I would venture to say there is nothing more sad than a runner who has a brand new spanking pair of shoes, but who cannot/should not run. Okay, yes, there are sadder things, but play along.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11 from Zappos
For whatever reason I am still feeling a major pull in my ass/hamstring when I push off during runs. I did 5 miles the other day and felt it. If I have learned one thing from injuries, it is that running while in pain never ends well. So, I am desperately trying not to do it.
Sometimes I break into a run just for the hell of it to remind myself what it feels like. Usually I do this in the pet food aisle of the grocery store because it is the most boring. Then I stop after a few steps and move onto the cereal.
Here’s the thing: I am a runner, I love to run, but sometimes it can’t happen and I need to be okay with that. I plan to have a very long life of running, hopefully 40 more years, so I need to see the big picture and keep my “temple” healthy.
Instead of running, I am wearing my shoes around the house and stroking them. I am also wearing running skirts and drinking chocolate milk. Sometimes I wear my Garmin when I clean just to see how far I’ve gone and how fast. I’ve got my Road ID on my wrist in case I get lost in the basement and I always carry an extra GU to the backyard because I might bonk or hit a wall. You can take the running out of the girl for a moment but not the girl out of running.
I know so many of us can relate, but I long for the days of just taking a run and not worrying about pain or injury. I have had several of those types of runs in the past few months, but not enough.
Today I had a sport’s massage and my massage therapist asked me if I ever just take a week off. My mouth dropped open and I couldn’t speak. Finally, I mustered, “You mean a week off of running or a week off of any kind of exercise?” She replied, “Yeah, just a week to rest. Like you do some yoga, but no swimming, biking or running.” Again, I was speechless. “Well, no. Never. I mean when I take two days off it is a HUGE deal. Exercising is like kissing my kids good night. It’s just what I do.” She laughed really hard and looked at me funny as if to say, “You have a major problem.” But instead she said, “You know it’s about balance. Maybe you need to rest.”
And maybe you need to not remind me of this fact because I know you are probably right and I just don’t really want to hear it.
Mind you, this entire time I was clenching, trying not to fart as she worked out my glutes. She kept telling me to “relax” but relaxing would have meant a strong release of air that probably would have propelled her into her soothing fountain and myriad of essential oil scented lotions.
So a teensy eensy part of me thinks she might be right and part of me thinks it is enough to just not run, but to do all the other stuff like biking, yoga and swimming. Those things by no stretch make up for not running because that is my most favorite thing in the world. But doing other exercise take the edge off.
Last night at dinner Emma said, “Let’s say what everyone is obsessed with. For instance, I am obsessed with Taylor Swift and mom is obsessed with running and her blog.”
Okay smarty pants. I’ll give you that. At least I admit it. Speaking of being obsessed, check out my article in the “This Mother Can Run” magazine HERE. I get bossy and talk about not making excuses. Click on “download current issue.”
What are you obsessed with?
Would you ever consider taking a week off from complete and total exercise? (not including if you were injured and had to).
Ever farted during a massage on purpose or by mistake?
Nope, I’m not taking a week off. Maybe from running, but not from ALL of it.
SUAR
