Raining on my parade

It's drizzling out. It's the damp kind of weather that seeps into your bones and envelops you in a cocoon of wet, cold air. No matter how many layers you wear the moisture curls through them right down to your skin, so the best bet is to camp out inside with a mug of cocoa and a good book. But there's that pesky little nudge from the inside to get out and run. I woke up this morning and felt like rolling over and closing my eyes again. When I realized I didn't have to get up and run immediately before going to nannying (my spring break job), I was absolutely elated. And with all this relief came a new pang of exhaustion, so I gave in and closed my eyes for another hour. Big mistake, because while I was sleeping the clouds rolled in. A cold drizzle is even more detrimental to my motivation than being tired. I can shake off sleep pretty quickly but I really hate to be cold. And that's exactly what I was in for this morning. I had planned to run with a teammate today; we had a long run scheduled and we love to use our runs to talk and catch up. However, when I lifted my shades to get a temperature gauge I was dismayed to see the skies and wet cement. In my years of running I've learned that this weather translates into wet and cold runs... I wasn't looking forward to it. We drove down to the chain of lakes and got out to run. The wind and water poked at us as we set off and i braced myself for a thoroughly unenjoyable run. As we got in our groove, though, the weather started to slip my mind, my arms relaxed, and I felt my grimace morph into a smile. We chatted about our breaks, school, our families, clothes. I forgot I was outside and running until we rounded the final corner into a wall of wind. Honestly, at that point I just wanted to throw the towel in and retreat into my bed. What would it hurt to stop and walk or even hitchhike back to the car? My thighs were numb and I forgot the bit of enjoyment I'd experienced. But with a teammate running beside me I couldn't very well cop out, so I gritted my teeth and keep moving. When we finally got to the car I piled in, grateful for the refuge from the wind. Looking back on it, though, it really wasn't that bad. And extra ten minutes of minor discomfort in exchange for the satisfaction of finishing a run. Had I not had company I may have settled with an unfinished run. It showed me how much a running buddy can keep me motivated. Though most days I run because I want to, there are the occasional runs that are strictly completed out of necessity. Obedience, raw and unattractive, is necessary in order to truly stick to a training plan. Sometimes you have to do things that you don't want to, so you quit complaining and just do it. Loving the sport is part of it, and a big part, but to complete your training you must learn to give your best on every day, not just the good ones. This is the true meaning of dedication. Too often we forget it, and I'm glad that today I was reminded.