A Clean Run

It was raining yesterday, as it has been for several days. And I didn't run at work. So when I got home I took off up into the woods, barefooted. And in fact, nearly bare-everythinged, despite the cool air (55) and cooler rain drops. I have been into this idea that the body adjusts to the cold by kicking in some metabolic afterburners. If the skin is covered, it doesn't do this. Bare skin stimulates the body to get busy heating. I know, this isn't scientific sounding, but I have found it to be true. Removing my shoes is what first clued me in – and that is still the primary stimulator. Shoes shut things down entirely. Taking it a step further seems to work even better.

I went splashing through the woods, sometimes wading through deep puddles, stopping at a raging brook to soak my legs, and generally having a blast. And my feet felt great! I have never run so much over such a variety of surfaces, with such success. The ground is soaked, so everything gives more than usual, and I always feel like I can handle more when my feet are cool and wet. Not sure why that is. The water seems to lubricate things, so I don't get abraded as much – that counts on pavement, but doesn't seem like it should apply in the woods. Part of it is mental. I just felt like I could run over the stuff, and so I did.

I got back wishing I could do it again. I felt so clean!