Where x equals y

As I creep closer to the ripe old age of forty, there are a few things, where running is concerned, that I can shout from the rooftops with great certainty.

First, like fine furniture of the same era, I creek and crack with just the slightest of movements compared to just a few years ago; a condition that seems to worsen in colder temperatures for both the furniture and me.

Second, and along the same lines as my first point, I am no longer indifferent to running in cold weather - I much prefer bodily warmth and dryness before, during, and after a run.

Third, and along the same lines as my second point, I am without question turning into a fair-weather runner; this wouldn't be such a big deal if I lived in a fair-weather region, but I don't, so as my tolerance for running in rain, sleet, snow, drizzle and some of the other stuff my hometown throws at me diminishes, the chances that I skip a run or two will no doubt increase in the years ahead.

Finally, and completely separate from my first three points, being a member of a running club made up of your co-workers brings you closer, a lot closer, to them.

Lately I've been thinking about our club and the way we interact with each other and how our relationships have changed since we all decided to strip down to our skivvies and pound the pavement together. I am a hundred times more in tune with everyone in the club and I have had general, every day conversations about life's little moments and other obscure topics with most members that I would never have with "just a co-worker"; in the past, our conversations would have been limited to financial statements, purchase orders and company policies.

And it's not just that I am getting to know these people better, I feel an almost sibling-like attachment to them and I've found that their health and well-being matters more to me than ever before. When club members get sidelined with injuries, illnesses, or other personal matters, I hope, with great sincerity, that they are able to recover quickly because without them, the group is missing a part of its sum, x doesn't equal y, there's no yin to our yang, our feng is without shui.

We've been challenged, big time, since we started our half marathon training in January, x hasn't equalled y very often. Most of us have been struck down with illness or injury at some point over the past few months, and during the few brief periods when that wasn't plaguing us, the weather has provided a further slap to the group's face. But I'm a great believer that tenaciousness and commitment win out over everything. Stick with it and you'll be rewarded. And that will make crossing the finish line in Halifax that much more special for all of us.

I just hope the weather's warm.