RUNNING THROUGH THE WINTER – AND LOVING IT!

FAIR-WEATHER RUNNERS MIGHT need to re-evaluate their convictions this year with the ongoing restrictions and closures of gyms. Access to a treadmill can be a great alternative to running in poor weather, but now it might mean you’ll be missing out on all of the benefits of running through the winter. And all the fun.

We know that fresh air and sunshine are the best antidote to feeling cooped up, sluggish, down and frustrated. In winter, the benefits of getting outside, even on grey days, results in a better mood and a change of perspective, not to mention scenery, which is particularly important if you are craving some “me” time.

Let’s start with the notion that there is no such thing as bad weather – just bad wardrobe. Dressed appropriately, there is no reason why we can’t run through the winter, regardless of the weather or temperatures.

It goes without saying that safety is a primary consideration, and that’s where dressing properly is critical. There is no shortage of gear available to facilitate a run, regardless of conditions, but it does take some experience to nail the right level of layers when real weather comes in. If you aren’t sure, ask a runner what they are wearing under their tights – it might save a tough lesson in defrosting important bits. (As an inexperienced runner, my husband had to learn the value of forfeiting a glove when he misunderstood that the temperature-rated winter run tights weren’t sufficient without a wind brief underneath. A glove down the front preserved his priorities.)

For over 20 years, I have chosen to pass on a run purely due to foul weather maybe a dozen times. Some of those I could have toughed it out, and other times when I did go, perhaps I shouldn’t have. But the choice to run in rain, wind, snow and the dark has contributed to far more positive than negative experiences.

There is something about the ridiculousness of getting wet – then completely soaked with shoes that squoosh water back out with each step that brings out my inner child. I still recall with glee starting my longest training run before the Boston Marathon in a light rain, avoiding the puddles and feeling grateful for my water-resistant jacket, then finishing 35 km later after splashing through rivers that ran across the roads and realizing that my GPS watch was now counting backwards because of all the water forced inside it. One other runner was doing the same looped route in the opposite direction, and we laughed each time we passed, acknowledging how crazy this felt. After that, I knew that Boston could have thrown anything at me, and I would be mentally ready.

Another memorable run was on a record cold day in February when I could feel my nose hairs react to that first deep breath as little ice balls formed on my eyelashes. It was crystal clear and sunny, and the snow squeaked under each step. I had to wear a buff over my mouth and nose to warm the air I was breathing in, along with sunglasses for protection from the glare. Every so often, I had to remove the glasses and pull down the frozen buff from my face to allow the steam to escape and fog to clear from the lenses. The only other people outside were walking dogs that they had bundled and shod for protection from the cold – and we greeted each other with a laugh and acknowledgement of how great and zany it felt to be out there.

I get the same feeling of releasing my inner child when running in winds that buffet me with sheets of rain or snow showers – even hail. I find myself involuntarily laughing out loud, running through the puddles and playing with how much I can lean forward with the wind holding me up.

Watching a funnel cloud pass over with whipping winds and dark skies was an unbelievable experience that I don’t really want to repeat, but since it wasn’t intentional and nobody was hurt, it also counts as one of my most memorable runs in bad weather. And it turns out that hysterical laughter is a great way to dispel terror.

When won’t I run? After an ice storm, during a lightning storm, if there is a tornado warning or active freezing rain. There are limits to the fun, and I don’t bounce as well as my inner child thinks I can.

What are the benefits of those bad weather runs? Sharing an experience with a run buddy or group that becomes memorable, letting your inner child come out to play for a while, building resilience and a stronger sense of accomplishment, confidence that your run doesn’t have to be derailed by weather, and building mental strength that carries over into your races and your life well beyond the run.