2013-07-17 - Running Anniversaries

I just got back from a sultry run on the trails, I love the way the heat beats me up and rags me out, leaving me with a great sense of accomplishment, dig it. (Shameless plug #1. The Tred-Not Deer fly patch on my hat made the run possible, keeping off the biting flies. Available at Running Fit!)

Today's run reminded me of another hot morning run I took over 30 years ago with my wife Kathy on our wedding day, a tradition that remains intact and I look forward to our anniversary run together this Saturday! (Shameless plug #2. Another great tradition is the sale at Running Fit this week during the art fair. The fair and sale run today until Saturday. Every close-out shoe from all of our 7 stores will be on the art fair tables at serious clearance prices.) My business partner Steve reminds me that if I get married again, not to do it during art fair so I can't use my anniversary as an excuse to take the day off!

Enjoy these summer runs but respect the heat. Look for shaded routes and run short loops that allow you to bail out and cool down at any sign of trouble. Hydrate with more than just water to keep your electrolytes balanced.

Run and shop smart,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who loves hot runs followed by cold showers!

2013-07-10 - Hydrate of Die!

A summer reminder, but it applies during all seasons. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated, as runners, we should not be one of them!. (Likely applies to half the world's pop.) In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3% and prevents your body from recovering from your run or injuries. Lack of hydration is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

One good trick is to jump on scale before and after a run and correct any loss of weight due to fluid loss ... Dang, you mean I didn't really lose 3 pounds on that 4 mile run!

Run, hydrate, run,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... gulp!

PS: Running Fit has a great selection of hydration carriers, don't run out the door without one!

2013-07-03 - We run as one

When feeling happy, heading out for a run increases the joy; on the flip side, a good run can also chase away the blues. The run is one of life's great coping tools, truly a gift to those of us who run. When the bombs went off in Boston, we headed out and ran, when our friend Amy was fighting for her life after being hit by a truck, we ran. Grief shared is grief diminished, we grieved, we shared. As I listened to the tragic news story of the 19 firefighters killed in the line of duty I felt the need to run, to think... I was struck by the thought of why we build memorials and how important it is to have a place to share our sense of loss and to give tribute to those who gave their all. I've mentioned recently that a new memorial for local fallen first responders will be dedicated on October 5th at the corner of Hines Drive and Haggerty Road with the first running of the "Heroes on Hines" half marathon and 5K, where all proceeds from the event will go to cover the cost and ongoing upkeep of the memorial. The memorial will be a place for families to grieve and a place for the community to come together. Please join us as the running community once again comes together for each other. Commit now at heroesonhines.com

Run for them,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who is proud of our great fitness community

P.S. Heroes on Hines is perfect for a last long run, two weeks out from the Detroit Free Press events. Many of us will run some miles before the start to get in our final long marathon training run, more info to come on this.

P.S. Selection of the 50 Best Running Stores in America is underway! Vote for Running Fit!

2013-06-26 - Escape to Reality

I believe many of us have been looking at running as an escape from reality, when in reality, running is an escape to reality! We start the preparation of escape by shedding our business attire and trappings of a complicated life and putting on our feather light, technical play clothes and footwear, a subtle change that seems to break us free and prepare us mentally to take those first steps.  We may run for 20 minutes or perhaps an hour, enjoying every minute of the endorphin flow and sweet rhythm of our body but the reality is that the gratification of the run lasts far beyond the cool down. After the run, the warm feeling in the chest and legs along with the feeling of rejuvenation and satisfaction (the running buzz) takes hold and lingers on for hours. Beyond this, the toning of the body and the new level of fitness we have given ourselves is like a suit of armor, making it possible to take on whatever the world throws our way. Dig it!

Play outside forever,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runners who goes nowhere without a bag of play clothes and fun shoes!

P.S. - Join Running Fit at the Novi Town Center Sidewalk Sale June 28-30! Running Fit will be offering  great deals on shoes! All the merchants in the center will be participating.

2013-06-19 - Feeling the need for speed!

Runners are creatures of habit. We run the same routes at the same time at the same pace. We don't get faster ... duh?  To get faster we have to jump on the track. To get faster we need to increase our mileage, play with our pace and change our form.

Take a look at your run routes: Are you running on some flat or wimpy rolling course most of your runs? It's time for us to grow up and find routes filled with long killer hills. Better yet, let's hit up some stump-jumping trail with switchbacks and butt-slide grades, they will give us strength and increased range of motion. Tricky footing will help develop ancillary muscles that will help keep us injury free. These ancillary muscles will also be our go-to/change-up muscles late in the race or run when all others are failing. Variation is the key.

Let's get out the door and start hammering!

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who is also reminding myself to throw in some nice long fast surges into some of my (way too often) even-paced runs.

2013-06-12 - Double dipping on the run

My usual long runs are on Friday morning due to the fact that I'm in the retail and event business and work most weekends. Last Friday on the trail I met up with a couple ministers getting in their long run due to their weekend jobs. One of them I knew, the other I just met. Of course I joked with them about to be able to run anytime because they only work one hour a week. Ha. We both made comments about what a glorious morning it was for a run, they also mentioned they were training for Running Fit's fall event, Run Woodstock, hence, long runs on the trail.

We head out and run for play, for escape and for personal time but the comment about training reminded me how much more each run offers us.  In addition to pure joy of running, we are logging miles, we are increasing our fitness level and are chipping away at our long term running goals, we are training! Running and training lets us double dip some of the best things in this running life. Heck, why would we ever not run when the chance is before us!

Run, train, enjoy,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, an admitted obsessed runner.

