"What I tell people is get out the door and do something," Madray said. "It wasn't a diet that worked. I am not a believer in diets. I've tried several over my lifetime. I'm absolutely convinced it's activity and exercise that works. Running did that for me."

The 40-year-old certified public accountant says he is healthier, looks better and, most importantly, feels better.

As far as individual runs go, Madray said the upcoming 28th annual Reedy River Run in downtown Greenville is the one that pumps his adrenaline the quickest.

"I like the bigger races with the bigger crowds," Madray said. "You kind of feed off them and the excitement. It's one of the bigger races around Greenville."

Madray and hundreds more will run on Saturday, March 5 through downtown Greenville for this year's 10K state championship.

Michael McCauley, who works at Fleet Feet Sports in Greenville, also views running as a great emotional release, but his aspirations are a little more ambitious. The 25-year-old Greenville native finished fifth among South Carolina residents in last year's Reedy River Run.

"For me, a good health benefit of it is stress relief," McCauley said. "Along with that, you don't get sick as much if you take care of yourself. You can sleep better at night."

Both McCauley and Madray preached consistency.

"A lot of people will jump out there and go 30 miles or something their first week and really be headstrong and then get injured or fizzle out or whatever," said McCauley. "It's really easy to do because it seems like at the start of the year everybody gets gung-ho about things. You have to be patient - and discipline and consistency are really important as well."

Madray got to learn samples of that discipline and consistency when he enrolled in an eight-week training program with the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training.

"Before I started this, I could count on my two hands how many miles I'd run in my life," Madray said. "I feel immensely better than I did two or three years ago. I've stuck with it and been smart about it. All you have to do is say, 'I can do this.' "