July 9, 2008 - Its time to plan a long fun summer vacation run!
Yo Run Gang,
Its time to plan a long fun summer vacation run, even if you are not on vacation! The normal training day does not allow time for a run that includes shopping, a stop at a bar, sight seeing along the way stuff like that. In addition, it takes the vacation or lazy weekend mentality to make this run work! Plan this excursion on a warm summer day so stopping and being wet and cold is not an issue. Bring cash, a water carrier with an area to pack treasures and some energy food.
The route can be a big loop or point to point depending on the area. If you run point to point you need a return strategy, a ride! Pick a vacation town (Ok, any town, even Ann Arbor during next weeks art fair) near by and figure out a long route to get there, include some points of interest (Road side stand, waterfall, scenic view spot, skinny dipping hole ) and a shorter route back, with more points of interest (Dive bar, model homes, garage sales, skinny dipping holes) if you can fit them in. Do the town, hit the galleries, pubs, hot spots, running shoe store (Shameless plug!) and dont be afraid to do some, dare I use the word, walking! Actually, you should throw in a bunch of walking from the start so pace does not become part of the plan that works out to be a 10 mile day that takes 4 hours or so! Enjoy every minute!
Run, sun, sip and walk,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed vacation runner/wanderer
January 6, 2009 - A new year and time to attack but no rush!
Yo run gang,
A new year and time to attack but no rush! January falls into what I call, off season fun running. Nothing too serious, no real racing, no concerns about a strict schedule. Like December, a time to keep consistent and being content with just getting out the door. Training for the spring race season should start on February 7th at the Super5K (www.runsuperbowl.com), Super Bowl Sunday Morning, the last fun, non race race of the season. Well run easy, have some fun, take home a finisher pint glass then get up Monday morning with fresh legs, a great attitude and a plan for increased mileage and quality running so when spring hits, we will be cranking! See the plug below for Running501, a great place to get a schedule and take your running to the next level. OK, January is the off season but its also the time to set goals for 2010 or they wont happen. Your first 10K, half marathon, marathon or perhaps ultramarathon? One fun goal Ive been chipping away at for a few years is at www.half2run.com. Ive taken on the challenge of running a half marathon in half the states. I shoot for at least 2 new states each year, its the fun stuff that keeps us going! I consider the Martian Invasion of Races as the kick off to spring racing, its the weekend after Easter, April 10th. Choose your distance, make the plan and commit by entering at www.martianmarathon.com.
Get those kids moving! As runners, long term goal planning may be one of the greatest gifts we can share with our kids. (Or any kids you know!) The Martian Kids Marathon requires kids to log 25 miles by April 10th. They will then get to line up and run the last 1.2 miles with around 1,000 new running friends and will get a Marathon Finishers T-shirt and Marathon Finishers Medal. The ability to focus on a goal and chip away at it each day will carry over to all parts of life. Download the fun coloring book style training manual and log at www.martianmarathon.com/kids and get them into the January goal setting mode!
2010, a year or a total run mileage goal for the year!
Randy Step, an obsessed runner with a calendar and pencil in hand!