Obsessed Runner Blog
2022.02.09 - This obsessed runner walks
Fast walking is quite a skill, for me, it takes concentration and constant diligence to hold the pace. As my mind wanders, I find myself wandering. This meandering may be good for my mental health but not much aerobic benefit. Also, fast walking is something I have no gift for, and I’ve tried. I’ve even had some coaching, learning to keep my hands up, elbows bent, pumping straight through with no cross over, a forward lean and a short quick stride. You would think as a runner I would be able to keep up with more serious walkers, but not so. Someplace between 14 and 15 minute per mile pace, I fade back and have to run a bit to get to catch up, knowing soon, they will dump me again! For those of you who have skill, natural ability or whatever, I stand in Awe. That said, over the last few years, I’ve added walking to my life, and by tracking my walks on my Strava app, I’ve found it accounts for 20% of my total mileage these days and I admit, I have grown to kind of like it.
The run still rules!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, bearing my soul for all to see.
2022.2.2 - The perfect winter run
Sunny, 20 degrees, no wind, a blanket of snow on the ground but a clear path to run, a beauty. This was on Monday in SE Michigan and as you read this, winter may have turned the page. This is not the season to follow a schedule and a day like this is not to be missed. It’s time to sneak in more miles and worth being late to whatever, just blame it on Covid or just admit, “I was out cleansing my soul!”.
Get it while you can, I’ll be looking for your tracks!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ready for whatever tomorrow offers. I took this picture Monday, the management team at RF Events, Anna and Trevor (Mandy and Chris were too fast to capture on film}
2022.1.19 - Run away from the Cold
Not everybody can escape, but if you can take a few days to put a crack in the ice of winter, the break can be the bridge to get you through it. A Michigan to Southwest florida road trip can be a bit of a magic trick and you will avoid any Covid or weather plane cancelations. With two drivers, a good recorded book and a few podcasts, if you hit the road at 3 AM you can squeak by the Atlanta rush hour and arrive south by 11 PM. Better yet, once past Atlanta, stop for a short head clearing run, then carry on. The magic part, you get in the car, it’s 15 degrees, you get out of the car at midnight and it’s 70! I take to heart my advice to run easy and short through December and January, so lining up for the Naples half marathon last Sunday, based on my 8 mile long runs, would be a true adventure. The great part about not being trained is that if the race goes bad you don’t get the feeling that you threw away all your hard work. If you finish, you win! So, I won! Now, for some easy miles this week on flat Florida jungle trails at Lover’s Key State Park. Dig it. As Thelma said on her road trip with Lousie, “I’ve never felt this alive!”
Yep, you can do this,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, crackin’ the ice