Starting Over: Environment

Controlling the controllables

Welcome back to the third and final installment in our Starting Over series. Previous editions focused on strengthening the body, as well as the mind. Both pieces are free and unlocked, and are here to serve as a guide for he;ping you get back out there. 

If there’s an unspoken truth that runs through both the body and mind sections, it’s the notion of responsibility. No one’s doing planks for you. Besides, learning how to take care of ourselves both physically and mentally becomes imperative as we age. 

This is especially true for runners because we’re in the habit of beating ourselves up on a regular basis. We strength train to preserve our bodies and toughen up mentally to better withstand the punishment. That’s just part of the deal. 

Running is hard, no doubt, but it doesn’t have to be a chore. Think about all the things that make the simple act of going for a run harder than it needs to be. My bet is it’s a long list, and many of the items probably have little to do with running at all.  

You’ll never be able to have everything lined up perfectly, so don’t worry about it. Focus instead on controlling the things you can control and making your running time as enjoyable as possible. Here are some things we can do to make running easier on ourselves, if not our joints.  

Let’s start by asking yourself a question. Do you feel stressed or calm before going out for a run? 

If you feel calm, good for you! I bet it took a bit of effort to inhabit that chill mindset. If you’re like me, it took years of adjustments, tweaks, and fine tuning to get to that place of equanimity. And it’s not like the work ever ends. 

Developing a harmonious running environment is an ongoing concern, especially as we age because let’s face it: Stuff just keeps getting harder as we get older. Our bodies don’t recover as quickly, there's never enough time … the list of potential roadblocks is endless. That’s why a little extra attention to detail helps keep us one step ahead of the curve.  

If you often feel stressed before your run, ask yourself why. Are you not sure what to wear? Is your running time locked in to your schedule, or are you trying to fit it in between other responsibilities? See if you can pinpoint what’s bugging you and work backward from there. 

A few ideas. 

Want to save time and mental energy before your run, while taking the guesswork out of gear choices? Lay out your clothes the night before a run. 

This will not only help make your pre-run space easier to manage, it will also allow you to think about your run ahead of time. Treat this like visualization practice, which can be a powerful tool in your mental health kit. 

If you live in a place with variable weather, a bit of pre-planning will also help you consider meteorological conditions before you head out the door. Rain isn’t so bad if you know it’s in the forecast and prepared the right gear. 

Of course, choosing the right gear is often more art than science. It varies from individual to individual and circumstance to circumstance. Still!  There’s an undeniable mental boost when you layer just right. (As well as a corresponding negative downer when you find yourself overheating two miles into a run.) 

If you forgot something important or overdressed to a fault, try to learn from your mistakes. Keep a list of gear combinations that worked versus those that didn’t. Don’t be afraid to experiment and don’t assume the fancy new tech shirt is the answer to your problems. The solution may already be in your closet. 

This morning’s gear, ready to go.

Want to make running more of a habit? Find a consistent time that makes sense for you, your family, and your grown up responsibilities. 

Everyone’s lives are different, but no matter when you run, locking in a general time frame helps clarify the rest of your day. For example, if you always run first thing in the morning, the rest of your awake time falls naturally into place from work hours and meal times to sleep. 

Locking in a running time can also help clarify your relationship to the sport with other members of your immediate social circle, like your family, friends, and work. Establishing a consistent running time tells them that running is important to you and a priority in your life. 

However, once you have established, or reestablished, a running habit over a period of weeks, months or even years, you may find yourself needing to relax some of your tightly controlled rigidity because of work/life/family obligations. The last thing you need is any of them being annoyed because your running cuts into their schedules. Total vibe killer. 

This is when flexibility enters the conversation. The more you can adjust and adapt your routine to fit the particular rhythms of your day, the stronger it becomes. 

What else is stressing you out before your runs? Let me know in the comments, or via email and I’ll try to help.