It's definitely Winter in Iowa.
For the first time, in a long time, I had to mix up my weekly routine to accommodate (or avoid) the crazy "seasonal" weather conditions. Believe me, I'm no hero. It's something we all have to do on occasion, and not just in Iowa.
Besides, change is good. It's kind of fun to switch things around. No harm, no foul. And all that jazz.
Runfessions...oh yes, I have a few. And they're not all running related.
So, here we are. The first official 'fessional opportunity of 2021.
What say we get started. I'm game, are you? Yes, let's 'fess!
Oh, for the love of shoes.
Well, not just any shoes. We're talking running shoes here. I've worn many in the past (almost) 16 years of lacing up. Some have been good. Some have been duds. And some have been nothing short of total perfection.
I'm a proud sentimentalist, and I don't easily part with cherished pieces. That goes for greeting cards, thank you notes, past training logs and an occasional art piece from our (grown) kids' (childhood) art classes. And, my running shoes are no exception.
It was not like any other week.
The winter temps are still a reality, but they have been bearable. We've been blessed with a lot of sunshine, and the wind hasn't been too evil. As much as I look forward to the arrival of summer, though, I have actually been quite content with Winter (so far).
Trust me, stranger things have happened.
No question, I'm a summer runner gal.
But, thus far, there have been some good things happening. Maybe it's just that #GlassHalfFull thing I have going on, but I've actually been loving this winter running gig.
Even though it's only January, and there's plenty of cold weather still on the horizon, I'm choosing to celebrate the current situation. After all, I gotta take what I can get as I work my way back towards Summer.
Well, obviously, this pandemic belongs to ALL of us. I would argue, though, that each of us has experienced it differently. We've all had fears, anxieties, frustrations...and we all have brought our own life experiences to the table.
That said, my pandemic experience came with many lessons. Most weren't necessarily new "aha moments," or ground-breaking revelations...but all of them left me wiser, changed, and ever more grateful.
Choices aplenty...
Right? Most everything is a choice, at least regarding our behavior, our attitude, and our actions. This past week presented me with plenty of choices...weather (stay inside or opt outside?), workouts (cardio, strength, both?), and wellness (to snicker or smile?). The list could go on...
Bottom line, we have a lot more control than we sometimes realize. I'm quite grateful for that! This is my journey, after all, not anyone else's.
