Surviving storms of sloth, snow, and sand

In an effort to burn off some sloth yesterday, I went for a run in the snow. It was glorious. You might think me crazy, to love running in the snow, but it has its perks.

1) Chances are you’ll have the crunchy snow-covered sidewalk/road to yourself (well, except for the gazelle, who I did pass yesterday).

2) YOU DON’T SWEAT.

3) Believe it or not, once you get going, you warm up (but not enough to sweat) and don’t notice the cold.

4) Snow is frozen water, so if you’re far from home, you just need to stick your tongue out for hydration (I recommend finding a busy street and trying this, just for kicks).

5) YOU DON’T SWEAT.

But, today’s post isn’t about running in the cold. It’s about running on the beach! While I was chugging away catching snowflakes on my tongue like a child, I was reminded of a time when I ran through a(n admittedly mild, but nevertheless unpleasant) sandstorm a few summers ago.

I’m one of those annoying people who bring their running shoes with them when they go on holiday. And, for the record, I love to run on the beach. But, as those of you blessed to live lakeside or seaside are well aware, the weather at the shore can be dramatically different from the weather inland.

One sunny, calm summer morning, I laced up the shoes and headed out for a long jog while the cottage was sleeping. As I approached the beach, I could feel the wind picking up, but I didn’t really think anything of it. By the time I hit sand, well, let’s talk about what it’s like to run in a sandstorm, shall we?

1) Sand stings, burns, and aches when it blows in your face.

2) Aspirating sand stings, burns and aches in your windpipe.

3) Sand embeds itself everywhere – hair, ears, eyes, between your fingers, in your shoes, EVERYWHERE.

4) Sand does not taste good, and does nothing to hydrate you.

5) If you’ve worked up a sweat prior to running head-first into a sandstorm, you’ll come out of it looking like a great ape.

So, yesterday, as I was running through the snow, my mind drifted back to that hot summer morning when I ate a pound of sand and exfoliated my whole person. I don’t know why I didn’t listen to the weather report before I went out. I don’t know why I, after feeling the breeze become a whip, didn’t turn around and head back to the cottage. And I really don’t know why I continued to run, despite the thwacking I took from Mother Nature.

The thing is, despite the wind and the pain, that sandstorm was beautiful in its own way. As I slogged along the lonely beach, it was like the wind was putting on a show just for me. It was so mesmerizing, I forgot how challenging it was to run through it.

Sun, rain, sleet, sand, or snow, I’ve run through them all. But snow is my favorite. So, after the holiday sloth wears off, don’t be afraid to bundle up and head outside for a jog. Breathe deep and relish the cool air. And be sure to enjoy a sand-free hot toddy by the fire when you’re done.

 

PS – Apologies that today’s post does not contain stick-people illustrations. I’ve spent the week binge-watching White Collar on Netflix and have left my PC lonely and untouched. Even stick people need a break. 😉

 

 

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