A.K.A. How to Cope When Not Running!
Read on to learn how to stay sane while recovering from a running injury. Falling off a ladder, twisting your ankle down a rabbit hole, being run into by a fast heavy dog – sometimes in life, accidents happen. If you are following a good running plan, you are more likely to get injured from everyday activities than you are while running. If you can’t run, you’ll need a backup plan, to both save your sanity and to keep your body in shape while you recover. What’s your plan?
If you are looking to prevent future injuries, take a look at the course on How to Avoid Running Injuries.
Cross-training – Have an alternative
The first step is to have something else, ready and waiting, to switch to. I like to cross-train with a bit of mountain biking and a bit of walking. Have a think about what you already do that you could use as a running substitute. If you have a dog, go on much longer walks. I’ve been walking 4+ miles most days with my Husky (I’m walking him now while taking notes for this blog post), and I’ve been cycling to work plus taking the long way home.
How to keep friends and influence people
Be prepared to warn your family and friends about the imminent grumpiness. For many people, running is a mood enhancer, a stress relief, a headspace and a time to be alone to either clear the head or to mull over stuff. If you depend on this time for staying happy, any change to that routine will take a little while to get over. You can try not to be grumpy, but that’s easier said than done. Having alternatives and a solid plan will reduce the grumpy time while recovering from a running injury and be less likely to lose friends.
Social alternatives
Many people run for the social side and to be with like-minded people. I normally take a running club out on Wednesday evening for a fun social run, but I’ve missed this immensely. I’ve even resorted to riding my bike around with them! If you are a social runner, make sure you have other social circles or quickly jump into a new one! Having people to talk to and listen to makes time fly and raises the spirits. You’ll also hear tips about what has worked for them during similar time-out experiences.
Something new that isn’t running
If you currently don’t do anything except run, try something new. Yoga, Pilates, gym, sea swim, ride. All runners need a bit of core / upper body strength – lighter weight is great as a runner, but if you can’t hold your form in place through the whole run due to weak abs or back, you need to be doing something extra. The added bonus of something new is that it’s exciting. If you are looking forward to doing something, it will make the “not running” a lot easier. Mountain biking doesn’t match the Zen of a long run, but it gives thrills instead and I love it. Get swimming lessons. With a pull buoy, you can concentrate on the arms in the pool (front crawl), get a good workout and give the legs a rest. Sign up for a triathlon in six months time to use your new skills.
Make a Not Running plan
You plan your runs, right? (If not, why not? Maybe one of our running courses can help you) When injured, plan the cross-training in the same way. You’ll feel like you are still on the right track so will be mentally better off.
Plan your food – if you run a lot, it’s possible that whatever you replace it with will not require as many calories each week, especially if it’s something new needing gradual introduction. I’ll put on a few visible pounds when not running, but I’m happy not being at race weight while recovering.
What’s your back-up plan while recovering from a running injury?
