2020.02.05 - Break free
I don't believe we should ignore the problems of the world but it helps to leave them behind and head out the door for a head clearing run. It may take a mile to turn off the noisy part of the brain, kind of like trying to fall asleep, it sometimes takes a conscious effort to unhook. I have found having a mental checklist helps the process, a systematic way to live in the moment. After a while, the habit becomes second nature, a part of my run. I'll shuffle along for a minute or so, then do a form check, I hold in my abs and get my posture straight, add a bit of a forward lean, make sure my cadence and my turnover are quick so I won't over stride. Next, it's time to look at my surroundings, take in the smells, the sounds and the sights ... If I'm lucky, this part will go on until the run comes to an end. Darn.
Break Free,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who still has yesterday's muddy country road run etched in memory to go to anytime I might need it today.
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!
2020.01.29 - Nerds got nothin' on us
We fart, we burp, we pee in the woods, we change in our car, we have piles of clothes that stink and we have more shoes than Lady Gaga. We actually PAY big bucks to run 3.1 miles and have an embarrassingly large pile of t-shirts to prove we did this. In this modern, temperature controlled world we are often wet and cold or hot and sweaty. We have big ugly plastic watches that cost as much as a Rolex. All that said, how come we have this smug feeling of satisfaction and superiority over the average American every time we run out that door?
You know why. Smile and get out there!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who is feelin' pretty superior today after a hard workout and run!
P.S. Add the Trails In Motion Trail running Film Tour to your calendar for a motivational afternoon to launch your running into spring! The Ledlenser Trails In Motion Film Tour is an annual international film tour that brings a collection of the finest trail and ultra running films to passionate audiences around the world. Join like-minded trail runners and adventure sports enthusiasts on Saturday, March 14th at the Farmington Civic Theater!
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!
2020.01.23 - Winter grinds on
It sure helps to have future running goals to motivate us out door on days like these. Perhaps a shameless plug for our events but we do have a calendar full of fun stuff this year. The newest addition is the Island Time 24, 12 and 6 hour runs on May 29th and 30th. The runs finish into a beer garden with food trucks and live music, including a steel drum band and others. This run allows you to set a goal and finish it on your terms, not worrying about cut off times. Perhaps running your longest run ever, maybe the marathon distance or running your age. You can reach your goal and continue on to a greater goal or number of miles. The theme and fun stuff we have planned will distract you from the effort and keep you going! A race series like the "Thirsty 3", starting with a beer run at Atwater Brewery in Detroit, followed by a summer wine run at Sandhill Crane Vineyards and finishing with a fall hard cider run at Almar Orchards in Flushing will keep the fire lit all year.
With a plan, you will get there!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who needs to start nailing down my 2020 plan!
P.S. Add the Trails In Motion Trail running Film Tour to your calendar for a motivational afternoon to launch your running into spring! The Ledlenser Trails In Motion Film Tour is an annual international film tour that brings a collection of the finest trail and ultra running films to passionate audiences around the world. Join like-minded trail runners and adventure sports enthusiasts on Saturday, March 14th at the Farmington Civic Theater!
PS: Before you get into your serious spring and summer running, join us for some FUN before the big game at the Super 5K! Get off the couch on February 2, 2020 and join us in Novi, MI! SWEET swag, FUN halfway show and AMAZING junk food! runsuperbowl.com
2020.01.14 - Run if you should
As you know, I keep going back to the theme of the lack of motivation to get out the door and always coming back from the run smiling and happy we got out. Today, I face the opposite dilemma, I really feel like getting out there but I have a bit of an Achilles pain and know I should take a couple days off, dang. The worst part, taking the day off will not leave me smiling and happy because I took the day off. Nothing about our sport is easy, nothing good comes easy. Running must be great because taking today off sucks! Because of today's difficult decision, most likely I'll be back out there pain free in a couple days feeling smart, and smiling, before and after the run.
Run if you should
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, with time on my hands in place of my run to do some core work, that I hate to do but will. I only write this so I will actually do this or feel even more guilty!
PS: Before you get into your serious spring and summer running, join us for some FUN before the big game at the Super 5K! Get off the couch on February 2, 2020 and join us in Novi, MI! SWEET swag, FUN halfway show and AMAZING junk food! runsuperbowl.com
2020.01.08 - I feel like a phony
There are times when I am sidelined from the run and write this motivational midweek email and I feel like a phony, who am I who didn't get my run in to tell you to get out the door. Not the case today but as I get in my runs while here in Florida for a couple weeks and writing this, guilting you out the door into some cold crap weather... again, I feel like a fake! By the way, the weather here has been amazing, just sayin'. That said, your run in the wicked weather will leave you far more satisfied once it's done than any wimpy run on a nice day.
