Down in the Running-Dumps.

 

I’ve got that January down-in-the-dumps feeling. Maybe it’s because the weather’s so awful. Or maybe it’s because I’m getting less daylight than a stunted dandelion. Or maybe it’s because my body is struggling to cope with the withdrawal of all the calorific foods I consumed through the festive period. Or maybe it’s because I had too many tequila mistakes on my too-short vacation. Maybe it’s because I have yet to start my New Year’s Resolution. Or maybe it’s because my house is stacked wall to wall with packing boxes. The list is endless.

The Monday of all Mondays has come and gone. Blue Monday. The day considered the most depressing day of the year. But I’m still depressed. To be honest, my vote is in to do away with the Blue Monday business and bring in Blue January...the most depressing month of the year. Because, let's face it, the majority of people are not blue for just one day at this time of year, they're like me and blue for the entire month.

Exercise is supposed to be a good way to boost your mood and help alleviate the “blues”. But just getting out the door for a much needed run is easier said than done when it’s cold, dark and dreary outside.

Feelings like this bring up the question “Am I a real runner?”

This morning I woke up at the crack of dawn to lace up my sneakers for my second run this week after returning home from vacation. Sipping a hot cup of coffee I checked the weather gauge and it showed a chilly -3.7 C. Oh good, I thought, I get to dress up like the Michelin Man. 

Trying to whip up another ounce of motivation I peered out the window to get a handle on the rest of the weather. It was pitch black. I mean really pitch black. I couldn’t even see the lights of Vancouver. I thought to myself there must be a power outage or something over there. Then I realized we were completely socked in...and it was snowing. I checked the weather gauge again, the temperature had dropped to -4.7 C. And just as if I was watching a Much Music Pop Up Video a popular three-letter acronym popped to the forefront of my mind and I seriously considered going back to bed. Then something strange happened. A giddy child-like excitement took over. It was snowing...and I was going out to play in it. No wait, I was going out to run in it. 

 I dressed warmly and headed out into the whiteness. There was only a skiff of snow, but it was enough that it squeaked beneath my feet. At first the biting head wind hurt my face but once I was in the shelter of the trees, it was divine. It was deathly quiet, there were barely any cars on the road and no tracks in the snow before me. I chose a route that gave me an option of extending the run if I was so inclined. This particular run is a “first” for me. The “wet” coast doesn’t usually get a lot of snow in the winter, and the micro-climate of Caulfeild gets even less than the rest of the lower mainland. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to run in the snow, it’s just that there hasn’t been any since I began running.

I ran with a surprising amount of energy considering the weather conditions, my many layers of clothing, and the fact I hadn’t ran a decent distance in well over a week. I made my way to the point where I could extend the run or just head home and I decided to extend the run to 8 km. I love discovering new routes, and running in the snow was just that. I even felt strong while running up hill, likely due to my snowshoe kick-step technique which oddly distracted me from the fact I was running uphill. It was snowing, I was running and it totally felt good.

Back at my house I felt triumphant. The run had been epic. I felt like Jumpin’ Jack Flash and there was even a smile on my face. 

Dear Running,

I am totally in to you and ready to take our relationship to the next level. You put a spring in my step and give my face a glow that no spa facial could ever give me. You’ve even chased those moody blues away, at least for today. Maybe we should make it Facebook official.

xoxo
Julie

I guess it’s official. I’m a real runner.

I hope the snow sticks around so I can do it all again tomorrow.

Twenty Twelve

Yet another new year is here. Where did the old one go? Is it just me or have the past few new years arrived a little too fast and furious?

I have to admit I like the sound of “Twenty Twelve”. I like the way it glides easily off the tongue. It even oozes a little confidence, like it already knows it’s going to be a good year. Last year really was a mouthful to say the least, “Two Thousand and Eleven”. But “Twenty Twelve”...well it really has a nice ring to it.

I love New Year’s Resolutions, but only if they are simple and attainable. Last year I resolved to “keep on running” which looking back on that now was pretty much like resolving to keep on sleeping or eating. This year I’m really going out on a limb. I resolve to take up yoga. This is something a bit different for me and the idea behind it is an attempt to keep my newly limbered body (thanks to many hours of physio) more supple and balanced. Of course there are many health benefits to yoga so hopefully it will fit in with my lifestyle and complement my running and soccer regimes. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Speaking of running, it was mighty difficult to find the motivation to get out there over the Christmas period. No doubt the usual suspects were to blame: rich food, lively spirits, and sleeping late. Sometimes it takes a little kick in the butt from my collection of motivational running quotes to get me going in the morning. Here are some of my favorites:

"Over the next three months, running became my own form of Prozac. I hit the pavement three or four days a week, rarely exceeding three miles. Those jogs didn't give my husband a job, but they helped me keep it together and stay positive until a company did offer him a position five months later. Running is no longer my last resort; now it's my drug of choice."

Colleen Oakley, A Runner's High, fitnessmagazine.com

"The 10K race is a metaphor for living a good life. No matter what you do in life, don't just be a spectator, be a player. Anyone can watch from the sidelines, but few participate in the race. Choose to become the hero that you want to be."

Mark G. Collis, Becoming Your Own Hero

"At first I was running just to lose weight, and then after about six months when I was increasing the distance of my long runs, I was intrigued and fascinated how the human body can go from barely able to run a mile to being able to run eight miles. It was the day before this eight-mile run that I had this weird feeling—I could not wait to get up in the morning to do that eight-mile run. "

Jeff Mastro, Runner and Restaurant Owner

"Running rejuvenates not just my quads but also my creativity. It's in my sneakers that I often stumble, sometimes literally, upon good ideas - how to iron out a spat with my husband, what to cook for a dinner party, or just the right plot twist for my novel."

Allison Winn Scotch, Jog Your Mind, fitnessmagazine.com

"Something happened to me when I crossed the finish line. I became a runner. It makes me feel so good about myself. I'm no longer afraid of anything because I've seen what I'm capable of."

Heather Walsh, Runner and Liver Donor

"I don't know if running changed my life or if I changed my life for running, but who cares really? My feet keep moving, my arms keep pumping, and my mantra keeps rolling, 'Be patient. You got this.'"

Valerie DiMambro, Running World Challenger

"I search for hills to run, no matter where I'm traveling. Maybe it's just the way I'm wired: I like confrontation, and hills are nothing, if not confrontation. Just the hill and me. Just the challenge and me. Just my fears and me. Bring it on."

Martin Dugard, To Be A Runner

"If I didn't run, my writing would be very different from what it is. To be a fiction writer, the most important qualities are imaginative ability, intelligence, and focus. To keep these going at a high level, you can't neglect your physical strength. Otherwise, you can't accomplish anything very intricate or demanding."

Haruki Murakami, Novelist

"I don't need to reward myself after a run. For me, putting in a long run is reward enough for a hard week. That said, I do have a cupcake waiting for me after today's run."

Emily Procter, Actress

"Bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible."

Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

 

...and sometimes all it takes is a small reward waiting at the end of the run...I'm off for a well-earned cupcake. Wishing you all a wonderful Twenty Twelve!