This past weekend, I went on a long run with my friends and teammates. This was the first long run all winter that I was able to be outside and in the company of others. It felt wonderful.
Winter is constantly testing my love for running. It seems that Mother Nature will do anything to stop me from running. She brings treacherous snow storms, raw temperatures, and slippery ice. She even makes the days shorter so that I have less sunlight. Sometimes I am able to defy her and go running anyway. Other times, however, she wins, and I simply give in. Unfortunately, this winter, she won a lot. The majority of my runs this winter have been by myself and on the treadmill.
Some people love treadmills. Some people would rather run on a treadmill any day than go outside. My Mom is one of those runners. She loves being able to be distracted from running. She can watch her favorite TV show and exercise at the same time. I, on the other hand, have a very difficult time with treadmills. So while my Mom is enjoying herself on the treadmill next to me, I’m counting down the minutes for it to be over.
Other factors also tested my love for running this winter. Time was one of them. My family traveled a lot throughout the holidays. It was difficult finding the time to run around our traveling schedule. When I was doing my internship this winter, it was also difficult to find the time to run. My internship consisted of many late nights of working. Unfortunately, running felt like more of a chore than a passion.
Winter always tests my love for running. The inclement weather, busy holidays, and other responsibilities make running very difficult and sometimes impossible. Sometimes, you lose, and you have to give in. Other times, you can overcome these factors and do what you love doing. It’s always easier with the help of other people. It’s nice to be back in Salem running with my teammates again. I look forward to many more runs outside. But if Mother Nature insists, I'll stick to the treadmill.
