Runners, I am SO jealous of you right now! As my injury slowly heals (waaaayyy too slow for my liking), I seem to notice more people hitting the jogging paths. Forgive me if I throw a rock at you as I drive by. ;0)

One thing I have learned through this rather inconvenient pain in my ass (literally), is that less might be is more. I stretched before said injury, but not enough. I went to yoga every so often, but I know it wasn’t enough. It had been some weeks months since I had a “taper week” or really, any light workout at all. My all or nothing attitude got the better of me. And so, here I am, having to heed my own advice. Believe me, it is like swallowing a bitter-tasting horse pill that then lodges in your throat. I’m learning, and passing along to you my plan of attack so that, 1) I’m held accountable, and 2) you can partake in a “less is more” workout if you chose – and actually, I highly advice that you do.

1. More stretching. Every day for me now. 15-30 seconds per major muscle group, plus some smaller muscles that are overworked and under-appreciated: IT band, tops of feet (perorius tertius, also known as dorsal flexors, as if you care, but you might), the soleus (calf muscle), and perorius longus (the muscle that runs down the outside of your lower leg.) My plan: 2 sets of each exercise, 5-7 days/week.

2. Yoga. The once/week deal I had going on was great…when I went. Clearly, I need yoga in my life, and I think yoga needs me. My plan: Ashtunga 2x/week for 60 mins for now. I’d like to get up to 3x/week and have one of those days include Hatha or a yoga/pilates fusion sort of thing. We’ll see where all this goes over the next few weeks.

3. Massage. I have two appointments set for next week, and after than, I’m shooting for once/month. The benefits of massage are so many that I have to send you away from here momentarily to check them all out. Read: “38 ways yoga keeps you fit“, and Please come right back

4. Taper weeks. The body can not handle day-after-day, week-after-week, of hard training. Period. As with any time of periodized program (marathon training comes to mind), you have to balance the building weeks with taper weeks where, literally, less is more. This gives the muscles time to recover and repair. My plan: every 4 weeks, make 2 of my workouts lighter (i.e, less hard).

5. Sleep more. My plan: 8 hours per night! That’s my mantra. I haven’t lived by this rule, and yet, sleep is so important for muscle repair and for keeping cortisol levels in check. And with that note, I’m off to bed!

Actually, the question went more like this: “I hate to run. It is hard. Did I already say that I hate it? Yet, you talk about running so much. Why?” There was more, but for the sake of this post, let’s just say that this reader’s negative feelings about running ran deep (no pun intended).

Why am I so hip on running? Well, for one thing, it is hard. I like things that are hard to do. Second, it is “me” time, and often the only time I have for finishing a thought. Four kids…enough said. And finally, (and let’s face it, this is important stuff) few physical activities burn as many calories per minute as running. Check it out…

Table:

110 lb woman, 3 miles, 215 calories

130 lb woman, 3 miles, 255 calories

150 lb woman, 3 miles, 294 calories

170 lb woman, 3 miles, 333 calories

True, other cardiovascular activities come close to these stats, but in my opinion, they aren’t nearly as much fun. I can spend 40 minutes running through the woods and enjoy nature, or I can spend 40 minutes on an elliptical machine smelling the garlic spew from the pores of the sweaty guy next to me. And by the way, rec center staff, ESPN is not enjoyable to women, even when displayed on a fancy flat screen TV. Naw, it is outdoor running that I like – even when it involves chasing turkey vultures out of my way as I go. Now back to the topic of calories…

Tip: Want to find out how many calories you burn running? Look it up on Run the Planet. Enter your weight, gender and distance or speed and the handy calculator does the thinking for you!

Running has many perks

• Running is appropriate for a variety of fitness levels, and virtually any age can participate. Leave from your doorstep, cruise a scenic trail, or wind your way through Chicago’s historic neighborhoods. There is no shortage of places to run, and no telling what you’ll see along the way.
• Running is easy to learn. While running for sport and competition does require good form and some knowledge of proper training progression, the skill required is low compared with other sports, such as tennis or golf.  Regardless of your size, age, speed, or experience level, whether your goal is fitness, weight loss, or competition — nearly anyone can run.
• Running is portable. How many activities can you think of where you can wear your equipment, and that is all that is required to begin your workout?
• You can take it with you when you travel. There is nothing better than sightseeing on foot, and if you are a runner, you can see it all a bit faster. Quaint cafes, one-of-a-kind boutiques, off-the-beaten-path art galleries, and unique neighborhoods are among the many hidden treasures and well-kept secrets that would be easily missed when traveling by car.
• With enough practice, running can become a competitive endeavor for your. From 5K to ultra-marathons, there is a challenge ripe for the picking, no matter what your level of fitness may be. This may possibly be what I like most about running – the dangling carrot.

So there you have it. I’m hip on running – other people, not so much, and that is fine. The important thing is to find an activity (preferably a physical activity that you enjoy, and will stick with, for the long haul. I won’t hold it against you if you hate running too.

If you’d like to give running another shot, you might like to read, “Run/Walk/Jog: Footprints toward fitness,” to learn about getting started, even if you have no experience. Also, “Running Resources” is chock full of, well, running resources, from trail and map information, to running groups for women. Finally, if you live in the Columbus area and are looking for local resources, “Columbus Area Running Groups for Women” dishes about area running groups.

Have a favorite activity other than running? Let’s hear it…