Musings from the Deep Mid-Winter

I love Winter. Born in late November, I have always felt that this is my time. As others moan about the cold and the dark, I feel like this is my zenith.

I also love to run and the Christmas holidays provide the time and the motivation to run every day. I do this every year now and it means that I can embrace the feasting season without having to the pay the guilty price in January.

So far this holiday, I have run in heavy rain, frost, murk and (today) a freezing wind. I have run every time with my dog and today with some stray dogs (long story and long run as I tried to reunite them with their owner!).

I have run short and I have run long. What I would recommend about the running streak is the lack of decision and debate: A new day means a new run!

Running enables me to put life into perspective and to take joy in small things. I hope it does the same for you. I know that many are facing big challenges at the moment but I truly believe that running can help; not solving but helping to cope.

Enjoy running 2023 and all the adventures that it brings.

Happy Winter to you all from HelenWheels

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Loads of fantastic encouragement in your post. Thank you! I’m not at the right stage for running every day yet. Every other (barring a good reason not to) day is currently working wonders for me because as you say, it takes the decision away. The default is that it’s a run day. I’ve shied away from it in the past not wanting the rigidity of having to run, but right now? For whatever reason, it’s perfect. I think you really have to have straight in your head that a run is a run and not think there’s an unofficial minimum of thirty minutes for it to count. That’s been a big change from c25k and I don’t think I was in the right mindset before.

Absolutely agree about running being a brilliant way to find positivity and joy in tough circumstances. Happy winter, and spring, and summer, and autumn running to you. Just general happiness really, but happy winter running most of all! 🏃‍♀️❄️♥️

[Hidden in reply to MissUnderstanding]

What a lovely, smiley response! Yes, just embrace and enjoy!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Happy winter to you too, I love spring autumn summer and winter running. And find joy in every season, the wonder that is winter is that if we run we warm up right through, if we don't run water mth has to come from outside of us Happy New Year and run happy

[Hidden in reply to SueAppleRun]

I also enjoy seeing the seasons come and go. However I like the sense of achievement of running in challenging weather. I also over heat in the summer!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

I love being really hot, and I've been given sweat wrist bands for Christmas so I can mop my brow when running and stop stinging sweat in my eyes, best runs last summer ended at the beach with a dip in the cooling sea

[Hidden in reply to SueAppleRun]

I'd have to run an awful long way to dip in the sea😀

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

I'm very lucky it's only just over a kilometre away

[Vespina Graduate10]

Such a fantastic, positive and inspirational post. Thank you. Love the “new day, new run” sentiment

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Wonderful..simply Winterval wonderful! Embrace...enjoy.. and accept gratefully xxx

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you OF. I hope you are feeling a bit better x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

A lot better than I have felt thank you x

[Roxdog Graduate10]

I'm glad you are so positive about winter - it certainly has its own beauty. I'm conflicted about it, but I do like to run in the winter, light permitting! Sounds like you're loving your runs.

[Hidden in reply to Roxdog]

Yes, I think you are right, I am enjoying running. It's nice to have time!