Change of Seasons

So we’ve reached that interim period in the year where it’s not quite spring and yet no longer winter.  There is still plenty of snow around for snow shoeing but it’s going fast and might be gone altogether in just a few weeks.  I’ve really enjoyed the snowshoeing this past winter but I’m feeling the need to transition with the seasons.  Clearly it’s time to start weaving in something a little different.  And in the springtime, when the snow recedes from the sidewalks and the roadways glisten with little trails of watery run-offs, I like best to get out and run.  Running is my go-to sport from March to October.  I often run and train with a good friend who also loves to get outside at this time of year.

We’ve been running outside for a couple of weeks now but today felt especially spring-like.  A warm southerly wind was blowing in from across Charlottetown harbour. We saw quite possibly the first small flock of Canada geese flying northward overhead, and of all things, we saw a blue heron standing on an island of green amidst a snowy expanse of golf course.

Today we were out for a medium long run around the neighbourhood.  It was a planned run, part of our self-imposed training plan for the upcoming race in May.  We’ve registered to run the Bluenose half marathon course in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  It was a fabulous course last year – hundreds of like-minded people just out to have fun and be active. We are looking forward to running a second time with hopes to achieve our personal bests.

The route we chose today is hilly, an excellent training ground.  We had a strategy.  We plodded up the hills, paced ourselves on the flats, and pushed the down hills getting a great stretch.   We dodged puddles and hopped small streams.  And once, we waded what appeared to be a small but rather temporary creek getting very wet feet in the process.  Fresh spring water was flowing all about us slowing eroding the last remnants of winter.  We felt strong and we finished with our fastest average pace this year.  It was very simply an excellent run for the start of the season.  And what season is it?  The Running Season, of course!