This is it. For many of us, last Friday, 11/1 was the last time we’ll see any semblance of sunlight after work until Valentine’s Day dinner plans are being made and talk of Spring Break begins to emerge. The end of Daylight Savings time marks a shift that angles the sun below the horizon across Minnesota before 5 PM. We won’t see a reverse of this downward slide for another 45 days. In fact, we’ll continue to lose 1-2+ min of daylight each day until a scant 8 hr and 46 min remain. Adding insult to injury, November and December are some of the cloudiest months of the year, averaging sunny skies less than 50% of the time compared to 70% in the summer months.
Lack of sun can be a real problem for our emotions. Seasonal depression challenges folks across the Northern Hemisphere during the winter months. The grim reality of dwindling sunlight impacts not only the U.S., but also our northern counterparts in Europe. In short, people desire sunlight to be happy and many can feel at a loss without it.
So how to combat this struggle as we kick off the holiday season? After-all, there is only so much pleasure to be found in helping yourself to another leftover piece of Halloween candy.
The simple answer is to get outside and enjoy what remains. November sunsets are some of the best as hues of rose and orange paint the sky. Enjoying new found views in what were once dense thickets gives light to old hikes on familiar paths. Without the distracting visual stimulus in dark neighborhood streets during evening runs, new smells waft from cooking chili and stew in cozy kitchens.
In training too, there’s a certain comfort in getting out the door simply for the joy of it. With most fall races done and winter looming on the horizon, there’s no pressure to hit a certain mileage or a looming workout for the day. Each step out the door you take is merely by choice. The spring goals and aspirations can wait.
So grab your long sleeve and gloves and get out the door. Enjoy the flocks of geese heading south and the golden prairie grasses now dormant. Find a new route or connect with an old friend for a walk or a run. Despite the diminishing daylight, you won’t regret it.
See you out on the trails,
John and Kate