April 15, 2009 - I love the peaceful solitude of a training run alone...

Yo Run Gang,

I love the peaceful solitude of a training run alone, my time to sort out the tangled world. I also like to run with friends, some for the conversation where pace and distance matter little and some for the motivation where pace and distance are maxed and challenged. Last but not least, I love to line up on race day and find out where I stand, mostly to compete with myself but yes, to see how my time compare to others and To duke it out!

Running is a personal sport; nobody else cares about our race times, our weekly mileage or our running pace. That said, nothing about lining up for a race should make us feel nervous or self conscious but for many of us, no matter how many times we toe the line, those feeling creep in. Once the race has started and we settle in, the jitters fade and the fun begins. I can understand how entering an event for the first time can be perceived as an almost insurmountable challenge for the beginning runner. We have all faced that hurtle. Those of us who finally leave our comfort zone and take the plunge find that the fears or preconceived ideas of racing were silly, holding us back from the full enjoyment of the sport. I just received this email that expresses it well.

For me as a beginning runner (and mature runner-51 years old). I also want to tell you how much I enjoyed the Meteor 5K. I walked a bit more than I wanted to but still got a lot of running in- I saw a few people doing what I was doing- that was very motivating too!! I am so glad these runs are open to everyone, runners and walkers no matter what level you are at

Spread the word! Share the gift of running and racing with friends, perhaps put them on our email list or just forward it on. For a good first time race, I suggest The Fit 5K, 7:05 PM Wednesday evening April 29, 2009, perhaps the most low key event in the state, a great first race, a fun midweek diversion for us all! Enter at www.runfit5k.com.

Now, how about getting over that first time Triathlon hurdle? Yikes! No Yikes about it, dont become a dinosaur, check out the T-Rex Triathlon Sprint Series. The first event of the season is the Triceratops Tri, Wednesday June 24, 2009, another midweek, low key, fun event! Dust off the Schwinn Varsity and join us at www.runtrextri.com.

Get out and race!
Randy Step an obsessed runner (And closet Triathlete) still spreading the word.

April 8, 2009 - Its time to play in the dirt!

Yo Run Gang,

My wife Kathy and I have made a vow never to play the age card again, that is, bringing up age when talking about running or anything! Example: When I was in my 20s, I ran this race a minute a mile faster Or, Yeah, you were ahead of me but wait until youre over 50, or any similar comment that uses age as an excuse. It has been refreshing to become ageless again and to enjoy running, competition and every day of life to the fullest extent possible. Ahhh, to be in my prime again, Ill be darned, I am and to think, I get to stay here! Give it a try, youll be hooked!

It was great to see so many of you at the Martian Invasion of Races! 4,500 participants, yikes, this event is becoming the real deal. As I awoke to 6 inches of snow on Monday thinking, if this was race day it sure would be a memorable one!

Next event, its time to play in the dirt! The Road Ends 5 Mile trail run is Saturday April 25th and the Running Fit Trail Marathon and Half Marathon are on Sunday the 26th. Enter at www.trailmarathon.com. Better yet, come into Running Fit, enter the race and buy a fresh pair of trail shoes. (Shameless Plug!) My favorite, the Brooks Cascadia 4.

Free Weed Whacker T-Shirt! Please join Running Fit and the Michigan DNR and do your part to improve the quality of Michigan State Parks Sunday April 19th. Simple and fun volunteer work in the woods, no experience necessary. Just bring your garden gloves (Or we will provide some) and any friends and family. Our friend Laurel from the DNR Stewardship committee will show us what evil weeds to pull out and we can all whack away! Meet at Half Moon Lake Beach on Hankerd Rd., 1.8 miles north of North Territorial Rd. in the Pinckney Recreation area. Meet in the upper lot at 10 AM and well pull weeds until 1 PM. Optional 5 mile trail run at 9 AM. Click here to register (for free!) online.

Umbuntu Award on tour! Running Fit was selected to win the international Umbuntu Award by the Running Industry as the most humanitarian and charitable running specialty store in the world! Yes its old news, but the actual award just arrived and we get to show it off for one year, kind of like our own Stanley Cup! It is a very unique piece of art, hand beaded by a Zulu Artist from South Africa where the award originates. It will be in the Northville Store for the next week, Friday 4/10 to Wednesday 4/16, then on to West Bloomfield Friday 4/17 to Wednesday 4/22. Well keep you posted on future sightings!

