Running in the rain!

Ready for action.

It's raining, it's pouring the old man might be snoring but that hasn't stopped me - I've been running!



big smiles,
even bigger puddles!

It's pouring with rain but my friend and I have made a commitment to run today and run we shall.  I enjoy going for a run; it's something that I can do from home and depending on the distance I choose to do, I can be back home again and showered within an hour, therefore not taking up too much of my day.  Running with a friend is perfect for me too because I'm energised by the social side of activity.  I love to chat and find that I don't notice the time when we're catching-up on each other's news.  Having said this, it does still take some motivation to go and I find routine or making a plan with a running partner takes away any of those excuses that my mind may wish to argue as to why I should stay at home in the warm and dry - cup of coffee in hand. Believe me, I can be pretty persuasive too.  You must have done it - we all do - without even realising, our subconscious puts forward compelling cases for and against the healthy choice before us.  Soon you have a mental list of impressive and justified arguments that would not be out of place in a court of law!  On a rainy day, even when a plan has been made (a trump card during the subconscious mind battle), it's easy to think that perhaps you will cancel your friend.  After all, he or she may be looking for a get-out clause in your prior arrangement and you are actually helping them (see how my mind can contend a water-tight case).  But, today, we are both determined and I'm so in the mood, I even cajole my running partner to run further, since she is preparing for a half-marathon.




And I'm off

Whenever I do any exercise, I know that I will always be pleased with myself once I have finished and it gives me a boost for the rest of the day.  Today I also had an overwhelming sense of pride, since it really was an incredibly wet experience from start to finish.  Due to the relentless precipitation of the past few weeks (wettest January on record since 1910) there were puddles galore.  I felt as though I was in fact part of a steeplechase with the number of vast lake-like puddles I had to leap across in a slalom like fashion.  I'm pretty tall so was doing quite well (to the point that I think I might look into the possibility of entering a steeplechase race on skis!) but my friend found that whilst it did increase her stride (a good skill to improve on as a runner) it also served to drench her trainers with muddy rain water.  Don't think I got off scot-free, there was such an abundance, it was impossible for me to dodge or jump across them all and I too ended up with enough rain water in my shoes to fill a small garden pond. 




 

Very muddy, wet trainers - yuk!

It appeared that the elements were not alone in their pursuit of us and soon our bodies were hit with a wall of water as fast lorries approached without mercy, drenching us from the busy road.  If you were watching (and don't feel guilty about this, I would be the same) you would have enjoyed the spectacle of seeing two squeaking, squishing, sodden women become ever more soaked but with the added entertainment of trying to run from the tidal-wave that rose from the seemingly innocent curb.
We ran just under 10k in total and probably not as quick as our normal pace but this wasn't a typical run and if we had measured effort and perseverance our results would have been off the scale.  You may also be wondering if I still experienced that post-exercise buzz that I mentioned earlier.  Well yes I did and my reward was the lovely hot shower that served so well in warming me up and washing away dirty puddles as well as some great cardio exercise for my heart.  Would I run in the rain again? Yes, I would, even if the old man's snoring is inadvertently trying to persuade my subconscious to do otherwise.  We can always find reasons not to do something that requires effort but surely the reward is more satisfying when the obstacle to overcome is greater?   So the next time you are having an internal battle and debating should you go for that run, visit the gym or go for a cycle, don't let the sound of snoring tempt you back to bed with the poor excuse of a bump on the head!

 

 

    Post-run grins of satisfaction.





About my health blog

What can you expect from my health blog?

The word 'health' can cover a multitude of topics and ideas and 'being healthy' will be expressed and understood by each of us in different ways.  When writing posts for my health blog, I intend to keep things fairly broad, recognising that health isn't simply about our physical body but it's about how we think and feel too.  As a Health Management Coach (www.michaelahyde.com) I work with individuals who want to feel good and boost energy and seek to do so through changes to their diet and day-to-day activity levels.  Teaching good nutrition is empowering for my clients, however, the long-term success of their changes will frequently be dependant on what is going on in their mind.  Learning to think differently about food and activity and identifying triggers is a crucial part of behaviour change which really isn't as simple as deciding to eat less cake and eat more greens!

 

 

As you read my health posts, I will of course cover eating and activity because they form a central part of my understanding of a healthy lifestyle but I will also look at other areas and I welcome your comments and suggestions of things you would like to know more about or see in my blog.  My mantra for my coaching is 'FEEL GOOD/ EAT WELL/ LIVE LIFE' and I believe that a healthy life is one that is balanced; enjoys, but is not ruled by food; has an active lifestyle (which needn't be lots of vigorous exercise); and a happy and fulfilled life - made more possible by the physical, mental and spiritual health choices we make.  I'm excited by the possibility within us to change and to take our lives in a different direction as a consequence and I hope my blog inspires you to become healthier - whatever that might mean to you.  Please do share my posts as often as possible and enable your friends and family to engage with my blog too. 

 

 

Thank you

Michaela

Enjoy a little sunshine toast in your life!