Obsessed Runner Blog
2022.7.20 - Don't miss the best runners in the world
The Track and Field World Championships are taking place in Eugene, Oregon as I write this. Eugene is the running capital of the USA, where every track meet at University of Oregon’s Hayward Field is a sellout, season tickets are priceless, and the football team plays a distant second fiddle to running. Got to love Oregon! A highlight, 3 American women placed in the top 10 for the marathon, all running low 2:20’s with Sara Hall leading the way in 5th place overall in 2:22:10. If you have not been following the meet, perhaps check out a replay of a distance event on YouTube to be inspired, like the women’s marathon or the men’s 10K where American Grant Fisher placed 4th in 27:28. As runners, we can relate to the best in the world on some level. What they are doing is what we do, that is, to train, to race, and to challenge ourselves. We are not armchair athletes, we do it, we get it! Enjoy!
Got to remember to respect the heat and humidity, it slapped me around pretty good today. Ouch. Run smarter than me,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, and a runner, just like you!
2022.07.14 - Run and suffer
At the end of a long run that goes well, I get a feeling like I won the lottery. Most times I head out for these runs with such intrepidation, knowing from past long runs, that so often they end up ugly and that chances are slim that it’s going to be fun, not to mention, how brutally hard the long run can get. Any sane person who reads what I just wrote is thinking, why the hell do this at all? Fortunately, we know that ugly or gorgeous, the satisfaction we get when the long run is over is always sweet, and unfortunately, the only way to get to that sweet spot is to suffer.
Suffer well my running family!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who had a rare good long run this morning with just the perfect mix of pain, fatigue and glory. On another note, I know on a beautiful summer day who can think of booking a trip to Jamaica in January? The fact is without planning, nothing happens. Join me in Jamaica for a week of running, walking and laying around! We have 24 going so far, 3 more rooms available! Learn more HERE.
More close to home, come out and camp this weekend. We’ll get in walks, runs, swims, bike rides or whatever, then sit around a fire. All camp fees are donated.
2022.07.06 - Running Green
I love when almost nothing adds up to something. RF Events statistics for diverting trash from the landfill are a great example. At the Canton Liberty Festival, 555 runners left behind 125lbs of total waste. Only 7 ounces, which I'm holding here, went to the landfill, a 99.7 % diversion rate. This was about the same for the Hightail to Ale 5K in Detroit, with also less than a pound of waste and a 99% diversion rate. Yes, it’s a lot of sorting and weighing but I’m proud of this commitment. I invite you to see the Zero Waste team in action, perhaps on Friday July 29th at the Oberun 5k in Ypsilanti. Run or perhaps volunteer to sort waste, with a beer in hand, on us! Or if wine is more your style, join us on August 13 at Running Between the Vines, 5K, 5 miles or 13.1 miles at Sandhill Crane Winery just west of Ann Arbor.
Run with purpose,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who tries to pick up at least some bit of trash on the daily run.