Run in the Wind

We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. – Dolly Parton

I was out for a run the other day. It was a beautiful day for it based on my standards as of late. Not freezing, icy, raining or snowing. Sunny and short sleeves for 10 miles! But oh the wind…

So let me first explain, that in January, I decided to run a half marathon on April 6th with a good friend of mine who lives on the other side of the state. Our mutual love of running makes for great excuses to meet up to race and have some fun. But I have been a little lackluster in my motivation for training. I haven’t been running as much since the weather’s been uncooperative, despite the fact that ‘I’ve run in 0 degrees for training before.’ I’m not bragging but if I can do that, 30 degrees should not be a problem right?

But on this particular Sunday I was pumped to get out! Yes, I was going to run farther than I have since the EQT 10 miler in November. But similarly, I had not trained normally for that and had a phenomenal race. So I got up, dressed and headed to the Panhandle trailhead about 10 minutes from our house.

Running on the trail is usually incredibly therapeutic for me. It’s a space and time to work things out or find clarity in my mind. And it’s way better than the dreadmill! There are also great benefits to exercising around nature too, but I’ll tell you more about that another time.

Back to the wind… so I’m running along and mile 1 ticks by quick and easy. Mile 2, no problem. But when I get to mile 3 I’m further from roads and houses and that’s when the wind picked up. A gust here, a burst there. But it doesn’t feel too bad, cooling even. Why is it always a headwind though? These hills feel bigger, the miles longer. It has to blow at my back once I reach my halfway point and turn around.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the need to trust the way things unfold.  These breathtaking gusts reminded me that sometimes you have to push through the headwinds on your journey to where you want to be. Something happens that tries to deter you and you may want to just stop and turn around. This is hard, how will you do it.  Or people pulling you in different directions that distract you. Remember the reason you’re on your journey and don’t quit moving towards it. Stay on your path! It doesn’t matter if you run, walk, or crawl… just keep going!

Now, I’d love to be able to say that you’ll get that momentum and the wind will shift and push you ahead. It may. It may not. I turned around for the ‘downhill’ part of my run and, it didn’t get easier. The wind smacked  me in the face as it was getting stronger. Then would catch my back and propel me forward. I smiled and welcomed the fresh air into my lungs and found joy in the way the leaves swirled around me. More often than not it will be a constant change from calming beauty, winds that try to knock you off your feet and winds that lift you up.

Be intentional. Enjoy every moment. Take pleasure in life’s quirks and know the strength you within you. Whatever windstorm you are facing will pass or you’ll break through it. And you will be happy you did!