adverbs vs. adjectives

Jamaican hurdler Adrian Findley denies using steroids, despite Sports Illustrated’s alleged evidence. “I’ve been running stable all my life,” he told SI. “Trust me, I don’t use steroids.”

Here’s the problem - aside from possible steroid use. Adverbs are needed to modify verbs, in this case, running. Stably is an adverb, but stable is an adjective.

And yet, to be running stabling suggests the runner isn’t wobbling or veering from course. What Findley meant to say is that he was been running at a stable pace - that is, his performance has been consistent.