November 12, 2008 - It looks like we are in for some tough days.
Yo Run Gang,
On the economic side it looks like we are in for some tough days and as Ive said so often, we are fortunate to have running to get us though. With the mental and physical health we get from our runs we can better handle adversity. Running puts us in a better position to be a positive and helping source for others as well as ourselves. We will all be looking for value in not only what we buy but also in what we do. Running will be a valuable use of our time; a great return on the time we invest each week. A short run can go a long way!
At Running Fit, we continually work hard to find and offer products based on value. As runners ourselves, we test products for performance, durability and price. Our goal is to carefully fit you into the proper footwear and apparel that will keep you injury free, comfortable in all conditions and will last, adding to the return on your running investment.
We encourage you to encourage others to get out the door; the best way is to lead by example.
Enjoy every healthy day,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, and the faithful running crew at Running Fit who share your passion.
November 5, 2008 - I'm obsessed with the holidays!
Yo Run Gang,
As I said last week, its the off season, time to lick your wounds and ease up the mileage. That said, to make good use of the extra time you will have, might I suggest working on your core strength and flexibility, something that many of us (Me) neglect during the intense running months. We have even set a couple clinics to show you how! See below.
Last week I also suggested starting some healthy, family and friends fun run traditions. Below, I have included the information on some great choices so you can fire up the family and get them entered. Another option is to start a family tradition of not running but volunteering at a run each year, there is a link on each event to do just that!
Run for fun!
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, obsessed with the holidays!
October 29, 2008 - November, the start of the stress free running season!
Yo Run Gang,
Ahhh November, the start of the stress free running season! Sure, the weather sucks, but who cares. The racing season is behind us and for the most part, there are no scheduled miles to worry about. A time for short runs, days off, and perhaps a long run if you feel like it every other week or so But not too long.
Running is that sweet spot of our day, its what we do to escape work, worries and stress. So, when I say stress free running its a bit of an oxymoron, but not all things are black and white. To follow a running schedule and prepare for an event takes dedication and commitment, with that comes a certain kind of stress, not a serious stress like the things you have little control over but you get the idea. From now until the end of January, lighten up and enjoy!
The serious events are over but the fun family running events fit in well with the holiday schedule. If you havent already, I suggest starting some holiday running traditions to get the family out together and share some fun miles. It starts with the Detroit Turkey Trot. Its worth a trip to the big city for this Parade of an event, and yes, there is even a parade!
Get out and run!
Randy Step
October 22, 2008 - What a glorious weekend in the D
Yo Run Gang,
What a glorious weekend in the D. Congrats to all who accomplished their goals on such a beautiful running day. I didnt run Freep but came up with my own spectator event, laying out a 10 mile run course that allowed me to see the leaders at several points during the race. You cant run them all but you can always dream up new ways to enjoy the sport and get in your miles!
Frost tonight! Running tip of the week, dont run naked! Actually, I find that by over dressing, it makes it easier to get out the door on these cold days. Start your run with a small loop so you can drop off the extra layer as you warm up.
Along with the cold comes the dark, it figures. Thanks to the new L.E.D. headlamps, running in the dark aint as bad as it used to be. In fall and winter, for those of you who continue to run trails, I suggest a hand held flashlight in addition to the headlamp to help spot those roots. My choice of headlamp, the Princeton Tec, 4 L.E.D. lamp, (Shameless plug) $39.99 at Running Fit!
Light the night,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, be it winter or summer
October 15, 2008 - Yikes, its the Detroit Freep Marathon week!
Yo Run Gang,
Yikes, its the Detroit Freep Marathon week! For those of you who put in the long hard miles all summer and will tow the line this Sunday for the full or half marathon, congratulations! All the work is done and the marathon will just be icing on the cake, enjoy. For those of you who did not get in your training miles but are still going to line up Sunday, you will be doing all the work on race day, good luck!
For those of us on the marathon side lines, we are envious of your dedication to training and you inspire us to perhaps consider the marathon or half marathon next year. For you first timers, to increase your chances of marathon success and have the motivation to get in those miles, consider joining the 501 marathon training class at Running Fit. Classes will form in January preparing you for a spring marathon, and in June preparing you for next years fall marathons. Go to www.runningfit501.com and take the plunge!
Running Fits Scrambled Legs BBQ!
Post Freep Marathon party takes place at Bookies Tavern! After your run, come join the party and share your war stories with people who want to hear about it! Bookies will be the place to be! Bookies Tavern is at 1265 Washington Blvd., right back at the starting line! The Head Goat extends his personal invitation for you to join the Running Fit gang for this Barb-B-Q beer bash. Heck, you deserve a reward! Family, friends, spectators, volunteers and street people welcome.
Get out and run!
Randy Step
Head Goat and Obsessed Runner
October 8, 2008 - Coming off a fall marathon and feeling beat up.
Yo Run Gang,
This running life Coming off a fall marathon and feeling beat up. Anticipation, worry, focus and accomplishment followed by post event depression. The answer to this is a new goal, time to start training and planning for another event. Savor the pain and move on. You worked hard to feel this bad! As I say all the time, you get to experience the true highs and lows of life, not that numb middle of the road, couch potato, comatose haze of constant blahhh. You know the full range of what life has to offer. Enjoy the ride!
