I’m almost at the one month mark since my foot started hurting. During that time I have run 3 times. I don’t have a gym, so my only workouts are what I can do at home. When I was away last month I got to use ellipticals in hotel gyms for 2 days, but other than that I haven’t been doing any cardio.
I’m not really feeling like posting about being injured/coping with the emotional side of injury, or anything like that. It’s frustrating, but life goes on. Instead, today I thought I would share some other, non-running, things that I have been doing lately! I always wonder how I would fill my time if I didn’t run, and now I guess I know. (I think before when I have been injured I filled that time by going to the gym or PT, so this time around is a little different for me.)
1. Resting. Or at least trying to rest. For awhile my goal was to just stay off my feet as much as possible This meant not doing ANY workouts because I didn’t know if even standing on it to strength train or bending my foot during yoga would make it worse. So I still get up early (but sometimes not AS early), and just relax. Ya know, like a crazy person with a cup of coffee at 5am. I guess some habits are hard to break.
2. Strength training. So now that the pain has mostly subsided I have been spending some more time strength training. It’s nice to be able to spread it out more throughout the week. I figure I can do a little strength training 4-5 days a week rather than cramming more exercises into 1-2 days a week like I was doing before.
3. Yoga. I haven’t done this as much as I anticipated, but I have definitely done it a few times and am always glad I did. I think all the downward dogs are a great way to stretch out my calves.
4. Walking. This week I started going for walks to test out my foot. It’s been nice to be outside again, but the jury is still out on whether or not it aggravates my foot. I can walk around at work all day and feel fine, then go for a walk around the block in running shoes and I notice it again. It’s probably cumulative from my walking throughout the entire day, so I just try to keep in mind how much walking I do at work when deciding if I will also walk at home.
5. Drinking wine and beer. No, I’m not drinking heavily or anything like that. But I have continued to enjoy my wine as I always have, and I’ve been back to enjoying beers as well. This seems to be a seasonal thing for me. Last summer I was drinking Sam’s Summer and around Christmas I drink Great Lake’s Christmas Ale. Well a few weeks ago I tried Dogfish 60 minute IPA and found that I really like it! I’m sure Rob isn’t happy about this because before he never had to worry about sharing:)
What do you like to do when you can’t run?
Do you like drinking beer in the summer?
How many days a week do you strength train?
[Tweet “What I’ve Been Doing While I Haven’t Been Running via @runningoutowine #injuredrunner #fridayfive”]
I’m linking up with Courtney, Mar, and Cynthia for the Friday Five!
I would be up early too, it’s such a habit! I hope your foot gets back to normal real quick!
Thanks! Its tough to sleep in when you are used to getting up early every day.
I have been having a weird achy food the past 2 weeks and I”m over it. It doesn’t hurt when I run, just when I’m doing life and stuff. I can’t wear my running shoes for everything! But it looks like I might have to…
What’s the deal with mystery foot problems? I’m glad you can run. And running shoes 24/7 isn’t the worst thing:)
Oh, Lisa, I feel you. I like to do all of the same things as you while I let this thing recover. Hoping you are back on the road soon!
Same to you!
summer beers! Yes! And sometimes sangria! I’m so sorry your foot isn’t 100% better, but i am happy you are enjoying other aspects of fitness. I strength train 2-3 days per week (usually only about 20-40 minutes in duration) and Cameron loves the 60 minute IPA! I’ve been getting into sour beers lately. They’re strange, like a kombucha beer or something.
I don’t think I have ever tried a sour beer! And I also enjoy sangria once in a while in the summer. It’s a nice change and so refreshing!
Hahahahah I love that you wrote you’re not drinking heavily! Very happy about that 🙂
You ARE crazy for getting up at 5am without needing to!
I guess I can’t break the early morning habit! And when I first wrote this # 5 was just “drinking” so i figured I should clarify:)
I hope your foot feels better and back to normal very soon! IPAs are my favorite summer beer—so crisp and refreshing but not lacking in flavor. I get up early also when I was injured, because habit and more energy from not working out as much!
I’m so glad that I learned that I like IPAs! I also tried some when we went to a brewery a few weeks ago.
I bruised my heels, somehow, over the long weekend, so I’ve only run once, on Monday. I have a theory about what I did, so I’m letting them get better. I haven’t really wanted to run much this week with the heat, so I’ve done strength training, and I think after all these PT exercises, I’m getting stronger. The first set doesn’t make my muscles protest anymore.
Sorry to hear about your heels! I hope they get better quickly. The strength training really does pay off!
I hope you’re back to running soon! It’s great that you’ve found the bright side and have other things to do when you’re not running as much. I’m trying to start more strength training now that marathon training has started…I’ll get back to you on if it actually happens 😛
YAY summer beers! I need to get myself a case of Sam Summer because that stuff is my jam! I’ve been drinking a lot of lemonade + various liquors lately. It’s perfect for by the pool!
