Exercising ideas, anyone?

In a bit of bummer news today, I was told by my doctor to stop running for at least the next 4-6 weeks to let a foot injury heal. I know, 4-6 runningless weeks probably doesn’t sound like that much, but as I have been running 4 times a week almost every week for almost the last two years, I kind of can’t imagine that long without it.

Mary S Young State Park(no trail running for this chica for a while…)

As James will tell you, living with me when I’m not getting a whole bunch of exercise becomes — well, let’s just be diplomatic about it and say difficult. Pent-up energy without an outlet quickly turns into grumpiness, which eventually morphs into feeling gross and fat, which makes me even grumpier. I also just make better life choices when I’m exercising: I eat better, sleep better, think better, — in short, I’m a happier, more stasia-like person when I get to run around.

So this 4-6 weeks of not running and even, said my doctor, minimizing walking, feels a little like a death sentence. Which is silly and overdramatic and I’m trying to put it all into perspective because come on. I can still bike. I haven’t lost any limbs. I’ve suffered no traumatic brain or internal injuries. In a month or two, hopefully all will be well and I won’t even remember this. Certainly I will lose most of my running fitness, but I can work back up to it. It’s not the end of the world.

What I do need, though, is some good low-impact exercising, preferably where I don’t have to pay for it (i.e. no gym memberships to get access to a pool). And I’d really rather be outside. I’m already scheming how to find every hill to bike up on my way to work, but realistically I can’t climb Council Crest 6 times on my way to work every day;)

If you have any ideas for me, I’d love to hear them. Consider it an investment in helping me not be a crazy person. James will thank you;)

6 Comments:

  1. pushups, situps, pullups, (anything with an “ups”), lunges, weightless squats, planks, yoga, etc. Plenty of videos on the old Utube if you’re stuck inside, or you can do it all outside on your own.

    • YES to the “ups.” :) Though the tricky part of it is that I already have a whole core-strengthening rigamarole that I usually do while still running, so I guess I just need to add to it a little bit. And then make it aerobic… :)

  2. Grimpe! C’est un work-out pour le corps entier!

  3. Hot yoga would get some of that energy out. Can you still go climbing or would that strain the feet?

    • Hot yoga? Huh! I had definitely not thought about that. And yeah, it seems like climbing is okay so far, since the shoe is pretty stiff… funny how many people have recommended that — though I guess I brought it upon myself with that previous post about why I don’t climb;)

    • Actually, do you have a place that you like for yoga? I feel like I’m generally underwhelmed by yoga, so if you know of a place you love I’d love to hear it:)

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