RandyStep.com - Obsessed Runner

2017-03-22 - Get back at it

anna mountains Hey all, Baby Goat here, Randy's youngest 'kid' stepping in for some midweek motivation.

When the phone rang and my dad asked me to write the Obsessed Runner this week I couldn't help but feel a little unworthy, my running schedule has gotten off track, and I'm not feeling particularly qualified to motivate the masses today! So I'm here to inspire and motivate myself right along with you... Let's get back at it!

Every year on my birthday I run my age in miles. Nobody is forcing me into this, it was just something I got into my head a few years ago and my early spring birthday has been a great motivator to get out the door all winter. 2017 however, has been kicking my butt. I've been sick, trying to sell a house, playing catch up at work... you know, LIFE stuff. For the last few weeks I've been stressed, upset, and worried... all over a fun birthday tradition. I was lamenting to my birthday run partner about how my training wasn't where it should be and she said "It's birthday run. You shouldn't stress about it. It's your birthday!" Oh, duh.

And so, I cut my 29 miles to 29K and I'm still getting my butt out the door. I think the same thing should apply to ALL of our running. When it isn't going how it should, don't give up, stop beating yourself up, then get out there and do something!

Get back at it,

Anna, an admittedly not-quite-as-obsessed runner who is getting up tomorrow morning and putting in 29K... and will be proud I got out the door!

PS: ¡Olé! Join us for a Cinco De Mayo celebration like no other! Once every 7 years the Hightail to Ale 5K will fall on this festive holiday! Be there May 5, 2017 in Detroit, MI for a beer filled afterparty with a 5K warm up!

2015-03-15 - The Obsessed Runner is bragging again

Let me brag a bit.

Let me brag a bit about the crew here at Running Fit Events and their dedication to creating the greatest running experience anywhere, events you can trust your hard training and goals to. They work crazy schedules, lots of 16+ hour event weekends in conditions that are often brutal. They go over every detail for months in advance, looking to find ways to make your experience the best it can be. They are passionate about our sport and all they produce, it is a labor of love and it shows in the outcome. Dawn, Mandy, Anna, Joanna, Trevor, Gary, Jodi and Ted are the full time essential players, each with a special set of responsibilities that that create something much bigger than the sum of their parts, the magic of race day. I can tell you the reality is far from magic, it's true professionalism and a deep understanding of a quality event from start to finish that they have honed over time. I would be remiss not to introduce and brag a bit about our part time crew who take on the many tedious tasks with little glory, sorting, counting, packing, unpacking and digging out the morning after. Thank you Dan, Nancy and Kim. A special thanks to Jeff for bringing our events closer to our Zero Waste goal, and thanks to all of you for supporting our nonsense!

Run forever,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who is blessed. Visit rfevents.com/calendar for a peek at what we do.

PS: Beat the trail price increase! Trail prices go up Friday, March 17th. If you haven't taken a spin on the Potawatomi Trail in Pinckney, MI we highly suggest you do... on April 29th and 30th for the 31st Annual Trail Marathon Weekend! Road Ends 5 Mile, Trail Half and Full Marathon and 50K! You're in for a trail treat with this one! trailmarathon.com

2017-03-08 - I hate running!

randy flowers Recently, I've come across two tongue-in-cheek articles by passionate runners, explaining how they hate running. Cute lines like, "I even have 3 pairs of my favorite running shoes that I hate to run in" and, "I usually hate running 5 days a week but shoot for 6". Both articles ended the same, explaining that the worst thing about running is the fear that one day, running might not be an option and how would they go on. The love/hate relationship is hard to explain, but love song lines like," I love you so much that it hurts", resonate with us all. The most difficult things in life give us so much in return, we learn who we are and who we might be. Nothing good comes easy is a reality, we only truly appreciate the things we work for.

Let's get out and get in some hard earned miles, miles that will take us above the astral plane,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who is about to head out for an awful run in the wind and cold, and can't wait!

PS: Want to walk the Martian Marathon for FREE?! Click HERE for more details and please pass along to anyone you think would be interested!

2017-03-01 - Yesterday, I blew off the run

randy flowers I felt kind of off yesterday so I blew off the run. Today, I started my day with the same blah feeling but decided to get out there and see if the run might change things up. It was a tough run with low energy, shortness of breath and it never got better. Feeling bummed out, I cut it short and jumped back into my work day where I immediately got swallowed up with the regular growing to-do list. About an hour in I took a break to get out my lunch and it occurred to me that I felt great, no blah to be found! Dang, the run worked and just like with many drugs, it takes a while to get into the system to do its work!

Never doubt the run,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner that finds more reasons to admit it with every run

PS: Planet Earth's favorite Invasion of Races will be here before you know it. Let's get intergalactic on April 22, 2017 in Dearborn, MI for 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, 26K, Full Marathon or Kids' Marathon! martianraces.com

PS: If you haven't taken a spin on the Potawatomi Trail in Pinckney, MI we highly suggest you do... on April 29th and 30th for the 31st Annual Trail Marathon Weekend! Road Ends 5 Mile, Trail Half and Full Marathon and 50K! You're in for a trail treat with this one! trailmarathon.com

2017-02-22 - Run, sun, fun

randy flowers With this break from winter weather, getting ready for a spring event sure got easier! The Martian Invasion of Races in Dearborn is exactly 2 months away on April 22nd, 2017. This link will give you a training schedule to take you from zero to 10K, commit today while the early entry fee is low. If your long run is 8 miles this weekend, you can be ready for the Martian Half Marathon following the linked schedule!

