Obsessed Runner Blog
2013-11-13 - You are a Runner!
On Sunday I spent a couple hours shopping at Running Fit. It's a busy life and even though I'm surrounded by the store most days, the time it takes to browse, shop and relax needs to be put on the schedule to get to it. As I listened to the banter on the floor between the customers and staff I heard some wonderful accounts by new runners describing the feelings experienced when they realize that they really, are a runner! A common theme: "I worked up to running a mile and it was no fun and a lot of work, I finally ran 2 miles without walking and collapsed thinking my goal of running a 5K would never happen. I've kept at it and yesterday I actually ran 4 miles! Now running a mile no longer scares me, it's nothing! I am so excited to line up for the 5K and I deserve good shoes!" The moral of the story, if you need inspiration, just hang out in a running store and listen!
Back to shopping ... My Smartwool socks have treated me well but a few holey pairs need to go, I grab 4 new pairs of the same style and color as before, why mess with success. And although I think of myself as being a bit of shoe hound, the reality is that my current stash does not include a pair with under 150 miles on them, I guess it's a good sign ... I grab a pair of Brooks Cascadias for the trails and a pair of my current go to road shoe: the Mizuno Elixir ... that I find has changed names and lost some weight, it's now the Wave Sayonara. Actually, I kind of like when a shoe I like has an update, it makes me feel adventurous and not the creature of habit, that in reality, I may be. Lastly, I grab a 30 split Timex watch ... to replace the 2nd one I've lost this year. I leave the store excited, inspired and ... ready to run ... but first I needed to find my car keys ...
You'll never forget the moment you realize, you are a runner!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... who remembers my first 2 mile run and the feeling of excitement for the sport, one that continues to grow after all these years.
2013-11-20 - Run, because you can
Run, because you can - Novenber 20, 2013
I am a fan of the line: "this is not a dress rehearsal." Every day is precious and what really makes this true is that this very day might be our last. Yes, we may be training for a goal event, saving money for some future purchase or working on some elaborate long term project ... But this stuff all depends on what tomorrow brings. We know that it's important that we take time each day and live in the moment, it takes effort, but the effort is always rewarded.
Our run fits this live in the moment requirement pretty well. That said, no matter how passionate we are about our daily run, it still takes an effort to leave all those projects behind and get ourselves out the door each day. When we finish our run, we realize how important the run was to our lives and we are always happy we ran. So why in the heck don't we have that same feeling and realization as we contemplate getting out for our run? We do get out the door and we do run ... but not often is it easy. This continues to baffle me, but it is what it is.
Get out and run,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... who still needs a reminder of why.
2013-11-27 - Today you are perfect
"Listen to your body," a common expression that makes some sense. I say jokingly, listen to your body, except when you are in a race! The realty is that when you push to your limits, you and your body become enemies, one fighting to keep the hammer down and one fighting to get you to stop. The trick is to discern what is truly dangerous behavior and what is just the pain of fatigue that you can push through; hence, time to ignore the body.
When the balance of pain and effort get us to the finish line with a new personal record and a great sense of fulfillment it is important to savor the moment, to reflect on all you did to arrive at this point. Think about days you got in the miles when the last thing you wanted to do was get up and run. This run was your best, don't allow negative thoughts to spoil the moment, thoughts like what you could have done better in training, or runs that you missed. Today, you are perfect, the numbers prove this out.
A good effort can brighten our lives and carry us forward for a while. There are times I think back to a great run, reliving the feeling years later and finding I can still take pride and pleasure from them. Life will throw darks days our way, some that will be overwhelming, but by savoring the good days, the memories will be a part of our arsenal of thoughts that can pull us through.
Savor every healthy run,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who is enjoying a nice stretch of wonderful healthy runs, that I am stashing away in memory.
PS. Make Running Fit an official Black Friday stop! Buy any combination of jacket and pant, and receive the item of lesser value for 50% off! Select shoes 25% off. Happy Thanksgiving!
PS. Join us at Running Fit Novi in the Novi Town Center on Saturday 12/7 for a Group Run followed by Breakfast presented by Gore-Tex! Routes of 3, 6, and 10 miles will be marked. You will have the option to test wear the Brooks Ghost GTX, Brooks Adrenaline GTX, and Saucony Ride GTX. There will also be Polar heart rate monitors availalbe for demo. Doors open at 7:30am, run starts at 8am. RSVP here; let us know you'll be there
PS. Later in the same day (Saturday 12/7,) join us at the Holiday Hustle 5K in Dexter. Run - or Volunteer - and enjoy the December night air, BURN A FEW HOLIDAY CALORIES and give back to others. Get there between 3 & 4pm and visit Santa at the Gazebo in Monument Park; you can ask him for a nice PR for Christmas.