Getting my butt kicked!

The goal of spending 1/2 an hour outside each day has been going quite well I must say.  I'm learning to appreciate every kind of weather...even this cold, rainy stuff that just doesn't seem to want to let up.  It's amazing how much greener the trees and the grasses look against the backdrop of a stormy sky.  The sound of the highway seems dampened with the low-hanging clouds while at the same time, the call of the white-crowned sparrow is amplified.  If you are wearing the appropriate clothing, traipsing about in the rain is actually VERY refreshing. 

I decided to try a more organized form of outdoor activity last night...a running group.  I thought I might be even more motivated to get out on the running trails if I had a group to run with, but having never run with a group before I was a little apprehensive.  Plus, I'd learn some new routes and trails to try out on my own. 

What I didn't think about, was that this was a Canmore running group.  Right.  The town where everyone and their dog either rock climbs, skis (the Olympians train here for crying out loud!), hikes, bikes, trail runs, bags peaks, and any other kind of physical activity you can think of.  Needless to say, I forgot that little detail.  I met up with the group in downtown Canmore, 4 lovely and friendly ladies...3 of them over 45.  But right away, I knew I was in for a workout.
We ran for about an hour, me huffing and puffing my way behind these uber-ladies, them patiently waiting for me at the top of each hill, checking in to make sure I wasn't going to keel over and then continuing on.  They were super encouraging and despite feeling like a was a little in over my head, I was able to breathe in the scent of the damp earth of the trail, hear the call of the ruby-crowned kinglet singing from a tree top, and marvel at the lush greens resulting from all the rain.  I was even able to carry on a somewhat stilted conversation with a couple of the ladies.  And the best part is that I felt so completely, vibrantly aware and ALIVE afterwards!  We'll see how it works for me to continue with this, but the ladies have all said I should come back next week and keep it up.  :)

On a different, but somewhat related note...
I came across this article this morning.  If you needed any other reasons get away from that office chair, or couch or computer desk....here you go!

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/06/10/sitting-health-physiology.html

Get up, go outside and breathe!!  Mother Nature is simply awesome!