finding my toothbrush.

All right. I know what you're thinking. Finding my toothbrush?! What in the WORLD am I getting at here? This quote might help explain it just a bit...


For years, my decision was easy. I ran. Running was so much a part of my psyche that I really didn't feel "normal" unless I logged four or five days a week on the road. It's not hard for me to tally up a list of the things I adore about running: I love the wind through my hair. I love setting my own pace. Above all, I love that time on the road to just think.

Those of you who have been following me on twitter for a little while now probably saw a few tweets back in early February about my tibia stress fracture. It was a little badge of honor {though I don't wear it happily!} from the month of January when I attempted to train for a marathon solely on a treadmill. Considering my klutziness, I thought a treadmill would be better than falling on the snow or ice, but I was clearly very wrong. 

Hearing the news this stress fracture would prevent me from running for three months or more, my dreams of running my second marathon this spring were shattered {literally and figuratively}. I decided to focus my energy elsewhere {namely, this blog!}. Though I wasn't cleared for almost eight weeks to do any other physical activity, I somehow learned to fill my days in other ways. As the weather slowly improved this spring, my itch to run is back in FULL force. Thankfully, I was cleared to attend physical therapy to get the ball rolling so I can hopefully start running again this summer. 

With all of that background information out there, I can now get to the point of this post ;) After three months out of the saddle, I'm finding it SO much harder to get back into the workout routine. Until I'm back at full-strength with running, I have to find other methods to get a good workout. My physical therapist suggested spinning, the idea of which has made my skin crawl for years. Being a runner, I'm not one for "group" exercise, so the thought of sweating in a room full of people for 45 minutes with someone screaming at you isn't necessarily my idea of fun. Don't get me wrong: I am immensely thankful to have the ability to walk, let alone ride a bike or eventually run again.

With my heart set on getting stronger, however, I took my therapist's advice: I went to my first spin class last Wednesday and have been back a total of four times. Though I've not purchased spinning shoes just yet, I'm finding that it can be a good stand-in for a hard run.

Here's where you come in! Getting back in the groove isn't easy, so I need your always reliable advice :)

How do you overcome hiccups in your workout routine? 
{And will the spin bike ever get more comfortable?}

As always, thank you all SO much for your help! I feel like this is my week of health woes, so forgive me for that. It's been a big week of sharing on {long distance loving}--so thank you for your patience ;)
Have a great Thursday--and a very happy birthday to my blogger bestie, Kristen! xoxo {av}

psst: don't forget what tomorrow is--it's Friday, which also means Friday's Fancies! Email me if you have any questions or need any help getting your post ready :) I'm happy to help! So excited to see what you all pull together for tomorrow! 

20 comments:

  1. I have only in the past two years gotten into a regular workout routine. Now if I skip two days in a row I feel anxious (probably because I haven't used up enough energy). I loved spinning when i did it. I was thinking about getting back into it.

    http://lachapstickfanatique.blogspot.com

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  2. When we were in the process of moving, I really started slacking on my workouts too and I have had the WORST time getting back into it! Which seems so strange because I LOVE all things physical activity related! Maybe I'll try spinning too! :)

    xo! Lauren @ tickled.

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  3. i danced for years and stopped in college (stupid) and just last year got back into working out full time to train to be a zumba instructor (i wrote about it today actually!)
    anyway, the beginning was HARD. but the more i kept it the more i wanted to overcome every challenge that i met! heck, i would even do spinning now! (though, the intensity does scare me slightly).

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  4. I am currently struggling with this right now. I have always been one for procrastination and once the time where I was planning to run goes by I decide that I'll do it tomorrow or something. It has been difficult, but I'm really hoping by the end of this summer to be in a regular routine and just do it because that's what I do.

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  5. Amazing post! I actually wrote a story about eating and brushing my teeth. It's in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Shaping the New You. I can totally relate to this post :)

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  6. Your post have been so good lately, the one about skin cancer and running. I am happy to find another blogger runner :)

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  7. I love that quote (and your design!) Did your therapist say anything about swimming? I'm not a great swimmer (I can stay afloat and know the strokes but it's not pretty) but I hear it can be a great form of exercise for runners who are being told to hold off on running :)

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  8. I am not a big lover of spinning, maybe it's the chair or the instructor yelling for 45 mins. My work out routine has been all over the place due to school assignments/crazy schedule, I am definitely getting back on my groove now that I have a few days off before my summer classes start.

