Obsessed Runner Blog
2013-08-14 - Every Step Matters
While out on a run I would often find myself thinking of the run as a training run and my thoughts would be directed to an upcoming event, even an event that is months away. Long term goals add to the richness of this running life but I realized I needed to remind myself to not lose sight of the moment.
Over the past year, I’ve made it a point to ask myself what I would notice on my run if I knew this run would be my last. This thought has become a habit, like starting my watch, and I believe it has added a richness to my daily life and especially to my daily run. The sun on my face, the air going over my skin, my breathing, the feel of the earth under foot and how my body reacts and flows are some common thoughts.
I observe every little thing from architecture to landscape. I always notice the look of the sky, and the weather, the elements have become an important part of the experience to be savored no matter what the conditions, days I would have looked at as miserable now add spice and texture to my run. Once I’ve captured the moment, my mind will drift off to another place, but in what seems to be in a better context to where I’m at, right now.
Run in the moment,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who is looking forward to … right now.
2013-08-08 - Savor the Pain
There are two very different schools of thought out there when it comes to pain, there is the "all pain is bad" gang, the sedentary folks, and the "pain is only bad when I don't have control over it" group, the physically active crowd. We know that pain is not the opposite of Joy because we actively pursue joyful activities, like running a race and accepting the pain as part of what it takes to be fulfilled. The opposite of joy is lack of feeling.
We savor the pain from a hard event, we worked hard to get that totally spent, beat up feeling. The pain reminds us that we deserve some downtime, some well earned rest and relaxation. Unnecessary downtime, like anything in life we don't earn, gives us little satisfaction. I'm sure the sedentary folks get bored with laying around while we see the chance to chill as a precious gift, a bit of a reward that refreshes us so that soon we can leap up and go at it again!
Let's get out there and earn it,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who loves to wake up with the soreness that reminds me I'm alive and living life to the max.
P.S. Run Woodstock = Run, chill to the music, walk, chill with some yoga, run, chill ... Dig it! September 6-8. Runwoodstock.com
P.S. Running Fit sells a compression/icing product for post-workout pain called 110%, what an appropriate name!
2013-07-31 - These Colors Run!
Every sport has its own look, from the Orvis catalogue persona of the fly fisherman to the black leather and colors of a motorcycle gang. As with each sport, the look comes from the performance products used by the participants. The look of the runner comes from apparel and footwear that make us efficient, fast, comfortable and injury free, the products that work. I'm keen to pick out runners in any crowd, the run specific brands are dead give a ways. Who else but a runner would be styling in pop color footwear like a pair of Saucony Kinvara's or Brooks Pure Flow's when they could get a sporty look from $50 Nike models made specifically for big box stores? I'm sure only a runner would feel comfortable in public wearing neon colored CEP compression sleeves, or apparel with a brand name like Ron Hill, much like I would feel self conscious wearing leather chaps and a vest sporting a Harley logo.
All said, I like the running look and I am proud to wear our colors!
We run!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... that feels as uncomfortable running out the door without compression calf sleeves as I do driving without a seatbelt ... even if I look strange to the rest of the couch potato world.
PS: National class runners from Utah, Colorado, Oregon and Michigan will be shooting to run the fastest mile ever run in the state of Michigan this Sunday, 8 PM at Saline High School. 3:55! A very cool event put on by our friends at the Running Institute. Info at Runninginstituteelite.com
PS: Runner's are a diverse and multifaceted bunch, example: You may see Running Fit's apparel buyer Lora come to work looking like the most up to date fashion queen of the run or ... In full leather, chaps, tats and all, depending on the day, just sayin'...
P.S. Book Review: "On the lips of children" by Mark Matthews. YIKES! This is a very dark read that will haunt you on your next dark run! Not for everyone ... but I could not put it down! Mark nails the runner's mentality and how a hard run at a time you should be tapering can lead to more trouble than ruining your race, that is, if you think getting eaten by homeless cannibals is a worse fate than blowing a personal best! The book is available on Amazon, HERE, and should be out in print shortly. $3.99 for the digital copy.