The Rain Rain Rain Came Down Down Down in Rushing Rising Rivlets
Extreme weather - there's nothing like it for bringing the show offs out of the woodwork. If you're part of an online running community, your newsfeed will feature some smug posts from people informing you how they smashed their morning run in torrential rain or an Arctic blizzard and how totally amazing it was. Before you know it, everybody else seems to be doing it, just to prove that they are 'real' runners, not the sort who worry about wet feet or wimp out on the treadmill.
There are many things about the running community that I truly love. On the whole, it's a nice, supportive community to be part of. One of the things I don't like though is there's a fair bit of keeping up with the Joneses. As much as we all tell each other that we're on our own journey, only competing against ourselves, that it's about finishing lines, not finishing times etc, etc,, we just can't help comparing ourselves to others. We also like to feel like one of the gang. So, if people are out there running in epic weather, declaring that it's the best thing ever for the soul, we kind of want to be a part of that too.
Never one to run with the herd (literally) I made my mind up pretty quickly when I looked out of the window this morning. This was no ordinary rain. It was biblical; it was crazy. My morning run would be done on the treadmill. According to Facebook though, the question, 'to run or not to run' was causing quite a bit of angst for others. "Should I go out and run today?" people were asking. Advice was clearly needed. "Get outside! You'll love it" was a typical response. As usual some expressed the view that opting for the treadmill would lead to huge feelings of regret, the implication being that treadmill isn't real running, so should be avoided at all costs.
I have noticed how many people are quite apologetic about using a treadmill, as if they have to justify it, for some reason. I don't really get where all this treadmill hate comes from. Sure, I much prefer an outdoor run if at all possible, but the very reason I bought the thing was so I could run when the weather was atrocious/unsafe. I'm happy to get my money's worth. I don't understand why people struggle so much. I know it's a bit monotonous, but with some music to listen to, it really isn't too bad. I certainly don't spend my treadmill runs feeling like I'm undergoing torture, like some seem to do. I suppose when you have had to sit transcribing hours and hours of dreary legal arguments in the Chancery Division of the High Court, your definition of mind numbing boredom is going to be a bit different to most people's. I actually wonder if it's just considered cool to hate treadmills.
Now, I must stress I'm not someone who regularly avoids rain. I've run in the rain loads of times and I do, to an extent, understand the enjoyment thing. On a boiling hot day in July, when the heavens open, it is indeed glorious to get drenched. It's not quite so welcome in November, in my opinion. Even on a cold day, however, I can cope with 'normal' rain. But today's rain is at a whole new level. Roads are closed all over the town because of flooding and it's causing a fair bit of chaos. I would rather not add to that chaos. As someone who is extremely good at falling over, even in dry conditions, I don't really want to take my chances on wet pavements strewn with soggy, slippery leaves. That would be just asking for trouble. And imagine if I did fall over! Would sympathy be forthcoming from any passerby who happened to come across me? I doubt it. They'd no doubt want to know what the heck I was doing and would conclude that I was a total nutter for even stepping outside my front door on a day like this. They would have a point.
Of course, if you genuinely do love running in incessant, torrential downpours, by all means go out and get on with it. But if you actually don't love running in the rain but kind of think you ought to, because that would make you a 'real runner', please don't feel pressured. Do your own thing. There's nothing wrong with a treadmill session. It's all exercise and calorie burning. It's also fine to just not run at all for a day or two. I think that when we start feeling guilty for missing a run, we need to have a quick word with ourselves. It's not a big deal. It's not a sign of failure. Getting obsessive about running is rarely helpful.
It's just the same when the first snow comes. There'll be selfies galore of people who have been out pounding the white pavements and trails. Yes, I'm sure some do feel amazing when they come back home to some well-earned hot chocolate, but for every person who has just had the most awesome run ever, there is another person who fell on their arse or twisted an ankle. I can kind of guess which one I would most likely be. Like so many things in life, you just have to go with your instincts. My instincts these days tell me to play it safe.
I hope it eases off by tomorrow. I really would like to go outside.
There are many things about the running community that I truly love. On the whole, it's a nice, supportive community to be part of. One of the things I don't like though is there's a fair bit of keeping up with the Joneses. As much as we all tell each other that we're on our own journey, only competing against ourselves, that it's about finishing lines, not finishing times etc, etc,, we just can't help comparing ourselves to others. We also like to feel like one of the gang. So, if people are out there running in epic weather, declaring that it's the best thing ever for the soul, we kind of want to be a part of that too.
Never one to run with the herd (literally) I made my mind up pretty quickly when I looked out of the window this morning. This was no ordinary rain. It was biblical; it was crazy. My morning run would be done on the treadmill. According to Facebook though, the question, 'to run or not to run' was causing quite a bit of angst for others. "Should I go out and run today?" people were asking. Advice was clearly needed. "Get outside! You'll love it" was a typical response. As usual some expressed the view that opting for the treadmill would lead to huge feelings of regret, the implication being that treadmill isn't real running, so should be avoided at all costs.
I have noticed how many people are quite apologetic about using a treadmill, as if they have to justify it, for some reason. I don't really get where all this treadmill hate comes from. Sure, I much prefer an outdoor run if at all possible, but the very reason I bought the thing was so I could run when the weather was atrocious/unsafe. I'm happy to get my money's worth. I don't understand why people struggle so much. I know it's a bit monotonous, but with some music to listen to, it really isn't too bad. I certainly don't spend my treadmill runs feeling like I'm undergoing torture, like some seem to do. I suppose when you have had to sit transcribing hours and hours of dreary legal arguments in the Chancery Division of the High Court, your definition of mind numbing boredom is going to be a bit different to most people's. I actually wonder if it's just considered cool to hate treadmills.
Now, I must stress I'm not someone who regularly avoids rain. I've run in the rain loads of times and I do, to an extent, understand the enjoyment thing. On a boiling hot day in July, when the heavens open, it is indeed glorious to get drenched. It's not quite so welcome in November, in my opinion. Even on a cold day, however, I can cope with 'normal' rain. But today's rain is at a whole new level. Roads are closed all over the town because of flooding and it's causing a fair bit of chaos. I would rather not add to that chaos. As someone who is extremely good at falling over, even in dry conditions, I don't really want to take my chances on wet pavements strewn with soggy, slippery leaves. That would be just asking for trouble. And imagine if I did fall over! Would sympathy be forthcoming from any passerby who happened to come across me? I doubt it. They'd no doubt want to know what the heck I was doing and would conclude that I was a total nutter for even stepping outside my front door on a day like this. They would have a point.
Of course, if you genuinely do love running in incessant, torrential downpours, by all means go out and get on with it. But if you actually don't love running in the rain but kind of think you ought to, because that would make you a 'real runner', please don't feel pressured. Do your own thing. There's nothing wrong with a treadmill session. It's all exercise and calorie burning. It's also fine to just not run at all for a day or two. I think that when we start feeling guilty for missing a run, we need to have a quick word with ourselves. It's not a big deal. It's not a sign of failure. Getting obsessive about running is rarely helpful.
It's just the same when the first snow comes. There'll be selfies galore of people who have been out pounding the white pavements and trails. Yes, I'm sure some do feel amazing when they come back home to some well-earned hot chocolate, but for every person who has just had the most awesome run ever, there is another person who fell on their arse or twisted an ankle. I can kind of guess which one I would most likely be. Like so many things in life, you just have to go with your instincts. My instincts these days tell me to play it safe.
I hope it eases off by tomorrow. I really would like to go outside.
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