Obsessed Runner Blog
April 7, 2010 - Randy's on Mars!
Randys on Mars helping the Martians prepare for the Martian Invasion of Races so were running one of his past columns.
Yo run gang,
I love the peaceful solitude of a training run alone, my time to sort out the tangled world. I also like to run with friends, some for the conversation where pace and distance matter little and some for the motivation where pace and distance are maxed and challenged. Last but not least, I love to line up on race day and find out where I stand, mostly to compete with myself but yes, to see how my time compare to others and To duke it out!
Running is a personal sport; nobody else cares about our race times, our weekly mileage or our running pace. That said, nothing about lining up for a race should make us feel nervous or self conscious but for many of us, no matter how many times we toe the line, those feeling creep in. Once the race has started and we settle in, the jitters fade and the fun begins. I can understand how entering an event for the first time can be perceived as an almost insurmountable challenge for the beginning runner. We have all faced that hurtle. Those of us who finally leave our comfort zone and take the plunge find that the fears or preconceived ideas of racing were silly, holding us back from the full enjoyment of the sport. I once received this email that expresses it well.
For me as a beginning runner (and mature runner-51 years old). I also want to tell you how much I enjoyed the Meteor 5K. I walked a bit more than I wanted to but still got a lot of running in- I saw a few people doing what I was doing- that was very motivating too!! I am so glad these runs are open to everyone, runners and walkers no matter what level you are at
Spread the word! Share the gift of running and racing with friends, perhaps put them on our email list or just forward it on. For a good first time race, I suggest The Fit 5K, Wednesday evening April 28, 2010, perhaps the most low key event in the state, a great first race, a fun midweek diversion for us all! Enter at www.runfit5k.com.
Now, how about getting over that first time Triathlon hurdle? Yikes! No Yikes about it, dont become a dinosaur, check out the T-Rex Triathlon Sprint Series. The first event of the season is the Triceratops Tri, Wednesday June 23, 2010, another midweek, low key, fun event! Dust off the Schwinn Varsity and join us at www.runtrextri.com.
Get out and race! Randy Step an obsessed runner (And closet Triathlete) still spreading the word.
2012-02-29 - Not so obsessed...
And now a word from Steve...
Yo run gang,
I was an obsessed runner once. Now I think I am just obsessed. I am obsessed about my family, my work, my health, even the Kansas City Chiefs. My son will tell you I obsess over his homework. But I no longer obsess over my running. Running has been part of my life so long I forget to obsess about it. Now it is like my faith, just a part of the fabric of who I am. The fact is after 40 years of running I have been rewarded with the ability to truly love the experience. Period. The run does not need my obsession.
While my training logs are thinner and my weekly mileage has slipped like interest rates, there is definitely no recession in my passion for the sport. I cherish running trails in the early morning when it happens. I like being one of the last people to leave after working all day at the Trail Marathon. I love watching high school cross country. I still find satisfaction in the competition of the occasional race and I embrace the challenge of working towards new goals. But I am not obsessed.
So as a not-so-obsessed runner I encourage you to keep the thread of running in your life. Even if the miles are not accumulating on your odometer, stay in tune with the sport. Jump in a low key local road race (shameless plug number one: Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5K) and feel the agony and joy of hitting the finish line even if it is several minutes slower than your PR. Or volunteer at a race (shameless plug number two: Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5K) or just go out and watch a road race or a high school track meet and cheer and witness up close the energy and emotion in each runners efforts. Stay connected.
So there, in the tradition of the Obsessed Runner I threw in my plugs for the Shamrocks & Shenanigans 5k next weekend in downtown Ann Arbor. Guilty. This race was founded by Conor O'Neils and truly is a great fundraiser for Mott Children's Hospital. Last year alone the race raised over $40,000 for Mott's Save-A-Heart program which allows babies who are born with heart defects to have an opportunity to grow up and become obsessed about their passion. And I hope that passion is running. Come to think of it, I guess I am still obsessed about running, just not my own.
Thanks for reading and next week we promise the Obsessed Runner will return with his usual motivation, wit, and shameless plugs.
Full disclosure: I am the race director for Shamrocks & Shenanigans. My wife was a pediatric nurse for over 30 years at Mott, a majority of those working in the Thoracic ICU. She currently works in the new Cardiovascular Center.
Heard at our house: Dad sells shoes; Mom saves lives.
--Steve Angerman, a not-so-obsessed runner who saves lives in his own way.
PS: Endless Pool time at Running Fit Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor
$10 for 30 minutes - $15 for 60 minutes - $30 for 4 x 30 minutes package price - $50 for 4 x 60 minutes package price.
Info & Registration
Shamrocks & Shenanigans - March 11 - Volunteer Now!
January 14, 2009 - The middle of the road will get you run over.
Yo Run Gang,
Have you noticed the proliferation of articles and books with topics like, Run less, run faster, Train only 3 days a week and finish a marathon, or Run your best race on only 20 miles per week? I dont get it. It seems like there is a lot of dumbing and numbing down in all areas of our lives and passions going on in this country. I promise, it wont happen in this blog! My advice for 2009, make a resolution to put in the highest running mileage week of your life and put in the longest single run you have ever done! Perhaps put in your most mileage ever have while training for a specific race. Plan for it, put it on the calendar and make it happen. Youll be faster, fitter and will get the kind of satisfaction not found in with some wimpy attempt to just get by. The middle of the road will get you run over.
Join me at the Super Bowl 5K on February 1st Where I plan to run the course a couple times, to add to the enjoyment and deserving of the Hooters hot wings at the finish! Enter at www.runsuperbowl.com.
Randy Step, obsessed with running with no regrets