First Run Outside
The first outdoor run of 2026, an Apple Fitness+ Time to Run through the streets of Toronto, and a hint about what's coming next.
It was only 3 degrees out, but after a long cold winter inside, it felt pretty good to finally lace up and get out the door.
I just turned 50. That number is real now. And I've decided that the way I want to think about it is simple: the next 50 should be truly great. Not just okay, not just coasting along. I want to be strong and healthy and ready for whatever comes next. So getting outside to run, even on a cold March morning, felt like exactly the right thing to do.
This was my first outdoor run of 2026. I didn't quite manage to hit 5K, but that wasn't really the point. The point was getting outside, feeling the cold air, remembering what it's like to move through actual space instead of staring at a treadmill screen.
I did a Time to Run episode from Apple Fitness+, the Toronto one, and it made the whole thing way more enjoyable than just grinding out kilometres on my own. The narrator took me through streets I actually know. The SkyDome, Kensington Market, places I've walked and explored before. Running through your own neighbourhood while someone describes a city you're familiar with through your earbuds is pretty cool. The soundtrack was all Canadian artists too, which was a nice touch.
The watch doesn't lie. 152 BPM average, effort level 10, All Out. For a first outdoor run after months of winter training, I'll take it.
All those treadmill sessions and kettlebell workouts over the winter are paying off. My legs felt strong, my lungs handled the cold air better than expected, and I didn't feel like I was starting from zero. The consistency of showing up through the dark months actually carried forward into this first real run.
I also have a bit of an announcement. There's a trip to Scotland coming up, and it's going to involve some pretty intense training to really enjoy it. I think if I keep stacking the days between now and then, I'll be ready.
Stay tuned.