Summer Roads, Winter Trails!

It has just become clear that through multiplied thousands of miles I have covered; through the roads and trails of southeastern North Carolina; that a pattern has developed!  The summers have turned out for the open road and for miles of farm country and open air, while the winters have lent themselves to the trails and secluded woods.  Today I have better understood the real cause to this trend.

Let’s begin with summer roads.  Usually when I have been running consistently, the adaptations to the heat index and humidity of the south makes the challenge of the open road in summer surprisingly pleasurable.  The heat of the open road becomes a huge sense of accomplishment where many fear to travel.  Having said this, the open roads of North Carolina are beautiful, yes… yet they are often the only place most bearable with respects to BUGS!!!  Yes, insects that bite and pester are resident here!   Heading up the list are deerflies, horseflies (elephant flies!), mosquitoes and 10,000’s of nats… they mostly keep themselves to the shelter of the woods and trails. 

The summer roads are also free from North Carolina’s plethora of skin tearing briers, poison ivy, poison oak and tics!  MMmmm… the distance runner’s obstacles!  Instinctively, I have therefore gravitated to the open roads regardless of the extreme heat and use the opportunity for conditioning and change.  Besides, through the summer feet killing roots, rocks and holes become hidden in overgrowth!  Who is willing to purposely risk injury??  It’s the open road for me! 

With regards to the winter trails?  I have figured that no matter what, in the winter it is going to be fairly cold. (Side note: Having grown up in Up-State New York, I know this statement of “cold” is relative!!)  Annually I accept the cold and do not restrict or draw back from time on my feet covering miles.  However, all the obstacles of the trail, which I mentioned, change so much here in this region without the hazard of any significant snow, ice or wintery mix!  AAhhh… North Carolina!  The open road through this time can actually be far more hazardous.  Have you ever wondered how people in NC drive in winter weather?  THEY DON”T DO IT WELL!  So!  Through the fall and winter everything opens up in the woods and trails… by-ways and paths actually become open and clear for detailed travel on-foot!  So, I do slow my pace for the different kind of dance associated with trail running and woods, yet ‘not-with-standing, go out to meet it’!!

These are my two seasons of running which I have known, yet only today have become clearer!  Run strong, run true! 

We LOVE Repitition!

Especially runners, yet every human loves repeating things!   When you stop to think about it, all sorts of things and with all sorts of reasons and all sorts of emotion!  Wow!  Really, we are a species which are devoted to repetition and to motion!  After the daily tasks and the basic repeating items of utilitarian nature; such as drinking, eating, hygiene, domestics and work; we indeed repeat ourselves and if we are creative we have found ways of living and repeating which remain vibrant and exciting!  Here is where the distance runner steps in with their efforts and expressions!

Part of the holistic reason for our distance running is our instinct and yearning for repetition… we thrill to it and we do love it. {And I need not mention human sexuality yet!}  It seems to me that we who are creatures of repetition, with respects to distance running, have chosen to amplify our outward display of passion and affection for repetition.  Although repetition surrounds and represents the life of every human, we who cover mile and run distances have chosen to lay ourselves time and again on the crucible of repetition.  The very expression of distance running fuels our inspiration for good cause. 

We have indeed been designed for motion… specifically speaking motion which is a collection of repetition!  It is really wonderful when you think about it more closely.  We begin in the sweetest softest motion within the womb of our mothers… experiencing the smooth swaying of motion which sets our instinct to try to retrieve throughout our lives! {Of course we were even brought about by such ridiculously wonderful motion and repetition too!}   

So!  Forward we have ventured into a life totally surrounded by marvelous repetition!  We play we work we dance we sing… we live and we love to the balance of good repetitions.  We take for granted the reality that we are specifically creature of motion and rightfully seek motion and repetition to calm our spirits and inspire our minds.  Here is another great holistic aspect of distance running!! 

We runners hold to soft ritual and great care.  Just look at the repeating cycles of our own distance running… of our desire and affection for it… of the repeating cycles of love and sometimes even dread.  The facets are there and the facets are all inevitably repeating.  And clearly, how we love repetition!

Melting Into Ice!

After stringing together days of 14M, 16.5M, 6.7M and 7.3M, I have found a good indicator of caution and fair warning to what a distance runner can take.  I call it “Melting Into Ice”.  The phenomena is expected, yet it is also a warning.  It is that period in the heat and through the humidity where your system begins to melt into an “icy” condition and where for no natural external reason, everything seems cold.  

The paradox here that exists in the life of a holistic distance runner (HDR) is that this place where in sheer sweat and heat you begin to melt into ice is not of bravado or show.  It is a reality and can be used as a fair warning and directive to shelter or the end of a running effort.  Our conditioning in distance running and heat exposure can either shorten or prolong our ability to endure and perform in extreme environments.  

Commonly the HDR thrives on the challenges of extremes, and for the birth of our spiritual nourishment, we often go out to face our challenge.  It does not matter if it is heat or cold... or wet or dry, we go out to meet it.  However, since it is current to many of us during these months, "melting into ice" has been worth a mention to keep us all safe.

Sure, when developing the ability to perform in the heat and humidity... when working to endure heat index... it will be common to melt into ice, yet WITH GREAT CAUTIONARY MEASURE!  That is I would NOT advocate this practice for anyone... that is to confront that time where your system reaches the edge out in the middle of know-where.  Where little decisions of pace and hydration make a world of difference on the quality of your life from that point forward.   

BUT!!  "MY" caution point is when I begin to melt into ice... then I adjust and turn for home!!