Experiencing the positive feedback loop in running doesn’t land as quickly as it may with other sports. Runners must be patient in their quest to reap the joyous parts of running. Whether a quarter mile, or a week, the positive feedback loop running provides is worth the wait, and what better time to begin a running journey than in the fall!
Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are surrounded by endless trails. In fact, Lake to Bay explores over 20 parks and trails in Vancouver and Camas, with many untouched trails ready to be explored, such as Pacific Community Park, LeRoy Haagen Memorial Park, Orchards Community Park, David Douglas Park, and on the outskirts of Vancouver, Hockinson Meadows Park. Venturing a few minutes south from Vancouver lies one of the most sought after trail systems in the region: Forest Park and its 80 miles of lush foliage. These spaces are best in the fall, with a dew that hangs in the air, leaves changing color, or light rain making an appearance. There is never a failed run when it ends with wet and muddy shoes and calves!
The fall months also provide time for both reflection and wonder. Have we accomplished our New Year’s resolutions? Have we grown in areas of Wellness - Emotionally, Spiritually, Socially, Nutritionally, Physically, Mentally, Occupationally, Sexually, and/or Financially? While many of us are just trying to figure out how to raise our kids right, it’s important to remember that we, too, are also growing, and need to treat ourselves with the same nurturing effort as we are treating others. This includes being patient, reflective, forward thinking, and persistent with our wellness-centered intentions.
There is also some great racing in the fall. Aside from elite marathons like New York, Chicago, and Berlin, the Philadelphia and Portland are marathons offer registration without the need for a qualifying time. Locally, WHYRacing offers a few fall and winter races to close out the year, and if you prefer chilly, wet, and windy races, there is always Foot Traffic’s Holiday Half in December. If it’s the social aspect you seek over the competitive, there are local running clubs still putting one foot in front of the other, such as Clark County Running Club, Vantucky, Run, Grub, and Chug, and several others in the Vancouver-Portland metro area.
Physically, our bodies produce a considerable amount of heat when we run. Our breathing changes, we begin to sweat, and if we can make it through the aches and pains of the first mile or three, a mental and physical abyss awaits! When running in cooler temperatures, our bodies don’t have to work as hard to release heat, and instead, we can run the same pace more mechanically efficient, with greater ease, and then the thoughts begin to hit - can I run faster? The answer is yes, but this is where exercising patience comes in handy - be patient with your maturation into running.
Additional reasons why running in the fall months have been touted online (just search Google and you’ll come across many), but a personal favorite is mentally forecasting winter and spring goals. Running through fall and winter conditions, whether I want to or not, provides a mental callus of sorts, one that will bring strength and confidence from each accomplished run, as well as runs to be forgotten. A colleague of mine once said, “I run first thing in the morning, so if my day goes to shit, at least I’ve accomplished something.” The same can be said for fall running - if you can run through the cold, rainy months, you can do anything!