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  9. I still haven't worked out the hiccups! I was doing great up until I took the bar exam LAST JULY. After I finished, I thought "I worked so hard I deserve to just sit on the couch and do nothing for a while." Well, that translated into not working out either. Since August, I've had little spurts where I'm really consistent for 3 or 4 weeks and then I do nothing for a week. It's really hard to get motivated again, especially when work consumes most of the day.

    Spinning will not get more comfortable but sometimes it will be fun. I actually enjoyed having someone motivate me to do something I wouldn't normally do!

    xo,
    Stephanie (Big Mario)

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  10. I used to run cross country, so also found it difficult when I started doing work out classes and spinning, but have found that some classes can be a great full body work out and build a lot of muscle. I still try and run 3 times a week, but have learned that group exercise can be fun and motivating!

    And yes... the bike does get more comfortable.

    xoxo
    Jenna

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  11. The first week is the hardest. You're workouts don't energize you, they wipe you out! Just focus on teh next week, when everything feels stronger, fitter, lighter- your mood and your tush! Good luck!

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  12. I used to go to a spin class that was strictly out of the saddle and I LOVED it! I miss not having one here, but I do love spinning. Now I'm trying to hike more and change it up!

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  13. well i can totally relate! i used to love running, ALWAYS! since my teenage years i had knee pains but every doctor dismissed them as nothing major so i would push myself to run even with the pain and normally it wouldn't bother me too much.

    about two years ago i woke up one morning and could barely walk the pain was so bad, after that it was doctors and physical therapy and a strict NO WORKOUT rule. once i was cleared to get back into it i was so scared to injure myself but forced myself to get back only to find that my heart couldn't keep up. another slew of doctors later and you can add a heart condition to my bad knees. all that being said i wasn't ready to give up exercise at only 23. i started spinning and have never looked back. it's light on my knees and with a heart monitor and constant focus on my breathing and heart rate i don't have any health issues. i try to clear my head and still disconnect like i used to when i go running. i spin at 7AM so the class size is never over 15 and with the lights off i can still center myself.

    it's hard getting back into the routine but if you found that spinning is something that you can do and do well then i say go for it until you're back on the road running : )

    best of luck! (sorry for such a long comment)

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  14. I can definitely relate to this post! I'm also a runner and recently had surgery in my neck to remove a herniated disc. I was obviously told not to do any physical activity for 2 months. It's now been a little over 2 months and I'm slowly getting back into my routine as well. It's very hard because I just want to be BETTER and be able to run for 'x' amount of miles without taking a break. So I started incorporating other exercises during my week, such as yoga and power walking on an incline to try and rebuild my body at a healthier pace. I totally get what you mean about it being hard and frustrating, but I just try to tell myself to take it one day at a time and eventually I'll be back to my old self again. Just like you will too!

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  15. I'm reeaally slacking on my workouts..... it's awful!

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  16. Girl I am in a similar spot. I hae to take a break from working out for a year and half and I missed the road so so much! At the time I had to stop I was 3/4 of the way into training for a half marathon. I got cleared about 40 days ago to go back to regular activity and in the last 2 weeks have started to train for a half again. Even if I just walk the damn thing I'm going for it. Enjoy the road!

    Ramblings of a Small Town Girl
    Fanciful Brainstorm - Tumblr

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  17. I am so with you... I have always been a runner. I love it. When I am away from it, I swear I hear the route calling my name. I feel bad for ignoring it. but after getting sick and being in and out of issues with my blood counts - it's hard to get back into the groove. But... remember we all have to start somewhere, even if it's not where we want the starting line to be. Keep your chin up :)

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  18. MCM on 10/30/11!!!! XO - You'll be back to your old self soon enough!

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  19. I suffered from tibial stress fractures for years after college. I JUST started running again so in all of those years off, cross-training was really a fun alternative. I take yoga, step, and kickboxing - you should give them a try too! Here's to both of us healing and being active ladies! :)

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