I was thinking about this over the last week. Sometimes I feel like this blog is limited to both epilepsy and running when in reality, it doesn’t need to be related to running and/or epilepsy. It’s my blog.

So, with that in mind, this post won’t be terribly related to epilepsy, but it will be related to running.

It has been really rainy where I live. I absolutely hate rain. I will go outside in -30 weather for a walk, or run, or to get coffee but I will absolutely not go outside when it is rainy. A very solid reason not to live on the west coast (as far as I am concerned). I have running gear for snow, and winter, and some waterproof things, but it does not matter. Rain keeps me indoors.

So, what do other people do in the winter? I know there are people who hate the cold, so that is their deterrent. If anyone chooses to comment on this post, I would love to hear it. Gym memberships are an option, although they can be expensive. Running, of course. Volunteering at a yoga studio usually results in free classes. Some work places have gyms within them or available to staff. Working out at home, although that might cost money in the first place.

What do you want to do? I can appreciate utilizing autumn for sitting on the couch and doing very little. I might work on developing languages, reading books, napping. I don’t knit or bake sourdough (is that still a thing?). I have my own little hobbies. I paint miniature figurines for playing Dungeons & Dragons.

As soon as winter comes… proper winter, with the cold and the chapped lips and freezing esophagus… I love that and I will get outdoors. Sneakers with cleats on them. Gloves. Toques. I am totally prepared when I go outside in the cold and absolutely love it when it is sunny. I prefer the running to a gym membership, I already own workout equipment at home, and there are no yoga studios near me for volunteering. It doesn’t stop me from doing yoga, because after all these years, I have a pretty good idea of what I am doing and if not, YouTube.

I think that working remotely has made it easier to avoid activity. Suddenly, we are already wearing pjs and do we really want to go outside, whether to a gym or for a run? When I worked in offices that had gyms, I absolutely used them. When I worked in locations that had running trails nearby, I used them. If I worked somewhere that didn’t have a gym or a trail, I just simply went for a run on the sidewalk. It becomes harder to find that motivation, especially when we have to endure a season or weather that is challenging to us (like rain).

Today, I am spending the day working on French. Later I will drink a cocktail (because I am not going out in the rain, even for wine), and watch a movie. I will embrace that. It might seem a bit lazy, even to myself, but I know that I at least practiced French a little more and every day I get better at it. Maybe one day I will even write a post in French.

Just, love what you are doing. But, know the boundaries for you (rain vs snow) and be ready to go for a run when it stops raining.