MARATHON MAN
Or, if reading this section makes you feel bloated, why not head outside for a jog?
There are two ways to catch the fever with running and both of them involve getting outdoors. You either need to participate in an event or join a running group; either way, that means stepping off the treadmill and running somewhere you’re not surrounded by walls. At first, this transition can be frightful. It isn’t easy parading around in tight, funny clothes. But once that universe opens, it can turn a monotonous exercise into an experience that transforms lives.
“Running outdoors in the fresh air across scenery that actually changes is entertaining and engaging; it does wonders for the body and mind,” says Jamie Pitblado, chairman of the organizing committee for this month’s Vancouver Sun Run (April 15, see listings details on this page), one of the largest, most popular runs in the world. “No one should feel embarrassed for wanting to look after themselves and there’s nothing more empowering than getting off your couch, turning off the television, participating and taking that first step outside.”
Events like the Sun Run provide excellent motivation for running without a ceiling, and then there’s the running clubs. From the YMCA to the Running Room, lots of gyms and even shoe stores hold training clinics, and there’s also tons of different groups nationwide. Lynn Bourque, 48, works at the Ritz-carlton in Toronto and is a member of the Longboat Roadrunners, a 32-year-old running club that’s growing. They currently have 170 members; 45 people joined last year.
“I started running to lose weight, and when I took my first run, it was for seven minutes around my block,” says Bourque, who has since gone on to run nine marathons and now organizes a popular fall run on the Toronto Islands. “I never did anything physical and never thought I’d become a runner, but being with a group provides motivation and you forge these incredible bonds. On Sunday morning, I can drag myself out in the rain and go running because I know that I’ll have a good time.”
The hardest step for a lot of runners is the first one, and that’s why Calgary-based psychologist Dr. Kyla Yaskowich recommends self-talk affirmation messages. According to the National Centre for Health Statistics, 24.1% of the Canadian adult population is obese. To these millions of people, Yaskowich says to focus not on the fears around what you’re attempting, but the long-term positive health goals.
“Shift attention away from what concerns you and focus on the wellness you’ll receive,” says Yaskowich, a long-time runner, who steals an acronym from corporate culture in recommending SMART goals — something specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable and able to be completed in a specific length of time. “People often set their goals too high and then feel defeated, but SMART goals are absolutely achievable — the idea is to overcome the hurdle of getting started, and then establish a new routine.”
Across the country, the weather’s slowly shifting and soon spring fever will strike like a siren call. Biologically, it just feels good to be outside. This means it’s an opportune time to lace up your sneakers and leave the treadmill behind.
“Running outside’s a different experience and by getting out your front door, you feel energized,” says Pitblado, who expects another 50,000 people to participate in his Vancouver Sun Run. “By getting outside, you become part of this whole new community and it’s not a bad thing to be a part of — remember, the only bottom line is improving your health.”