I think every runner has that run that makes them feel like everything is right in the world. That makes them want to keep running forever. Mine was yesterday.
I didn’t have school because it was one of the coldest days of the year. We’ve been in a deep freeze for what feels like forever, and I only get to run once or twice a week. In fact, last Saturday was my first treadmill run of the year – it was just too cold.
I get really stir-crazy during the winter. I’m used to riding my bike everywhere, taking walks, and just sitting outside everyday. When this cold weather comes, I don’t know what to do.
I definitely have my struggles with Seasonal Affective Disorder and I know when it’s coming on because everything feels off. I don’t feel hungry, I feel really tired, I don’t want to do anything. I’m usually pretty good at stopping the bad feelings, but I felt especially off yesterday. I knew a run would make me feel better, but it’s just so cold outside. I don’t mind the cold when I run as much as I mind the wind, and there didn’t seem to be a strong one, so I forced myself to layer up and head outside, even if it was only for a few miles.
I was wrong about the wind. There was a direct north wind coming straight into my face. I pulled up my face mask and told myself to just make it through the mile, then I could turn around and head for home.
Once I got to the main road, I did the typical runner trick – turned the complete opposite way from home. I told myself to run fast and try to warm up.
As usual, after two miles (which I might add were 8:04 and 8:07. I haven’t run that fast in a long time!) I started to feel okay in the cold. I was actually enjoying that I could run fast without overheating. So I kept going.
I said that I could turn around after three miles and take the short way home to get me to about five miles. When I hit three, I couldn’t find a reason to head for home, so I kept going. “Just run a fast mile, then you can take the rest of the way home easy” was what I was thinking.
I hit four miles and knew that it was a good 3.5 miles to get home. I ran what I estimated was another .25 then turned around. By this time in my run I wasn’t cold at all and still feeling like I could go fast. This is what I think of as the Runner’s High. I could practically feel the happy endorphins emanating from me. While I thought about how small I am compared to everything else in the universe, I still felt like I was the most lucky, blessed, and happy person in the world. It was complete and utter bliss.
I hit mile five and knew I was just about three miles from home. I thought that I’d do one more quick mile then take the last two as a cool down. You could say I was in the zone for that mile. Suddenly my watch beeped and read 7:24. It’s not my fastest mile ever, but to run that, in the cold, after already running five miles made me feel invincible. At that moment I decided I wanted to sign up for a marathon. Running makes our thoughts a little crazy π
Mile seven was relaxing. Throughout it there were some words going through my mind, a few of which being grateful, happiness, and fulfilled. I remember I got beeped at by a truck and they were waving, but I don’t know who you were so please tell me, haha!
Before I knew it I had ran up the last hill and was on my last mile. While I knew it wasn’t going to be lightning speed, I also knew that I wasn’t going to take it easy as planned.
I ran through the street I’ve run so many times. Somehow it just felt different yesterday. I had a new appreciation for its sidewalks and curbs and little potholes. In a few minutes I was turning onto my street. I started speeding up and kept up a strong pace until my watch beeped eight miles, a half a block past my house. I stopped it and started walking down the street, not wanting my euphoria to end.
A few blocks later I came upon a patch of sunlight and stopped. I just stood there for a few minutes, closed my eyes, and let the Vitamin D seep into my skin. It was 3F out, but I pretended I was laying outside in the summer sun.
After a couple minutes I started heading for home. I thought about how much my day had changed in that short hour. I thought about why I run.
I run because of how it makes me feel. I run because I love to take care of my body. I run because I love to eat. I run because it’s who I am and I can’t imagine anything else.
this is a beautiful, thought-out post. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you, Teresa! I’m glad you like it!
I share your same feelings for running. The fresh air and pushing and moving my body is the best feeling and what I have to remind myself some days when it’s hard to get going.
They always say the hardest step is the first one out the door… so true!
π This post made me happy!
Thanks Faith π it made me happy to write it!
