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Health & Fitness

Running
With Two City Councilmen

Adam Medrano and Philip Kingston pound the pavement in their districts to stay fit.
By Krista Nightengale |
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Update: The run scheduled for November 18 has been rescheduled due to the cold weather.

As the sidewalk disintegrated into a worn path that cut through some dying weeds, District 2 Councilman Adam Medrano looked back and asked how I was doing. “Great!” I gasped. “Love that we’re getting some trail running in!” We had lost both District 14 Councilman Philip Kingston and Neiman Marcus Community Manager and Manager of Ladies’ Shoes Amanda Kleen much earlier.

It was Halloween morning and the temperature was perfect for a run. Somehow, I had cajoled the threesome into letting me join their running crew. Kleen and Kingston had started running together in late February and Medrano joined in September. The group starts their runs downtown (part of Kingston’s district) and from there usually takes a three-mile route through the Cedars (part of Medrano’s district), a four-mile route to West Dallas, or a section of the Katy or Santa Fe trails.

As we approached a red light, I stood still while Medrano jogged in place. I gave him a sideways glance, then the light changed and we took off. “I always jog at lights because that’s what Amanda does,” he said. I explained that Runner’s World had previously debated this topic, but that I was firmly in the no-jogging-at-a-light camp (mainly because I usually need that break).

When I asked Kingston why he’d started running, he said that he was inspired to lace up his sneakers after being invited to speak at 5Ks for causes he supports. “It feels really weak to show up to those and not run them,” he said. Medrano’s answer was more straightforward: He doesn’t want to gain weight while serving on the council. Despite all-day meetings that involve a lot of sitting, little movement, and plenty of free food, he’s vowed to keep in shape. The running is helping, but he wants to up the ante from three days a week (generally Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) to six or seven.

Beyond the health benefits, however, Medrano said running keeps him connected to his district. As we ran through a particularly precarious section, he explained that just a few weeks ago, he and several residents in the Cedars did a code crawl, combing through the area and documenting issues with the 311 app. The lack of sidewalks was among the list of things noted.

As we made our way to Commerce, it was close to 8 a.m., and downtown traffic had picked up. I asked Medrano if he gets recognized during his runs, and he told me that he does; however, Kingston said that he remains anonymous. The trio quickly debated why this could be: Medrano says it’s because Kingston is faster; Kingston says it’s because Medrano is more popular.

At the end of our run, the group posed for a quick picture, and as Kleen and I walked away, Medrano and Kingston entered the Continental to get ready for a long day of meetings, with (presumably) copious amounts of free food.

Want to run with the councilmen and Kleen? Join them on Tuesday, November 18th, at 7 a.m. at Main Street Garden (1902 Main Street).

City Councilmen

Q&A with Kingston and Medrano

D: Do you run with music and what’s your favorite running tune?
K: Sometimes. Lately I like TV on the Radio’s “Wolf Like Me.” 
M: No, but if I did run with music it would be a hip-hop song.

D: What’s your favorite route?
K: That Cedars loop is pretty good, and I always like the Katy Trail.
M: The Cedars route

D: What’s the longest distance you’ve run?
K: Seven miles
M: A half maraton

D: At what point did you consider yourself a runner?
K: When D Magazine called me a runner
M: After I completed my first half marathon 

D: Have you done any half-marathons, marathons, or tris?
K: Betsy Price invited me to do the Mayor’s Tri in Fort Worth last July. It’s a sprint tri that she competes in herself. I was the fastest elected official.
M: I’ve finished three Halves: two White Rock halves and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half in San Antonio.

D: What is your favorite running app?
K: Runtastic

D: What is your favorite piece of running gear?
M: I would say my running shoes. 

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