What Else Can I Do Besides Run?

Was talking with the hubz the other night about the different things we're both passionate about, and the topic of running came up. If you've been following me at this here blog for very long, you know how I've wanted to, attempted to, and lately have been road-blocked from . . . running.

Now, the hubz isn't a runner and so it was perfectly logical for him to ask 'You are obsessed with running, aren't you?' {Ohhh, an open door to explain it all!} My face lit up and my heart was skipping happily as I reminisced about my old running-at-the-crack-of-dawn days . . .

 In college.

When I had my first real job.

And, as a newly married woman.

It just felt sooo good, the wind in my hair, my muscles waking up, the freedom I felt gliding down the street, and even the deep, rhythmic breathing...EXHILARATING!!

But when I glanced back at him he still sat there in bewilderment as to how any of that could feel good. Like I said, he's not a runner. He is very sweet, but he just wasn't getting any of this!

His crossed eyes looking back at me didn't bother me really, but I did have to admit that this desire to run again is perhaps me trying to grab onto a part of my youth, wanting to somehow hold back the hands of time.

For the most part I don't sweat the age thing, it's really only a number that represents a lot of living, lessons learned and some hard-won wisdom. But, physically speaking? I wanna look 40 and feel 30.

With all the trouble I'm having with my feet, I got to wondering later on if it is wise to hold on to the goal of running again {brilliant, I know}, particularly running as a regular form of exercise and cardio. Maybe there are other forms of exercise that fit me too {ding, ding, ding, ding}....my personality, my fitness level, my age, now.

So, a couple of days go by, and this morning I popped onto my blog and, almost like for the very first time saw that beautiful 50's bike in the background of my homepage . . . and thought . . . BIKING!

I love BIKING!

In high school I rode everywhere, to see friends, to downtown shops, to the public pool, to work. You can do it alone or with friends, on the street, on a trail, through the hills, even up and down a mountain! You can race if you want or just be a city rider, and set up a trainer in your living room in the winter. And, the best part right now for me...I can do it NOW.

I guess I had my heart so set on running that I couldn't think of anything else. Even my own tagline...

Losing My Behind

{one ride at a time}

So, as of today, I'm returning to my youthful and ever-living love of cycling. I don't know how far I'll take it or where I'll end up, but I kind of hope to become like that 92 year old woman I saw on the news the other night...riding her recumbant bike everywhere she goes, spry, lively, alert, fit and happy. Maybe I'll get into racing or riding those beautiful hills of Vermont on a biking vacation or who knows what else.

This seems almost like an adventure! Soon I'll be feeling that same 20-something wind in my hair, my sleepy muscles waking up, gliding down the street and probably, most likely gasping for air, ha! I CANNOT wait. Maybe I'll run again someday, but if I don't, its now okay.

What's your declared favorite form of exercise, and how did you arrive at the decision to focus on it? More importantly, what do you do when you can't do what you love?

Cheryl

Photos courtesy of Creative Commons: alarm clock, puzzle question mark

Limitations

I've been thinking about limitations lately. And, what the difference is between being able to do whatever we set our mind to and being stupid and not knowing/accepting our own limitations. I haven't reached any genius conclusions, except that limitations only speak to time frames....sometimes. 

There is nothing in the world, NOTHING IN THE WORLD that I want to do more right now than to run every day. NOTHING. Unfortunately the muscles in my feet are tighter than Alcatraz back in the day and it appears that the key has been thrown away. This not only makes running VERY painful but really impossible more than 1-2 days/week if I want to use my feet for anything else in life.

I've been to physical therapy, and now I stretch out my calves like a mad woman. My calves are more flexible than Gumby, seriously. I've been to the chiropractor, and now press a baseball into the bottom of my feet at key pressure points by stepping on it to break those muscles down and MAKE them do what they're told.

So, now I have really loose calves and baseball indented feet! Have to say, though, there has been a small improvement, but we're probably talking another couple of months AT MINIMUM before I get my regular feet back. And, of course, losing weight would help which is easier to do when you run. 

I figure I'll be ready to run right around the time that winter returns.

Grrrrrrr.

I admit, I'm tempted to ignore doctors orders, ignore the pain and just run. Ice. Baseball torture. Stretch. Ice. Baseball torture. Stretch. Run.

So far I've kept my rebellious, I-can-do-whatever-I-want-set-my-mind-to self in check. And, accepting that other forms of exercise are my lot right now. But, I am not a happy camper. Or runner. Or non-runner.

What limitations do you have, and how have you handled these annoying rascals?

Running on the inside,
Cheryl

Photos sources:  Limitations, Gumby, Grrr