It's been a month now since I've hit my route in just shorts and shoes: I've just been too busy. As a result, I've noticed a peculiar mental phenomenon.
When I consider the prospect of heading out again, shirtless, there is an increasing sense of apprehension. From this, I have to conclude that those of us who want to go barechested need to keep up the practice, in order to keep away the cobwebs of 'shyness' or embarrassment. Some of it has a certain basis in logic: If we cease to exercise for too long, our bodies become flabbier. But this is multiplied in the mind, until we become paralysed with uncertainty.
I'll be squeezing out time for a shirtless run by next week, before I'm unable even to strip to the waist without being overwhelmed by doubts.
3 comments:
I'm living in a place where winter can last from 6-8 months of the year. Transitioning from tights and underarmor to just shorts and no shirt can be liberating during the first warm days of spring; however the thought of baring pale skin for the first time in months can be uncomfortable initially. Once the barrier has been overcome, I find that heading out the door without a shirt becomes alot easier.
ps: just came back from a shirtless run :)
With you all the way on this one, Tim. The goodly rays of Brother Sun will soon make any paleness of skin a wintry memory.
In a way I can relate. Except in my case, going a long time without running shirtless makes me anticipate taking my shirt off even more. When I get to the park where I run (I drive to a certain park a considerable distance from home) I do get somewhat apprehensive when I see other people initially. Regardless, I do my stretch, take my shirt off, and go on running.
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