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December 4, 2007
"The" Talk
So it's only December 5 and not even officially winter yet but I already had to give myself "The" Talk - you know, The Winter Talk, as in The Winter Pep Talk. Because you see when I woke up this morning we had about 4-5 inches of snow and it was 20 degrees with the windchill in the single digits.
Now I know it can and will get much worse in other places. Like say, Minnesota and Montana and Vermont. But my problem is that I ALSO know of places where it's much better. Like Florida and Hawaii. I could be wrong but I don't think the people that live in those places even know what snow is.
So here's my issue. I wish all winter long that I lived some where warm and feel sorry for myself. NEVER a good thing to do.
I haven't always been like this. I didn't used to hate the winters so badly. When I had a chance to get away in college where did I go? Penn State, which is even colder and snowier than Pittsburgh. And my college coach was from Minnesota and ran for the University of Minnesota. Yeah, not too much pity there. I only remember her once letting us run inside and that was only because it was so super icy we all nearly killed ourselves getting to practice.
So where did I go wrong? When did I start to hate winter so badly?
My theory is this. It all started last winter when, for the first time in my life, I had to do a significant amount of bike volume when it was really crappy outside. And that meant one thing - THE TRAINER!
Now I'm someone who absolutely abhors treadmills and avoids them at all costs. Why? Because it's so boring I'd rather poke my eyes out. Enter the trainer. Pretty much just as bad as the treadmill only in some ways worse. Why? Because although treadmills are dreadfully boring the longest I would ever be on one is probably 2 hours. The trainer, however, could be 3 or 4 hours or *gasp* even longer!
Anyway - I think I've gotten off track. The moral of the story is, all of a sudden I hate winters.
So as I was driving home from work this afternoon and the wind was whipping so hard across Route 28 that I had to hold onto my steering wheel with both hands and I was thinking of how many layers I would have to put on for my run once I got home...the self pity started. Why do I have to live in this blasted place?! There are people running in shorts and a t-shirt some where in this world right now!
But it wasn't too much longer down the road that I realized I needed to stop and I needed to stop now. Because, if for no other reason, it was going to be a REALLY long winter if I didn't adjust my attitude. And so started The Winter Pep Talk.
I told myself to turn it around and turn it around now!!! No more negative cold thoughts. Embrace winter and be happy for it! Because now is my chance to use my environment to make myself tougher. It's not easy to get up at 4:45 am and then go jump in a cold pool when it's so cold and dark outside you feel like you might be living in Iceland. But I will be stronger for it. It's not easy to do mile repeats on the track when the windchills are in the single digits and the headwind is so strong you think you might be running backwards. But I will be stronger for it. It's not easy to ride on the trainer for 4 hours. FOUR FREAKING HOURS. But I will be stronger for it. It's not easy to fit it all in when your commute is twice as long because of bad roads. But I will be stronger for it.
Elizabeth recently wrote about some ineffective habits that triathletes (or really any athlete I guess) have and one of them was "getting in your own way". As I was reading it a little *ding, ding, ding, ding* went off in my head. Yep, guilty as charged!! I get in my own way in more than one way, but a negative attitude is a big bad habit. And I think I generally have a pretty positive attitude about most everything. But it's time to expect even more of myself. Because to achieve what I want to achieve in this sport I HAVE to expect more out of myself. And that's all there is to it.
So from this time on - no more negative winter talk! My mantra will be "it will only make me stronger". And if I say it often enough I just might start believing it. :)
PS I think I'm going to try that with swimming too - "I am a good swimmer. I am a good swimmer. I am a good swimmer. I am a good... "
Posted by beth at December 4, 2007 6:55 PM
Comments
This is a nice post. I can SO relate. I had to have the talk with myself too a while back. That or live in absolute mental misery all winter long. Who wants to do that?
I got these winter running tights that have seriously changed my life, Pearl Izumi Amphib Tights I think they're called. So far, I've worn them down to 7 degrees with a wind and my legs never got cold. Since acquiring these, my new motto has been, it's not bad weather, it's bad clothing choices. ;) Good luck, and take solace in knowing, like you said, that winter will make you tougher.
Meghan
Posted by: Meghan at December 4, 2007 8:33 PM
Maybe I should give the Peral Izumi's a run... 19 degrees on an icy track tonight was plain miserable!!!
Only 4-5 more months till the weather breaks! :)
Posted by: Chad at December 4, 2007 9:10 PM
Oh BETH!!! Do we need to have the "become one with your trainer" pep talk? LOVE IT....LIVE IT and get fired up. I actually don't mind the trainer...but never do 4 hours on it..3.5 yep...so, 4 would be tough! And, Chicago's weather is probably worse than Pittsburgh's, I think. We are getting 6" of snow as I type....and I just got back from a meeting - so life never stops for it here either. :) But, honestly, I really am beginning to HATE our winters....20 degrees and no sun until nearly March/April...so, our options of any riding outside is nearly gone....due to ice and snow covered roads...But, can you imagine Christmas w/o snow? Shopping in December in 70-80degrees? I just don't get that....but, I am a true midwesterner.
Posted by: Jennifer Harrison at December 4, 2007 10:29 PM
Beth!! As I waited for the T (subway) in 10 degree weather I definitely thought (today) what the hell am I doing in Boston? Of course I want to move to DC. (Even though I abhor the heat there). I decided maybe California (temperate all year long?) is best. I heard the tri season is so long there. I think Austin might be too hot for me in the summer!
I wish I lived in the same place as you! It is SOO hard to get in cold water all by myself!! It seems like the dumbest idea in the world.
Maybe I will give myself a pep talk. So instead of standing in the hot shower for 5 minutes psyching myself up to get in the water I will just get in. That's my main winter problem...
Posted by: Audrey at December 4, 2007 10:33 PM
i like Meghan's approach... it's sorta friendly...
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at December 5, 2007 7:30 AM