Running with Deer

Oh, the joys of summer time. I knew I wanted to wait until around noon to run. Most of you know I love the heat. After much deliberation, I decided to go for a run in a neighboring subdivision. The Homeowners Association there maintains a terrific wooded nature trail along creeks and a river. I hadn't been there in some time.

As I crested the first hill I saw a deer nibbling in an overgrown field. I slowed down and resolved to change directions so as not to disturb her. In the process, I made enough noise that three other deer poked their heads up from the grassy knoll. What a lovely sight! Regrettably, I scared them and the foursome galloped off into the safety of the woods.

 Like many other areas in our county, subdivisions continue to be developed. As a result, my running routes keep getting altered, more often than not in a negative manner. I mentioned to a friend who recently bought a home that I used to run on the trails and by the lake of that property before it was purchased and cleared for new homes. She said, "You're like the deer. You keep getting pushed out."

I have thought about that a lot. It's so true, but I can run anywhere. My furry four-legged friends are losing food and housing.

Run in harmony.

Tom

Happy and Healthy Holidays

Greetings! I hope you had a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. ‘Tis the season of eating, drinking and making merry. Did you know that nutrition professionals suggest that from Halloween to New Year’s Day the average person puts on ten (10) to twenty (20) pounds? That’s a lot of weight to remove, especially if you begin in January. The cold and inclement weather discourages many people from the choice to walk, bike or jog.

In a course I teach we discuss the concept of “moral holidays.” Examples of moral holidays include New Year’s Eve and Mardi Gras. These are occasions when people act as if they hold a license to live outside the norm (to be deviant or to sin if you will). This is not reckless abandonment, as each reveler knows that the transition back to normal or ideal life comes via resolutions of January first or the forty days of repentance during Lent. It’s a good psychological process, for sure.

I like to think of Thanksgiving and Christmas in a similar light. They are days filled with cooking, eating, drinking and socializing, none of which burn very many calories. So, dive head first into our cultural milieu of gorging, but afterwards be steadfast to adhere to the tenets of restraint, moderation and regular exercise.

Try something new this holiday season. Go against the grain. Don’t become a weight gain statistic! Maintain or even lose weight this December. You’ll love yourself for it in the New Year.

Be Merry. Stay Active. Be Happy!

Tom