Spring has arrived in Madison.  I am not too naive to think that the snow has ceased for the year, but nature is starting to bud, chirp and bloom, ushering in the vernal equinox.

Exercising in spring is always exciting as the bike paths fill with families getting out after a long winter and pedestrians off the treadmills and out on the streets.  As I hit the road and trails on a sunny, crisp spring morning to celebrate the coming of spring, I am starting to wonder what I like more, my outdoor exercise or the opportunity to be out experiencing nature.  I headed into the UW Arboretum, our natural gem in the middle of Madison.  I will take trails over sidewalks any day, and will fully admit that I am a nature nut, a bird lover, a tree hugger.  And I am starting to wonder if I should bring my binoculars with me when I go out, as I always seem to wish I had them with me.  Here is what I got to experience during my run on the first day of spring:

-Watching and hearing the male Red Winged Blackbirds going nuts, fiercely claiming their territory in expectation of the females’ arrival in the coming days.  And I think… It is funny how we named a species after the males’ features, with the Red Winged Blackbirds flashy red and yellow wing bars, but the brown and inconspicuous females lack all flashy-ness.  Hmmm.

-Running along the trail, I stop in my tracks, coming across 4 giant Toms (turkeys) all in full feather display and strutting their stuff.  Knowing they were not displaying for this females attention, I quickly turned around and left them to their turkey rituals.

-Cranes were flying overhead, necks outstretched, whooping as to make sure I took notice of their grace and presence in the sky.

-On my way home, I noticed the ice has disappeared from Lake Wingra and the geese and ducks are finding their mates and claiming their nesting homes for the spring hatch.

Nature is buzzing, if we just take the time to stop, listen and notice.

Lace up your sneakers or strap on your helmet, get outside into nature, but don’t go so fast that you miss the amazing nature displays happening all around you.

Happy Training!