2010-08-11 - Hot!

Yo Run gang,
 
Heat and humidity are brutal and should be taken seriously. The upside? It's efficient, short runs feel long and the muscles, tendons and joints sure work great when it's hot. Enjoy the steamy, hazy morning runs and remember, the leaves will be changing in about 6 weeks.
Yikes!
 
Mark your calendars and join me for a running weekend in the woods, September 24-26, Run Woodstock will spirit you back to an era of peace, love, music and RUNNING! Life is complicated, we all need an escape from reality weekend like this where we camp out on the land and set our souls free, along with our inner hippie! Organized morning and evening runs on the trails with plenty of time to mellow out on the lawn listening to 5 classic rock bands. With carbo dinners served on Friday and Saturday night, Run Woodstock is the perfect setting to get in the final long mileage for you fall marathon folks. I plan on running 5K Friday night, the Flower Power 5 mile or Hippie Half Marathon Saturday morning (The half and 10K make for a fun 20 mile day, 3 weeks out from the Freep Marathon!), the  Trippin' 10K Saturday night and the Free Love 5 Mile on Sunday morning. Join us for one of the runs or the full weekend, non running family and friends will dig the jams, camping and commune atmosphere so invite the world. There will be hippie hikes, hippie dips and great music for runners and non runners. Camping is limited so grab a spot at Runwoodstock.com.
 
Another date to save is October 3rd, Ann Arbor's Big House Big Heart 5K & 10K offers the perfect running tour of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan and finishing on the 50 yard line in the Big House is too cool to miss! Bighousebigheart.com
 
Peace out,
 
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, diggin' summer running!

October 7, 2009 - I reluctantly pulled on my stuff and headed out.

Yo run gang,

I planned on a midday run but as I looked out my office window at the grey, windy, cold rainy day, I was loosing interest but knowing it would be my only chance to run, I reluctantly pulled on my stuff and headed out. What a waste of negative thoughts and negative energy, a minute into my run I was warm, breathing in the fall smells and loving this rainy adventure. You would think Id know better after all these years but tricking myself out the door seems to remain a constant in this running life, go figure.

This was my first run from Running Fits new Ann Arbor headquarters at 5700 Jackson Rd and where to run was the question. I decided to start with a loop around our neighboring business, Lowes, it looked like it must be a mile around. Just up the Lowes driveway, I noticed a trail heading into a bit of woods on the left and veered on in. I figured the trail would only go a short ways in this built up commercial area but it ended up being over a mile of natural beauty, butt kicking hills and I even scared up a buck. I did some repeats of the trail and ran a few short side trails, getting in 6 great miles, all in my new back yard, all on a day I could have blew off!

Road trip! Im headed north to Travers City for this weekend for the Vasa Trail Run, do something spontaneous and join me! 5K, 10K, 25k of fall beauty. I got a room at the very classy Bayshore Resort for $148. All the information is at www.runvasa.com. Im hoping this run will make next weeks Free Press course seem easy!

Get out and run,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner still playing tricks

ANN ARBOR, Mich. The New Balance Girls on the Run 5k, scheduled for November 15 at 10 a.m., is the culmination of Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigans 10-week season. More than 300 girls aged 8-13 will celebrate their girl power by running 3.1 miles together with their parents, teachers and community members on the campus of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. The run is open to the public and everyone is welcome to participate.

Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009

Registration: http://www.girlsontherunsemi.org/events/GOTR-events.php

Race Fees:
$15 until Friday, November 13, 2009
$20 race day
FREE for Girls on the Run Fall Participants

Event Schedule:
8 a.m.- race day registration
9:45 a.m. - race day registration closes
10 a.m. - 5K run start time
11 a.m. Kids 100M Dash - free event for children 7 & under
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. - post race celebration

Location: The Ellen Thompson Women's Health Center, located in the Specialty Centers Area on the campus of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital 5320 Elliot Dr., Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Proceeds: All proceeds from this event benefit Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan