A few weeks ago I set off for an early morning run, a very early morning run. As I started down my street a little before 6:30 am the sun was just coming out and most of my fellow Huntington Beachers were still in their warm beds. Now, I know many of you think us fitness professionals are nuts, and maybe we are. We are at the gym at the crack of dawn with a smile and a warm “good morning.” And more often than not we are still there as the last exercisers leave the gym in the evening. But as much as I am a morning person, I despise exercising in the early a.m. My joints hurt, my muscles are stiff, and a workout that would be a piece of cake in the afternoon seems almost impossible before 10 am. But nevertheless, I had no time for a workout this particular afternoon so I had to drag myself outdoors to finish my run in the dawn hours.
As I slowly jogged along trying to forget how much I would rather be at home sipping coffee and watching the Today show I was feeling more and more blue. I hated this! Why didn’t I just skip my workout this morning? However, as I rounded the corner from my house and waited for a stoplight to turn green, I looked up into the sky and to my pleasant surprise a big fat rainbow streaked its way across the morning sunrise! I noticed the air was crisp and the sky was so blue and clear I could see out over the ocean to Catalina and north all of the way up to Long Beach. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all!
As I crossed PCH and headed onto the boardwalk my legs warmed up, I felt the familiar rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement and my spirits started to lift as I rocked out to a particularly fabulous Carrie Underwood song. My route took me through Newport Beach, along the water and past the beach houses as I skirted around surfers running to catch the first breaks of the day. I always forget how peaceful it is to run solo, just as the sun is coming over the horizon – it’s just you, the surfers and the seagulls sharing the moment. I stopped at my turn around point for a quick stretch and scanned the water. Suddenly, skimming the waves I saw not one, not two, but at least 4 dolphins playing in the water. Surfers and walkers alike stopped to admire the view. It isn’t unusual to see dolphins close to shore. I had seen them countless times before while running or biking along the boardwalk. But they never cease to make me giddy, and as I turned for home I had a skip in my step and a sense of gratitude that washed away all the negative thoughts that were consuming me. I thought,” How lucky am I? How lucky am I to live in this beautiful place, where I can enjoy the outdoors almost all year long? There are people that are snowed in right now!” As I finally got back to my house that morning I felt refreshed and alive and thankful. And I was so glad I dragged myself out of bed instead of sleeping in!
So the next time you just don’t feel like exercising try to reflect for a moment on how lucky you are. Lucky to be healthy and mobile, with two strong legs that can take you anywhere you want to go. There are people in this world whom would do anything for the chance to just walk or run out their front doors and go to the beach, or play tennis or go for a hike or even, gasp! The gym! So when you feel lazy or sluggish or you had a long day at work be grateful for the ability to be fit and active. Choose to make your workout for that day the best that it can be. You will feel better for it.
