As I closed the back door behind me and headed to my rental car the cold rain jolted me awake. I was just happy with myself for waking up this early. It was 5AM and it was not just cold and rainy, but it was dark on this December morning. Just seven hours previously I was eating, drinking, and dancing at a wedding. Now I was shedding the suit and tie for my foul weather running gear. I plugged in the address in my GPS and hoped that it would lead me to a trail race. It was dark and I was in the state of South Carolina and had no idea where I was going. I was just obediently following the directions of Google maps. When I got to a long dirt road with a line of cars parked on the side of the road, I knew that I had arrived at the right location.
Some people may question my sanity for squeezing in an early
morning trail race immediately following a festive wedding while traveling.
Okay maybe a lot of people. Even my wife, when looking at the weather reports
was questioning my sanity. I would be running in the dark with cold rain
pelting me. Yet when I arrived at the race registration after walking down the
dark road I was elated with my decision. My only regret was that I could only
do a 10K. Some of these runners had been running through the night and would be
completing 50 miles. I was just there for the last four laps. A lightweight boxer
surrounded by heavyweight boxers.
The race was called the Longest Night Run sponsored by the
Upstate Race Series in South Caroline. This was a backyard elimination race in
which the runners started every twenty-five minutes and run a mile and a half.
So, you had plenty of time to complete the loop. Very few people would be
eliminated. I was there early so that I could see the runners who had been
running all night come in a bit wearily but determined to finish. I was a bit
envious of their adventure.
Yes, it was cold in the low forties with a steady rain and
the enthusiastic man at the registration desk stated the course was slick and
muddy. It was dark and even with my headlamp you could easily slip and fall. Yet
despite those challenges I was completely ready because I had already overcome
the hardest obstacle to the race. That was getting up out of a warm comfortable
bed to go out into the cold rain.
Living in North Jersey I am used to running in all different
types of weather from rain, sleet, and snow. From single digit temperatures to
ninety degrees. While they all bring a different set of challenges, I find that
they all can be overcome. While they may all have a different set of challenges,
they all have the same first obstacle. That is deciding to overcome the
challenges ahead of you. It is not always easy. Despite going out in all types
of weather I do hesitate on some days. Pacing the house waiting for some
miraculous break in the weather to make my run easier. There are always reasons
not to do your run in bad weather. The mind always makes the obstacles seem
more ominous than they really are.
The mind is a powerful tool in overcoming obstacles. A
positive mindset is key. As I was waiting for our race to start, I was talking
to another runner named Steve. He said “Once you start running than the rain
doesn’t seem so bad.” He was right. It is also great to have others around
you who are positive about taking on a challenge.
Yet it is the mind that sometimes either creates the obstacle or makes it seem more ominous than it really is. Like in overcoming obstacles the people around you can also help strengthen those obstacles even unknowingly. In my case a few people questioned if I was really going to do this race so early and in such bad weather. I could understand their apprehension. Getting up early in bad weather seems crazy while you are ordering another drink at the open bar. While I confidently said yes, the repeated inquiries did weaken my confidence. It is amazing how much negative energy can affect you.
However, when I arrived at the race my mindset changed
completely. Let the fun begin! As the man working at the registration table joyously
stated. “It is cold, rainy, muddy and dark. You are going to have a great
time out there!” He was right. I was also surrounded by people who were
relishing the challenge. It is maybe more amazing how positive energy can lift
you up.
Once I started running I felt great. I started tentatively
because I was unsure of where I was running on the trail in the dark and pretty
much followed other runners. I was towards the front of the pack. At a major
bend I could see a parade of headlamps behind me and it was so inspiring. To
see about two hundred people running in the dark in bad weather. They were all
seemingly happy like me to be in this miserable weather. In our everyday
society we would have an umbrella or at least rain gear and walk with our heads
down trying to survive the miserable weather. Most people’s mood would also
match the weather.
When children are very young, say around the age of three,
they stomp in puddles and enjoy the wet weather. Often to their mother’s
chagrin. Basically, we trail runners have never matured and learned our
mother’s lessons. We are still those three-year-olds stomping in the puddles.
When I was running my second loop, I remember how happy I
was. I felt so alive! Ironically the thing that made me feel so alive was the
miserable weather. No way I could feel this “Alive” on a treadmill!
The only thing that dampened my spirits was that I was only
doing a 10K. Maybe next year I can come back and do fifty miles, I thought.
When I got back to the house we were renting, only my wife
was up. The rest were just beginning to stir. She asked me how my race was? I
said that it was great. A little muddy but it was a great group. My enthusiasm
was obvious. I think that she is getting used to this sixty-four-year-old man coming
back from a race like a little boy. She said with a little sarcasm “Had fun
spending time with your peeps!”
“Yes, Yes! I did.” I replied. More people should try
and enjoy miserable weather and spending time with adult puddle splashers I
thought.
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