That does sound like a perfect pool drink! Good luck with the strength training- its tough to fit everything in while marathon training!
It is true that injuries can be emotionally draining!
It’s great that you are using this time for strength training. I find that sometimes I am so focused on running that other stuff like strengthening gets put aside.
I figure I might as well take advantage of the extra time while injured and work on strength!
I haven’t been able to run either for different issues so I can empathize for sure. I have been keeping busy with core work and strength training and try to get out and walk my dog as often as I can.
It’s good to change things up once in a while anyway! There are so many other ways to exercise other than just running.
Girl we are on the same page right now! I’m going to a sports podiatrist today to look at pain I’ve been having on the top of my foot. I’m terrified it’s a stress fracture, but if it is, at least it’s happening when I’m not training. I love Dogfish 60 minute IPA–I’ll drink some with you!!
I’m so sorry about your foot! Lots of Dogfish should help!
I’m right there with you in the 5am coffee club! Sounds to me like you are doing just fine. Of course it sucks not running but there’s more to life and you’re proof of that. Glad you’re enjoying and making the best of it.
Exactly- while of course I would rather be running sometimes its good to do other things.
i’m not injured but taking some time off the regular training grind so not running a whole lot. I’ve definitely enjoyed daily evening strolls and other fitness activities. I do have a gym membership though so have a lot of class options as well as checking our free outdoor activities in DC – there are tons!
Sometimes its nice to have time to do other activities besides just running! Glad you found so many things you enjoy!
Not a beer drinker but I love iced tea or Arnold Palmers in summer! I feel like breaking the 5am habit would be tough, I’m up just as early on rest days as I am on running days – and it will probably help you in the long run when you get back to it not to have broken your routine.
That’s definitely true! I find its much easier to stay consistent and get up at the same time every day.
Good to see you’re still doing well despite your injury. Relaxing and enjoying wine/beer sound good to me! When I wasn’t running due to injury, I was overall pretty lazy but I did discover that I enjoyed yoga…you’re doing great keeping active!
I definitely spent the first week or so being lazy but then I felt like I needed to get back to being active!
You are doing all the right things- especially the drinking. 🙂 I like to weight train 3 days a week but if I am not running I will up it to kind of a 3 day pattern- Day 1: chest/shoulder, Day 2: back Day 3 rest. Repeat!
That’s a good way to strength train! This week I did legs and core on Tuesday, back and arms on Wednesday, and then Pure Barre on Friday. I might move things around next week and also try to add in some heavier weights!
I just had Sam’s Summer the other day and it was delicious! I also enjoy the 60 minute IPA. I think drinking beers while sitting outside in the sun is a great part of summer. 🙂
Its definitely one of my favorite parts of summer!
Looks like you are making great use of your time! Strength training and yoga are great ways to still maintain a fitness routine and wake up schedule. I hope you get back to normal soon! I also love that beer and wine made the list 🙂
Thanks! I figure there has to be some balance, even while injured:)
sometimes i just dont want to do my yoga stuff but when im done i never regret it, makes my muscles so happy. when im hurt i focus on strength training a lot more because it gets lost when i am training for a race. i do love nice defined arms though!
I always feel so good after I do yoga! But often Im not motivated enough to actually do it.
I sure hope your foot is feeling better ASAP, girl! I know all too well how it feels to be injured – and usually I do pretty much the same things you’re doing! I always find injuries remind me just how much I love yoga 😛
I know I always enjoy yoga but I seem to always put it off and focus on other workouts!
I love Dogfish IPA! I did similar things when I wasn’t running – particularly strength training and LOTS of walking while listening to podcasts. The time I would spend running I replaced with reading and socializing. It was a nice change of pace to take my mind off of running.
The walking is nice but has been weird for me. I feel like I am moving so slowly compared to running! But I am getting used to it, and its good to slow down once in awhile anyway.
This post reminds me of how I felt when I woke up in Mexico and instead of going to the gym I put on my bathing suit (at 6am) and walked down to the water with a coffee and my book. And then a Corona and a lime later on. This is the first time in my life that I actually felt peaceful about it. There’s like, a whole chapter in the Bible devoted to seasons, or something. There’s a season for running our asses off, and a season for drinking beer. Okay so maybe that’s not a direct quote. Maybe it’s filtered through about a half a bottle of wine. But it’s Ecclesiastes, if anyone is wondering. Jesus take the wheel.
YES. I could sense through your posts the you were at peace with taking a break from running and I have actually felt that way too. It helps that this week has been disgustingly humid and I start sweating just standing still outside. So yes, maybe this is a season for trying to relax and drink beer. I keep trying to remind myself that I have plenty of more years of running ahead of me, and a month or so off will barely be a blip in the radar when I am looking back on it all. That Bible verse sounds like it totally relates to this!