Wet. Wet. Wet.

One of my favorite artists for listening to when I really need to crank up the pace is Andrew W.K. Yeah, his album cover is ugly, his songs all sound the same, but you can't beat the bpm he cranks out. And the tunes are catchy - it works.

So today, as I slogged through the rain, I couldn't help but think of his song "I Get Wet." Sure, that's probably not what he meant, but man, the rain was pouring. I watched sheets of water blow sideways across the field, and then I ran through that same wind myself, wondering when I would achieve liftoff. Still, there was a part of me grinning from ear to ear. There's nothing like a good battle with the elements to lift your spirits, especially if you win.

I've seen people asking for advice as to how to keep running through the winter. I suppose it all comes down to attitude. If you can think about your run as a battle, or as a really good story you can tell later that evening, it's much easier to face. When your mind just keeps whining over and over about the cold, the wet, or the ice, you're gonna lose. That's why I did so poorly during the snow, I think. My mind couldn't get past the whining. And so I didn't head out.

I'm much more comfortable in the rain. Getting used to conditions certainly helps. Growing up in Oregon, I had no other choice. Soccer games were never cancelled for rain, snow, or wind. Lightning maybe. Sliding around in the mud was half the fun. So I bring that attitude with me in the rain, and it makes it easier. I like a good soaking. I feel tough. But I've run in the rain hundreds of times, so it isn't anything new. Now. It wasn't always that way. It gets easier with time.

So I guess the key to running through the winter is to just do it. You've got to push yourself past your internal objections and then look for the joy in the new type of workout. Out of difficulty comes growth, right? After my first snow run, I was eager for more. But I wanted the snow to be just like the snow I ran in the first time. No slush, no ice. Next time, I'll just make myself go so I get used to those conditions. Eventually, I should be able to run in anything. Right?