Running in a Wonderland

First off, I must confess that since coming back to Regina from Orlando, I have been a major lazy butt. I had not run in almost 5 weeks which is longest I have gone in the past few years. I had tons of great excuses:

1. It’s cold
2. It got cold so fast; I did not have time to adjust gently to the cold.
3. The sidewalks are still snow and ice-covered 3 weeks after the last snow fall.
4. It’s cold
5. It’s dark and the only real path I know is on a path with no lighting
6. I miss my running group and running without them makes me sad.
7. It’s cold.

After 5 weeks of this whining in my head, I finally had enough. So yesterday, I piled on my winter running gear and headed out mid-afternoon. My run group in Ottawa had managed to do 16km in the cold so the least I could do was get my butt outside and go for 6km.

And you know what?

It was not that bad. It is true that is got cold here fast and I did not have the time to slowly build in the layers so it is a bit of guessing game here. I managed ok and had dressed appropriately for the joy that is the winter wind.  However, out of the wind I felt like a furnace; the gloves came off, the hat came off. I know I get warm while exercising but always forget how warm until the steam starts rising LOL.

Finally getting out there yesterday was perfect. I needed a reminder that I actually don’t mind running in the winter. In fact, there are moments (like the one below) where I actually enjoy it.

Winter Wonderland

Running around Wascana park was beautiful and peaceful. I still probably won’t run a ton during the week but if I can get out on the week-ends then I probably won’t end up in too bad a shape. I should also register for another race; nothing like a looming deadline to help push you out the door. I have registered for the 5km Resolution Run on New Year’s Day but I need to look at something a bit longer and further away (date wise). Regina does not seem to have the constant race schedule that Ottawa did but the races must be somewhere in the province. I will have to investigate.

I think I needed the last 5 weeks to brood a bit and adjust to my new circumstances but I was starting to drive myself crazy. I thought about running everyday…every single day. Today, I feel better. I really did not feel bad before but today is just better and there is even a part of me that is looking forward to my next outdoor run.