Run in the dirt,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner in my prime

April 1, 2009 - I just love old time neighborhood races.

Yo Run Gang,

As part of the fitness community, Im sure you can relate; the weekend left me sore, tired and pleasantly beat to a pulp. The weekend included a glorious long run along with a marathon of other physical and non physical non stop action. I find that work is a good place to recover from play, time behind the desk (With my shoes off!) has its place.

The Martian Invasion of Races has things hopping around here; we are up to our ___ in aliens! Over 4,000 runners, yikes, join the madness this weekend. Enter at online until noon on Friday at www.martianmarathon.com.

I just love old time neighborhood races, and I like to visit Ann Arbor, the perfect combination. Sunday May 2nd is the Burns Park 5 & 10K Run, a 30 year old event in the classic old neighborhood just east of the U of M campus. Rolling streets, big beautiful old homes; a nice family event. Then its off to Angelos, Caf Zola or the dozens of great Ann Arbor breakfast & lunch spots! Enter at www.burnsparkrun.org.

Another neighborhood race that same weekend on Saturday May 2nd is the Live Like Andi 5K, 10K and 10 Mile run starting at Catholic Central High School just off Wixom Rd. in Novi. A newer race through newer lake front neighborhoods for a great cause. Join me for a Goofy weekend as I run Live Like Andi on Saturday and follow it up by running the Burns Park run on Sunday! Can a spring weekend get any better? Enter at www.livelikeandi.org.

Lets run, were burning daylight,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner doing everything to excess!

March 25, 2009 - Randy's gone missing....

Yo Run Gang,

You may find this hard to believe, the Head Goat, Randy Step the obsessed runner, has been missing today for many hours in Gnaw Bone Indiana where he is tweaking the course for the May 9th race. He claims to be alive and well, living on the crumbling edge and firing on all cylinders. He just got a cell and called in to say he is having the time of his life in the wilderness but is just not sure where he is. He says that 10 hour charge on the Garmin doesnt cut it but the weather is beautiful and not to worry. With only 35,000 acres and armed with 4 Strawberry banana GUs, he will make his way out in time to write next weeks obsessed email. See www.danceswithdirt.com and click on Gnaw Bone, youll get the idea.

Run smart,
Helen, the Head of I.T at Running Fits Mission Control

March 18, 2009 - Consider a trail race.

Yo Run Gang,

The trails are back! Winter has been holding the trails hostage for the past month, locked down with several inches of solid ice. Trails, a great, healthy choice, easy on the mind, easy on the body, without the dangers of traffic and breathing in un-burnt hydrocarbons. There is a bit of frost heave and mud this time of year and even a runner can have some impact on the trail surface so look for well drained high and dry trails. I do find that running when the ground is soft can actually flatten out bike ruts and improve the trail for when it gets dry and hard. Run smart.

As you plan your event schedule, consider a trail race, better yet, make trail racing the focus of this years calendar! I find a difficult trail run mentally refreshing, no worries about pace and time Im often fulfilled by just finishing! Check out www.danceswithdirt.com, www.trailmarathon.com, www.runflirt.com, www.runlegend.com, www.runvasa.com, and a website that should be up and running by next week or when the vibes are right, www.runwoodstock.com.

Run wild,
Randy Step, a runner obsessed with the wilderness

March 11, 2009 - My body felt worse than the weather...

Yo Run Gang,

Yesterday I headed out for a dreary rainy run. My body felt worse than the weather, tired, dead legged, bad stomach and short of breath. I gutted it out for a while then made a turn so it would be a short loop back to home. 20 minutes of this torture and like magic, all pain faded away, like the sun breaking out (But it was only getting darker and wetter). I felt light on my feet, smooth and the running was effortless. I took a turn away from home and into the woods where my short run turned long and my day was made. The moral to the story, who knows?

The spring races start Now! Not exactly the serious race season yet, but the St. Pats races signals the start. A fun choice, The Shamrocks and Shenanigans 5K is this Sunday, the 15th, 11AM start in Downtown Ann Arbor at Conner O Neils Pub. Info is at www.runshamrocks.com. All proceeds go to Save a Heart, Congenital Heart Center at C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital. A great cause, a fun time and an excuse for your behavior!

Hang tough on your run, the fitness, and the magic, will come.

Randy Step, an obsessed runner looking for the silver lining

March 3, 2009 - You are a Running Rock Star!

