Yo Run Gang,

As the racing season slows down and the long summer days add up, I hear fellow runners talking about feeling burned out by the daily running grind. I usually give my normal calm response, “NO WAY! How can anyone burn out on running, the perfect activity for mind, body and life itself?” Time to shake things up!

If you normally run in the morning, plan tomorrow's run for 10 PM and put on a headlamp. Run in the woods, if you normally run on the road. Start and finish your run at a lake and dive in ... Naked if it’s private! Yikes! Try some GU, new shoes, new route, new run partner, run with a group ... like 6:30 PM Tuesday at Ann Arbor Running Fit or Thursdays 5:30 PM from Running Fit Northville, where they give you a hot dog when you finish! Go to an outdoor track and put some beer along the track. Do a few easy, or hard, miles. Finish with a cool down walk with beer in hand, seeing the beer on each lap will inspire you (I use beer as an example; just make it something that will fire you up). Run a race, don't even make plans, just find one online (www.runningfit.com, www.runmichigan.com,) and go! Take on a challenge like the one at www.half2run.com. Get someone to drop you off a long way from home with no way to get back but to run! Drive to a spot some evening then run home, in the morning, run back and get your car …

Run forever,
Randy Step, an obsessed runner, keeping the fire lit

Cross Country Nights: For those of you with cross country runners in the family (You lucky dogs!): Running Fit has a couple of cross country open house nights coming up with extra discounts and fun give-a-way items to keep your runner fired up! Come any date at any time between 4 and 9 PM. Monday August 17th in West Bloomfield, Wednesday August 19th in Northville, Tuesday August 25th in Novi and on Thursday August 27th in Ann Arbor, this may be at our new warehouse store on Jackson, check www.runningfit.com before you head out.

Run 'n' Grill in the 'ville!
Why eat and run when you can run and eat!?! Come on out to Northville Running Fit Thursday nights @ 6:30pm for our weekly Run 'n' Grill! That's right … each Thursday night beginning July 16th we'll be out grillin' while you're out runnin'. We'll have Burgers, Dogs and all the fixin's ready for you as you finish up!

What's the catch??? There isn't one … except … no run, no eat! That's right … ya gotta earn those calories!

The group heads out around 6:30pm (which, for some reason beyond explanation, is actually around 6:40pm here in Northville). Mileage for the run varies (between 4 and around 8 miles) and paces vary.

So … show up and RUN … and EAT with the crew at the Northville Running Fit starting July 16th! We'll leave the grill on for ya!

Run Fit Kids Fitness Camp!
Join the Fun Wednesday July 15, 2009 from 6:30 - 8:00pm.
Gallup Park, Ann Arbor (Enter across from Huron High School at the corner of Huron Parkway and Fuller Road) Activities for the whole family! This will be the second of three fitness camps for kids! Cost is only $2 per participant; $6 per family.

Click here for a downloadable flyer or visit www.runfitkids.com for additional information.

Volunteers needed for the Pterodactyl Tri
We are seeking volunteers for the Pterodactyl Tri, July 22, 2009. We need aid station volunteers, start/finish line volunteers and more! If anyone would like to bring their kayak to the party, we’ll put them to work to course marshal the swim course. Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you can help out, or, go to www.trextri.com and click on Volunteer. Thanks!

LEGEND VOLUNTEERS needed August 1!
Volunteers are needed for The Legend in Lainsburg, MI. The Legend will be bigger than ever this year! Did someone say road trip? Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or sign up on www.runlegend.com.

All Running Fit volunteers receive a discount coupon, a free race entry and an invitation to our famous Dash & Burn Party!

We are teaming up with Plymouth Physical Therapy to offer some injury clinics!
Every 2nd Wednesday of the month you can meet with a physical therapist for about 20 minutes for free. Please sign up for time slots by calling the Novi store. The time slots go from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, every 20 minutes. The date for the next clinic is August 12th. Remember, you have to RSVP by calling the Running Fit store in NOVI at 248-347-4949.

Escape to Belle Isle
July 18, 2009, 830am. 5K, 10K & kid’s fun run at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, MI. Proceeds to go to SAY Detroit (for uninsured women’s and children’s healthcare). Go to www.escapetobelleisle.com for more information.

Northville Road Runner Classic
8K Run/Walk, 1 Mile Run/Walk - Saturday July 25 Maybury State Park. Family fun during the race includes: story hour, face painting and hands-on activities. Join us for post-race activities: pizza, awards, live music, libations, home made baked goods, special surprises, tech hats available. Awards: overall male and female, masters male & female, first, second and third place by age group. Go to www.northvilleroadrunners.org for more information.

Tri Series
June 24, 2009 - Triceratops Tri, July 22, 1009 - Pterodactyl Tri, August 19, 2009 - T-Rex Tri. 6:30pm at Island Lake Rec. Area in Brighton. Half mile swim, 12.4 mile bike ride and 3.1 mile run. Perfect for beginners and advanced alike. www.runtrextri.com

Dances with Dirt - Devil's Lake
July 11, 2009. Another Running Fit extreme event held this time in Baraboo, Wisconsin. 50 Mile Relay, 50K & 50 Mile Ultra Marathons, Full and Half Marathon. Visit www.danceswithdirt.com for more information!

The Legend
August 1, 2009. 5 and 10 miles through beautiful Sleepy Hollow State Park in Lansing, MI. The run circles Lake Ovid on a scenic rolling trail. The website is www.runlegend.com.

Dances with Dirt – Hell
September 12, 2009. Another Running Fit extreme event held at Pinckney State Park in Hell, MI. 100K Relay and 50K & 50 Mile Ultra Marathons. Online registration for Ultra events is now open! Visit www.danceswithdirt.com for more information!

Run Woodstock
September 25, 26, & 27. A weekend of Running, Peace, Running, Love and Running … and nothing but Peace, Love and Running! All events all take place on silent single track through Michigan wilderness. 5 Mile, 10K, Full & Half Marathon, 50K, 50 Mile and 100 Mile events offered. Visit the website at www.runwoodstock.com

Big House Big Heart Charity Run
Expo: October 3, 2009, Race: October 4, 2009. 5K, 10K and 1 mile fun run race through downtown Ann Arbor and finish on the 50 yard line of U of M Stadium. Benefits ALS Research center, Mott Children’s Hospital, U of M Cardiovascular Center and other local charities. Visit the website at www.bighousebigheart.com for more information.

Are You Injured? Help Is Here!
Whether you’re training for a fall marathon or just enjoying the great outdoors, don’t be sidelined by a nagging injury or chronic pain, HELP IS HERE! Come to a FREE Runner’s clinic the first and third Thursday of every month, 6-8PM!

We offer one-on-one time with a highly trained physical therapist that will provide a FREE injury evaluation, gait evaluation, and assist you with any other questions/concerns you may have! Running Fit is on hand to answer any, and all, of your shoe, gear, and training related questions! Not a runner or have an injury from another sport? We can help you too!

Running Fit and Probility Physical Therapy have teamed up to bring you this great clinic. It’s held at Probility's State Street clinic located at 2058 S. State St., Ste. 500. Our goal is to keep you on the roads this summer (and always!) running strong and healthy!