If Not Running, What?


I’ve come to the conclusion that what my parents said for years may hold some truth, “It’s hell getting old!” Although I’m not one to believe that getting old is hell, I am inclined to believe that getting old just may happen, if you let it.

I used to run all the time, God I love running, the head thing (endorphins, feel good), the muscle thing (tight thighs and glutes) and the sense of accomplishment, ” Uh-huh, that’s right, I’m a runner!” I admit it, there where times when I had to stop to walk but when I saw runners approaching, I had to get my run on lest I be thought a wimp! Heaven forbid runners think I’m just a walker!

I also admit to overdoing the “runners pose” as to communicate to oncoming runners that even though I’m walking, I really am a runner. So, I place my hands on my hips, lift my chin to the sky and breath deeply, then put my head between my knees and lift slowly. That’s a runners thing, right? “Yep, I just finished a little 10 miler!”

After finding myself more than once not wanting to be a non-runner, I ultimately surrendered for the good of my knees. The truth is that I’m not done running, I just don’t meet the criteria for being a real runner. The kind of runner that has bragging rights because I hit the 30 mile mark this week. Unfortunately, when I first came to the realization that I couldn’t run my 15-20 miles a week anymore I thought that was it, kaput, I’m done. I believed that I would be relegated to watching VH-1’s 100 Top Hottest Bodies with knowledge that I will never be on that list. Not that I ever would have when I was running regularly but now, somehow it made the reality more painful.

Here’s the scoop, so I can’t run very much anymore, does that mean I’m doomed? Does it mean I can’t be fit and lean because that’s only possible by being a REAL runner? Of course not! There are a million other things to do, and all of them beneficial. Granted, when you don’t run, you don’t get the quick runners high but you can get pretty darn close. I have clients ask me all the time, “Do I have to run in order to lose weight?” And the answer is, “No,” you don’t’ have to run if you want to lose weight.

The lure of running is that it’s down and dirty, it’s a better bang for your buck type deal, an immediate, high intensity activity that brings on immediate reward. But now that I can’t run the way I used to, I’ve been forced to find the same type of mental and physical stimulation elsewhere and I have, cross training.

It’s funny, I tell clients all the time about the value in cross-training. The importance of offering your body new and challenging activities so that it has to work harder thus expending more calories. Yet personally, I was a runner that lifted weights and that was it. But the tide has turned and now it’s up to me to follow my own advice and get cracking with exploring new and fun alternatives to running.

I have been doing Bikram Yoga, dig that totally. Although if you don’t like heat and humidity, cross it off your list. I’ve been doing some great incline walking (5 minute warm up, every minute following increase incline until you reach 15%, then come back down.) It’s a killer workout but leaves me with the “Yeah, uh-huh, I’m a runner,” feeling without damaging my knees, pretty awesome. I’ve also started a program that includes: bike riding for 10 minutes followed by elliptical for 10 minutes, then a 10 minute power walk, ending with a 10 minute run and of course a 5 minute cool down. When I finish that, I’m feeling pretty “endorphed up!” The other aspect of cross-training is that it reduces your risk of injury because you’re not doing the same thing day after day.

Getting old is hell if you think you can’t do anything because you’re too old, and that’s a mistake. “Old” happens because people give up both mentally and physically. I know for a fact that I feel better today than I did when I was a kid, but I’m a lot wiser too, that probably helps.

At the end of the day, just making the decision to do something good for myself keeps me young, young in that I’m able to engage fully in life, I think that my body and mind are (for the most part) pretty healthy. I personally have no interest in being 25 again, or even 35, I’m happy where I am. But I’m even happier knowing that every day I can move my body enough to get the response I work so hard for, “I feel great!”

So if you’re currently following an exercise program that leaves you more in pain than rejuvenated, perhaps it’s time to explore your options. Or, if you’ve been idle because you thought only running garners benefits, rethink that and start doing something today, even if it starts with a 5 minute walk.

No matter what, remember this, a little big of something is better than a lot of nothing. So do something and your mind and body will thank you!


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *