Clare Gallagher - Home Never Looked So Good
If you’re a runner, chances are you had a race cancelled this summer, right? Or, you’re still anxiously waiting to hear if it’ll happen...
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I know it can feel wrong to be bummed about these holes in our schedules while many other people are dealing with life-and-death situations. But, it’s okay to be bummed. Running goals, like races, are coupled with planning and structure, which give us mental and physical stability. Losing that stability can hurt. Gloom can follow.
So, what to do next?
It’s okay to embrace the gloom, but it’s even better to make another goal. Here are some tips in making a new summer running goal.
1. Choose a distance shorter than your planned race.
Why? If you were signed up for a 50k, that doesn’t mean you have to run a 50k in your backyard. To run a self-supported 50k is a more difficult and possibly unrealistic goal considering the pandemic situation. Consider that in races, you have: help from aid stations, motivating volunteers, maybe a crew of your friends and family, and the safety net of medical professionals on course. For a running goal in your backyard this summer, you likely won’t have any of this help. So, scaling down your run’s distance and difficulty may be a good idea. It doesn't make you any less hardcore. It’s just reality. It’s easier to run an aided 50k with volunteers than it is to run a 50k from your front door without help.
2. Don’t go far. Now is the time to run local.
Why? Two main reasons to stick close to home.
The obvious first reason: the pandemic. Legally, some of us might not be able to leave our local counties come mid-summer. So, planning local is the best way to prevent disappointment. Still, even if our states lift shelter-in-place orders, a local adventure prevents unnecessary travel.
In addition to the pandemic, running local can provide a deeper connection to the land. Often for races, we’re researching air bnbs and driving directions in places we’re unfamiliar with. I personally don’t find those logistics that enriching. For many races, I don’t learn anything substantial about a place if I don’t spend extra time there pre or post race because I’m prioritizing race details. This summer, I aim to learn more about my running routes, and home is the best place to dive deep.
Instead of researching logistics like where to sleep, we can learn about the Indigenous history, the flora and fauna, about the changes and controversies that have occured in our areas. We can find new trails and new ways to make a perfect loop from our front doors. Maybe community is what you’re really missing: you can run past all of your friends and family’s homes, creating a run that feels as close to a race as possible. Maybe flowers are your passion: you can create a route that should pass by the most flowers at peak season and you can document them all.
Native-land.ca is a starting point to learn which Indigenous territories encompass your home. From there, you can google search more about each Nation’s history, landmarks and land stewardship practices.
I haven’t decided what I want to tackle from my home yet, but the dreaming and learning so far has already been more enriching than any race prep. Love thy home!
Some resources to help get you started.
- What’s the geological history of your home? Search: geological history of...
- What’s the Indigenous history of your home? Start here.
- How to start mapping your route:
Strava has a good routes builder to plan routes from your home.
Gaia GPS and Caltopo both offer more route customization and topographical details, especially if you live in a rural area.
Your local city and county open space maps are good resources to keep bookmarked or follow on social media. For example, Boulder, CO has an interactive map.
3. Dirty trails or streets in your neighborhood? Organize a group clean-up (if it’s allowed) or just clean it yourself!
Your local city and county maps usually have the most up-to-date information about trails, paths and closures. Follow your city’s updates on social media.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CLARE GALLAGHER is a member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running® Team.
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