Obsessed Runner Blog
2023.07.05 - Running Apps
I admit being a fan of the tech side of running. GPS changed so much, I used to guess my daily distance based on a, guess, of my pace. I would dumb down the numbers a hair to be sure not to overestimate. Yes, I did this because the numbers are sacred, like my highest mileage week, or highest mileage year. These numbers become a part of our running history and are only valuable to us if recorded with integrity. That said, I quit keeping logbooks when I started recording my runs on Strava, one of the many running applications. Yesterday I hit 10,000 miles on the app. The data shows I had 1,678 runs, with the average run being 5.96 miles per run. I’d round it to 6, but that damn integrity … But seriously, these apps save every route down to the hundredth of a mile, allowing us to revisit our hard earned accomplishments with confidence, a wonderful addition to our incredible sport.
Every mile counts forever! Add some today!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who made sure to run over 6 miles today, working to move that average up!
2023.06.28 - Running bum
So many of our runs are alone, and if you run in quiet areas or trails, where it’s rare to see more than a couple others, I find that not worrying about how we look when we train is another plus to our sport. I’ll often dress in the dark, just grabbing what is often a miss matched tech top and shorts, I’ll pull on a cap over my bedhead and I’m off! Good run gear seems to last forever, and faded colors and snags from the jungle add a patina, kind of like repurposing my own gear! That said, come race day, I often hear runner say they may not be fast, but they will lining up looking fast and looking good! Hmmm … Kind of like dressing up for church!
Run wild, uninhibited, and set your soul free!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who just can’t seem to throw out stuff that serves its purpose.
2023.06.21 - The aging runner
If all goes well, we keep aging up. That said, I cringe when people play the age card in regards to their running. Comments like, when I was your age or, just wait until you’re my age. Forget age and you become ageless! Ok, the reality of aging comes with real changes. Thinking back when my marathon pace was faster than I can run a mile today is a reality, but so is the fact that my love for running has not diminished, dare I say, I continue to enjoy the sport more each year. Perhaps some of it comes from not having the personal best pressure or the strict schedules I would try to follow. For sure the training feels no different as my pace continues to slow. The hard work and the smile that comes from the accomplishment are intact. There are new challenges, like more recovery time needed between workouts and injuries, but the enjoyment of the run has always been about learning, growing, and doing hard shit.
Run forever,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed, ageless runner. Dig it.