Plantar Fasciitis couldn't keep Hinzmann, #1238, from Dexter-Ann Arbor 2011He began running for health reasons and found his sanity.

“To me, there is no feeling like hitting a beautiful new trail and soaking up the surroundings as I run”, remarked Steve Hinzmann, relative new, while accomplished, runner and Ann Arbor Track Club member.

Nearly five years ago, Steve made the conscious decision to “get in shape and eliminate many unhealthy habits.” Losing his mother at a young age to cancer made his commitment that much more paramount.

Hinzmann began his fitness quest as a ‘gym rat’ but ran his first 5K, promoted by his spin class instructor, in 2008.

Not long after, Steve signed up for a 10K – the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run.

“This was my first introduction to the AATC”, Hinzmann revealed. “Chris Nichols, another track club member, gave me some great advice – ‘get off the treadmill and out of the gym to the outdoors’.”

Hinzmann heeded the advice, began attending the Club’s track workouts and met Ken Castle whom he credits his introduction to trail running.

“I took a definite preference to the trails,” Hinzmann acknowledged.

So much so that he chose the North Country Trail Marathon, routed on a ‘single-track hiking trail with enough hills to make for a challenging race’, to complete his first marathon, August 28, 2010.

“Amazing,” Castle praised.

Despite his preference for trail, Steve continues to participate in the Club’s track workouts and additionally, has become a valued member of the AATC’s Dances With Dirt and Great Lakes Relay teams.

Castle, also a member of this year’s GLR team, recounted, “Steve was injured this year, but he persevered. He always has a good attitude.”

“I even got to run the final glory leg along the beach!” Hinzmann ascertained.

After battling plantar fasciitis without much success for the past year, Steve recently began treatment at the Running Institute, newly relocated to Ann Arbor from Hamburg in June 2011.

“Everyone there is really great,” Hinzmann emphasized. “They really understand runners and running.”

Though Steve, due to his injury, is not running on the roads or trails at this time, under the guidance of physical therapist, Pete Kitto, Steve has access to the Institute’s Alter-G Antigravity treadmill, which allows Hinzmann to run at just 50% of his total body weight.

“Steve is a really great, turnaround guy,” Kitto applauded. “He’s doing really well, and for 46, he’s a pretty fit guy!”

Professionally, Steve works for a local software company, and weightlifting rounds out his hobbies.

“Steve’s a real workout fiend!” Castle offered. “He’s always doing other stuff in addition to running!”

Hinzmann is quite the blueprint for achieving success through change. Make a commitment, remain open to righteous advice, fix what’s not working.

May we all be so brave.

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