Yo Run Gang,

This is an excerpt from an email I received last week:

I am a 47 y.o. female fitness buff who likes to take on challenges (esp. as I mature). Last fall I did the Detroit Marathon: interesting experience, but I'm not a long-distance runner, so one is enough. I prefer the woods and running on the earth And Randy, just an aside: from your emails you would classify me a "wuss," but for almost everyone I know I'm obsessed! It's all relative to one's perspective!

Less than 1/10 of one percent of the population can finish a marathon so yes, she is obsessed (Ok to use passionate here if that helps you), she IS a distance runner, and she is not a wuss!

That said, I can relate to her email and Im sure you can too. As a running store owner Im surrounded by athletes that are faster, do harder workouts and run more mileage than I ever have. As silly as it may sound, I still find myself feeling a bit embarrassed when asked what kind of mileage Im running or what kind of time I hope to run in my spring marathon, with my mileage and times sounding wimpy to me. On the other hand I cringe when I hear someone say, Im not really a runner, I only run 3 or 4 miles 3 or 4 times a week knowing that they certainly are runners and that consistently running 10 miles per week or more is a serious commitment to the sport.

Our perception really is our reality, but its a reality we can change by changing our perception, so lets! Please slap me the next time I get embarrassed when talking about my running; Ill do the same for you!

You are a running rock star!
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, no two ways about it

February 25, 2009 - I had a nice long conversation with an old friend...

Yo Run Gang,

I had a nice long conversation with an old friend today and we had it during a nice long run. It would be cool if we could do all our catching up with friends during runs and that all our old friends were runners! Taking it a step further, I bet if all business meetings and negotiations could take place on the run, productivity would go through the roof! I have been on a conference call during a run and for once I was the quite one!

Ive been warning you, its time to get ready for spring running! The Martian Invasion of Races is coming up fast, April 4 & 5, with a choice of a marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k and kids marathon there is no excuse and you know you are going to enter anyway so do it now and save a few bucks. The prices bump up on March 1st - Go to www.martianmarathon.com.

Get those kids ready for track! Running Fit track nights (Spike nights) are fun, motivational and the kids get free stuff and big discounts. Check out the dates and times below!

Running Fit Novi has moved! We are still in the Novi Town Center but now on the Grand River side by Bonefish Grill (How convenient!) Maybe Novi Running Fit manager Rachel will hook us up with a deal for after the Monday store run, perhaps Monkfish Monday! If it goes over well we could have Tilapia Tuesday Come on by and check out the new digs. Once we get things a bit more settled well invite you all to a grand opening party, Ill keep you posted.

Run like you mean it,
Randy Step, and obsessed runner, out to trick the world over to our side!

February 18, 2009 - Its grey, windy and getting dark...

Yo Run Gang,

When looking at the daily calendar and to-do lists, were reminded life is busy, complicated and at times overwhelming And to think, we choose to live like this! The other option is to do nothing, an option which comes with the stress of boredom, laziness and feelings of failure. There really is no in between or moderation, once you take on responsibility, be ready to rock and roll. Whats this got to do with running? Im sure you already know, youre a runner, Ive just described your M.O! As we crunch the daily run into the schedule something magic happens, somehow this busy life, is fulfilling. Bring it on!

Its grey, windy and getting dark, time to get out and run!

Randy Step, an obsessed runner, much like you

February 11, 2009 - I got new running shoes today!

Yo Run Gang,

Ahhhh, running in shorts! Yesterday gave me a bad case of spring fever, somehow I better get back in the winter mind set before Michigan slaps me silly Is it really only February?

I got new running shoes today! You may be thinking, big deal; the guy owns a running store for gosh sakes. True, but I always put in 300 miles in the shoes I run in before I ditch them, so as I close in on the magic 300 number I start getting excited and into shoe shopping mode. A simple pleasure in our simple sport and new shoes always help get me out the door. Hmmm I guess that means you should buy new shoes when the weather gets bad!

I just came across my misplaced DVD movie Without Limits (On the life of Steve Prefontane), my favorite running movie of all times. Now, I get to plan a winter movie night, curl up in a blanket and enjoy, another of those simple pleasures! If you have not seen it, or have not seen it in a while, get out and rent it (Find it) this weekend! A Warner Brothers film.

I just heard the weather, wind gust up to 50 mph how can I put a positive spin on that I think Ill head downwind and for a PR!

Run like the wind,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, about to get my new shoes wet and dirty, yeah!