Obsessed Runner Blog
2013-07-31 - These Colors Run!
Every sport has its own look, from the Orvis catalogue persona of the fly fisherman to the black leather and colors of a motorcycle gang. As with each sport, the look comes from the performance products used by the participants. The look of the runner comes from apparel and footwear that make us efficient, fast, comfortable and injury free, the products that work. I'm keen to pick out runners in any crowd, the run specific brands are dead give a ways. Who else but a runner would be styling in pop color footwear like a pair of Saucony Kinvara's or Brooks Pure Flow's when they could get a sporty look from $50 Nike models made specifically for big box stores? I'm sure only a runner would feel comfortable in public wearing neon colored CEP compression sleeves, or apparel with a brand name like Ron Hill, much like I would feel self conscious wearing leather chaps and a vest sporting a Harley logo.
All said, I like the running look and I am proud to wear our colors!
We run!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... that feels as uncomfortable running out the door without compression calf sleeves as I do driving without a seatbelt ... even if I look strange to the rest of the couch potato world.
PS: National class runners from Utah, Colorado, Oregon and Michigan will be shooting to run the fastest mile ever run in the state of Michigan this Sunday, 8 PM at Saline High School. 3:55! A very cool event put on by our friends at the Running Institute. Info at Runninginstituteelite.com
PS: Runner's are a diverse and multifaceted bunch, example: You may see Running Fit's apparel buyer Lora come to work looking like the most up to date fashion queen of the run or ... In full leather, chaps, tats and all, depending on the day, just sayin'...
P.S. Book Review: "On the lips of children" by Mark Matthews. YIKES! This is a very dark read that will haunt you on your next dark run! Not for everyone ... but I could not put it down! Mark nails the runner's mentality and how a hard run at a time you should be tapering can lead to more trouble than ruining your race, that is, if you think getting eaten by homeless cannibals is a worse fate than blowing a personal best! The book is available on Amazon, HERE, and should be out in print shortly. $3.99 for the digital copy.
2013-07-17 - Running Anniversaries
I just got back from a sultry run on the trails, I love the way the heat beats me up and rags me out, leaving me with a great sense of accomplishment, dig it. (Shameless plug #1. The Tred-Not Deer fly patch on my hat made the run possible, keeping off the biting flies. Available at Running Fit!)
Today's run reminded me of another hot morning run I took over 30 years ago with my wife Kathy on our wedding day, a tradition that remains intact and I look forward to our anniversary run together this Saturday! (Shameless plug #2. Another great tradition is the sale at Running Fit this week during the art fair. The fair and sale run today until Saturday. Every close-out shoe from all of our 7 stores will be on the art fair tables at serious clearance prices.) My business partner Steve reminds me that if I get married again, not to do it during art fair so I can't use my anniversary as an excuse to take the day off!
Enjoy these summer runs but respect the heat. Look for shaded routes and run short loops that allow you to bail out and cool down at any sign of trouble. Hydrate with more than just water to keep your electrolytes balanced.
Run and shop smart,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who loves hot runs followed by cold showers!
Master's Running
I run. I hit the road in the fall of 1975 at the age of 19, I havent stopped since. Not quite as bad as Forest Gump but I havent missed many days in the last 30 years. I am not alone out there. The 40 to 55 year age group has more runners than any other. They call us Masters Runners, which is a nice way of saying old runners. Masters running is not a term saved for the elite older runner. Fast or slow, you are a still a masters runner.
Like golf, distance running is a sport where age is not much of a factor in performance before the age of 40. In fact, at the marathon distance, experience can be quite an advantage. I can remember watching Portugals Carlos Lopes win marathon Olympic gold in the 1984 LA games running 2:09:21 at the age of 37. At the time I thought Lopes was ancient but I also remember thinking I had another 10 years to train hard and improve my times. It was quite a motivating revelation. Another inspiring statistic for the aging, serious runner is that the majority of runners that make the US Olympic marathon team are over 30.