Obsessed Runner Blog
2020.03.05 - Go Team USA!
Last weekend I sat glued to the set to watch the U.S. Olympic marathon trials. Unlike many countries that pick members of their team based on consistency, past performance or other factors, the U.S. system leaves no room for politics or someone making a judgement call on who should go. The US team is made up of the first 3 men and women over the line in the Olympic Trails Marathon. Hundreds line up and it's all about those top three spots. The stakes are high and the drama is as good as sports get. Thousands of training miles, years of dedication and discipline all come down to a 26.2 mile run that will bring fame to the top 3 but also great personal satisfaction to those who worked so hard to qualify. Those elite runners who got to the starting line and give it all they had to be a part of history. As runners, we can all relate to these Olympians on some level, we are disciplined and dedicated, we know what it's like to train long and hard to get to our starting lines and we put all we have on the line on race day. Watching the best can motivate us to step up our game and be better. Yes, a bit of T.V. this year will help our running!
Watch, train and race your best,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who for some reason, runs more miles during Olympic years that others, despite a few hours in front of the tube! Bring it on.
PS: BEER! RUNNING! THE BEAUTIFUL DETROIT RIVERFRONT! Join us Friday night, May 8th in Detroit, MI for the Hightail to Ale 5K. This Friday night party with a 5K warmup has BEER, swag, live music, food trucks... and did we mention BEER! Register now!
2020.02.26 - Cross this one off your bucket list
Michigan is blessed with some Iconic events, events that deserve a spot on your bucket list. For 25 years, the Dances With Dirt Team Relay has been one such event. DWD is the pure Michigan born, granddaddy of "obstacle course" running. It's not man-made crap set out in the woods, but every brutal obstacle mother nature has to offer, and what more could you ask for. If you have not experienced this wild, full color incredible day in this running life we live, you will be rewarded, I promise. Many of the team themes are over the top and add another layer to a day that is far more than the sum of its parts.
Trick 4 friends over to the dark side, on DWD day, and you will be their hero. It's a challenging day with each runner running 3 legs and putting in around 12 miles. These are not Peter Cottontail, bunny trail miles, but severe breathtaking miles that will cleanse the soul. DWD does offer the option to run with a team of up to 10 to ease up on the miles for each runner, and gives people of all abilities the chance to experience this amazing event. If you can run a 5K, you can be a part of DWD Day. I guarantee, it will be a rewarding challenge nonetheless and the finish line will be just as sweet.
Grab some friends and sign up early to save a few bucks. Put September 26th on the calendar, and join in the fun we've been having for over 25 years. Knowing you are in for a tough day will motivate you out the door all year, so you will be ready to rock. Perhaps get the team together for a monthly trail run. Perhaps this has been a shameless plug for DWD (dwdmichigan.com for more info), but running gets no better.
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who loves every aspect of DWD Day, and so will you!
2020.02.19 Running, as extreme as sports get
Running gets us down to bedrock. Each run requires physical and mental strength just to head out the door. Some days, our body lets us know it really doesn't want to do this, much like dragging an unwilling dog on leash. Ah, but on those days when our bodies are jumping and barking at the door, ready to go...
We marvel at the "X" Games and sports that are called "Extreme", when in reality, there is no more extreme sport than distance running. A sport that has us heading out day after day to do battle and keep the edge, heading out regardless of how we feel or what the conditions are, knowing that nothing good comes easy. What we will get for our hard work and extreme behavior is good, very good. When race day dawns, hang on to that leash tight and be ready to keep up with a happy, well trained body, pulling us forward to personal greatness. Now, give yourself a pat on the head!
Train and run like an animal!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who just loves extremes!
PS: Run and give back! Shamrocks and Shenanigans is just around the corner. Join us March 15th in downtown Ann Arbor for 5K or 1K... you'll get your run in, and do some good! All proceeds from the Shamrocks & Shenanigans are donated directly to Save a Heart, an organization that raises funds to benefit patients and their families at the Congenital Heart Center at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Register now!