Winter Running!

Sunday, November 20, 2016 · Mike Davis

Good morning!

Grab your coffee and pull up a stool.

With only 10 days left till December 1st, we must come to grips with the fact that winter is here! Shorter days, frigid temperatures, and nasty cold winds. Yes, I am talking about North Carolina! The Northeast, you have all of that and about this time snow is not would not necessarily be a surprise.

While that all seems kind of depressing for winter running, it is all part of what makes conquering winter running cool! Running is all about challenging ourselves to overcome various obstacles year-round. Winter may present deterrents that require us to dig deep for motivation, it can be very rewarding when we do. Getting out on a cold night after a long day often falls by the waste side if we spend too much time contemplating the conditions. Never mind a 5:30am run when snow blankets the sidewalks and finding a safe place to run is an obstacle. The challenges are numerous and can easily defeat our resolve. However, overcoming the mental game of getting ourselves out on the road can do amazing things for us and have benefits far reaching beyond running. The mental strength we gain when we choose the frigid elements over the cozy warm bed change us like nothing else can. I remember a time when I would often avoid the tough path instead choosing the least challenging, then I embraced winter running one year and it had an amazing impact on my life. My mental fortitude was as good as it had ever been and it totally affected most everything going on in my life.

I recall one Saturday morning in January when my wife and I ventured up to the Manchester Runners Alley to support some type of run that Jeanine Sylvester (Runners Alley owner) was putting on. The temperature was subzero and it ended up being just myself, Kathy and Jeanine I believe. We proceeded to run a good distance and it was crazy cold! While it was a day where smart people mostly stayed inside we made a memory. Maybe that run made us look more crazy than anything else, but it will be a lifelong memory that I will always value. Sometimes those opportunities are just that, and passing them up are lost stories. Another story that is engraved in my memory is the year a few of us trained for the “Half at the Hamptons” and the weather was so miserable it would have only take one suggestion not to run, for all of us to skip out. No one suggested it and we all made it through some of the worst running weather any of us had ever experienced. Truly an amazing memory. Kathy and I have many similar memories of running in the most challenging conditions and I have no doubt those runs were all special to me.

Winter running is very doable if you dress properly and be aware of your surroundings. Sometimes you must accept that you may not move at your normal pace as you navigate less than ideal conditions. Finding a partner or a group is another smart strategy as it keeps us accountable. Again, Kathy and I have always been each other’s accountability partner when it comes to running. Having that someone to lace up the shoes with you and motivate me to get out that door really helped on many occasions. We also have been part of numerous groups that ran through the winter and those groups were invaluable on a miserable Wednesday night. However, when we were done with our run and sitting in a nice cozy tavern, it was an amazing feeling!

No Finish Line Running can be your resource this winter to help you keep your running going throughout the winter. We have just begun our “Winter Pacers” group that will meet Wednesday (6pm), from the “Seventh Settlement Brewery” in Dover and Saturday mornings (8:30am), from “Penny University Coffee House” also in Dover. This group is not going to train for a particular race but instead focus on helping all levels of runners keep running throughout the winter. With multiple certified coaches, this group will benefit most runners. There is no cost to join and there are even prizes for those that attend regularly. The perfect opportunity to keep your running going as well as enjoy great comradery. For more information go to www.nofinishlinerunning.com.

You just came off wonderful fall running and now it is time to keep those feet moving!

Have a great Sunday and a wonderful week!

God Bless!

Mike