WAGNER

Wagner: Pay attention to pains early in a training cycle to stay healthy

Bemidji, Minn. Each week, my personal email seemingly is clogged with all sorts of messages.

By Steve Wagner , December 16, 2012

Wagner: Motivation lacks in cold winter months

Bemidji, Minn. We all want and need motivation. But let’s face it – we all could use an extra dose of it, especially when the weather turns colder, wetter and whiter.

December 02, 2012

Wagner: Correct call to cancel NYC Marathon

Bemidji, Minn. After Superstorm Sandy steamrolled through the East Coast, leaving a swath of destruction and death last week, New York City Marathon race officials said the race would go on. It wasn’t so much a surprise.

By Steve Wagner , November 04, 2012

Wagner: Support groups pay dividends after long running year

Bemidji, Minn. With a full training and racing season in the rearview mirror, a group of runners gathered at a south Fargo establishment to mingle over food and beverages, share stories from our year of running and talk about the ups and downs along the way.

By Steve Wagner , October 28, 2012

Wagner: Too much hard training can catch up to runners

Bemidji, Minn. It’s easy to get excited after a race and hurry to sign up for another. Maybe you’ve set a personal best, conquered a new distance or learned something about yourself to try in the next race. Or, if things didn’t go so well, you want to erase the memory of a bad or particularly challenging race.

By Steve Wagner , October 07, 2012

Wagner: Crossover workouts help keep body fresh

Bemidji, Minn. Less than a month ago, I was on the phone with a friend talking about dropping out of the upcoming Twin Cities Marathon. My confidence in finishing the race had hit rock bottom and I held concerns about my long-term health and running.

By Steve Wagner , September 30, 2012

Wagner: Beautiful fall sights reaffirm love of running

Bemidji, Minn. Frost-covered wild grass filled the ditches along a country road during my early morning run last week. Riley, my run-loving golden retriever, stopped to explore and sniff some scents in the tall blades. Every few minutes, he’d race past me in a torrid sprint, stop for a sniff again and repeat the same game of leapfrog. When he lingers behind too long, I’ll circle back and look for him As we trekked north on the blacktop, the sunlight slowly unveiled the landscape before me. Still below the horizon, though, a mystic fog hovered above the wetlands and other low-lying spots. The multi-colored blaze of foliage from maple, oak and birch trees filled my view. It is mornings like these I kick myself for leaving my camera or phone on the counter. Those views, imprinted in my memory, will simply stay in a place only I can retrieve them. Those views will be my motivation for the next time I look for an excuse to stay inside and play the debate game about whether to head out for a run or stay inside – a self-defeating argument that can only result in delaying what I love to do. The fall means more to Riley, too, as he finally is allowed to frequently run with me again. After sitting out much of the summer due to warm weather, the consistent running turns Riley more playful and energetic. In the fall, I’m almost always running with friends, Riley or both. It is fall mornings like the one last week that make the sport fun, energizing me physically and mentally with cooler temps, grand vistas and a reminder that seasons change. And as the seasons change, so does our running. While fall’s arrival assures us that a cold, hard winter awaits, it serves as a time of renewal and affirmation. A renewal of the human spirit and the love for running, the affirmation of toiling through hard workouts and hot weather to prepare for a fall race. As the seasons change, so do the effects and meaning of our running – with moments of pure joy and times to recover and regroup for the next big challenge. Bemidji Pioneer Editor Steve Wagner writes a running blog, which can be found online at runningspud.areavoices.com. He can be reached via email at swagner@bemidjipioneer.com.

By Steve Wagner , September 23, 2012

Wagner: Difficult workouts key for race preparation

Bemidji, Minn. Tuning up for a key race on your calendar doesn’t have to be a mystery. Rather, it can be a lot of fun. You can take your fitness to a new level if you pick the right race or workout, then go out and execute. Quite a few runners made the trek to the Dick Beardsley Half Marathon in Detroit Lakes, Minn., earlier this month. Quite a few will turn around and race marathons – like the Twin Cities Marathon – next month.

By Steve Wagner , September 16, 2012

Wagner: What makes a race special to you?

Bemidji, Minn. For the past four months, a group of 12 to 15 people have been meeting monthly to plan and organize the inaugural Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon, set for Oct. 12, 2013.

By Steve Wagner , September 02, 2012

Wagner: Experiences can fuel inspiration

Bemidji, Minn. One of the best parts of life is finding what we love – sometimes through trial and error, other times through the singular pursuit of our passions, or even by accident.

August 19, 2012

Wagner: Triathlon offers new experience

Bemidji, Minn. Making my way to the pavilion, I stepped into line to receive my race packet. Then a volunteer pulled the cap off a black permanent marker, writing the designated wave on my left wrist before marking the race number on my arm and leg.

By Steve Wagner , July 29, 2012

Wagner: Running outside can be a joy, despite the heat

Bemidji, Minn. We’re not quite to the dog days of summer, but it sure feels like it. With plenty of heat, and sometimes high humidity thrown into the mix, it can be tough to want to do much of anything outside – let alone run. Personally, after having run so many marathons in the past few years, it’s easy to want to take a break. But I’ve also always ran my fastest races in the fall, making it difficult to want to ease up. Since Grandma’s Marathon last month, and a couple big storms blowing through this summer, it’s been hard to get the motivation to run. And the weather doesn’t make it any easier.

By Steve Wagner , July 15, 2012

Wagner: Strong showing for area runners at Olympic Trials

Bemidji, Minn. In running circles, inspiration is something every athlete relies on. We all need it – and we draw on all forms to give us an edge in training and racing. Many of us look to family and friends for strength and support. We train together, go to races together and celebrate together. Strangers – famous or not – can inspire us to faster times, further distances, better fitness.

By Steve Wagner , July 01, 2012

Wagner: A good book can offer inspiration, motivation for exercise

Bemidji, Minn. As summer rolls in, we are rewarded with sunny days, warm nights and boundless opportunities to get outside. The calendar is packed with events, vacation plans and things to get done. Our best efforts to do everything can be a little mind numbing, which can make it tough to stay motivated.

By Steve Wagner , June 03, 2012

Wagner: The Fargo Marathon is an inspirational event

Bemidji, Minn. For all the talk about the weather, and what impact it might have on this year’s Fargo Marathon, it turned out to be a pretty good day. Those of us who have spent quite a bit of time running in the Red River Valley are accustomed to a bit of wind, so considering it was really the only condition Mother Nature threw at us on Saturday, most runners couldn’t ask for better weather.

By Steve Wagner , May 20, 2012