2020.04.16 - Do Your Laundry

Baby Goat here... popping in with a reminder that is strictly for me - do your laundry!

But in all seriousness... there seems to be 2 running camps during this trying time... those that are getting out the door more than ever and utilizing this time to train like a madman, and those that for whatever reason... are really struggling to get out the door. If your training is going great... I'm so proud of you! If you're in my camp... where getting out the door seems more difficult than ever - we're in this together! Let's work to remove ONE thing that is in our way. For me, it is the laundry. If I wake up and had planned to run, but can't find the right pants, socks etc.... I will scrap the whole thing! What is your "missing favorite pants," that is one little roadblock on your way out the door? Set yourself up for success each day... schedule the time to get out for a safe and solo run, and have everything you need ready to go the night before!

Life is hard enough right now, help yourself out,

Baby Goat, a (not quite as) obsessed runner, who made a plan for tomorrow and I've got my favorite pants clean and ready to go!

2020.04.08 - Reinvent Your Run

There are events called " The Back Yard Ultra", where the competitors run a 4.167 mile loop, on the hour, every hour, until there is only one runner left. (If you are not back lined up at the starting line at the hour, you are out) The 4.167 mile distance makes for a total of 100 miles at 24 hours. The current record, 67 hours, around 280 miles. Yikes! I have found that using a variation of this makes for an inspiring way to get in a very long run. Pick any distance loop and any time limit to do it. Say, 1 mile in 11 minutes. Finish in 9 minutes, rest, stretch, get a drink or whatever then head out at 10 minutes, again at 20 minutes ... Until you can't make it to the start line. Even more fun is to do this with a group of friends, virtually for now, getting on the phone with them every deadline/start time and cheering each other on. Another variation, Have the time for each loop get reduced by one minute. An example, start with 13 minute limit for loop one, 12 minutes for loop 2 ... As the limit gets shorter, your rest period eventually evaporates. Dan, a member of the RF Events crew, along with his son, just ran 5 miles, every 4 hours, for 24 hours. 30 miles, sleep deprivation ... Yes, Dan is a wild man. Dream up your own system and shake up your next long run!

May today's run blow your mind!

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who is missing the spring races and all of you. Be safe, be well and we will all be out there together soon.

PS: We are crossing our fingers that the Island Time 6, 12, 24 hour run will take place on May 29 & 30. Over 7 weeks away ... Sounds like a lifetime in the quarantine world.

2020.04.01 - Yes, You can

Yes, you can, (A break from the COVID emails ...)

In 1980, my new bride and I were sitting on our couch watching The Ironman Triathlon on the Wild World of Sport. I could only imagine what these athletes were thinking as they lined up in the water waiting for the starting cannon to fire, knowing what a long and painful day was before them. When the show ended, my wife turned to me and said, I could do that... we should do that. I said nothing, my head needed time to process the comment. She was serious. My wife swam in college and had become a solid runner, we biked but not too seriously, just a long charity ride or two. I said, OK. Immediately, I knew this was a big deal, I had no idea how much that two letter response would change our lives forever, and no longer did I have to wonder what it was like to hear that starting cannon in Kona. Our world may seem small today, make a big plan.

Just say OK,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, missing lining up with all of you.

2020.03.25 - Trust the miles

Last night I escaped the COVID 19 world for a bit as I was transported to the front of the pack of the 2010 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run by watching the movie "Unbreakable", on youtube.com. Upbeat, motivational movies and books can change a negative thought pattern to one of hope and wonder. Seeing what the human spirit is capable of might give us the push needed to reach our potential. Vegan athletes, the best long distance runners in the world, who run 150 to 200 mile weeks up and down mountains, alone in the wilderness, have incredible insight, not unlike cloistered monks or gurus, and they share them in this movie. A common thread was leaving structured training behind and trusting long hard miles with thousands of feet of climb on rocky rooted trails, letting the run teach us the way.

Let's use this time to grow,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner on life's journey.

2020.03.18 - Invest in the run

As runners, we are trained for adversity, these are hard days but for most of us who are not fighting the virus, not life or death, just tough. There are a lot books centered on World War Two on the best seller's lists these days. Staying home, with the heat on and a fridge full of food, compared to hiding in a freezing attic with almost nothing for months on end, with the enemy just outside, helps put things in perspective. That said, once again, the value of today's run is inversely proportional to the stock market, a solid investment, get out there.

Things are tough, you are tougher,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, whose morning run is still paying interest late in the day.

PS: The Crew at RF Events are hard at work, creating creative ways to lessen the frustration we all have from cancelled events. This NY Times article explains our pain well. https://static.nytimes.com/email-content/RU_sample.html

2020.03.12 - Run away

The daily run not only gives us a place to escape the torrent of bad news for a bit but has also has helped prepare us for this day. The following comes from David Nieman, the world's leading exercise-immunity researcher. One way to protect yourself from Immunosenescence, Keep exercising. "It's one of the biggest most important and most amazing effects of exercise, "says Nieman. "Overall, regular exercisers are about 20 to 30 years younger, in terms of Immunity, than those who don't exercise. FULL ARTICLE

That said, let's do our part to limit the spread of the virus to help give the medical community time to get this sorted out, come up with solutions and hopefully, save some lives in the meantime.

