I live in a beautiful part of the world that is sometimes not that beautiful. Actually, it can be very "shitty" at times.
I didn't feel it before, but now, I guess I feel it as I am getting older?
It gets shitty when it becomes dark, when days become short and when it gets cold. And all of this happens when winter arrives. There is very little sunlight, and sun is hovering so low on horizon, that you always think it will be gone in next 10 minutes.
It gets very cold, temperatures drop to -25 C, -30 C, and everything looks and feels vacant, slow and frozen. As life stopped. It gets quiet, and it gets even more quiet.
It is dark for more then 16, 17 hours per day. It is bright between 9 AM and 4 PM. It is a bit warmer only between noon and 3 PM.
All of this lasts for a very long time - from mid October until mid April, in many instances even longer. It can snow at any time of year. Well, it is not that dark during summer months.......
But then....when it warms up in December, or January, or February, when we get -5 C (and yes, that's really warm!), thanks to Chinooks, and sometimes we get +5 C, or even +10 C, then we have our "summer". It feels almost "hot" during these warm spells.
Snow starts to melt, and then freezes overnight. And then, of course, it doesn't stay warm too long, it gets cold again and everything gets frozen, and icy.
And then, it starts snowing again. More snow, more ice, more darkness.
So, it gets shitty.
However, I still find ways to have fun :)
One thing that I do even more, during these "shitty times", is running. I just go running. And I run a lot.
That's one way how I get my sun exposure during these long winter months. That's how I get my cardio exercise as well.
It is also a good test of character. When there is a snow blizzard outside, when there is a severe windchill, when it is super cold.....it is not easy to go outside and go running. Trust me I know that.
It's very hard to make that first step to go outside.
It is also hard during first 8-10 minutes, until body is warmed up and starts functioning better. It is even harder if there is a head wind.
Obviously, in a big picture, none if this is really "hard". It is just weather and elements, and running. It is not a problem. And I am quite lucky and privileged that I can do it, that I can go running.
Even on - 20 C.
I remember different times, 20 years ago, when I was not able to go running at all. Comparing to that situation, this kind of "problem", or difficulty, is not a problem at all. But that is part of some other story.
Here, I wanted to describe how it feels and looks like during long Alberta winters, and what is this one pleasant activity that helps me to go through it.
Best thing would be to try it by yourself. Go out, spend time outdoors, no matter what nature is doing on that day. Make your muscles happy, make them work. Breath with full lung capacity. Listen your heart beats. Listen your steps and crunchy snow. Listen and absorb nature's way of connecting.
My goal is to run as much as possible during long Alberta winters. To keep consistent and enjoy it.
There is nothing better then being completely alone on trails, after new snow, trying to bulldoze your way through deep snow. When hip flexors complain, and when lungs work overtime, and when heart is in a red zone.
But then I know I am alive. I am using my own power and I am a bit closer to our ancestors.
I didn't feel it before, but now, I guess I feel it as I am getting older?
It gets shitty when it becomes dark, when days become short and when it gets cold. And all of this happens when winter arrives. There is very little sunlight, and sun is hovering so low on horizon, that you always think it will be gone in next 10 minutes.
It gets very cold, temperatures drop to -25 C, -30 C, and everything looks and feels vacant, slow and frozen. As life stopped. It gets quiet, and it gets even more quiet.
It is dark for more then 16, 17 hours per day. It is bright between 9 AM and 4 PM. It is a bit warmer only between noon and 3 PM.
All of this lasts for a very long time - from mid October until mid April, in many instances even longer. It can snow at any time of year. Well, it is not that dark during summer months.......
 |
| Running in November 2014 |
Snow starts to melt, and then freezes overnight. And then, of course, it doesn't stay warm too long, it gets cold again and everything gets frozen, and icy.
And then, it starts snowing again. More snow, more ice, more darkness.
So, it gets shitty.
However, I still find ways to have fun :)
One thing that I do even more, during these "shitty times", is running. I just go running. And I run a lot.
That's one way how I get my sun exposure during these long winter months. That's how I get my cardio exercise as well.
It is also a good test of character. When there is a snow blizzard outside, when there is a severe windchill, when it is super cold.....it is not easy to go outside and go running. Trust me I know that.
It's very hard to make that first step to go outside.
It is also hard during first 8-10 minutes, until body is warmed up and starts functioning better. It is even harder if there is a head wind.
Obviously, in a big picture, none if this is really "hard". It is just weather and elements, and running. It is not a problem. And I am quite lucky and privileged that I can do it, that I can go running.
Even on - 20 C.
I remember different times, 20 years ago, when I was not able to go running at all. Comparing to that situation, this kind of "problem", or difficulty, is not a problem at all. But that is part of some other story.
Here, I wanted to describe how it feels and looks like during long Alberta winters, and what is this one pleasant activity that helps me to go through it.
Best thing would be to try it by yourself. Go out, spend time outdoors, no matter what nature is doing on that day. Make your muscles happy, make them work. Breath with full lung capacity. Listen your heart beats. Listen your steps and crunchy snow. Listen and absorb nature's way of connecting.
My goal is to run as much as possible during long Alberta winters. To keep consistent and enjoy it.
There is nothing better then being completely alone on trails, after new snow, trying to bulldoze your way through deep snow. When hip flexors complain, and when lungs work overtime, and when heart is in a red zone.
But then I know I am alive. I am using my own power and I am a bit closer to our ancestors.
