Mellow Velo

Good Medicine

Posted on 23. Jun, 2010 by KFullerF4 in Thoughts

Recent study proves what we already know

“I don’t need parents. I just need a recording that says ‘ Go play outside.’” – Calvin, from the Calvin & Hobbes comic strip

It’s 4:00 p.m. My hand rests on the keyboard just a few inches away from a cup of coffee. It’s not an everyday thing, but some afternoons drag heavier than others and I truly enjoy working at my second home office – Wildfire Coffee.

A few days ago, I tried fighting mid-afternoon complacency with a 45-minute bike ride. I hopped in the saddle at 3:30. It was 100 degrees or more in the sun with no breeze. The tar on the road bubbled up and snapped against my worn tires like bubble wrap, unnerving me with the thought that I was about to experience my first blowout. But the sluggishness I felt at my desk didn’t translate. My legs felt awesome. I was immediately riled to alertness and banged out one of the best-feeling rides in weeks. Despite soaking through my kit, the ride was well worth needing to work late.

This little phenomenon is probably nothing new to you, but if you’re having trouble convincing your boss that you need an hour or two to take a break in the afternoon, or you are seeking inspiration to keep riding through the cruel, summer months, check out a study done at the University of Rochester. This from their website:

Being outside in nature makes people feel more alive, finds a series of studies published in the June 2010 issue of the Journal of Environmental Psychology. And that sense of increased vitality exists above and beyond the energizing effects of physical activity and social interaction that are often associated with our forays into the natural world, the studies show.

“Nature is fuel for the soul, ” says Richard Ryan, lead author and a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. “Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature,” he says.

Well, duh. But there’s more:

Across all methodologies, individuals consistently felt more energetic when they spent time in natural settings or imagined themselves in such situations. The findings were particularly robust, notes Ryan; being outside in nature for just 20 minutes in a day was enough to significantly boost vitality levels. Interestingly, in the last study, the presence of nature had an independent energizing effect above that of being outdoors. In other words, conclude the authors, being outdoors was vitalizing in large part because of the presence of nature.

To me, this sounds like a good reason to take up running, which I plan to do once we move to Colorado. A 30-minute run mid-afternoon wouldn’t interfere with my ride schedule and would be quicker to prepare for in the middle of the workday. It’s also an excuse to spend some time on the trails near our house during the middle of the week.

I haven’t run since I was a mediocre, unhappy sprinter on the Hobby Middle School track team. I like to blame my weak right knee, but in truth I have just found it to be too hot and too boring. Are any of you also runners? How does that work for you with cycling?