Yes! I love just getting out there and challenging myself. It’s weird how the cold isn’t so cold when you run….right now it is and I couldn’t be outside last week, but It is invigorating!
Exactly – the cold is SO not cold when you’re running!
Awesome job getting out there in the cold! I definitely know how you feel when you said that sometimes you just have one of those runs where you just don’t want to stop and could keep on going. Those are the runs where I appreciate my love for running and going out there and getting it done in any weather conditions!
Yes yes yes! I will admit though, after a little while being done with the run the soreness starts to kick in and you can’t imagine running any more, lol π
Leigha–I have “Mom Crush” on you! Not only are you awesome to run, but you are awesome to write! I hope to see you climbing again next year at the Michigan Ice Fest and I will enjoy watching the heights you climb throughout your life!
Thank you, Melissa!! I hope I can see you before next year – I want to come visit you! For real!
Love this Leigha! XOXO
Thanks Sunnie π <3
I am so impressed that you went running out in the cold! Love that you were able to keep pushing. I’ve been in a bit of an exercise slump and I really need to get my body moving again. Have a great weekend and happy running!
Thanks girl! I hope you can get out of your slump soon. Those are the worst!
I love this! I am about to go try for 5 miles as the temp has apparently shot up to a balmy 7 degrees F and I am losing my mind… I too am caught in the cycle of “it’s too cold to be outside but I feel worse if I don’t run but I will feel worse if I actually freeze to death and also break my legs by slipping through the slush…” So thanks for the inspiration!
I totally understand those thoughts π It was 16 degrees out today and it felt SO warm out! I hope your run went fantastic!!
Thanks! It was the best run I’ve had in a month easily; it ended up turning into a 10k!
Woohoo! SO happy to hear that!!
Love this! These are the best kind of runs. π
For sure! π
So much respect to you for running in the cold like that! Those runs where you feel invincible are the best, sounds like you needed it at that point so I’m glad it was such a run for you π
It was exactly what I needed.. it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time!
This post was great- I hadn’t run all week due to the cold, but I read this post and decided to suck it up, and I went on a great run. Also, I loved the last paragraph because it’s nice to see that someone else shares my feelings on running π
Ahhh yay!! I’m glad your run was great! I love your blog, Audrey!
Love this post! It is so true that there is nothing better than those days were running just feels ‘right’. Kudos for you for getting out there in the cold!
Those days really are the best! Thanks Andrea π
This is an awesome post, Leigha. π It’s awesome that you were able to get out there and run in the cold; my mom actually won’t let me outside when it’s below 20!
Also, all the reasons why you run are the reasons why I run π
Thanks Liz! As long as there is no windchill, below 20 really isn’t too bad!
A wonderful post! Its so true…running is cheaper than therapy as they say π so glad to be a runner π xxx
Haha, so true! π
What a great post! I feel you on the cold temps…I’ve been running on the indoor track at the gym and using the treadmill. I’ve only been sucking it up and running outside like once a week!
I’ve only ran on the treadmill once and around the track once, and I plan to keep those numbers low.. I can’t stand being inside! Thanks Kylie π
I feel like I haven’t read your blog in ages! (school and work always get in the way don’t they π ) but I LOVED this post. I haven’t ran outside in almost 2 months. I’ve been doing just quick runs on the treadmill and this made me realize how much I miss a good long run outside.
Ahh you’ve got to get out! I promise, your mood will instantly be lifted! π
What a good post! Thank you for the reminder of why I run. Though it’s not NEARLY as cold as it is where you are, I have been feeling down and not wanting to do anything outside.
Thanks, Tedi! My advice: just force yourself to get out, even if it’s only for a few minutes. The fresh air feels SO good!
Go girl! I absolutely love that runner’s high feeling. It’s one of the best feelings for sure. Also, you are amazing for running in that cold AND your eyes are gorgeous!
Aww thanks Allie! Your comments are always so sweet!