Donald Shampine

I needed to get up extra early if I was going to get my steps in this morning. I had an all day training that is preceded by almost two hours of driving, so my normal morning routine would look different. I set a mental alarm for 4:30 and hoped that I would wake up in time to get this done. I decided not to wear my spikes as I was going to run the roads. They are mostly clear and there is almost no traffic at 4:30. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea, but I didn’t want to run the trails or sidewalks that early. I put on the wrong shoes. I left the house in shorts and a t-shirt. It was 37 degrees with a slight but chilly wind pulling it down to 34. I was a block away when I realized I was not wearing my gloves. I took all of these things as a sign to quit. Run a quick mile and go home. But my goal was three miles and I was determined to get it done. The one smart decision I made was starting the morning with the daily devotional in the Bible app. It was 1 Corinthians 10:31, and th...

I get asked fairly often how I handle running in the winter. Honestly, I treat it like most runs and don’t dress much differently, aside from adding a hat and gloves. Cold really isn’t the issue for me. Ice is. I’ve tried trail shoes, and while they work well in snow, they aren’t very warm and they’re not effective on ice. We also tried a simple hack by drilling sheet metal screws into the bottom of our running shoes. That does help somewhat with traction on ice, but they don’t always stay in, and drilling into your shoes obviously shortens their lifespan. I’ve also tried several winter traction products over the years, but most fell short, either due to poor fit or a lack of stability. Eventually, I found a setup that works for me. I use Kahtoola EXOspikes for winter trail running and Kahtoola NANOspikes for icy road running and walking. Both are easy to put on and take off, and more importantly, they’ve given me increased confidence running through Michigan winters. Even with...

I am not a runner. Well let me clarify, I run and run often, and sometimes even long distances. Yet, it’s not a passion for me as much as it is for many of the people I run with. I run for health. I run because my spouse is a runner. I also run because I really like to eat, whatever I want, whenever I want, so I must burn off calories. So, this non-runner decided to attempt a marathon and embark on a journey that taught me a lot about the sport, the activity, the participants and most importantly about myself. They are very welcoming I don’t know if it is because runners are nicer than most or if it is simply a misery loves company mentality and they are willing to bring in anyone ready to suffer with them. Regardless, they will greet you when you are new, reassure you when you struggle with the speed or miles, keep you company when you might feel slower than the rest, support you and encourage you, and introduce you to other runners that will fit your running style and training ...