On another note, I'm very excited that I will be introducing the films at the international trail running film festival, "Trails in Motion", at the Frmington Civic Theater on Saturday afternoon, March 25th. 2 hours of amazing cinematography, inspiration and motivation. We'll invade the brewpubs and bars in town after the films. There will also be an optional trail run beforehand. Less than 200 seats left, grab a couple and share this rare opportunity for the running community to get together outside of a race setting. Check out the trailer and sign up at this link!

Enjoy all this running life brings your way,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who is ready to sit back like a couch potato for a couple hours watching running movies... After my run!

2017-02-15 - Hope springs eternal

freep2 The weather sucks but we just have to ignore it and get out the door ... like we always do! Work, money, power and war are similar to bad weather but once again, when we head out for a run, we find true peace in the moment. The gray sky seems not so gray and the nonsense of the world takes a back seat. What does this prove? Perhaps the run is the important part of our life and the rest is the nonsense we should strive to escape. The world may never be at peace and the sun may not come out for months but we can be out running and living a fulfilling, fun life in the moment... Winning the cold war! Ha!

The run can be the sun, get out and enjoy it,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, putting up the good fight

PS: I am so excited to have the Trails in Motion trail running film festival back in Michigan! I guarantee a beautifully produced motivational afternoon at the Farmington Civic Theater, a Michigan gem! I will introduce the films and after we will be headed to the brew pub next door, join me! Only 270 seats available, grab a couple! Check out the trailer!

2017-02-08 - Don't waste your run

freep2 I found myself almost done with my run when I realized I had not once looked around at the wonder of the world around me, and had not once listened to my footfalls or the sounds of nature. My mind remained a buzz, cluttered with all I should have left behind for the run to do it's magic. I know that it takes a conscious effort to clear the head and live fully in the moment. I had ignored all the triggers that usually bring me to the place that I feel completely alive and living in full color. I came to a dead stop, took a deep breath of cold outside air, erased my thoughts and started to feel the right now, a feeling as good as it gets.

Don't waste a moment of your run,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who promises myself to remain vigilant to never miss all that is part of this gift.

2017-02-01 - Don't think, just run

freep2 This busy life has enough obstacles keeping us from the run, let alone having tough weather to wear down our resolve. One cold weather solution is to not overthink it, just overdress and run out the door. Once out and running, you can then consider the distance, the weather and if you should circle back and shed some clothes. If the wind is wicked, look to find a stretch that is protected, then, perhaps repeat it for a while, maybe for the entire run. Make it a point to notice something different on each lap, birds, types of trees, how your footprints are adding up in the snow. You find yourself getting more into it on each lap and heading home only because your window of time is up. Convinced?

Run out the door first, then give it some thought,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who must admit, I'm scraping the bottom of my bag of my "get us out the door" tricks but we will prevail.

PS: Last chance to save some bucks on the Super 5K is coming up! Online registration closes at NOON on Friday! Don't miss the Lady Gaga "Half Way" 5K show Sunday morning, February 5th! Weather is looking good! runsuperbowl.com

2017-01-25 - Run alone and connected

freep2 I use the free version of the Strava running App on my phone and I must admit, it helps motivate me out the door. Today's apps are not only a way to log miles and track totals but a way to interact with other runners. You can follow others and be followed, and there is the chance of getting kudos, even for my short, slow runs or walks, much like getting likes on social media! OK, exactly like it. You can use these apps on many of the GPS watches, but I like the security of running with my phone. (I do keep the ringer off to run in peace.) On almost every run I encounter something beautiful or interesting enough to snap a photo of to add to my post/log. When my day gets long or stressful, these images can plug me back into an energized moment from my run and clear the funk. And yes, by having the phone you may be the first to come upon an accident scene, dial 911, and save a life.

Run fully connected and peacefully alone,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner with an app on my phone to prove it.

PS: Want to train for the Martian Invasion of Races Half Marathon on April 22, 2017 in Dearborn, MI? There's still time! Join us for a spring half marathon training program starting this Saturday, January 28th. Check it out here!

2017-01-18 - Blue Wednesday running cures

randy freep My cure for this blue Wednesday is going over our schedule of fun events and planning the year out. Starting with Feb 5th, the Super 5K before the big game where we earn our spot on the couch when we show off our medals and put our finisher's pint glass to use. After this fun run, it's time to train a bit more serious to be ready for the Martian Invasion of Races on April 22nd, from 5K to the Full Marathon, commit now, follow one of these training schedules, and you can do this! Celebrate your Martian success with a party race like Hightail to Ale 5K, a fun, fit night in the "D" on Cinco De Mayo. Perhaps make 2017 your year to stick your foot in the water and enter one of the June, July or August T-Rex Sprint Triathlon Series races, yikes! All this planning fire will drive off the blues and motivate us out the door to prepare for the fun.
Sign up, say yikes, then get out today and put in some training miles,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, excited for the 2017 events and ready to ramp the miles back up .... Next month.

PS: Resolve to GIVE BACK in the New Year! We have a great schedule of races coming up, be the first to hear about volunteering here!