Winter is here, and in Michigan that means shorter days and colder weather (duh!). Less sunlight, more layers and generally more effort to get out the door-not necessarily good ingredients to stoke your motivation. Even the most die-hard athletes have a tough time putting on 3 shirts, 2 pants, the hat, traction for the ice, and the gloves (and there’s always one missing). It takes thirty minutes to get ready for a sixty minute run. It's little wonder so few people make it through the winter without having breathed fresh air once. As a native southerner, I am no stranger to the feeling of dread that winter running can create. While I don’t necessarily like running in summer, the heat was definitely something with which my body seemed to be innately equipped to accommodate. When I first arrived in Michigan, which, in my mind, received epic amounts of snow and cold weather, I wondered how I would ever get used to winter running.
Ten winters later, I realize I have developed an affinity for winter running. There are things that I actually enjoy about running in cold weather. Things that make even the coldest days and those extra layers (and loads of laundry) worth it.
Things I like (in no particular order):
*I like the first breath of cold air the moment I walk out the door. Filling my lungs with the cold air somehow rejuvenates me.
*Running first thing in the morning after a snowfall. The only sound is cadence of my (visible!) breath and the crunching of new snow under my feet.
*I like the feeling of sweat on my forehead and face while I run in the cold. Something about the effort required to produce sweat on a super cold day makes me feel proud (more cold, also. But mostly proud).
*I like that winter running challenges me more than summer running. More effort to prepare, more effort to navigate the obstacles (ice, deep snow, wind, freezing rain, more ice). It helps to identify things I should be paying more attention to-my fragile ankles, foot strength, core strength-that I tend to neglect during the salad days of autumn running.
*Most of all, I like the anticipation of returning to warmth. I like wrapping my head around how I’ll feel when I get back indoors, and how that steaming hot cup of coffee will feel on my cold hands.
Anyway, funny what you realize you like about something when you take a few minutes to think about why you run. So as you start the process of unpacking all the winter gear and start feeling the familiar dread of winter running, think about what it is you like about it. I was surprised what I liked, you might be too!
Ten winters later, I realize I have developed an affinity for winter running. There are things that I actually enjoy about running in cold weather. Things that make even the coldest days and those extra layers (and loads of laundry) worth it.
Things I like (in no particular order):
*I like the first breath of cold air the moment I walk out the door. Filling my lungs with the cold air somehow rejuvenates me.
*Running first thing in the morning after a snowfall. The only sound is cadence of my (visible!) breath and the crunching of new snow under my feet.
*I like the feeling of sweat on my forehead and face while I run in the cold. Something about the effort required to produce sweat on a super cold day makes me feel proud (more cold, also. But mostly proud).
*I like that winter running challenges me more than summer running. More effort to prepare, more effort to navigate the obstacles (ice, deep snow, wind, freezing rain, more ice). It helps to identify things I should be paying more attention to-my fragile ankles, foot strength, core strength-that I tend to neglect during the salad days of autumn running.
*Most of all, I like the anticipation of returning to warmth. I like wrapping my head around how I’ll feel when I get back indoors, and how that steaming hot cup of coffee will feel on my cold hands.
Anyway, funny what you realize you like about something when you take a few minutes to think about why you run. So as you start the process of unpacking all the winter gear and start feeling the familiar dread of winter running, think about what it is you like about it. I was surprised what I liked, you might be too!