2014-04-16 - Gold Medal Memories
For those of us who have been at the running game for many years our best times may be behind us, but perhaps not our best runs. In 2010 I ran Boston with my wife and son, a weekend that lives on in memory as a highlight of my running life ... And was my slowest Boston finishing time. All runs are not created equal, our fitness level, our mental and physical health, the weather, family, financial and career problems all come into play and the reality is that some of our most difficult runs, runs where we have our slowest times ever, runs when we have overcame so much just to finish, can live on as some of our greatest accomplishments. No matter what, get out the door, the run may change everything.
Sometimes it's not only the run itself, it's the daydreams that come along with an event you have committed to. My daughter invited my wife and I to run with her in a mountain trail run this summer. Just the thought of this run brings a bit of sunshine to each day and makes getting out the door less of a challenge. Make a plan, invite a friend, get out the door and create those gold medal memories!
Every step matters,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who is blessed, even when beaten.
PS: New spring 2014 Beginner Running classes at Running Fit!
If you or any of your friends have been considering giving running a try or if you have put in a few miles already but feel the need for a bit more information, this group is for you. If you are concerned about being intimidated by joining a running club or entering a race, this class is for you. Meet runners like yourself in a fun, informative atmosphere. Our hope is to motivate, inform and get you addicted to running! More Info here!
PS: Looking for the perfect FUN summer race, look no further than the Canton Liberty Festival 5K, 10K and 1 Mile! A new theme for 2014, STARS, STRIPES AND JORTS! Visit cantonlibertyrun.com for all the info!
2014-04-09 - D.N.F.
The hardest part of our sport is not running, especially when we are forced with the choice when a pain comes up during a run on one of these glorious spring days, or harder yet, during a race. The acronym DNF may stand for "Did Not Finish" but when we make the hard choice it becomes "Did Nothing Stupid". Many of us have ran into or through pain to finish what we planned, only to miss days, weeks or even months of the daily run, our daily bread, due to injury, dang. The choice to stop is always brutal, to stop feels like wimping out and brings with it the feeling of failure, especially when we find ourselves back out on the roads and running, pain free and healthy the next day or in just a few days, But the choice to run into pain is rarely a good choice, one that most likely will leave us feeling stupid, bull headed and full of guilt for what often feels like an eternity.
I bring this up as many of us are toeing the line in the early spring races after a brutal winter, a winter where we did not get in the training we had planned to have got in up to this point, and with goals in our heads that are not based in reality. For those of you who make the hard choice to "Do Nothing Stupid", do it knowing I will be proud of you!
May you make the right choice,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who knows there is a good chance I will have some hard choices this spring.
PS: Some hopeful news, if pain strikes, there are some great new medical products on the shelves at Running Fit, from foam rollers and compression sleeves to specific products for your specific pain, all kinds of cool stuff that can get you back out there training much sooner than without them. Even more importantly, Running Fit has a staff of passionate runners who can, unfortunately for them, understand your pain but fortunately for you, will direct you to the right product and explain how to use it!
PS: The Martian Invasion of Races takes place on Planet Earth, April 12th, join the Running Fit crew for a morning of personal fulfillment, volunteer opportunities are still available here.