Run On...

Sunday, March 30, 2014 · Mike Davis

Good morning! Typical. That would be the one word to describe the month of March's weather. We spent most all the month cold and knee deep in snow and today it is raining hard and windy! Tomorrow will potentially bring ice and more rain. For runners, March was pure hell and frustrating! If you are like me, you look forward to putting away running pants, gloves and knit hats and replacing them with something lighter and freer. Most of all runners look forward to sidewalks! While winter running can be combated by smart apparel, the real struggle is finding safe footing. The hope is that March brings warm enough temperatures to get the sap running and clear the ice and snow from the sidewalks. Unfortunately this month was bad for both and beyond the slipping many times I found my feet landing in sloppy puddles and almost always early in my run. Yeah, that makes for a less than enjoyable run, but as runners we just kind of think "Ugh" and run on. Today there is a couple long races on the schedule, one being the "Eastern State 20 Miler" and along with that is a half marathon. Between the wind and the rain even for the diehard runner isn't having a lot of fun. Yes this type of weather is what separates us from others, but until we rid ourselves of the soaked clothing, we are not really feeling all that wonderful about the accomplishment. Typically runners plan for running events such as the "Eastern State" well ahead of time and hope that spring will be in full glory. If the race website had a crystal ball and could provide the weather conditions for the event, I venture to bet that many would pass and look for better running days. Since there are not crystal balls and because we train for hard for races of these distance; we just "run on." No doubt some may wake up and hear the hard rain blowing off the side of their house and decide to forego the challenge, most runners understand that we are truly different then others. Case in point: Yesterday on Facebook one of my runners from a couple of training groups last year posted something like this: "Running tomorrow in the wind and rain. How should I dress?" Before I was going to offer my advice I decided to read some of the comments and a couple already suggested as I would have that he wear something that he layer with outer garments that he wouldn't mind shedding on the course. However there was one comment that left that summed up the difference that separates runners from others; "Shorts, tee shirt, TV and common sense." Now some (mostly non-runners), would say that "common sense" is what separates runners from others. For Jason (this runner), it is about the hard work he put in this winter to prepare for this half marathon and how he would not allow the conditions to deter him. Most people don't realize the discipline and effort that it takes to prepare for a race and while they think we don't use common sense, in reality our "common sense" has fewer limits. "Run on" Jason and everyone else that trained through a tough winter for this day. This week we welcome in April, the baseball season and an emotional Boston Marathon. Let's hope that we have some beautiful spring days to run, but regardless we will run. Enjoy your Sunday and thanks for having coffee with me. Be well! Mike