Sometimes the runs you don’t want to do end up being the best decision you almost didn’t make. Once I began running more consistently and grew comfortable running by myself, it became much easier to head out the door at a moments notice. I’ve found a great deal of comfort in setting a training schedule and sticking to it, and that has gotten me out the door 99% of the time. However, nobody is impervious to doubt. We’ve all had those days where it’s easier to come up with excuses not to run than it is to simply lace up your shoes and get out there. Yesterday, the threat of rain a sore quad, and a busy schedule combined to play that role admirably.
It’s been a busy week, and I found myself thinking a lot about the long to-do list staring back at me. I seem to maintain motivation in part by being able to cross things off my to-do list, and I haven’t done that nearly enough this week. Thus, I found myself thinking about pushing my run back…squeezing it in later in the evening, or waiting until the next morning. As luck would have it, the deciding factor ended up being the predicted forecast. As I laced up to head out the door, it looked like the rain was going to hold off until later in the evening, so I was good to go!
At least it will be green before the leaves fall off, right?
Reluctantly, I headed off down the street, my mind a bit cluttered, and feeling a bit out of sorts. After about 10 minutes, I ran into a friend running errands downtown, and we stopped to chat for a few minutes. That’s when we felt the rain drops. We said our goodbyes and I carried on down the road, making up my path as I went. At first, it was just a few sprinkles. However, it wasn’t long before I was running in an all out downpour.
My clothes and shoes were soaked through pretty quickly, and I did a brief mental check to make sure I wasn’t going to have any unfortunate chaffing to look forward to when I got home. After that, the rain just fell, and I just ran. My mind seemed to clear out the clutter and I found the calm I had been lacking begin to return to my consciousness.
As I kept running, my pace quickened and my mind began focusing on more of the positive aspects of life. I was able to think through many of the questions that I had been struggling with, and I reached a point where I could let everything else go. All that mattered was the run I was on, and each footfall became clearer and more intentional. Somehow, the rain had triggered my runner’s high and I gained a new perspective on my training and running as a whole.
Drying clothes…a pretty common sight in our home!
When I got home, I had to stop and ring out my clothes before I even came in the house. My shoes were soaked through, and are now drying in the basement next to the dehumidifier. More importantly, I still have a great big smile on my face. In most circumstances, I am not a fan of precipitation of any kind. However, in this case, a run in the rain was apparently just what I needed. It was the recharge my batteries needed to keep running…in all aspects of life.
