Obsessed Runner Blog
January 12, 2011 - CORE! CORE! CORE!
January is a great time for CORE, CORE, CORE! I consider December and January as off season running months, a time where distance and speed are ignored and our running satisfaction can be taken from nothing more than constancy, just getting out the door. With the cutback in running, we have time for planks, abdominal work, strength and balance, perhaps yoga or palates. I like simple workouts where you use the weight of your body. Once winter starts to break and our mileage goes up, well have the strength to handle the increased stress. I think Ill close my office door now, and sneak in some planks, crunches, one legged squats and pushups!
I know we love winter and all J but Im sure looking forward to sneaking off to Florida for the Dances With Dirt trail runs on February 12th! Join us! Flights are cheap (Under $200) to Tampa (a 45 minute drive to the race) and we have a room block at Dade City Hampton Inn! We all need a bit of spontaneity in life, not to mention a run in the Florida wilderness! All distances from 10K and up! Run easy and enjoy nature. dwdgreenswamp.com
Run easy,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, whos working to stay that way.
January 7, 2009 - Still in love and obsessed my wife, family and running.
Yo Run Gang,
30 years ago I snuck out for a 10 mile run with a beautiful young woman; we were sneaking because her mother considered seeing the groom on the morning of the wedding bad luck. Now with 2 wonderful grown children and 30 years of wonderful memories, we continue to run long together and I believe its possible that this magic can go on for another 30 years. The email that follows adds to my hope and gets me all choked up
Just want you to know I had a blast at the Holiday Hustle since I was the only one in my age group, got a first and a beautiful ornament. I'm new at all this stuff, so thought I had to walk 5 miles, not 3.1. My running son-in law from Crown Point, Indiana told me that distance would be a piece of cake for me. He also helped calm my nerves (by phone) making sure I had the chip in the shoe correctly, etc., etc. When I called him after the race to tell him I was first, he jumped instantly to the Internet to get my times, etc, etc. I told him----"They won't have that this soon", but he was on the site before I finished my protest and there was my name: Rita Rotramel, 79 years old, FIRST! He was more excited than I was, although I was pretty excited too. He has great plans for me next year when I'm 80. I love the shirt and your fun messages. - Regards, Non wimp walker, Rita - Ho Ho Goooooooo
Im reminded how events change people into athletes, at any age! Need a new challenge to rekindle the flame? Join me for a road trip to Traverse City on January 24th weekend for the Bigfoot 5 & 10K Snowshoe Race. Snowshoe running is just running, no learning curve. Well be slow and stumble around a lot but well be laughing, sweating and loving it. You can even rent snowshoes, enter at www.runsnow.com (Shameless Plug: Snowshoes will be on sale at Running Fit, Traverse City, where packet pickup is held!). I went on priceline.com and there are a ton of cheap hotels this time of year. Ill see you at the most beautiful race start setting you will ever experience, Timber Ridge Lodge!
Randy Step,
Still in love and obsessed with his wife, family and running
December 9, 2009 - Forget long or fast, think, just get it in!
Yo run gang,
Tonight, snowy gusty winds cracking in the trees, pinning your clothes to the body and taking our breath away what I call a Rambo Run. As Ive said, December is no time to take your running seriously, just get out the door and keep some consistency. Forget long or fast, think, just get it in and take pride in the fact that you are not a wimp!
Early winter is also a time to play in the snow for a bit of cross training. Snowshoes and cross country skis are a staple of most runners garages. The Bigfoot snowshoe race is January 23, a fun winter road trip to the north, go to www.runsnow.com. The week before that on January 16, is the Frosty Freestyle Cross Country Ski Race. Southeast Michigans biggest, best, and only cross country ski race! The 15K and 5K Frosty will be held at Huron Meadows Metropark just south of Brighton, MI. www.NordicSkiRacer.com/frosty
I know December is busy but at 6:30 PM next Monday, December 14th, you are all invited to a Boston Marathon Training Orientation meeting. No charge and open to anyone. For those of you headed to Boston, this will be a place to hook up with a like minded, like paced, training group to get you through winter. For those of you who just dream of running Boston some day, it will be a motivational evening of good stories and great information. Ill be there telling the kind of Boston stories you would expect from this obsessed runner and perhaps a few bad jokes. Come dressed to stretch and lay around on the floor, maybe Ill bring a beer or two. The meeting will be at our Ann Arbor Headquarters store, 5700 Jackson Rd, just off the I-94 Zeeb Rd. Exit
I write a few times a year for the Outdoor Athlete Magazine, its a free to pick up publication you can get at any Running Fit and pretty much any bike shop or run shop in Michigan. In the current issue I address barefoot running. If you can put up with my midweek writing, you might find it interesting.
Just get out the door,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner hoping to catch a 50 MPH downwind gust on the run tonight!