2022.03.09 - You can skip the run

When it comes to the daily run it’s a personal choice if we run, or skip it. We sometimes need to be reminded that, this is what we do for fun! As my friend John A. says, “If it’s not fun, don’t do it!” Life throws a ton of stress our way, stress we may have little control over. Running on the other hand, might come with some stress but it’s stress we put upon ourselves, stress we control. So, go run and beat yourself up on the run, but don’t beat yourself up if you skip the run or the run goes bad or race goes bad or any negative aspect of running, even an injury. When you finish a run, if you’re not smiling it’s time to rethink things.

Run, smile, repeat, or don’t run, it’s OK!

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who just took 3 days off, mostly by choice … And I am writing this as a reminder to myself as usual!

2022.03.02 - Running, pain, and joy

Running seems so simple, one foot follows another as we go from point A to point B. The reality is much deeper. Running is difficult on many levels. It is physically hard, taxing all systems of the body from muscles, tendons and ligaments to the lungs, heart, veins and arteries. Runnning is mentally difficult from the time management required to fit the run in to our busy lives to the constant struggle with our brain and body trying to convince us to walk. To the non-runner, the big question must be, why? To the runner, especially just after finishing a few, or many, punishing miles, the answer to this question is as complicated and deep as the run itself, perhaps with no adequate way to explain the pure joy of what we just did, without experiencing it.

Let’s go earn that joy,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who often feels miserable during the run but always finishes feeling grateful for what the run has given back to me, exponentially more than what I put into it. Amen.

2022.02.23 - Running, writing, and magic

Like so many things that take discipline, without the mindset, nothing happens. Some days, the body, mind, or both, are just not having it. Runner’s block, writer’s block … Over time, and from small successes along the way, we learn the tricks as we jump the blocks and move forward. It’s just hard work but we do it, staying committed to the goal and the results. Results that when they come, for some unknown reason, feel like magic. Magic, because until you cross that finish line or finally hold your published book in your hand, you feel unchanged, then, Kaboom! OMG, I just did this? There is no “just” about it but the minute you cross that finish line, you have created a you that was never there before. Sure, the reality is that all the hours and hard work were done before the magic day but on that day, what you have accomplished finally becomes a part of you. The run, the book or whatever you worked so damn hard on instantly is there to forever enrich all aspects of life from that second on. Magic.

Let’s make the magic happen,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who, like magic, will forever be, a 2:45 marathon runner, a Kona Ironman finisher, and a published running writer … even if that 2:45 was 30 years ago!

2022.02.16 - My low-tech running playlist

Many running events, especially trail races, for safety and common courtesy reasons, don’t allow ear pods. Based on the high percentage of runners wearing them, many may find it difficult or even a disadvantage to run without them. When they say, try nothing new on race day, that would include running with open ears. I do listen to podcasts on my phone later in my long runs so I get it on some level. That said, our brains have incredible storage and retrieval capabilities, and we all have endless playlists in our heads. It amazes me when I find myself recalling some horrible song in my head that I heard, maybe once, 30 years ago, fully orchestrated, and with no way to delete it! I was running trails today, starting off with CCR’s Green River in my head to warm up a bit. Once into it, I hit a long gentle downhill and instantly speeded things up by switching to Lady GaGa’s, I was born this way. Winded, and realizing I was not living in the moment, I cleared my mind and cruised the rest of the run in silence.

And the vision that was planted in my brain, Still remains, Within the sound of silence

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, because tramps like us, baby we were born to run. That said, rejoice and love yourself today cause baby you were born this way.

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

2022.1.11 - January running, all or nothing

There seems to be two major themes to January running, going out too fast like a freshman in a cross county meet, or doing just about nothing and turning to mush, not ready to deal with this winter brutality. Yes, it’s easy to get excited about the new year and our big goals, often without a cautious build up plan to make it happen without setbacks. And it’s even easier to blow January off, figuring we have lots of time so why fight with this awful month. For those of us who have been at this for a while, we should realize that we do need some downtime and December and January are a good choice. Not to stop running but to get out that door consistently to keep some semblance of fitness so our bodies will be ready for a steady build up as we roll into spring. This is a time for some light weight training, perhaps yoga but yes, some cautious miles so we are ready to get back at it.

Get excited, with a plan!

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who writes this stuff to my block headed self.

2021.12.29 - The run takes a village

The run takes a village.

Not really, the run is ours alone, but I admit, knowing others are out there putting in miles seems to encourage my own miles. The running social media apps can be another tool in the motivational box along with my book of course, Get Your Butt Out the Door (shameless plug)! There have been times when I’ve seen another head lamp bobbing along in the cold dark morning that I’ve gone on to add some additional miles knowing we are in this together, on some plane. All that said, let’s plan on a great running year in 2022. We’ll set some new personal records, start some new streaks and meet together on the starting line. Knowing we are all in for this adventure together will give us the push we’ll need!

Let’s run forever,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who is putting in miles right beside you, or at least on the same planet!

2021.12.15 - Last Minute Miles!

Time for last-minute shopping, and of course, getting in those last-minute miles! Time, distance, speed, totals, and personal records, all add color, depth, and motivation to this rich, running life. 2020 gave me a lot of time alone to run and the body held up, giving me my highest mileage in many years, one of the few bright spots in that gray period … But hardly any finish lines to cross. This year I ran a few great races but I hit some mid-year speed bumps, but I’m trying to sneak in those miles and backload the year a bit. Who cares? Nobody but us, and that makes our totals even more personal and special. Each mile becomes a part of us and who we are, never to be taken away, only seen by others in our smile.

Run, race, track your progress, and smile!

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner with only two weeks left to shop for miles!