One of
the reasons I run is that I love to eat.Running makes eating guilt free.Today was no exception, but I did push the limits a bit.Anyway, on February 27 this year in Poland is
“tlusty Czwartek,” which means “fat Thursday.”This is the day that puts the word guilt in guilt-free eating to the test.It is essentially a Christian tradition that
is observed on the final Thursday before Lent.In Poland and several other European countries the day is celebrated by
buying jam-filled doughnuts called “paczki,” in Polsih.Delicately frosted and jam-filled, they are
simply divine. Also, you can find them
everywhere.That is why I decided to grab a few just a
couple of steps from my apartment before a short eight kilometer jaunt around
Park Mlocinski today.I normally eat a banana
before a short run as I tend to avoid doughnuts because they are quite sweet,
but exceptions are to be made from time to time.So I made an exception and inhaled two before
my run. The wonderful flavor melted in
my mouth, but in my selfish haste to finish my paczki the jam exploded on my
pants.Regardless, they tasted great. I
even benefited from the extra blast of sugar during my run.I might have to make this exception again
sometime soon.Go get your doughnuts and
run!Better run for your doughnuts!
The
thing about running is that it is just so hard to stop once you start.You feel better, see real progress in
something, sleep better, and don’t have to worry about your clothes being too
small for you.You just have to do more
laundry.Anyway, the more I run, the more
I like it.That is why I am excited
about getting back into the race season after resting and recovering over the past couple of months.Two weeks ago, I was
able to dust off a few cobwebs at the first Grandprix Warszawa of 2014, http://biegi.waw.pl/, a
10k-race series that runs monthly until the end of the year, while last week I put my hill-running (in) ability to the test in an off-road 10k race outside of Warsaw,http://orienteering.waw.pl/en//node/838. Both times I was forced to swallow my pride and accept the low times I earned because I had not really prepared for pushing myself for any distance at a racing speed, but felt great in the end knowing that I’ll soon be ready to run a
few marathons and more in 2014. I'm looking forward to this year.
Getting some fresh air in January in Warsaw is essential to making the most of the winter
Being from the San Francisco Bay Area, it would seem
unnatural to have such an intrepid attitude when it comes to running outside in
cold winters in Poland; nevertheless, that is exactly how I am.Of course I wasn’t always like this.On the contrary, I spent the previous couple
of winters galloping along on a noisy treadmill among the 'tween' winter
health club clients in Warsaw.The
problem I had with the health clubs, however, was the fact that I was simply
not outside getting any fresh air. For
me, that is one of the most fundamental aspects about running.Fresh air, exercise, and a feeling of
overcoming those mental barriers that people feel so intimidated by, that is
what running should be—not doing the running man on a treadmill.Despite the cold, snow, and wind, I have
converted myself into a fully-fledged four season runner.
It’s not that I avoided all running in the snow last winter;
it’s just that I did it on only one or two occasions to break the
monotony.However, I overused the warm
comforts of the health club to keep to my routine.It was effective, but without the pure
pleasure of being outside and breathing fresh air. This winter I’m determined
to break the convenience of the gym, and keep up with the winter running in
parks and along proper trails while taking in the delightful winter landscapes.After surviving -13 degree Celsius cold last
week while not freezing myself solid, I have come to realize that winter
running is not only manageable, but dare I say it, fun to boot.
Enjoying the scenery of Warsaw in January
Anyway, as I’ve been running for a few years now, I’ve
accumulated a sizable collection of running clothes, which is imperative in
keeping covered when running.By dressing
in layers and making sure everything is tucked in, you can manage as well.There’s nothing to worry about.You just have to take the leap. Having the right clothes (which doesn't mean the most expensive clothes), and you can stay
where you should be when you go running—outside.
I am attaching an inspiring video by Tim VanOrden on how to dress properly
for cold weather.If you don’t read what
I write, you should at least check out the advice in this clip.
