Obsessed Runner Blog
July 7, 2009 - Time to shake things up!
Yo Run Gang,
As the racing season slows down and the long summer days add up, I hear fellow runners talking about feeling burned out by the daily running grind. I usually give my normal calm response, NO WAY! How can anyone burn out on running, the perfect activity for mind, body and life itself? Time to shake things up!
If you normally run in the morning, plan tomorrow's run for 10 PM and put on a headlamp. Run in the woods, if you normally run on the road. Start and finish your run at a lake and dive in ... Naked if its private! Yikes! Try some GU, new shoes, new route, new run partner, run with a group ... like 6:30 PM Tuesday at Ann Arbor Running Fit or Thursdays 5:30 PM from Running Fit Northville, where they give you a hot dog when you finish! Go to an outdoor track and put some beer along the track. Do a few easy, or hard, miles. Finish with a cool down walk with beer in hand, seeing the beer on each lap will inspire you (I use beer as an example; just make it something that will fire you up). Run a race, don't even make plans, just find one online (www.runningfit.com, www.runmichigan.com,) and go! Take on a challenge like the one at www.half2run.com. Get someone to drop you off a long way from home with no way to get back but to run! Drive to a spot some evening then run home, in the morning, run back and get your car
Run forever,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, keeping the fire lit
Cross Country Nights: For those of you with cross country runners in the family (You lucky dogs!): Running Fit has a couple of cross country open house nights coming up with extra discounts and fun give-a-way items to keep your runner fired up! Come any date at any time between 4 and 9 PM. Monday August 17th in West Bloomfield, Wednesday August 19th in Northville, Tuesday August 25th in Novi and on Thursday August 27th in Ann Arbor, this may be at our new warehouse store on Jackson, check www.runningfit.com before you head out.
Run 'n' Grill in the 'ville!
Why eat and run when you can run and eat!?! Come on out to Northville Running Fit Thursday nights @ 6:30pm for our weekly Run 'n' Grill! That's right each Thursday night beginning July 16th we'll be out grillin' while you're out runnin'. We'll have Burgers, Dogs and all the fixin's ready for you as you finish up!
What's the catch??? There isn't one except no run, no eat! That's right ya gotta earn those calories!
The group heads out around 6:30pm (which, for some reason beyond explanation, is actually around 6:40pm here in Northville). Mileage for the run varies (between 4 and around 8 miles) and paces vary.
So show up and RUN and EAT with the crew at the Northville Running Fit starting July 16th! We'll leave the grill on for ya!
2011-11-09 - Stock Tip!
As we come up on 4 years of economic woes, we are also coming up on 4 years of strong growth in the sport of running. Perhaps as time and money become more precious, we look at the rock solid simplicity of running and realize the psychological and physical value offered makes it a safe investment. Take stock in running!
Speaking of value, I bet if you have been running for a number of years you have some very old running apparel in your closet... because the stuff never wears out! I was just looking at the amazing new running jackets at Running Fit and realize I need to donate some of my ancient gear to make room before I shop!
Another thought, miles never depreciate, the miles ran in the 70's were 5,280 feet, the same as now ... even if they seem longer today!
Run for broke,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... who still owns clothes with Bill Roger's and Frank Shorter's names on the labels.
2013-04-24 - Run smart
Yo run gang,
April 24, 2013
The serenity of the run continues to smooth out the roller coaster of emotions and setbacks in life, we are sure lucky to be runners. That said, every healthy running day is precious and we must keep vigilant to stay in a state of health that allows us, not only to run but to be able to help others in time of crisis, to be the ones to assist and not to be the ones who need assistance. Let's train smart, race smart and do the core work to make this happen, again, not just to help ourselves but to help the world!
Spring is a time when it's easy to run too far and too fast, let's try to keep the increase in weekly mileage to no more than 10% and to ease into speed with proper warm up and cool down.
Run Smart, fun forever,
--Randy Step, an obsessed runner who pretty much writes this stuff based on what I need to hear and do at this time of year! Less is more ... Dang.
PS: A run/walk in the woods is good for the body and soul, join us in Pinckney this weekend, the weather is looking perfect for this running rite of spring! On trails, your time and pace becomes insignificant, you can literally stop and smell the flowers, walk up the hills and even down some hills, for that matter. You need this, join us for 5, 13.1 or more miles, not in shape, not to worry, hikers welcome! See trailmarathon.com
PS: looking for a nice little feel good race? Book'n 5K and 10K support the South Lyon Library, Saturday, May 18th http://ssldl.info/bookntrilogy