I try very hard to live by the adage that there is no such thing as bad weather, only improper clothing. After two decades of perfecting the art of “gearing up”—literally and figuratively—to run through wind, rain, and subzero temperatures, I am learning that resilience and discipline don’t always yield better results. In fact, unexpected opportunities arise when forces greater than yourself stand in your way.
The three winters I have spent in Montana have been milder than most of the 21 winters I spent in Colorado, but a few short stretches of weather were like none I had ever seen before. One of those stretches happened to start on a Wednesday, my run day. In the two decades prior, I can’t think of a single Wednesday run that I missed because of the weather. When I woke to -10° F and wind, I did what I had always done: I put on all my battery-powered gear, covered everything but my eyes, and headed out. The open, windy dirt road outside my Paradise Valley apartment— normally my favorite scenic, peaceful running route—was an obstacle course I simply could not contend with. The wind on that open range ripped through my state-of-the-art clothing and froze my eyelashes so thickly that I could not see. After 10 minutes, I had to admit defeat and turn around. With roads too treacherous to venture out, I was simply stuck indoors for an undetermined period. My anxiety started to rise. For two decades, I had been telling myself: I NEED a dose of fresh air every day. I NEED to adhere to my schedule. I NEED those endorphins to start my day.
That motivational mantra helps me to get out of bed and get outside on most days, but not that day. That storm lasted for four days—the longest stretch I’ve spent indoors to date. You may not be surprised to hear that I did, in fact, survive, debunking my previous certainty that I NEED all of those things.
That run missed due to weather was the first of many. Here are just a few of the unexpected opportunities that have arisen as a result:
- Swapping an occasional run for an extra day of strength training has yielded better results.
- Spending fewer days running on uneven, snowy ground has eliminated many of my aches and pains.
- Occasionally being forced to stay home has resulted in some of my best creative ideas.
- Occasionally spending entire days indoors with someone I love has led to a powerful human connection with them.
- Occasionally spending entire days indoors in solitude has resulted in powerful self-reflection.
While I used to go to great lengths to defy winter, now I embrace the opportunity to occasionally slow down and stay indoors. I start every Wednesday asking myself: Do I want to get outside to run today? What is standing in my way? Could those roadblocks be opportunities in disguise? Being stuck indoors no longer spells defeat.
Whether I’m pursuing a routine run or a big life goal, differentiating between wants and needs, surrendering to uncontrollable forces, and seeing opportunities in defeat have opened many doors for me.
What doors might those things open for you?
