The Struggle

..is real.

I know I'm not the only one who is having a hard time keeping up training while being forced to adapt to an ever-changing, endlessly complicated world. The weather hasn't helped, either; this week's mix of powerful wind, persistent cold, chilly rain, and stupid snow - sometimes all at the same time - has definitely not helped. So, I don't know who all needs to hear this, but..

IF YOU RAN IN NASTY WEATHER TODAY - I'm proud of you for getting out there!

IF YOU DIDN'T RUN TODAY DUE TO NASTY WEATHER - I'm proud of you for letting discretion be the better part of valor!

We all bloom better with some sunshine and warmth.

IF YOU RAN IN LOVELY WEATHER TODAY - I'm still proud of you for getting out there!

IF YOU RAN INDOORS TODAY - I'm proud of you for getting it done!

We all have to follow our own path

IF YOU DIDN'T RUN TODAY DUE TO FATIGUE, ILLNESS OR INJURY - I'm proud of you for listening to your body's needs, and I hope you're feeling better soon!

IF YOU DIDN'T RUN TODAY JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT - I'm proud of you for taking care of your mental health, and ask that you please don't beat yourself up about it.

A rolling stone gathers no moss, but mossy rocks are beautiful!

IF YOU DIDN'T GET OUT OF YOUR PAJAMAS TODAY - I'm proud of you for making it out of bed. Have a glass of water; hydration is important.

Also, have this photo of a sunset along a riverside trail.

IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF BED TODAY - I'm proud of you for letting yourself get some rest. You can try again tomorrow, or not.

For now, just let your mind and body fill with peace.

No matter how much or how little you accomplished today, it is enough - YOU are enough. High fives to all those who are still crushing their goals; you're doing amazing! If you fell short of what you wanted to achieve, offer yourself grace; it doesn't make you less worthy, and you can try again another time.

I know you'll get it, because you're awesome!

Now, if I can just remember to apply all this to myself when the days get rough..

The shoe doesn't always fit the other foot so well.

 Stay strong out there - wishing you all good health and peace of mind.

Oh yeah, and don't forget I'M PROUD OF YOU!

Stewardship

There seem to be a lot more people out using the trails these days.

I'm sure that will only increase as the weather improves.

As I ran down a local and much-loved trail recently, it occurred to me that this could be a wonderful thing.

The beginning of something..

While I know there are many longtime trail users - hikers, runners, and cyclists - that are irritated by the sudden influx of people on their favourite routes, my optimistic side tells me this could end up benefiting us all.

If it unfolds as we might hope.

If these new trail users realise how precious our outdoor spaces really are, we may be creating a whole new crew of people who will advocate for their protection. Who may be motivated to help with trail work - even something as simple as picking up one piece of trash while out walking - and pressure governing bodies to maintain trails and natural areas for all to enjoy.

Because these spaces are delicate, and need to be kept safe.

I know there is a huge issue with all of this: I'm assuming that these folks will actually care. I know that some of them may be currently behaving in ways that jeopardize - rather than preserve - the natural beauty around them. I worry about the green shoots I see along a particular section of trail; will they be trampled before they bloom into a glorious carpet of trilliums? Will people know that these flowers are protected by law as our provincial flower?

Perhaps - as seasoned trail users - that is our new calling. To educate, and hope that we can turn what could potentially be the ruination of our beloved trails into a new generation of stewards.

So we can all enjoy the trails for years to come.

So, my challenge to you is this: the next time you see someone out in the woods who may not be displaying perfect trail etiquette or respect for their natural surroundings, try to view it as an occasion for education rather than an annoyance. Show them (from an appropriate distance, of course) what they may have missed - the delicate leaves of a wild plant or flower just emerging above the soil, the buds on the twigs slowly beginning to unfurl into a green canopy, or the turtle sunning itself on a rock in the trailside pond. There are no real races in the near future for which we need to train intensely, so why not pause for a moment while you're out and try to pass along some of your love for your favourite places to people who are just discovering them for the first time?

Teach them to listen to the endless chatter of a rocky stream.

If we treat these newcomers to our trails with contempt, we miss an opportunity to create a new ally in the never-ending fight against the destruction of our outdoor spaces...and the trails need all the friends they can make!

We've all lost, but not lost all

It's not an easy time to be a trail runner.

Hazards exist

With Parks Canada, Ontario Parks, Grand River Conservation Areas (and all their managed lands), Credit Valley, Hamilton & Halton Conservation areas, and even the Bruce Trail closed to public access, there's very little off-road running to be found.

What few trails are open are often in rather poor repair..

..with no realistic hope of municipalities allocating resources to their repair any time soon.

Even our beloved Cambridge Farmers' Market is closed, so I've lost my usual Saturday morning run down to pick up our amazing local meats and produce.

We're finding ways to support local producers, but we miss seeing the friendly faces of our vendors!

I'm incredibly disappointed that the actions of some selfish, thoughtless people have brought us to this point. You see, the reason for the closures is that people were not respecting the physical distancing recommendations that have been drilled into all of us constantly for the past few weeks.

People who would ordinarily never be seen anywhere but their couch or perhaps the mall took to the trails and conservation areas in droves, gathering in groups, walking 2 or more abreast on trails, and not making space for others to safely pass. 

Singletrack got its name for a reason.

Had these folks gone out as single-home-dwelling parties only and offered the cushion of space required to avoid the possibility of infecting others, I would have welcomed them to the joys of experiencing nature on our beautiful trails. Instead, their lack of care and respect has meant that no-one gets to play in the woods in some of my most treasured spots anymore.

It's particularly difficult to find any hills worth training on that aren't paved.

I am also rather crotchety about all those complaining about being home all the time. As someone designated an "essential" employee, I'm grateful to still have a steady source of income...but as I'm still required to head to the office almost every day (I worked from home a total of 5 days in March - 3 of which were due to being ill - and none yet in April), and putting in very long hours due to the increased workload trying to ensure that our clients and their employees get all the necessary paperwork they need to apply for EI and other benefits, I rather envy you the luxury of boredom.

I'm exhausted, and have lost most of my outlets for stress relief on the trails.

This way lies happiness...and mud.

However, there are a precious few places left that I can get my trail fix. 

Though I'm loath to tell anyone where they are.

For the moment, we're still allowed freedom of movement away from our homes. While there's now the threat of a $100,000 fine and/or incarceration for using playgrounds, sports fields, or other outdoor recreation facilities like tennis or basketball courts, our provincial government has not yet closed access to green spaces and pathways, nor instituted a shelter-in-place order.

Yet.

So I beseech you: please consider others when you leave your home. To save lives AND our dwindling access to natural places, please only go out with those from your household and offer everyone no less than 6 feet of space. Be aware when using sidewalks, paths, and trails - no-one wins when you fail to make appropriate room, and we all stand to lose even more.

Heading to work on Monday is a lot easier to bear after some trail therapy on Sunday.

Be safe, be considerate, and be well.