Notes and Thoughts

Monday, March 04, 2013 · Mike Davis

I look outside and the snow is falling which is a reminder that March is part of winter! Looking ahead the temperatures look to be climbing and despite today’s appearance we are approaching optimal running weather. Yesterday while a bit windy at times was perfectly comfortable for an 8 mile run. I am not a big fan of rainy running but with spring coming that will be the next stage of our New Hampshire running. Having the right running attire makes a big difference when it comes to running through the four seasons of New England. In most cases less experienced runners tend to overdress a bit and struggle as their bodies overheat as they get into their runs. Me, I usually error on the side of too little, but that just means it might take longer for me to get comfortable. The optimal temperature for running is 43 degrees, much lower than most people would expect. Our body temps rise considerably as we run and it’s important to dress with that in mind. A few days ago I was at a meeting and ran into a guy that has become quite a runner and he asked me what I was training for? There was a time when I felt less comfortable saying this, but my response was; “I’m not training for anything, just running.” It truly is a great feeling just to run with no pressure and because I want to be out there. Races are great motivators and they have certainly helped me to ramp up my running or stay disciplined, but right now my only real goal is to maintain a running base that enables me to do a long run of 8 miles. Though it’s not always easy, I feel pretty comfortable running 8 miles right now and I am happy with that. Yes sometimes I feel like I should be running more, but that’s more about ego than anything else. Seeing others running distances I have run in the past sometimes leads me to question my training, but I have come to realize running isn’t about training, it is about running. It’s okay to be training for a race but training is a means to an end; running is a way of life. I am comfortable with running right now versus training. Both are great to me, but I am enjoying “just running” right now. Met with my website designer and my website advisor (sounds pretty impressive, but they are also good friends), and we went over some changes, some additions and a new feature for NFLR. They are amazing people and are helping me grow the website and my business. One of the new features that will be coming is my ability to post each individuals personalized training plan on the website for their eyes only instead of having to email it out. Talking about going green! I am amazed at how fast NFLR has grown in just a couple of years and much of the thanks have to go to Doug and Katie. Their understanding of both the business and web are tremendous and together we have set up a foundation for helping even more runners. There are a few more features in the works so some exciting times ahead both on the road and on the website! Well I started this piece yesterday and now its Monday so I had better get it on the site. I hope you all had a great weekend and that your week blows by. The weather is getting better, so take advantage of it! Be well! mike