I often share my thoughts on the endless list of the positive psychological and physical benefits of the daily run, our daily bread. I also mention the value of great running events, events that keep our running fires lit, events to shape our year around. That said, there is one weekend a year that pretty much turns the daily run into a magical event unlike anything I've experienced in this running life. Run Woodstock is a weekend of runs in an atmosphere of nature, peace and love. A healing weekend where we can trip back to a bygone age of freedom and fitness, an escape from the reality and trappings of life where we can get back to the land and set our souls, and inner hippie, free. Dig it!

An endless line up of classic rock bands and endless list of runs, walks (5K, 5M, 10K, 13.1M, 26.2M, 50K, 50M, 100M and evening runs with "natural" options,) yoga and other cool stuff allows you to create the weekend you need. Some examples of how people choose to spend this magical weekend:

• Some run the most runs ever in a weekend, starting with a 5K Friday night, perhaps the 5 mile or half marathon Saturday morning run, a hippie hike to Hell for lunch, getting back for yoga with 200 others on the lawn before heading out for a 5K or 10K evening run before a late night party with the freaks before you crash, only to wake up and join the gang for a Sunday morning 5 mile run.
• Some pick just one or two events, or none, and leave lots of time to mellow to the music or sit around the fire and share the vibes.
• Many people who are training for fall marathons will run one of the morning runs like the half, then head out onto the endless country dirt roads to get in the miles and make it their long training run.

Not everyone can escape for the weekend, but experience as much as you can. Walking in with a tent and a cooler of food and setting up side by side with all the beautiful people will help with the escape. Whatever you choose to do, just make sure you give yourself the gift of Run Woodstock in Hell, MI the weekend after Labor Day, September 5, 6 & 7.

Peace, love and running,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who hopes to see you above the astral plane.

PS: Shoe of the week: Asics Electro 33
Dan Says: Although we've seen a decline in lightweight/minimal shoes, there are still many that prefer a flexible feel. Shoes like the Asics Electro 33 fills a giant void in the industry for runners that like a lightweight feel but also require some medial support. Without the use of a post, the Electro gets its medial support from what Asics calls "FluidAxis". Much like Nike's "Dynamic Support", they play with the volumes and densities of the mid-sole foam to give a flexible/lightweight feel that also delivers light to moderate pronation control. The Electro 33 is sacrificing a bit of stability for a well designed lightweight and flexible feel.- FluidAxis - 10 mm Drop - Weight - Men's - 8.5 oz.,Women's - 7.1 oz. - Retail - $110 - Seamless Upper - Engineered Mesh - SoLyte Mid-sole Foam.