Obsessed Runner Blog
December 17, 2008 - The final miles of the running year.
Yo Run Gang,
As we log the final miles of the running year Im reminded of the tremendous motivational value of the log. You may no longer be able to set a PR at a race, but streaks and total mileage PRs are always out there. Totals like the most mileage ran in a day, a week, a year. Streaks like the most days ran in a row or some other motivational streak like number of weeks in a row that you ran at least 3 days. Im sure many of you are looking at the years total and are getting out the door trying to hit a number with value to you. 500 miles, 1,000 miles or maybe 2,000 miles! If you dont keep a log, I suggest you add it to your resolutions!
As the snow blows you will need every motivational trick in the book.
- Run a marathon in 2009! The ultimate gift for yourself this holiday season. Start the process with an entry into Running Fit 501 marathon training program! www.runningfit501.com
- Sign up now for the February 1st Super Bowl Sunday 5K. Having a race on the calendar give your running purpose, you are in training! Enter today at www.runsuperbowl.com. Heck, the finishers pint glass is reason enough!
Get me out of here! Another way to stay motivated to run all winter is to head south for a long weekend of running! A few days in shorts can renew your fire. Join me in Dade City, Florida at Dances With Dirt Green Swamp the weekend of February 7th. I just looked on Orbitz and found a direct Northwest flight from Detroit to Tampa for $169, Thursday Sunday. Grab a friend or 3 or 4, we have $98 rooms blocked at a new Hampton Inn (I have a cheaper hotel solution, scary but clean!). Not ready for a half marathon or more? Come and volunteer, Ill be sure to give you plenty of free time to get in some trail miles! Go to www.danceswithdirt.com and click on Green Swamp! Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.
A novel idea, a guys night out at Running Fit, tomorrow night, see the info below. Yes, we know its kind of early for us guys to start shopping for gifts, heck Christmas is still a week away! Get the gang together, Ill see you there!
Randy Step, an obsessed runner motivating you so you can motivate me!
Print this list and bring it in Friday Dec. 19 Sunday Dec. 21, 2008 and get these Last Minute Deals for the Runner on your list or for you!
(You cant go wrong, size hardly matters!)
Socks buy 3 pair, get one free!
Asics Running Bags 25% off
Princeton Tec 4 LED Headlamps, $5 off (Obsessed Runners Favorite toy!)
Running Fit, Nike, Featherlight embroidered running caps $5 off!
Runners World Calendars, 25% off
April 8, 2009 - Its time to play in the dirt!
Yo Run Gang,
My wife Kathy and I have made a vow never to play the age card again, that is, bringing up age when talking about running or anything! Example: When I was in my 20s, I ran this race a minute a mile faster Or, Yeah, you were ahead of me but wait until youre over 50, or any similar comment that uses age as an excuse. It has been refreshing to become ageless again and to enjoy running, competition and every day of life to the fullest extent possible. Ahhh, to be in my prime again, Ill be darned, I am and to think, I get to stay here! Give it a try, youll be hooked!
It was great to see so many of you at the Martian Invasion of Races! 4,500 participants, yikes, this event is becoming the real deal. As I awoke to 6 inches of snow on Monday thinking, if this was race day it sure would be a memorable one!
Next event, its time to play in the dirt! The Road Ends 5 Mile trail run is Saturday April 25th and the Running Fit Trail Marathon and Half Marathon are on Sunday the 26th. Enter at www.trailmarathon.com. Better yet, come into Running Fit, enter the race and buy a fresh pair of trail shoes. (Shameless Plug!) My favorite, the Brooks Cascadia 4.
Free Weed Whacker T-Shirt! Please join Running Fit and the Michigan DNR and do your part to improve the quality of Michigan State Parks Sunday April 19th. Simple and fun volunteer work in the woods, no experience necessary. Just bring your garden gloves (Or we will provide some) and any friends and family. Our friend Laurel from the DNR Stewardship committee will show us what evil weeds to pull out and we can all whack away! Meet at Half Moon Lake Beach on Hankerd Rd., 1.8 miles north of North Territorial Rd. in the Pinckney Recreation area. Meet in the upper lot at 10 AM and well pull weeds until 1 PM. Optional 5 mile trail run at 9 AM. Click here to register (for free!) online.
Umbuntu Award on tour! Running Fit was selected to win the international Umbuntu Award by the Running Industry as the most humanitarian and charitable running specialty store in the world! Yes its old news, but the actual award just arrived and we get to show it off for one year, kind of like our own Stanley Cup! It is a very unique piece of art, hand beaded by a Zulu Artist from South Africa where the award originates. It will be in the Northville Store for the next week, Friday 4/10 to Wednesday 4/16, then on to West Bloomfield Friday 4/17 to Wednesday 4/22. Well keep you posted on future sightings!
Run in the dirt,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner in my prime
2013-03-13 - Make the long run easy
March 13, 2013
Not all miles are created equal. For example, a 6 mile run with friends can seem shorter than a 6 mile run alone, and 6 miles in a race might be the longest 6 miles you will ever encounter ... especially those last 6 miles in a marathon, or getting lost on a 3 mile run that turns into 6 or....
You get the point; it's not only the distance but the mindset that affects the run.
One trick I sometimes use is to show up early and run 5 miles before joining friends for a 5 mile run. Another fun way to get in your long run is to include a race in your total mileage; not a race that you want to run seriously - like planning to set a PR - but let's say you are training for a half marathon and the schedule calls for an 10 mile run the same weekend as a very fun 10K that you don't usually miss. Plan your long run around it and get in 4 miles before lining up at the start, doing the last 6 in the race setting can make for a motivational finish to the long run! You will find it a huge mental advantage running along with people that are only at mile 3 knowing you are at already at mile 7 of your own 10 mile secret event! You are a running God!
Make the run fun,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner until the end.