Obsessed Runner Blog
May 14, 2008 - As runners we often get hung up with the training schedules...
Yo run gang,
As runners we often get hung up with the training schedules, mileage charts, calorie intake, and all sorts of other numbers as we prepare for a big event. Once off schedule, from injury, family crisis or whatever, we can get discouraged or depressed as we try to get back on schedule. Cramming for the exam is not the answer! The reality is, once off schedule, the schedule becomes obsolete. Trash it and write a new one based on the time you have now. The only important aspect of this new schedule is that you have confidence in it and believe it will work. Use what you know. I did. I just missed 7 days of running the third week out from my marathon, including the last long run. If I taper the next two weeks, Im sure Ill be loosing some fitness. Taking into consideration that now I am healthy and injury free, Ive decided to put in a fairly heavy week of mileage including a midweek long run, just a week out from the race. Ill follow this with a one week taper. Will this work out? Not if I dont believe it! But I do! No more concerns, its my new reality, now I can enjoy my marathon countdown schedule rather than worry. My training is fulfilling and fun again!
Enjoy every healthy day, rain or shine,
Randy Step, an obsessed and happy runner
2011-06-01 - Negative Splits
Most world records in distance events are set by running the second half of the race faster than the first; this is known as negative splits. Knowing this is not enough to make us change our ways, the majority of us do not plan on picking it up in the later miles, perhaps we can't mentally handle this concept.
A common plan is to go out a bit quicker because we are most likely going to slow down later, putting money in the bank ... so to speak. The truth is, with this strategy there is always a run on the bank late in the race that robs us of every second we've saved ... and then some. Any miles we put in early at a pace faster than we hope to average for the event are a mistake, even though the pace may seem easy, the damage is being done. Don't you just hate this kind of logic? Dang.
Our next race strategy? To feel as good as we can as long
as we can, as opposed to feeling as bad as we can as quick as can, shortening the painful part of the race and running a faster time! What a novel idea!
Run smart,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, who at times, still finds myself running like a Freshman.
March12, 2008 - Run with the Kenyans
Yo run gang,
With the stock market retirement money flying out the window and with gas soon to hit four bucks a gallon, lacing up my shoes and heading off for a simple head clearing run has never been a better value!
Meet the Kenyans! Join us for a fun, get to know each other, Kenyan meet and greet at the downtown Running Fit store, 7:30 PM Tuesday, March 25th. Kenyans Philip Lagat and Richard Kessio will share stories of life in Kenya, running, and how they got to Michigan. For those who can make it, join Philip, Richard and this obsessed runner for an easy run at 5:30 PM preceding the talk. (Easy? You will at least get to run with me!) A $5 donation to the Kenya Athletic Relief Fund is suggested for those who attend.
Run with the Kenyans or should I say, run in their footprints! The Martian 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon are fast approaching. The Meteor 10K is at 9 am on Saturday April 5th and the 10K prize money assures the elite gang will be towing the line, including our Kenyan visitors. One very cool thing about a road race is that us schlock runners get to line up and go head to head with these folks, how cool, you cant do that with the NBA, NHL, NFL or other such sports! Cooler still, if you get to the 3 mile mark in 24 minutes, you will get to see the leaders fly by at Mile 5 in this out and back section! Enter at www.martianmarathon.com.
The first sign of spring, new running shoes! For you Brooks Adrenaline or Asics 2120, 2130 fans, may I suggest a shoe to add to your mix that you might just fall in love with? The new Nike Structure Triax 11 surprised me, with a great fit and great feel on the road, Nike is back strong with this shoe. Nike as a company is financially on top of the world and Im guessing we runners benefit as they have the cash for research, development and all it takes to make great product and I believe they did it with this shoe. (No, they didnt even pay me for this plug Darn.)
Spring? Bring it on,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner
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