Wow, look what happened this afternoon!
I ran. Don’t get too excited though…it was only two miles. It was a beautiful fall day and I couldn’t resist the urge to get outside and run. The bonus was that my friend Sarah joined me so the run was more about chatting than pounding the pavement. We took a walk break at mile two and decided just to walk the last mile to the car so we could continue catching up.
Given this news, I thought that today might be a good time to discuss the whole “runner” part of this blog that’s been missing for quite a while now. You’ll remember my Born To Run post a few months ago where I lamented about my struggles with injuries and how much my body resists running. Last summer I found myself dealing with injuries again and just decided to back off of running for a while.
The heartache of announcing my plans to run races and then winding up injured became too much to take. I decided to skip fall race season and do things that feel good to my body. Thus the reason why I have been living in the yoga studio and focusing on strength training and new and different fitness challenges.
It has been somewhat difficult to miss out on fall half and full marathons. I did run a couple of 5 and 10Ks to calm the racing bug and have enjoyed reading all of my friends race recaps and cheering them on. But honestly..I don’t miss how my body feels while marathon training. I am in a really good place right now. My body feels amazing. I have no pain in my hamstrings. I feel better physically than I have in years.
Where does that leave me? I’m definitely not giving up on running but as of now, one or two short runs a week are working just fine for me. I’m also thrilled with the benefit it’s giving my yoga practice. I’m feeling so open and getting into postures that I have been working on for years. Pretty cool.
Do you have ebbs and flows with running (or your sport of choice)? Does it stress you out or do you go with how you feel?
Post-run snack was plain Greek yogurt with pumpkin butter, crushed ginger snaps, dried cranberries and sunflower seed butter. Fall-themed and very tasty!
I’ve been settled into the couch working on blog posts with a cup of Yogi Green Tea Kombucha. Today’s tea tag: “Your greatness is not what you have, it’s what you give.”
Off to teach yoga! It’s vinyasa + vino night! 😀
***I updated Bakin’ and Eggs with the recipe for the Mozzarella and Spinach Stuffed Chicken Meatloaf. Make it! It’s so good!***
DITTO to the running hiatus, post injury(s) – stress fracture in spring 2010 did me in and I haven’t run over 5miles since. Don’t miss it or the pressure I put on myself ONE SINGLE BIT. I’m probably leaner, stronger, and more fit NOW than I was w/ all the races. The mental break is absolutely refreshing, too. Hope to catch one of your Y2 classes over the holidays! Have a great day.
Caroline
I think it’s so important to do what feels right to your body. So glad you are feeling better!
Good for you for doing what feels good for your body. I know from experience how hard it is to give up/scale back on running. Yet I also know that the mechanics of running doesn’t work for everyone, and I think you are so smart to accept that (i still haven’t 🙁 )
Can I ask what happened to your hamstring and how you healed it? And do you modify any yoga positions (such as forward bend or triangle) because of it?
Thanks.
Sophie
I think running is a test of patience a lot of the time. Waiting for an injury to heal, waiting to get faster, etc. It ain’t all rainbows and butterflies 😉
Don’t I get photo credits? j/k!
So fun to catch up! And thanks for posting that recipe… I love B&Eggs. Looks like a perfect “for the husband meal”! See you soon!
Thar sharing the Tea quote!!! I have been reflecting a lot on giving lately. XO
I love to run but after my first half marathon last year I was in so much pain I decided to take off a few weeks and focus on yoga and weights instead. I listened to my body and started running again, but instead of worrying aobut distance and times I based my runs on how I felt. I’m running another 1/2 at Thanksgiving, but this time for fun. It has made the world of difference when it’s about doing what is best for you rather than what you feel obligated to do.
I think that you are a great role model for “knowing yourself” in terms of working out. One of my goals is to remain fit and active for as long as possible (I would love to be the 80-year old woman pounding the pavement at road races) and I know there will be times in my life when I need to modify my routine because of schedule, injury, major life events, etc. I try to keep an open mind about activities so that I avoid work-out ruts and treat my body like it deserves. If running a couple of times per week at lower mileage than you’ve done in the past makes you feel great, then that’s what you should go with! So proud of you for acknowledging that!
I hated to miss yoga & vino yesterday but I was in Atlanta for work. I did hit a hot vinyasa class at a studio there, but it just wasn’t the same.
Yaaay for running again! 😀 I admire you ENDLESSLY for listening to your body so well!! That is something I really need to work on, and clearly it is working so well for you!
P.S. That is SUCH a pretty photo of you! 🙂
Totally understandable. It seems like everyone is out there jumping on the marathon bandwagon. While I’m excited for them I have no desire for that either. I’d love to complete half a dozen halves first. And while I feel better prepared for that distance this time around — I see so much room for improvement.
Running is hard work. It takes time and patience. If it ain’t broken right now — don’t fix it! 🙂