2018-07-05 - Hot runs count double!
I admit, I'm obsessed with miles. Miles ran today, total miles for the week, for the year... Yes, a pretty flawed obsession when it comes to getting out there for a brutal 3 miles in hot, humid conditions or a trail run with bad footing and thousands of feet of climb or running into an endless 20MPH headwind. Distance is often the least relevant aspect of a run. But time, distance and speed are all our GPS watches and phone apps track. OK, feet climbed may be in there but the point is that it's hard to put a number on hard work. That said, we personally know the incredible effort we are putting out to get in these wicked miles so it's up to us to give ourselves credit. Let's call the effort we put in for a mile on a great route on a great day the baseline... Then, we go in to our Strava account and we override the numbers without an ounce of guilt! Yep, today's 3 just became 6. Six miles you can be proud of!
Run safe out there,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed distance runner... Who can determine how long a 3 mile run really is!
PS: Want to run the Chicago Marathon for a great cause? We are huge fans of the ChadTough Foundation, fighting pediatric brain cancer. For a minimum fundraising amount of $1884, you get to help save lives and... get an entry to the Chicago Marathon! Check out the complete info here. If you are already entered in Chicago and want to join the team, there is also info for you!
PS - It is a rare year where several teams have dropped out of the legendary Dances With Dirt Hell Relay in September. Grab 4 friends and enter a 5 person team HERE. I promise you a day of full color, fully alive running in the natural world, a day you will cherish in your memories forever. Yes, you will get your butt kicked running 3 legs of about 4 miles each through pure Hell brought to you by Mother Nature and you will wake the next day licking your wounds with a permanent smile and a feeling of loss, wishing every day could be like DWD day.
2018-06-28 - Don't worry, you'll forget about it!
My forgetfulness is my running life's greatest gift. There are routes, races and hills that ended with me swearing "Never again," and sore days that made me question why I would do this to myself... Somehow the next day the shoes still go on and out the door I go. I bargained my way through a 7 hour long run this past weekend and the entire time I couldn't imagine ever having to get out there again... then last night I made a plan to get up at 4AM next Wednesday and do it all again. I have to thank this running amnesia for pushing the negative memories back and reminding me that what I did was AWESOME, pain be damned. The next time you finish a run and say "never again," smile, and remember you'll forget about the pain soon!
Tackle the big hill or add on the extra 5 miles you KNOW you want to try, it might suck but hey... you'll forget about it,
Baby Goat, an admittedly (not quite as) obsessed runner who can't wait to forget about another painful run soon.
PS - Speaking of pain... Have you been keeping up with the Dances With Dirt Hell Relay in September. Grab 4 friends and enter a 5 person team HERE. I promise you a day of full color, fully alive running in the natural world, a day you will cherish in your memories forever. Yes, you will get your butt kicked running 3 legs of about 4 miles each through pure Hell brought to you by Mother Nature and you will wake the next day licking your wounds with a permanent smile and a feeling of loss, wishing every day could be like DWD day.