Obsessed Runner Blog
Try Snow Running!
Let it snow!
For the past couple years Ive been a snowshoein fool. As a runner I used to dread a big dump of the white stuff. Running in the cold is hassle enough, and then comes slush, ice and arch straining snow. As you know, Im not a cross training kind of guy. Im a pure in your face running fanatic, addicted as they come. When I first strapped on snowshoes it was just to be social on a northern Michigan weekend with friends. I expected the same experience I got from cross-country skiing, a sport that got me outside but out of my running element.
Snowshoeing, what a surprise! I was hammering away over hill and dale. Hopping rivers and ducking through the woods like a a snowshoe rabbit! The learning curve was about zero. I was just out for a run. Its a lot of work, like running on a beach or in shoe sucking mud but snowshoeing is running, good hard butt kicking running! I especially like hammering the downhills.
2012-09-05 - Yoga buzz
We really are only as strong as our weakest link, dang. Avoiding injury by having good core strength and flexibility is Key, but who has the time and if you're like I was, only enjoying the aerobic part of fitness, making the time for it was harder yet.
I used to joke that because I am a runner, I never have to exercise, as if running gave me a free pass. The reality is this is only partly true, yes, I don't consider running exercise, it is my passion, the highlight of my day but alas, I did need a core workout also or would risk painful time away from my runs. The answer was to find a not aerobic passion that fit the bill, yoga was my answer. Like running, I did not magically do yoga once and become hooked, it was a slow, frustrating process. Like running, I had to stick with yoga long enough to experience positive results that motivated me. After months of yoga I finally noticed improved muscle tone and flexibility but most importantly, I developed a natural high, what I call, my yoga buzz. I go to a yoga class once in a while but the majority of my sessions are alone, either with yoga on CD or just doing poses that I've learned and work for me, making it as convenient as my run.
May you find a non aerobic, core passion, so you can run forever ... with no exercise involved!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner and closet yoga dude.
PS: Join me for a run, walk, classic rock and yoga this weekend at Run Woodstock (See runwoodstock.com). Just follow the Running Fit hippy bus to Hell Creek Ranch! For just $15, you can get a weekend pass to the music, yoga, a hippy hike and run night runs, additional entry fees for morning, timed events.
Speaking of VW ... Our favorite family owned car dealer, Ralf Thayer, will be at Run Woodstock, Make sure to stop by the Ralph Thayer Tent race weekend for a free gift! If you haven't registered for Run Woodstock, check out the Ralph Thayer face book page for free entry opportunity!! http://www.facebook.com/ThayerAuto. Shameless plug- Ralph Thayer Automotive in Livonia, MI is proud to be an automotive leader in our area. Since opening our doors, Ralph Thayer Automotive has kept a firm commitment to our customers. We offer a wide selection of vehicles and hope to make the car buying process as quick and hassle free as possible. We offer a full selection of service areas including: New Vehicle Sales, Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales, Car Loans and Financing, Certified Service Department, Full Selection of Hyundai, Mazda, Volkswagen Parts and Accessories.
PS: Kick off Halloween early and get into the spooky fall spirit with the 5K or 10K at Run Scream Run, SATURDAY MORING, OCTOBER 6TH! At Wiard's Orchard in Ypsilanti, MI, Michigan's number one haunted attraction! Yikes! see runscreamrun.com
PS: More early fall fun October 7th, the "Stay Dry Tri" in the scenic Kensington Valley in Milford, Michigan. 5K Canoe/10K Mountain Bike/5K Trail Run. Enter as a Two Person Team or Two Person Relay. All of the proceeds from this race will help the World Champion GM-HVS HOT Robotics Team continue their pursuit of engineering excellence"
Go to www.rftiming.com for more info and the link for registration!
March 31, 2010 - Ignore the weather...
Yo run gang,
I say all the time, ignore the weather, run at the time you planned, plenty of things will get in the way of your run, never let weather be one of them. So, I see the afternoon will be warm and sunny and decide to skip a cold morning run, hoping to sneak out later and later ends up with no sneak time! Ignore the weather, get out and run!
Proper running form can keep you injury free and may let you run in more fun shoes! If you strike your heel when you run, you are stopping your forward motion, causing undue impact and contributing to overpronation. By running with good posture, forward lean and a short stride length, you will strike midfoot and run in what is called a neutral position. This will allow a runner who traditionally needed a stability to shoe to run in neutral shoes, usually lighter more flexible and fun shoes to run in. There are lots of links out there that will help you with your form, links like http://www.runningplanet.com/training/running-form.html. The book Chi Running is another place to learn. Get new form, get new shoes!
Run right,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, who will run at his planned time, if the weather is perfect or not!