What If You Couldn’t Run Anymore?

I’m going to use running as an example today, but you could interchange it with almost any sport that you can’t live without. I want you to seriously think about it; what if you couldn’t run (or play golf, do spin class, or dance) anymore? Running is a hobby for your health, but if you push too hard or get hurt, you might have to stop forever. 

This week I ran two times. If you’re a runner, this sounds like almost nothing. Unless, like I have, you’ve experienced an injury that forced you to stop running. Then you’ll know why I’m slowly easing into it. Then again, if you’ve experienced a running injury you may have ignored it, or got back into your routine too soon. 

From my years of leading running groups, being a runner, and working with them, I feel like the latter is the more common response. For many runners, it can take pretty severe pain to make them stop. Let’s think about this.

The Reason We Run

When I’ve asked runners why they run, very few of their answers had anything to do with their physical fitness. The most common answers were: 

• It clears their mind
• It’s a time to think
• To relieve stress
• Enjoy time with friends
• Helps them sleep better

I love these answers, and many of them are true for me as well. And if you rely on running for your mental health, an injury can take it all away. There’s a very real fear of stopping what helps you get through your days. This is what leads to the “I’ll run through the pain” or “it doesn’t hurt that bad” mentality. I’ve seen it over and over again, and I recently did it to myself. I kept on running until the pain made me stop. I’ve even seen people quit completely.

Do You Want to Quit?

I’m willing to bet that you’d rather do almost anything than quit running. So, what are you to do? Run through the pain until you can’t take it? Or take a break, and watch your well-being suffer? It doesn’t have to be so black and white, and there are great ways to keep moving so that you can keep running. 

1. This isn’t the popular vote, but it is okay to run a little bit less. I know, I know – how can I say that? If I just deeply offended you, then quick – check out your other option.
2. You can get stronger and then stay strong. Support your body so that it can sustain the running you love to do. You’ll have fewer injuries, recover from them faster, and even improve your running. 

Support Your Running with Strength

The best workouts for runners are well balanced and include functional movements. You’ll want to use your core, get a good range of motion, and mobilize and stabilize your joints. Cross training can be fun, and doesn’t need to take away from running. Hop on your bike and see your running route from a new perspective. Test your cardio in different ways by dancing, boxing, or trying a different sport. A lot of sports will still have you running, but work your body in different ways. 

In addition to cross training, be sure to take care of your tissues by rolling them. Use a foam roller, roller stick, and even a ball for massage. With my recent foot and heel pain, my body rudely reminded me of the things I had fallen out of habit from, and rolling was one of them. I used to roll my muscles before and after my workouts at least three times a week. But over time I changed gyms, I started my own studio, and I did less personal training, and eventually I stopped rolling. We even have ten foam rollers in our house, so I have no excuses.

Get Back on Track

This post is a bit of a guilty admission, because it’s my job to teach you how to take care of your body, so you can keep doing the things you love. But it’s also encouragement, because we’re all human. We all fall into bad habits and out of routine, and we all certainly push ourselves too hard sometimes. 

In my case, I quit foam rolling, became inconsistent with my strength workouts, and started to run a lot more. I also quit spin class, which I used to do two to four days a week between runs. So, it’s time for me to pull up my socks and get back on track. This is one of the reasons for the SWM Pilates & Strength Bootcamp I’m running right now – to get back into a balanced routine. (Another bootcamp will happen in January). So, I’m asking you again; what if you couldn’t run anymore? What would you lose? And how can you support your body now, so that you can keep running far into the future?