Slowing Things Down and Staying on the Road This Winter

Sunday, November 15, 2015 · Mike Davis

Good morning! It is getting ridiculous, it seems like yesterday I was saying it is crazy that we are already midway through October and here we are at November 15th! Slowing down the calendar from flipping so fast is far more challenging than I would like. Some time back there was a piece in our HR newsletter that recommended that if you wanted to be less busy, eliminate one thing you ‘want’ to do each week from your activities. Note that the recommendation is not to eliminate one thing you ‘do not’ want to. This piece of advice makes sense because of the busyness we create is often self-imposed. However, while the ‘have’ to do things take up a good amount of our time, the ‘want’ to do activities pile on to that already busy life. If I had a nickel for every time someone says they are “busy,” I would have that 6 Series Mercedes that I long for. Sadly though ‘busyness’ leads to the speed in which that calendar turns from one month to the next. Just the other day I was finalizing the NFLR destination race details for up in North Conway, working “Pease Relay” race issues, trying to find quality time with NFLR clients and trying to get my miles in for the destination half marathon. In a snap of the fingers more than a month has passed and all of that has come and gone. Certainly all great stuff but, September and October were just a blur to me. With mid-November here that typically means that the running community is “less busy” because there are fewer events outside of the growing “Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trots” that are becoming popular. Last Sunday’s “Seacoast Half Marathon” typically marks the end of the race season however more and more that does not mean the end to the running season. The growing community of runners now see running as a year round activity. If you share your coffee with me over some of these chats you would certainly know that running year round is not a goal but, a must for me and No Finish Line Running. Winter is not my favorite time whatsoever and not so long ago it was a time that I counted down the days until the snow would typically be gone and the baseball season began. If time ever slowed down it was most certainly the long winter season. Then I made the decision that I did not want to continue wishing winter away but, instead embrace the challenge of “winter running”. Winter running is not easy and can downright “suck” some times. Cold, windy, dark, messy and slippery are just some of the attributes that come with running between mid-November and mid-April. It takes amazing motivation (and discipline) to pile on the additional layers of clothes as well as the safety gear and go out for a run. Often the idea when planning for a run is easy but, when it is time to start dressing, the idea now seems far less appealing. Last winter was the worst I have prided myself on my “winter running,” in past years I would be on the roads by 5:30am moving through Dover and relishing the idea that I was conquering winter. Last winter NFLR put together our first “Winter Running Group” that met twice a week. For whatever reason (maybe the multiple storms), I was no longer of the mindset to “conquer winter”. In fact there were many evenings and mornings that I would head out to meet our winter running group hoping that no one would show up so that I could go back home to my warm apartment. It would be easy to blame it on the multiple storms but, I really believe it was more mental for me. Thankfully having the NFLR winter running group helped me to get out despite my desire to stay in. Being totally honest it typically wasn’t until we were a mile into our runs that was okay with being out there. Though after that first mile, my joy for winter running came back and I was so grateful that I had this group to help me. Our group would often commiserate as we first congregated each evening or morning but, once running we were laughing and happy to be out on the roads no matter the conditions. Last winter was as challenging as it can get (hopefully) but, we missed very few runs and come April we were all more than ready to run the “Reds Shoe Barn 5 Miler”. NFLR is back at it again this winter and though winter is technically not officially started, we have begun our “NFLR Winter Running Group”. Saturday mornings at 8:30 we meet at the NFLR Center and Wednesday evenings at 6pm we assemble at the “7th Settlement Brewery” for our run followed by an optional drink. While yesterday was the start, this group will open to jump into anytime over the course of the winter. Definitely a great way to stay on the roads this winter and a lot of fun (once you get moving)! Contact us at info@nofinishlinerunning or get more info at www.nofinishlinerunning.com. I am grateful for this group and hope you will take advantage of it! Don’t forget Tuesday night at 6pm is Pilates at the Center. Great addition to your overall health and running! ($10 drop in) I have to take a moment to figure out what I am going to take out of my schedule this week? Definitely a challenge! Have a great week and see you soon I hope! God Bless! Mike