The chill is in the air. Now is the time to commit to a winter of getting out the door consistently and putting in the miles. One of the reasons we run is that it is simple and requires hardly anything. Yes winter requires a few more layers, but in the grand scheme of sports, winter running is still as basic as it gets. A synthetic base layer next to the skin to wick away moisture, (staying dry is staying warm) covered by a micro fiber vented shell to stop the wind. Add to that, hats, mitts, some traction control for the shoes, head lamp and reflective vest. (Did I mention its always dark) The winter gear is just trickling in at Running Fit. A fun time to shop for the few but essential pieces of the winter puzzle. We have some serious tech clothing geeks on staff that love to tell you what they wear and will steer you right.
Bring on what ever; well be ready to run.
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner and tired Goat
October 1, 2008 - Fall, time to reap the benefits of the years training!
Yo Run Gang,
Fall, time to reap the benefits of the years training and crank in a fall race unless you are like me, coming off a summer drought (sidelined by injury). Luckily, I got in a late crop that seems to be coming in nicely (healed and back training!), no personal records this fall, no hay in the barn, but Im hungry for next year, and thats a good thing!
As Ive said in the past, the market might crash or soar but getting out the door for the days miles is one of the rocks you can steady this life on, a recession proof passion. In the lean years, we might not be able to afford to fly to Hawaii to run the marathon but we can lace em up and head out the door for head clearing trip to nirvana, with no $4 per gallon gas needed. A simple sport worth so much more than the sum of its parts, the ultimate investment.
Run with the bulls,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner
" at 57, I had decided to become and athlete. Putting the intensity and involvement that I once felt for the life of a physician into the life of the distance runner My fitness program was never a fitness program. It was a campaign, a revolution, a conversion. I was determined to find myself. And, in the process, found my body and the soul that went with it." Dr. George Sheehan (This Obsessed Runners favorite philosopher)
September 24, 2008 - I've decided that running may be the meaning of life!
This morning on a quiet country road, I decided that running may be the meaning of life During a great run we can truly live in the moment, all senses firing on all cylinders with the smells, sights, feel of the wind and weather, the physical work, the fatigue, success and completion feeling fully alive and knowing it. Perhaps a second run is in order today!
Running, such a simple sport until I looked at the list of what I needed to load in the trucks this weekend starting with what I need to put on a 20 mile run for 400 of my friends on Saturday. 6,600 cups, 228 gallons of water, powder to make up 73 gallons of sport drink, 400 bananas, a mix of 400 bagels and muffins,10 tables, mile marks, cones, signage, generator, clock, music and 25 people to help me pull it off. Thats for Saturday, then The Big House Big Heart run on Sunday with 7,000 runners, 250 volunteers, and, and, and Yikes!
Lace em up and get out there,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner who will need a weekend after the weekend!
September 17, 2008 - It is a busy running life that sometimes requires choices.
Yo Run Gang,
It is a busy running life that sometimes requires choices. A week from Saturday, September 27, is 3 weeks out from the Detroit Free Press Marathon; time for the traditional last long run. Running Fit offers a traffic free training run of up to 20 miles, starting at Nankin Mills on the Edward Hines Dr. Its a great race simulation run with several hundred runners, a great way to get ready for the Detroit Marathon or Half Marathon. Click here to sign up online. Yes, its the day before the Big House Big Heart 5K and longer if you join this obsessed runner, so what to do? Choices, you can run long Saturday then come and shake out the legs in the big party run finishing on the field in the Big House Stadium Sunday afternoon Or, you can do it all! Yikes! Sign up for my obsessed runners team or the Big House Big Heart 5K at www.bighousebigheart.com.
Not enough running? Squeeze in this road Trip! The ultimate fall color run, Saturday October 10th, the Vasa 5K, 10K & 25K Trail run in Traverse City. If your schedule is flexible, stay for the special screening of the movie, Spirit of the Marathon (www.marathonmovie.com) at Travers Citys State Theatre on Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Producer Melissa Leggett will be in town for the screening and also doing a Q&A after the film. Sign up for the Vasa Trail Run at www.runvasa.com.
Enjoy every mile,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner with no time on his hands
September 10, 2008 - I am NOT going to rehab!
Yo Run Gang,
Ah, the good old hunter and gatherer days, todays life is busy, complex and stressful. The daily run seems to shed off the mental load as the miles add up. The head clears from 1,000 thoughts at once down to a singularly clear mission of movement. What would we do without running, this simple, physical and psychological gift?
Yesterday while listening to some tunes I thought up a design for the back of the shirts we offer to the Big House Big Heart Obsessed runners team. The art will say, Obsessed Runner! Said I aught to go to REHAB, I said, NO, NO, NO! Ill post the art on the website when its ready.
Please join me on Sunday, September 28 at for this amazing run that finishes on the 50 yard line of the University of Michigan stadium and is for a great cause. Enter at www.bighousebigheart.com. No additional charge to join my Obsessed Runners team, just click on Make it a 10K, or More. There is a charge if you order the obsessed shirt. Join me and make it the worlds longest 5K by running a loop of the course in advance and making it a 10K or running a 7 mile course with mile marks and aid, then running the 5K course in advance, then running the 5K, making it a half marathon! We have someone running it all twice for a full marathon if you want to join her! Yikes!
Get obsessed, stay obsessed,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner who is NOT going to rehab!
