2025.05.28 The Run Is Patient
Today’s run gave me some undeserved love. After a bit too much wine yesterday and not enough sleep, I expected to be punished, but the run can be a fickle friend. I’ll take the gift!
Our relationship with the run is a personal one, very much a give and take. When life takes a wrong turn and the run gets left behind, it’s always there waiting for our return with open arms. It welcomes us back, but getting back to where we left off comes with well-deserved hard work. Never easy, always worth it.
Give the run some love, ideally today!
Randy Step, an admitted, obsessed runner … Ya think?
2025.05.01 This run's for you
My daughter Anna, a full-time content creator on social media, reminds us that you are the most important person in your world. Heck, you have been with yourself since the beginning and will be there for you till the end! The daily run gives us a daily dose of self-love and the attention that we need and deserve. Without taking care of ourselves and putting ourselves first, we will not be in a position to be there for anyone else. Kind of like the safety video that's played on every airline flight, please put on your oxygen mask first, before assisting others.
Go you!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who got in my run this morning and now can take the time to give a plug for my very smart daughter. Follow her on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook @akprzy, I promise you will learn some valuable life lessons, I have for sure.
2025.04.16 Monday runs
My mood and my runs often mimic the weather, and on these dreary, blustery spring days all the runs seem like Monday runs. Hopefully that ends soon with the uplifting runs that feel like a Friday! Last weekend was the Martian Invasion of Races, like a rite of spring. We have often had Monday run weather for Martian, but the day was brilliant. My line for putting on events in great weather is that it's like cheating, that is, it's a lot easier than it should be. With the high winds this week I have been heading to the trails for a bit more protection, but the gray sky and creaking trees made yesterday's run feel like a spooky Halloween night. That said the winter views on the trail, especially from the ridges, are still incredible, but will soon disappear as the world is painted green. Without the daily run, would we even notice this stuff? We are blessed to be living life in full color.
Run like the wind,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, living in the moment, and grateful for all that the run gives us.
2025.04.09 The Obsessed Runner returns
33 years ago, just after being voted Michigan Runner of the year, my aortic valve stuck open due to a birth defect that had gone undetected. After a complicated surgery, I was back running, a minute and a half per mile slower, but it still allowed me to enjoy my passion. Coaching and motivating runners replaced the competitive aspect of the sport that I lost and gave me a new sense of fulfillment over these past 33 years.
A year ago, scar tissue build up from my long ago surgery came back to haunt me. My heart went out of rhythm, but after two ablation procedures, it’s back in sync. This time, another 2 minutes per mile slower, more of a walk run, but I’m grateful for every day out there. I'm happy to get in my minimum Strava goal of 100 miles per month, admittedly those darn apps help! Life will always throw us roadblocks, but the love of the run gives us great strength and motivation to find our way around them.
Every mile is a gift, so don’t squander the gift,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who did not write this using AI. That said, my book, “Get Your Butt Out the Door!” was released today on Amazon as an audio book … Read by AI, but still pretty cool.
2025.02.19 Running and Patience
The addictive quality of our sport revolves around time, distance, and speed. The speed might be 13 minutes per mile or more, our statistics are personal. Unfortunately, we love a sport that requires great patience, grrrrrrr…The body takes time to adapt. If it's not gradual, we break and our body needs time to recover. Our goals come as long-term gratification. Fortunately, all these perceived burdens set up the incredibly fulfilling feeling we get as we cross our finish line!
Let’s inch our way to greatness!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner with little patience, but I get it. Perhaps winter pounds away, as a favor, so we don’t get caught up in the up the mileage game too quickly as we focus on spring and the races ahead. What a head game…
2025.02.12 Vacation Fun
It’s Mandy with a Mid-week takeover! I am reporting in fresh off the plane from our RF Event’s mid-winter vacation to Puerto Vallarta! For over 30+ years our team has been traveling with a group of like-minded runners, walkers, adventurers, and folks wanting to escape the Midwest winter for a week! Trips have been all over the Caribbean, Mexico and beyond.
This year, 63 folks boarded a Delta non-stop flight from Detroit and we took over the plane as we headed south! We traveled to the heart of Puerto Vallarta where we were treated to morning miles along the Malecon and a local river path. We explored nearby mountains and even found a local Hash House Harriers Run to join in. A daily favorite was whale spotting right from our hotel balcony. In-between lounging and relaxing we took a private boat excursion, which was a crowd favorite, and ziplined our way down the Canopy River. Our trip ended with our traditional Jammin’ 5K/10K and kid’s run! We had finishers from 4 years old to 86! New for us this year, we had a trip book club that many participated in and gathered to discuss at the end of the week! Others opted for day trips from ghost tours to golfing! The opportunities were endless!
