I didn’t realize I was having the winter doldrums until after I alternately wrestled with weeks of feeling exhausted, feeling unmotivated, feeling sick, and finally, all of them all at once last week.
But I’m not one who stays down for long. A good laugh, a good movie, a good church service - even a good meal - usually brings my spirits up soon enough. This time, though, it was a fun tae-bo workout that did the trick.
While huffing and puffing and laughing after the work-out, I realized that my feeling of being “under the weather” was a result of the toxic combination of work-related stress, winter weather, and lack of exercise (we had stopped playing tennis when the temperature went below 68).
The obvious antidote: resume our exercise regimen.
Markie and I had earlier agreed to start running again this spring, and we’ve started a “warming-up” regimen of light cardio and strength-training excercises prior to venturing out on an outside run.
I found Runner’s World Magazine’s tips for beating excuses for running so timely that I’m sharing it here:
1. Running regularly improves your physical and mental vitality.
2. After a run, your attitude improves. You can turn a bad day into a good day.
3. The creative side of the brain (the right side) is stimulated more by running than by most other activities. Your best thoughts can come to you on a run. (highlighting mine; this is my favorite reason to just go ahead and run! )
4. Even an everyday run confers a sense of accomplishment. Frequent runners receive a boost in self-confidence every time they finish a workout.
I’m all psyched up to start running now! I’m even thinking about joining the 5k Fun Run at the San Francisco Marathon, if time and our budget permits. If we can’t make it this year, I’ll definitely plan for our attendance next year.
I’ve even picked out my new running shoes already.
Spring training, here I come!
Posted under Navel-Gazing
