Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Happy Tuesday, My Inner Runner, and Lists

 Happy Tuesday, everyone! I'm not sure why, but Tuesdays are one of my favorite days of the week. I think it just be the fact that it isn't Monday anymore.

Day two of physical therapy exercises seems to be going pretty well. I'm starting out with 10 minutes in the morning and stretching at night in the hopes that I won't overdo it. So far, so good. If my daily walks go well and I'm still feeling good by Friday, I might try a gentle interval run (my inner runner just clapped her hands with glee).

So if the inner runner is clapping her hands and the outer runner can't run - what do you do? Well, being the nerd that I am, I make lists and plans. I have a Project Planner notebook that is full of lists and plans for everything from weight loss to school schedules and home improvement plans. It is delightfully random and gives me a lot of joy. So, of course there is a page for the project "Return to Running." The list looks something like this:

  • Morning PT exercises: Do 10-15 minutes of PT exercises  in the morning and 10-15 minutes of stretching at night.
  • Daily walks: Continue to walk at work during breaks (1 hour total per work day).
  • Add treadmill: After 2 weeks of steady PT exercises and stretching, add 15 minutes of treadmill time in the morning. Walk if necessary, but slowly add gentle running intervals.
  • Transition out of PT: Use the 10-15 minutes reserved for PT to do ab exercises, planks, and push ups. 
  • Increase treadmill time: After 2 weeks of 15 minute workouts, increase treadmill time to 30 minutes, slowly increasing running intervals until you can run 2 miles nonstop consitantly.
  • Start running for distance: Slowly increase distance to 3-4 miles per day with a long run of 6-8 on the weekends.
Under the "Next Steps" section, I have listed my goal to run a marathon by next September (or the first week in October if I have to use my backup race), so I will need to start training by mid May or early June.

Making a plan always makes me feel better about things. It helps remind me that even though I'm not where I want to be right now, I am headed in that direction... however slowly. Fortunately, slow and steady is kind of my jam.

I will leave you with a photo from the weekend that I forgot to post yesterday:

S with his Auntie Erin


What's your inner runner doing today?

 



3 comments:

  1. I think you are working on a good plan and you have plenty of time for a race next year. Make sure you avoid my mistake, I feel good and want to results NOW. Its a slow process and takes time to return to running. Stick with your plan and you will be good to go.

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  2. Thanks so much! I struggle with not rushing things as well - it's hard. I really miss just being able to go for a run when I need to vent anxiety and frustration. Patience, right? In the mean time, I'll just keep stalking fellow bloggers.

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  3. What a sweet baby picture!! I think everything needs to be listed, and organized so I love your plan. Goals seem so much more achievable when you can cross off the steps along the way!

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