Wind, what's it good for?

Recently, I saw a post which sang the praises for wind.   It told the story of how wind power  is harnessing nature's power for clean, renewable power.   It went on to talk about how wind power continues to grow.   Great - wind - the good guy - just the press it needs.

I am trying really hard to find a good use for wind for runners.   It's spring in Iowa which means that no matter the run, no matter the trail and no matter the direction - we will be fighting wind.   Heck with harnessing mother nature for electricity - can we figure out a way to stop it for just one of my runs.

And wind is such a sneaky guy.   I have had countless experiences of running out on a trail - feeling fast, feeling speedy, feeling like this running thing is actually easy just to experience a blow to my ego and fitness level by turning around and facing a mysterious head wind that I never noticed on the way out.   Many runners tell me, on those windy days, to just slow down - "don't worry about the time or pace".  Or others will tell me to use it as resistence training - "makes you stronger."  I don't buy either one of those little lines. I was so glad to see the blogs of some of the elite runners, like Deena Kastor, after Boston talking about their feelings of wind and weather -- makes me feel like less of a wimp.

Wind is an obnoxious, sneaky enemy of mine.   Of course, unless it is at my back.

Wind Mill photo at Flickr by Fishfoot

Racers photo at Flickr by eschneider

Comments

[Brett Farmiloe]

Amy and Tom,

I didn't see a contact form here so I decided to comment on an EXCELLENT book about running. It is entitled "Bowerman and the Men of Oregon," writen by Kenny Moore that talks about the life of Bill Bowerman (Nike co-founder and Oregon track coach), and his runners.

There is even an excerpt in the book that talks about how he made jogging popular in the United States. Amazing read, and one I would recommend to any runner out there!