2024.02.28 - Running into the ages
Fortunately, our sport ages well. From age 20 to 40, we can improve our times and as the Olympic trial’s marathon shows us, some world class runners over 40 can still run world class times. But yes, we slow with age at some point. Fortunately, our sport is mostly personal, we run for the love of the run and all it gives us. Now in my 60’s, I’ve seen my marathon times start with a 2, then 3, then 4 and now even a 5. That said, the mental and physical work I put in has not changed. What was a hard run at 6 minutes per mile may now be a hard run at 9 or 10 minutes per mile, but if I didn’t look at a watch, I would not have know the difference. Cool stuff, I can assure you. As I said, the satisfaction is personal, and the love for the run goes unchanged.
Run forever,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, and will be until they throw the dirt on … Even if we can no longer run, we will be forever, runners. Dig it.
2024.02.21 - When a short run does not end
I’ve always said, the best way to get in a long run is to finish the planned run for the day, and if feeling good, pass the house and tack on some miles. The easiest 10 mile run is when it starts at mile 5! I’ve even tricked myself by stopping the watch, saving the first 5 mile run then starting over. Somehow this mentally works for me, but as runners we are all mental in our own ways, so maybe this only works for me?
Trick yourself today on a 3 mile run, make it 6 miles!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who also admits to cheating winter a bit here in Florida, where it’s awfully flat and there are snakes, gators and big spiders on my trail runs. Florida also has sharks, hurricanes, red tide and old people who drive slow in the left lane. I say these things for those of you who can’t sneak down, perhaps so you won’t feel bad. That said, the sunshine never sucks …