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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

You mean, you can exercise without running? Who knew?

Running, running, running.  I have running on the brain.  It's been two and a half weeks since my last run, and - while I have gotten past the I-am-going-to-go-crazy-if-I-don't-run phase - I am feeling antsy to start up again.  (Okay, so maybe I haven't completely gotten past that going-crazy phase.)

The truth is, though, that NOT running hasn't been all that bad.  It's like I have opened my eyes, looked around, and realized that there are actually other things out there that a person can do for exercise.  Who knew?  Of course, after my faithful devotion to the elliptical the past couple of weeks, I am back in love with it.  It's not so bad.  So, you can't ellipticize outside. And, yes, there is the matter of having to rub shoulders with complete strangers at the gym.  And, no, I haven't forgotten that it really isn't the same as running.  But, ... you CAN go backwards.  Ooooo.  While I suppose I could try that with running, I think people would look at me funny, and there is that matter of tripping and falling.  So, score one for the elliptical.

Also the past couple of weeks I seem to have rediscovered my appreciation for strength training.  There is nothing like laying off of the strength for a couple of months to remind you that, yes, it really does make you a stronger person.  That first day back - when you realize that you can't do half of what you remember being able to do before - that's an eye-opener.

Yoga has also been on the agenda.  While I have never really given yoga up, I seem to have developed even more of a fondness for it than previously.  In my off weeks, I scoped out and bought two Groupons/Deal Chickens to two other yoga studios.  I'm branching out!  I want to see what other styles and places have to offer.


I have walked the dog.

I have hula hooped.







Finally, I have decided I am going to LOVE the rowing machine if it kills me.  I keep reading how rowing is an almost ideal cross-training to running, but I have never been able to get into it.  The shame in that is that we have a rowing machine in our basement.  It seems dumb not to utilize it.  Now, with not being able to run the past few weeks, I have redetermined that I am going to figure out how I can love this machine.

Even the Little Guy likes rowing.
I got off to a good start in that regard a couple of days ago when a friend of mine, who actually rows on a team, was kind enough to show me the ropes at the local Y.  Being able to row side by side with someone who knew what she was doing was helpful, and I didn't do too badly.  I managed 6,000 meters and was sore and sweating buckets afterward.  I'll be curious to see tomorrow how I do when I have to try to do it again on my own.

So, while I have been filling my time nicely with other activities, running has never been too far from my thoughts.  In these couple of weeks off, I have read a book on running, ordered another book online, found two pairs of shoes I plan on buying, started a training journal, and just plain spent a lot of time daydreaming about where I would run when the time came.

So, when is that time?  Hopefully near.  My shin is feeling a lot better.  It has been consistently good for the past five days or so.  Nary a peep out of it, even after exercise.  I have discontinued the cross-friction massage and heat and will only pick those up again as needed.  Now, the only issue I still seem to have standing in my way is my right foot.  Huh, foot?

Yeah, so the foot is something that started bothering me about the same time as the shin, but I haven't really wanted to give it a lot of thought.  It just didn't seem as important as the shin, but it seems to be the most persistent at this point.  Like a lot of my injuries, it doesn't bother me while running, but it does after getting up and after sitting for a while.  The whole foot and ankle area feels tight.  With this time off it has gotten a bit better, but it is still not 100 percent.  Of course, I haven't really thought to nurse it along either.  So, I think I'll start a regimen of icing and massage and see where that leads me.

In any case, I am hoping to start getting back into running this weekend at the latest.  I don't think I can hold off any longer.  I figured when I felt like going for a run on Sunday AFTER finishing an hour workout on the elliptical that it has got to be close to time for me to give it a whirl.

So, all in all, the break from running has been kind of nice.  I wish I'd done it a little sooner and not backed it up as I have into my marathon training period.  But, what are you going to do?  Sometimes mistakes are made.  Now, it's time to ease my way back into it and hope for the best.  I do have a marathon in four months after all.  One way or another, I have to start preparing for it.

4 comments:

  1. Hey, I found your blog through Tall Mom, and I had to come check it out when you mentioned a swiss run! That is amazing! Did you make the hula hoop in this post? We are really into hula hooping and make our own hoops, and yours looks similar to how we tape ours when we are finished.

    Great to find you. I just started a running blog recently too. Come on over!

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  2. Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I didn't make the hula hoop myself. I bought it from a lady who makes them here locally and then sells them at the farmer's market. I and each of the kids got one -- all different sizes as appropriate to our respective statures. :) I am just getting into it, but it's a lot of fun. Stopped by your blog. Sounds like you are doing some amazing training. Let me know how the Hanson's plan goes. I am curious!

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  3. I'm also injured & not running. It makes me a little insane in the membrane.... ok, a lot insane.

    I love to row. In fact, once you get the hang of it, you can set it up like a run. I like to do a "track workout" when I row. I warm up for about 5 - 10 minutes, do 8x 200m or 4x 400m or... you get the point, and then do a cool down.

    I have recently started pool running which I hate and I love. "It's complicated". I also do intervals wth that, but more as a prevention for insanity. Anyway, according to the big bad runners in my life (i.e. - my coach, his coach, & the hot running guy I like to admire from a'near) pool running is a great way to work the running muscles without beating up the body. So if you need to start running for your marathon training plan, and can't run yet b/c of the shin/ankle/foot situation, it might be worth trying.

    I kinda covet the hoola hoop. I might have to head up to Yo Momma and see how she makes them.

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  4. Hey gba_gf, Thanks for stopping by! I enjoyed visiting your blog, and will enjoy getting updates from it. I love the way you write.

    Yeah, pool running and me - we don't get along. I've been there done that, and it never seems to last long. If you read my blog long enough, you will find out that I am not a water person. I keep telling myself I need to start swimming - even took adult swim lessons a couple of years back - but every time I consider going swimming I find something else to do. Same thing with the aqua jogging. I actually signed up for a class a year ago. I think I went twice.

    I know, I know. Swimming and water running are great in an injury, so I should give it more of a chance. And, I am sure I will some day. Goodness knows, I am injured enough that it will HAVE to become part of my routine at some point.

    In the meantime, rowing on an ERG is about as close to the water as I have gotten in a while. (Well, I can imagine.) Thanks for the tips on interval training. I'll give that a whirl.

    Speaking of whirling, definitely - the hoop is the BEST. It's a great core workout. Check it out!

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