We had first time trip-goers to 20+ time trip-goers. Our group was made up of singles, couples, and families. Everyone felt they were part of something amazing and encouraged adventure with their new and old friends. We had lots of representation from local running/walking groups in Michigan! Members from 501 Running Club, Northville Road Runners, Downtown Runners and Walkers and Erratic Run Club. No one was left behind as we took to the streets, paths and beach to get in our miles!
Where will 2026 take us!? Who knows! But it will be somewhere warm with the perfect mixture of relaxation and adventure! Want to be on the list to join us? E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I will shoot you all the details for our next adventure!
PS - See you soon at the not-quite as warm Shamrocks and Shenanigans in downtown Ann Arbor, March 9th! There won’t be sand but there will be loads of celebrating post race! Cheers! Mandy
2025.01.29 - Let's Run Long
Today I ran, endured, what seemed like a 3 mile marathon. Usually, a short day followed by a long day is the plan. Plan B, tomorrow a day off is in order. No, I’m usually not that smart … OK, some upbeat run fun.
We have lots of fun on the horizon! Your inner hippie will be excited to see the new full-length documentary on Run Woodstock, dig?! Save the date, Friday night March 7, South Lyon Theater. More info to come!
We will be sporting Honolulu Blue for the Super 5K Road Race on February 9 in Novi, MI, a celebration of the most winning season ever. Dan Campbell lookalike contest winner Jeff Randall will be on hand as the official race starter! Sign up today and earn your spot on the couch for the big game!
Running a marathon is back in vogue, the 26.2 mile distance is the fastest growing race category. What has always been my favorite event distance, is back on top. Join the dedicated, pain loving, pursuit, it will never be easy but will always be worth it! There's still time to cram for the exam with 10 weeks until the Martian Invasion of Races Marathon on 4/12/25! You won't want to miss this great, low key, early event with a few hundred, rather than 10’s of thousands of runners, where you won’t feel like a number! There's also something for everyone with distances of 5K, 10K and 13.1 miles! Nanu, Nanu!
January is almost over, so it's time to ratchet up and rock some miles!
Randy Step,
An admitted obsessed runner, ready to up the ante and go all in!
1.09.2025 - January Junk Miles
Junk miles? Miles with no purpose other than to add miles to the log. Not fast, not long, not specific training miles targeting an upcoming race, just enough energy output so we are comfortable saying, we are runners. January is no time to go charging out front like a freshman in a cross country meet, it’s time to give the body a break before the build-up for spring, a time to lick our wounds and get some other things off the checklist of life. This is, a time to plan out the running year, and enter events that target, or are, our goal event.
Get out and slog a few mindless miles today, or not,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, admitting to extending my junk runs until at least mid-February.
12.18.2024 - Running and life is hard
The physical and mental benefits from running are due in part to the difficult nature of our sport. We put in long miles of training in adverse weather, we find the time to run in a busy life where running is actually our down time, not to mention, the physical pain we endure putting in those miles. You are one tough cookie, and when life throws you a curve, you have the tools to survive and move on, thanks to the daily run.
Onward!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who can find sunshine in the dark days, thanks to my daily run. Amen.
11.27.2024 - Running, What a gig
Running is supposed to lower your stress and magically make your life better. And I agree—after I run, this is always true. But here I am, already stressing about how I’ll fit in tomorrow’s run. I’m torn between deciding where to run, packing appropriately for the weather, thinking I really need new trail shoes, and that I’ve been trying to coordinate a run with a friend, but our schedules have not seemed to match, though if I juggle my day I may be able to fit it in tomorrow.
Whew! Take a breath. I will fit in the run, I will pack for it, and it will be great. I always figure it out and I always make it happen. So, why don’t I just skip the drama and plan on having a great day?! Duh!
Don’t overthink it, just get your butt out the door and be thankful you’re a runner!
Randy Step, an admittedly obsessed runner who writes this stuff to remind myself to get my mind back on track and enjoy the run. A run I know I will do, and I will also enjoy the run up to it! Go Lions, and go eat some turkey!