P.S. No goals? Double your running pleasure by committing at runwoodstock.com or any some other amazing event at runningfit.com/calendar

P.S. Double your racing fun this Saturday by running the Canton Liberty Festival 5K or 10K! Not only will you enjoy a great course on what looks to be great weather, but you get a Statue of Liberty costume and get to attempt to be part of a world record breaking attempt as the most people gathered together dressed as a monument! Running in the costume is optional, but silly fun! Enter now at cantonlibertyrun.com to save a few bucks, or enter this weekend.

P.S. My obsessed blog is here to motivate and the link below to the Coach's blog is there to teach! More double dipping! 2dogsrun.blogspot.com

2013-06-05 - New Shoes!

Part of our love of running comes from the no nonsense simplicity and convenience of the sport, no complicated or expensive equipment and it takes place, right out our front door. At times I feel I am a prisoner to a life that demands me to constantly learn new technologies to keep pace with the competition. The run allows us me to unplug, reboot and shut down all the life sucking applications running in the background. 

As the minimalist footwear craze started it seemed only natural for us runner types to be attracted to the idea, to take our sport to the next level of simplicity. The manufacturers jumped out in full force trying to capitalize on the new segment, creating hype and cashing in. Many of us found we could get away with a lot less on our feet than we were wearing but many of us suffered time away from the run from injury due to the need for the supportive footwear that worked for us or from not taking the time to let the body adapt to the change.

I'd say overall, the minimalist movement has been good for our sport, as we are coming out the backside of the craze with a focus on our running form, allowing for healthy changes in footwear to lighter, less controlling and more flexible models to ease into. Cool stuff!

Run efficiently,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner that is digging the new lighter faster shoes ... that still offer support.

PS: Shoes like the Saucony Kinvara 4 and the Saucony Ride 6 are proof that some great changes have taken place in footwear, beautiful, lightweight, responsive, shoes with amazing transition and ride not found in the pre minimalist world, making all old shoes ... old shoes! Got to have em!

PS: Yoga for runners takes place 10:30 - 11:30 AM Tuesdays at Running Fit Northville. Come join us, your core will thank you!  No experience necessary, no matter what your level of yoga experience you will benefit from Yogi Leslie's knowledge. Class fee $12. Register Here .  Namaste'

 

2013-05-29 - Plan, run, race

Yo run gang,
May 22, 2013

Runners are creatures of habit, it goes with the territory. Consistency comes from having a plan, nobody has the time to sneak in a run in this busy life, it must be part of the schedule. Spontaneity is icing on the cake but it can't be our daily bread. This same mindset works into the event side of our running. Runners are good at maintaining traditions. Many of us have a list of certain events we run year after year, we know where to park, what to expect and can compare our fitness level over the years knowing the course and when we've done well, making it a much more rewarding experience.

That said, if your running is inconsistent or you are new to the sport, get out your daily planner and make a commitment to your runs, making them as much of a priority as the so called ... important stuff! In need of an event tradition? How about dressing as the Statue of Liberty every year and running 5 or 10K! cantonlibertyrun.com or go to runningfit.com/calendar and see what works into your calendar.

Plan, run, enjoy,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, with appointments and races on my Google Calendar to prove it!

PS: Core Constancy! Yoga for the runner will move to 7:30 PM Tuesday nights at Northville Running Fit starting next week. Start a yoga tradition, your body will reward you! Register here. This week will be the final Thursday class, join us!

2013-05-22 - Nice run!

Yo run gang,
May 22, 2013

Often in a race we are so caught up with our own experience that it's easy to forget that in every event we enter, we are surrounded by people that are accomplishing amazing personal goals, perhaps heroic feats! Finishing times and place don't tell much of a story, only the runner knows the effort it took to get to the starting line. They may have lost 100lbs or are running again after years of recovery from a near death accident or perhaps their run is a celebration, a return to a normal life after a struggle with loss and grief. Their run may be the culmination of the long road back from addiction or any personal struggle, we just don't know. That said, even if it's not life changing effort, perhaps just a personal best from putting in the training and reaping the reward from the effort, each runner has a story and we are playing a part in it as we race together. We never know when our words of encouragement or just a clap or cheer will bring a tear to an eye and joy to a heart. When we race, we are all in it together, on the home team, pushing each other to greatness!

Nice job, good work, you're awesome!

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... who never gets tired of clapping, cheering and kind words, even on days I don't deserve it.

 

2013-05-15 - Run Bucks!

Yo run gang,
May 15, 2013

We rely on our bodies to pursue our sport; to the runner, the body and mind are one. I believe this gives us a huge advantage over the sedentary Americans, those who take the body for granted, often, ignoring diet and health in pursuit of what? Success and happiness?  All the intelligence and wealth in the world cannot give us what running has. Take a look at the physical condition of leaders of industry, Washington politicians and corporate ladder climbers, many seem to have sacrificed their bodies to that success. The moral of the story, a degree from Harvard, Yale, UM or State, and all the ambition in the world, without the understanding of a decent 10K personal best (Or at least a passion for some sport) won't get them what we've got!

Run Bucks! Running Fit is launching a very cool loyalty program this week, you now will earn in store cash with your purchases, get special members only deals, and personalized offers. I just want a hat with the Run Bucks Logo! (I'll work on this!) Click the link on the right to find out how to opt in and start collecting run bucks!

Live, love, learn, earn, run,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner who feels running has given me ... everything.

PS: I love runs that make us smile, join the Running Fit crew in Canton, MI on June 15th at the Liberty Fest 5K and 10K as we attempt to once again break

the Guinness Book World Record for the most people dressed up as the Statue of Liberty! When we combine silliness and sport, we get to live like Peter Pan, with no need to ever grow up! Enter today; click here!