There’s no better running gear than a long sleeve Cool-Max shirt and running shorts. And at 6:15 this morning the 45 degree weather was perfect for it. This time of year, 45 degrees feels warm but having the long sleeves was just right.
Simple pleasures. Enjoy them whenever you can.
As an “experienced” runner (over age 50) I know it’s important to stay flexible. Stretching before and after runs and even on rest days in critical to staying healthy. But sometimes I forget to be flexible with my schedule. I have a plan I follow to prepare for certain races and I’m pretty good about sticking to the plan. If some major scheduling conflict comes up it really bothers me to miss a workout. This week I planned to do a 6 mile tempo run on Wednesday morning. But Wednesday was my son Sam’s 16thbirthday so I wanted to have breakfast withhim before school. So instead of feeling bad for missing time with him or for missing my run, I made Wednesday my short two mile base run then had breakfast with Sam. On Thursday morning I did my 6 mile tempo run. This shifting of days may not sound like a big deal to non-runners but it is to most runners. Fortunately Thursday morning was much nicer (and drier) than Wednesday so that was a bonus. So, stay flexible – in more ways than one.
If you usually run wearing headphones and listening to your favorite running tunes, do yourself a favor, leave them at home next time. Now that the roads are clear and I’m running outside again, I have been using headphones and the ipod. But the other day I decided to leave them home on my six mile run. It was really enjoyable to hear the sounds of the city. Cars and construction machinery as I ran up Woodward, people talking as I ran through downtown Royal Oak and kids yelling as I ran through neighborhoods. I felt like I was part of the action not just passing through it. Try it, you might like it.
What is one of the best things about running outside? Spitting. That’s right, spitting. With the ice and snow covered roads of winter most of my miles have been logged on the treadmill the last few months. Now that I’ve been able to get outside these last weeks I was reminded how great it is to spit. (Just keep wind direction in mind.)
