Gut Check Tine

Snowfall. For the kids, it means sledding, possible school cancellations, and snowball fights. For me, winter’s offering usually invokes a primal urge that takes every ounce of motivation to overcome. What is this primal urge I mention? C’mon dummies, everyone knows that we are mammals and one of our main goals is to stay warm and cozy. Come on, admit it, what is the first thing most of us want to do when the alarm clocks starts screaming and we know that there is fresh snow on the ground? You know, the kind of snow that needs to be shoveled or snowblowed. The kind of snow that if left alone, will form into a glacier and be there until mid June. If you are anything like me, you don’t want to disturb your nice cozy cocoon of warmth. Most of us want to stay in bed. I’m with ya brothers and sisters. For nine months out of the year, I’m usually out of bed and headed to the gym at the crack of 5:00am. I rarely miss a day. I live in Northeast, and the long spring and summer days make it hard not to attack the days ‘early and often’. By the way, the saying ‘early and often’ is local folklore and relates to a well known Boston politician who was encouraging his constituents to vote ‘early and often’. Ah, Boston politics, not quite Chicago politics, but close.

I just can’t wrap my head around it, why do I lose motivation to get out of bed once it snows? Tough Question. It isn’t the cold, I love the cold, I would rather run when it’s cold outside. Cold air can just aggravate you, heat and humidity can kill you. Cold crisp mornings and the vibrant autumn colors always seem to recharge my batteries. Virtually all of my memorable rides and runs have taken place in October and November. Although I start to scale back the intensity of my workouts once the race season is winding down in September, I usually cruise into October and November in peak shape. I look forward to and enjoy the ‘fun’ rides and runs with friends. And then BAM, the snow hits and I turn into a whiney little newbie afraid to get my feet wet. Have you seen the video of our Hash Run? I’m not afraid to get my feet wet, or have decaying leaves stuffed down my back, or drink whiskey, or wear a dress in public. But that is another story more appropriate for the leggy Dr. Melfey’s couch.

I can think of no better way to spend a nice Fall morning than heading out at first light for a run. The crisp air lets me know in a hurry that summer is over and I’m going to earn my workout that day, there are no freebies in the Fall. If I’m running in the right direction, the rising sun can provide enough facial warmth to make me wonder if I’m overdressed, but as soon as I turn to the north, I soon realize I could have used another layer. With each breath, my legs feel stronger, and soon there are drops of sweat flying off my body. The changing colors of the maple and oak leaves provide a perfect backdrop as the warm sun makes the roofs of the houses steam as if they were afire. “Enjoy the day” I repeat to myself over and over as I know the cold and snow will soon take over. The winter days eventually get so cold that I will actually drive my ‘coffin’ to run errands around town instead of riding my bike. A cyclist’s four wheeled vehicle that sits in the driveway is commonly referred to as a ‘coffin’.

I wonder what would happen if once winter arrives, I just gave up. It wouldn’t take much for me to become a sloth glued to the television. I have nice comfortable couches and a nice TV. I wonder if I took the winter off, no running, swimming, lifting, or cycling, how long it would take to permanently impart my ‘butt print’ on a couch? Don’t laugh; I have this conversation with myself every year.

Does anyone remember that scene from Animal House, when Clorette has passed out, and Larry’s evil conscience and good conscious have quite the discussion? Yes, good, that is the kind of conversation I have with myself every year. So far, good conscious has won the arm wrestling match.

Here is a sample of a typical internal conversation that takes place each December:

Good Conscious- Remember Spring comes early, you can’t miss any workouts.
Evil Conscious- Screw it, what will happen if you skip a few workouts
Good Conscious- That is how it starts, you miss one, then a few more, and so on and so on…….and eventually you’ll feel like crap.
Evil Conscious- You need a break, you work hard year round, take some time to yourself and relax
Good Conscious- Relax, that is what you do after a workout, there is plenty of time in the day to do both.
Evil Conscious- Why ruin a nice pizza, a few beers, and a plate of buffalo wings by getting up early and working out the next morning.
Good Conscious- You need to workout so all the chicks will think you are hot. (I know, do I have to say it?)
Evil Conscious- I can’t argue with that. Get going you slug.

So there you have it. Winter is in full swing. There is at least 2 feet of snow on the ground. Although I’m still not able to run, I have been banging out the miles on my mountain bike and in the pool. When the snow if right, I hit the trails for a 10 mile loop. My ten mile loop takes double to triple the energy and effort to complete when there is snow on the ground. Think riding your bike in beach sand. Ugh, Ugh, Ugh, then throw in some hills. Get it? Good. I am still hitting the gym nearly everyday, Am I in peak shape? Nah, far from it. Am I buff? Nah, far from it. Did I ‘give in’ to my Evil Conscious? Nah, no way. Does my couch have a permanent butt print dent? No way. Am I going to be ready for race season? You bet your a$$ I will.