym a little late. It turns out that I can make it there by 6am if I set my alarm for 5:30 - as long as I don't hit "snooze" first. As it was, I was there about 5 after. Alex had just finished ...

Great workout

I didn't make it into the gym in time to join Alex for our morning workout, but I still went. My main goal was actually to get my "before" pictures taken for the 90 day fitness challenge that the South Austin Gold's Gym is doing. Craig (the GM) ...

Workout

Hey, my second workout this week - and this month - and this quarter. Cool. And a good way to spend a lunch hour. Started out doing about 15 minutes on the bike. I was on a progressive resistance program, and once it got up to about 25 ...

I’m back!

And - how can I put this? I'm sorry I was gone for so long. If I had kept it up, my stamina probably wouldn't have suffered as much as it has. First of all, let me fill in the gap a little bit. Since my last entry, ...

Leg Workout

Started out on the treadmill this time, instead of jumping straight into the workout like I did last week. I did about 5 minutes of walking, some stretching, and then ran for a mile - .5 at 8:00, .25 at 7:30, and .25 at 6:00. The 7:30 pace ...

Strong Leg Workout

For a change, I met up with Alex at the Gold's Gym at 290 and Manchaca for a 6am leg workout. This is something that I'd like to start doing Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - although I don't know how realistic a schedule that is. Every exercise was ...

Miscellaneous Gym

Hit the gym with Marcus this evening for a light workout. We started out on the treadmill, not very seriously on my part. Warmed up a little, then ran a couple of 6:00 pace 1-minute intervals. Its surprising how much of a difference it is for me ...


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