January 28, 2009 - When is your run scheduled?

Yo Run Gang,

Its official; we are experiencing a top ten, worst winters in recoded history. (Actually, Im glad to hear that, I was thinking I was going soft!) To add to the misery index, throw in the worst economy since the 30s and you get recession with depression. These times call for a head clearing run, a run with more value than ever for mental and physical sanity. Unfortunately, the motivation to get out the door for such a run drops inversely to the misery index, a dilemma. I remind you of this because knowing your daemons puts you in a better position to fight them. Get out the door, and push the clouds away.

On an upbeat note, I gave talks at 5 grade school student assemblies in the past 2 days, singing them on to the Martian Kids Marathon program. A program that teaches long term goal planning and puts childhood obesity on the run! The kids agree to log, collect, 25 miles between now and the Martian Kids Marathon on April 4th where they will run their final 1.2 miles with hundreds of other kids in front of hundreds of cheering adults! They get a T-shirt, the same finishers medal as the big kids, and all that goes with the accomplishment of a long term goal, a valuable life skill. Have your kids check out the kids site at www.martianmarathon.com/kids  where they can download the log and training manual. I hope to see your family at the Martian Marathon! 5K, 10K, Marathon, Half Marathon and Kids Marathon.

Im running at 5 PM, its in my daily planner. When is your run scheduled?

Randy Step, an obsessed runner who has been told he beats the streets with the running message, much like a fuller brush Christian!

May 5, 2010 - Snorkle?

Yo run gang,

As an obsessed runner, my goal is to run for a lifetime. For that to happen, I believe the body needs core strength, recovery and seasonal changes in training, dang, don't you just hate that? Like so many things in life, the sacrifices needed to accomplish long term goals are worth it.

My system the last few years is to become a triathlete for summer, training starts after my spring marathon and goes through August, then back to fall marathon training! Well, Boston is over and I'm at it. I find the convenience of jumping in a lake to get in my swim beats going to a pool, besides, the open water experience helps in the event. The water temp is only 60 or so now but with the right stuff, the temp matters little. (Do you feel a shameless plug coming on?) My Zoot Fusion full wetsuit fits and works great. We tested several and it's one we stock at Running Fit, $300 makes it a reasonably priced. I wear an insulated swim cap, swim gloves and swim socks made by "Blue Seventy", I also like their open water swim goggles. Swim accessories are at our 5700 Jackson Rd. store in Ann Arbor, in Novi, and online at runningfit.com. Did I mention my swim snorkel?

Swim, Bike, RUN!

Randy Step, an obsessed runner, who is having fun playing with his new multisport toys!