Obsessed Runner Blog
2015-01-27 - If it's not fun, don't do it!
Whenever we find ourselves stressing over some aspect of our running we should see this as an immediate red flag. We run to put fun and playtime back into this often stressful, adult life. When it comes to your running, as my friend John A. says, "if it's not fun, don't do it!" You set the rules, you can break and change the rules ... And should, whenever you want for whatever reason, or no reason! Unlike so many aspects of life, you totally control the power of playtime! Skip a run, OK, run twice in a day, what the heck. When you don't run what you perceived as your goal time at an event, take proud ownership of the time you did run. Never apologize for your run to anyone, especially yourself! Run good, run bad (No such thing), and finish with a well-deserved smile.
Run + Run = Fun,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... Who was stressing today because of a calf pain that tells me to take a day off. Stressing? RED FLAG! Take a deep breath and think ... Hey, I can take a nap in place of my run, or perhaps I'll go to happy hour!
PS: HUDDLE UP AND HELP OUT! Join us Sunday morning, February 7th at the Super 5K on the volunteer crew and receive a $30 credit toward a future RF Events' event!
PS: Calling all leprechauns! Join us for a fun and festive jog (with a cause!) around Ann Arbor on March 13, 2016 at the Shamrocks and Shenanigans 5K, 1K and Kids' Dash! Shamrocks and Shenanigans is a fundraiser for "Save A Heart" benefiting UM Congenital Heart Center at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.
2016-01-20 - Winter runs turn lies into truths
I admit, I used to whine a lot about cold winter runs until I switched to lying and saying, "I love winter". I found what they say is true, if you tell a lie long enough, you start to believe it yourself. Try these lines: I love the feel of the crunch of a new snow under my feet, the invigorating feel of a blast of cold crisp winter air, the smug feeling of satisfaction I get from dressing well and taking command of my environment ... The impressive pile of fitness laundry I produce, proving I'm a serious athlete! Yes, perhaps a stretch but lies only work when there is a bit of truth to them. Whining will get you nowhere, lying will get you out the door and when you finish, amazingly, your lies will become the truth!
Lie, run, believe,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner and alchemist
PS: HUT, HUT, GET IN THE GAME AND HELP OUT! Join us Sunday morning, February 7th at the Super 5K on the volunteer crew!
PS: It is still the month of resolutions! Resolve to join us on Planet Earth April 9th for the Martian Invasion of Races. There is nothing like a beautiful spring jog dressed as your favorite extraterrestrial being. No excuses... there is a distance for everybody!
2016-01-13 - Is running a shelfish endeavor?
Running is a valuable and important use of our time, physically and mentally, it's OK to make it a priority. For whatever it's worth, you have my blessing, ha!
How to make your run a priority? Stop the habit of running when you have time (no one has time). Plan the time you run. For the workouts to get done, they need to be scheduled. Put your daily run in your appointment calendar and give it the same priority as any other scheduled meeting. When a friend invites you to dinner at 7 PM on a night you have scheduled a 6:30 PM run, explain that you have a late appointment but you can make it at 8 PM or perhaps another night. You don't need to lie, but perhaps don't tell the whole truth, the value of your run can be hard to explain. Selfish? No, being depressed, having a heart attack or stroke and needing someone to feed you due to your lifestyle would be selfish, not a run that gives back so much for the time invested! Sorry, my job is to Keep You Motivated! Yikes!
Run when it's time,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, who is thinking of getting a job as a shock jock!
PS: While you're scheduling your runs, be sure to throw some races on the calendar to keep you motivated throughout the year! You won't want to miss the Super 5K on February 7th, 2016. Earn your spot on the couch before the big game. Still need more fun after that? The martians are invading Dearborn on April 9th in 2016, a distance for the whole family from 5K to full marathon, visit www.martianmarathon.com.
PS: Not often in life are we given the chance to be heroic, join us as we run in honor of fallen First Responders at the Heroes on Hines 5K and Half marathon, registration is now open for this October 1st event!