BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Just laugh about it

Hello runner friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about something simple that can improve your health and your running.... laughter. It's true! According to science and my own personal experience, the saying "Laughter is the best medicine” is one-hundred-percent true.

Don't believe me? Check out what HelpGuide had to say about this amazing mood-improving emotion... laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner.

I would also like to add that laughter is many times the secret weapon to help you finish a hard run. Case in point... my friend Gretchen and I were running a 50k over the weekend in Kansas. What we thought was going to be a somewhat easy 31 miles (it's never easy but we thought the flat, packed-gravel course would work to our advantage) turned out to be a tad more difficult than expected. Those Kansas winds had us thinking we were Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and nearly blew my hat off a few times. And quite honestly if we hadn't made jokes about being wind-burnt and sun-burnt at the same time, feeling all four seasons in one day, and our need for serious therapy, our mood would have suffered and the run would have been an uphill battle. And while it was a battle, it was a fun one!!! As you can see, laughter has the ability to allow a person to press on in the midst of difficulty because it focuses a person's attention on pleasant things. Laughter also causes a person to feel thankful even when there might not seem to be anything to be thankful for. Laughter is just good for you!!

So in the spirit of laughter, check out these "30 Signs You've Officially Become a Runner" from thrillist and let the hooting and howling begin! On a side note, you might want to memorize some of these so you can share them when you, your running partner or your run group gets a little discouraged. 

Your toenails are no longer suited for public appearance

Between blisters, black toenails, and the stench, it’s best to keep those babies in hiding.

You scoff at the idea of paying $20 for a movie ticket
But you’ll happily pay a $40 race registration fee for a 5K that will take about a quarter of the time it takes to watch a movie.

You don’t think food is something you need to enjoy
It’s strictly fuel, so you can keep running.

You’ve started Googling road races in exotic locations you want to visit
Vacations are for the weak -- leaving town is only worth it if you go on a race-cation.

Spending $100 on running shoes doesn’t seem like such a steep price anymore
In fact, $100 is your minimum spend for a pair of shoes.

You have to do laundry twice as often
And 80% of your load is activewear.

After not running for a few days, you get antsy, angry, and even sad
Are you running... or are you running away from your feelings?! [cue dramatic music]

You’ve started to speak more openly about your bowel movements
That’s just dead weight you’re shedding.

Speaking of bowel movements, they happen more frequently than they used to
And you’ve started to plan your running route on the availability of a Starbucks and its public bathroom.

You’re hungry for lunch by 11am
Especially after a long 6am run.

You’ve started to keep deodorant at your desk at work
If you haven’t, you should really start.

You bought a bulky GPS watch to replace your trendy timepiece
The NSA may be able to track you at all times, but at least you’ll know your pace.

Your running shorts are the shortest they’ve ever been
And your activewear is basically skintight. Leave nothing to the imagination.

You’ve greased up your body with Vaseline more than once
Because chafing is real, and darnit, sometimes a petroleum byproduct gets the job done.

Showers are now an office requirement when searching for new jobs
No shower, no early-morning or post-work runs, no way.

The frozen peas in your freezer are actually for icing your sore muscles

You haven’t eaten frozen peas in YEARS.

You’ve hated yourself during a race
Because masochism is the only sure sign that you’re going to feel great once you finish.

Chocolate milk is your new favorite drink
Well, it’s technically a first runner-up -- second only to beer.

You’ve started to think of distances in terms of how long it would take for you to run that far
“Four miles to the bank? I could run that faster than driving through town!”

Your friends don’t ask you about your weekend plans
They just ask, “How many miles are you running?”

You know that asking a fellow runner, “What was your time?” is a loaded, heated, and emotional question
Proceed with caution.

You know the amazing feeling that comes with drinking a post-run shower beer
It’s just like college, only with more running.

You feel like your age matters
But only because it determines your age group (and competition) in road races.

Bodily fluids don’t really bother you anymore
Snot rockets and spit balls? Bring ‘em on.

You’ve worn a bib in the last few months
And not the kind that babies wear.

You own a stack of medals
Maybe a lot of them are the dreaded “participation” kind, but they still make you feel sort of important.

Carbs are your favorite food group now
Yes, you WILL have some bread with that pasta.

Your friends and family members call you crazy
But you do it anyway, because you love that can’t-nobody-touch-me-now feeling. Oh, and the runner’s high is no joke.

So there you have it friends. Laughter is indeed the best medicine that you and I could ever have. It battles anxiety, improves our resilience and reinforces our desire to press on when the race gets hard, AND it's contagious! The best part about laughter? It's totally free! So laugh hard and laugh often. It will not only benefit you but everyone around you. 

HAPPY RUNNING!