Hang tough,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who is trying to stay positive.

2020.03.05 - Go Team USA!

Last weekend I sat glued to the set to watch the U.S. Olympic marathon trials. Unlike many countries that pick members of their team based on consistency, past performance or other factors, the U.S. system leaves no room for politics or someone making a judgement call on who should go. The US team is made up of the first 3 men and women over the line in the Olympic Trails Marathon. Hundreds line up and it's all about those top three spots. The stakes are high and the drama is as good as sports get. Thousands of training miles, years of dedication and discipline all come down to a 26.2 mile run that will bring fame to the top 3 but also great personal satisfaction to those who worked so hard to qualify. Those elite runners who got to the starting line and give it all they had to be a part of history. As runners, we can all relate to these Olympians on some level, we are disciplined and dedicated, we know what it's like to train long and hard to get to our starting lines and we put all we have on the line on race day. Watching the best can motivate us to step up our game and be better. Yes, a bit of T.V. this year will help our running!

Watch, train and race your best,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who for some reason, runs more miles during Olympic years that others, despite a few hours in front of the tube! Bring it on.

PS: BEER! RUNNING! THE BEAUTIFUL DETROIT RIVERFRONT! Join us Friday night, May 8th in Detroit, MI for the Hightail to Ale 5K. This Friday night party with a 5K warmup has BEER, swag, live music, food trucks... and did we mention BEER! Register now!

2020.02.26 - Cross this one off your bucket list

Michigan is blessed with some Iconic events, events that deserve a spot on your bucket list. For 25 years, the Dances With Dirt Team Relay has been one such event. DWD is the pure Michigan born, granddaddy of "obstacle course" running. It's not man-made crap set out in the woods, but every brutal obstacle mother nature has to offer, and what more could you ask for. If you have not experienced this wild, full color incredible day in this running life we live, you will be rewarded, I promise. Many of the team themes are over the top and add another layer to a day that is far more than the sum of its parts.

Trick 4 friends over to the dark side, on DWD day, and you will be their hero. It's a challenging day with each runner running 3 legs and putting in around 12 miles. These are not Peter Cottontail, bunny trail miles, but severe breathtaking miles that will cleanse the soul. DWD does offer the option to run with a team of up to 10 to ease up on the miles for each runner, and gives people of all abilities the chance to experience this amazing event. If you can run a 5K, you can be a part of DWD Day. I guarantee, it will be a rewarding challenge nonetheless and the finish line will be just as sweet.

Grab some friends and sign up early to save a few bucks. Put September 26th on the calendar, and join in the fun we've been having for over 25 years. Knowing you are in for a tough day will motivate you out the door all year, so you will be ready to rock. Perhaps get the team together for a monthly trail run. Perhaps this has been a shameless plug for DWD (dwdmichigan.com for more info), but running gets no better.

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who loves every aspect of DWD Day, and so will you!

2020.02.19 Running, as extreme as sports get

Running gets us down to bedrock. Each run requires physical and mental strength just to head out the door. Some days, our body lets us know it really doesn't want to do this, much like dragging an unwilling dog on leash. Ah, but on those days when our bodies are jumping and barking at the door, ready to go...

We marvel at the "X" Games and sports that are called "Extreme", when in reality, there is no more extreme sport than distance running. A sport that has us heading out day after day to do battle and keep the edge, heading out regardless of how we feel or what the conditions are, knowing that nothing good comes easy. What we will get for our hard work and extreme behavior is good, very good. When race day dawns, hang on to that leash tight and be ready to keep up with a happy, well trained body, pulling us forward to personal greatness. Now, give yourself a pat on the head!

Train and run like an animal!

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, who just loves extremes!

PS: Run and give back! Shamrocks and Shenanigans is just around the corner. Join us March 15th in downtown Ann Arbor for 5K or 1K... you'll get your run in, and do some good! All proceeds from the Shamrocks & Shenanigans are donated directly to Save a Heart, an organization that raises funds to benefit patients and their families at the Congenital Heart Center at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Register now!

2020.02.12 - Resting isn't giving up

Baby Goat here, Step-ping in for the midweek run-mail!

For one of the first times in my running career my training has been going exactly as planned. Meeting all of my own expectations and actually completing my miles has given me such a surge of energy in my day-to-day life and a newfound sense of self confidence. Unfortunately, like most hot streaks, mine has come to a temporary "end." Over the last week plantar fascitis snuck in to test my patience and my spirit. I am dying to push through this setback and overdo it to keep the hot streak and my inflated confidence alive. I have to remind myself that this (probably much-needed) rest isn't me giving up on the streak, it's just REST. It definitely wont kill me and in the long run may not even affect my training. Listening to my body and backing off now will ward off any detrimental injury and allow me to come back refreshed when I've healed up!

Anna Przybylski, an admittedly not quite as obsessed runner who is headed out for a short walk, not because I'm giving up... but because I'M RESTING!

PS: BEER! RUNNING! THE BEAUTIFUL DETROIT RIVERFRONT! Join us Friday night, May 8th in Detroit, MI for the Hightail to Ale 5K. This Friday night party with a 5K warmup has BEER, swag, live music, food trucks... and did we mention BEER! Register now!