Running for Fun

The title of this blog is running for fun for a good reason: If you don’t enjoy your running activities, you are not very likely to persevere with them. A few days ago, when the weather outside in Ottawa was looking reasonable, I ventured outside for a quick run. Even though the temperature was almost in double digits and therefore close to perfect for running and there was no snow on the roads or sidewalks, it turned out that the moment I left the beaten track, I was confronted with mud and slush and I quickly realised that my running activities were going to be largely confined to the treadmill until next spring arrives.

Fast forward for a week and I find myself in Stuart, Florida. Even though I have my trusty Garmin Forerunner 405 on hand, I discover, to my dismay that I have left the Garmin ANT USB dongle back in Ottawa. Therefore, I will have to add the statistics of my runs once I return. During my six day visit, I managed to get in 3 runs of 6, 8 and 9 K respectively. I must admit that my gps watch with its heart-rate monitor is another critical element of fun in my run and I would be lost without it.

The first thing that becomes readily apparent is that running in the full sun is a totally different scenario than what I had recently been experiencing in Ottawa. Since the temperatures were generally in the 25 -30 degree range, I restricted my activities to the early morning hours. I found that if I had not finished running by 9 AM at the latest, the combination of the sun’s heat and the humidity became intolerable. Remember, the whole object of the exercise is that the run should be fun.

Another aspect of running in Florida versus Ottawa, is having the right  running gear. It is important to have clothing that is light in weight as well as colour to better reflect the sun’s heat and also it should wick body moisture. Until recently, I was not aware just how much difference having the correct running gear could make. Be sure to check out our running store for a full selection of gear at great prices.

The major factor that transforms  jogging in Florida from punishment into a fun activity is the pool pictured at the top of this post. Immediately on returning from my run, I am able to jump into the cool (although inexplicably heated) water and do a leisurely cool-down. Once again, back in Ottawa, this is my normal routine during the months that do not have an ‘r’ in them. Here in Florida, on the other hand, it would be an absolute boon year-round.

Whenever I am here in Florida, I can’t help being fascinated by all the birds swooping and soaring over my head at all times. It occurs to me that one rarely sees an obscenely obese bird. Other than those force-fed by humans, most animals automatically maintain a healthy lifestyle. In my view, that is largely because they enjoy the physical activities that they indulge in. So, find a way to make your physical pursuits pleasurable and you will have a far better chance of achieving and maintaining your health goals.

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