I am proud of you for getting it done,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner looking forward to running at the Bigfoot Snowshoe Race in a few weeks and relinquishing myself of my-self-imposed wimp status. Hope to see you all there!
2020.01.02 - Still diggin' the run
I must admit, over 40 years of getting out the door I'm about as obsessed with running as I've ever been, wallowing in it like a pig in mud. My running has taken me around the world and around the block. Another new year and it's time for new plans to keep the fire lit. I'm committed to run 50K Trail Weekend, several half marathons and the Traverse City 70.3 ... so far! I hope you have caught the running curse and stay over on the dark side with me till the end, if not, today's a great day to enter a couple long races to get the fire burning.
Run or grow old and moldy,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner with no plan to stop.
PS: New Year's Day filled our Facebook feeds with every bodies commitments for the new year! We loved all the sign ups for their runs for the year. If you still haven't picked your goal races for 2020, check out our full listing of events HERE! Commit, train, succeed!
2019.12.26 - How was your run today?
Was your run effortless? Was it one of those magic days where you felt like you could run forever? Was your turnover quick, smooth and silent? Was it the kind of run that had you thinking a second run is in order and that you might fit it in later tonight? Or ... Did your legs feel like dead weight and every step an effort. Perhaps your lungs felt like they were stuffed with cotton and you found yourself gasping for breath? No matter how your run went, I'm sure you were proud that you got out there. I bet when your run was over you had a feeling of satisfaction and a calmness that carried you on through your day and left you with a smug gleam in your eye. As always, no matter how it went, the run was a success, the only failure ... would have been skipping the run.
Be successful tomorrow,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who's run today was someplace in the middle. I felt OK, it was not as easy as I would have liked but for sure the numbers look good in my log. And yes, I'm proud I got out there.
P.S.: We'll be back for NONSTOP FUN in 2020! If you haven't checked our calendar lately... we suggest you do so! Resolve to get your butt out the door in the new year! RFEVENTS.COM/CALENDAR
2019-12-19 - Midweek Run Mail
Yes, I've been away from the keyboard, missing a week seems to lower the guilt level as I missed week two, then the slippery slope took over. Writing, much like running, is a target for the busy guns of life that seemed aimed to stop us in our tracks. Like no other time of the year, the holiday season puts our run on the front lines, parties, dinners, long, dark, cold winter days and cute cookies make getting in the daily run an almost unwinnable battle. We need to look for a hole in the line, pull on our gear and dash out, hopefully without being noticed. Don't worry about distance or the schedule, just get out, clear the head, break a sweat and sneak back into the fray. We'll get those weekly and monthly totals back in line in the New Year but for now ...
Just get out that door!
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who has no good excuse for my lapse in writing ... But I guiltily admit I have dirt on my shoes from running black diamond trails around Sedona, the paths in the big apple's Central Park and sand from some Florida trails, all in the past 3 weeks. I'm back!
P.S.: We'll be back for NONSTOP FUN in 2020! If you haven't checked our calendar lately... we suggest you do so! Resolve to get your butt out the door in the new year! RFEVENTS.COM/CALENDAR
2019.11.13 - Trust the run
I run most miles on trails and this early heavy snow had me feeling down today as I opted for the road. As usual, all worries about weather, my route and motivation evaporated as I got into the rhythm of the run. The snow under foot made me forget there was a road under there as the whole world turned into a trail! The moral of the story, always trust the run, not your attitude or motivation, just get your butt out that door and the run will take care of the rest!
Keep the faith,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who admits to continuing to being a clueless idiot when it comes to how I feel about going out that door ... A doubting Thomas.
PS: Spice up the winter run with a trip to downtown Dexter for a silly hilly run or walk at the Holiday Hustle! Hit the streets for 5K or 1 mile of festive fun. Cozy beanies to all entrants, fun medals to all finishers. Be there on Saturday evening, December 14th!
2019-10-31 - Ugly running days
November weather is usually consistent - Consistently MISERABLE! It's time to go easy on ourselves but a goal of getting out the door at a minimum of every other day is in order so we will be in shape to eat Turkey and survive the holiday parties coming at us. No mileage goal needed, once you get out the door that part works out fine, just get out the door. Remember, all runs are good runs once they are over! Yes, I do repeat the important stuff!
Pull em' on, lace em up, and you know what,
Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner. An often wet, cold and stumbling through the dark runner but always happy I got out the door.
PS: Spice up the winter run with a trip to downtown Dexter for a silly hilly run or walk at the Holiday Hustle! Hit the streets for 5K or 1 mile of festive fun. Cozy beanies to all entrants, fun medals to all finishers. Be there on Saturday evening, December 14th!
