Finding Beauty in Spring Trail Running & Getting Dirty (and sometimes in cleaning the bathroom)

May 5, 2013

This last week has been non-stop sunshine. It was the kind of weather - blue sky days and warming temperatures - that makes you think all is well with the world. Getting out each day to exercise was not a challenge, coming back indoors was.

But the week before last was overcast and grey and I was less-than-inspired to lace up the shoes and go running. One morning in particular hinted strongly at tea and blankets, not running shoes and sweat.

I laced up my shoes anyway. (Yay me!) And part of what helped me get out the door was taking my camera with me. My little Sony camera, not my Nikon, which I simply can't imagine running with strapped around my neck.

Once determined to share the beauty of my misty morning run, my motivation improved significantly.

I can't help it. I love noticing, capturing, and sharing beauty. When faced with a task I don't relish, looking for the beauty and taking a photo of it brings pleasure. Which is why I sometimes take a picture of a clean bathroom.

In the case of my morning run it wasn't long before I was high on beauty and feel-good exercise hormones. It was way more enjoyable than cleaning the bathroom, though I do love the "finished product" of a clean bathroom. Which lasts for all of 10 minutes till a dirty, barefoot kid comes through and makes a mess. (We have white tiles which show every toeprint.)

While I was on my trail run, I kept thinking, "oh, I can't wait to share this!" The river, the woods, the way it feels to run through wet, mucky trails and not care that your shoes are dirty. To run like you're a kid again.

This explains why the kids feet are always so dirty. It feels good!

Are you letting yourself get dirty these days?

Also, if you're less than inspired to get outside for exercise, take your art with you, (in my case a camera) and see what happens. Looking for and sharing beauty might be a good motivator for you also.

(All these photos are shown in sequence from my misty morning run. Starting in my back yard and down through the river valley. To get visual of my loop see this post.)