"I don't do rain."

 "I don't do rain." This was my excuse for canceling on a morning run with a friend or bailing on the early saturday morning women's ride. A rainy day meant the morning was mine, in bed with a good book and coffee until noon at least.

I don't know when it happened or why, but I found myself running in the rain one summer day. I was in Central Park and the rain was coming down so hard it almost hurt. I didn't panic, I didn't run home, I didn't dodge under a tree, I kept running my intended route. I felt a childlike as I plodded through the puddles. I felt free and fast. I noticed there was only a handful of runners in the park. I would exchange smiles with these runners as they would pass. I had become one of them.

Since then, I have discovered similar feelings about running on snowy days, on the frigid cold days and windy days.  Running on a snowy morning or evening is one of the most magical events I have ever experienced-especially in Central Park. It is simply breathtaking.

Running on a 10 degree day just makes you feel bad ass. And more often that not, I would feel like I had  overdressed during these cold weather runs.

Running into the wind on a really windy day makes you feel like you can take on the world no matter what is at your feet. Running with the wind makes you feel like you have wings. It is a moment where you realize your potential is beyond what you imagine.

Next time I challenge you to exercise on a less -than -ideal weather day and see what you can discover about yourself.