At the end of Nike, with my 2010 mentor, Olivia. A serial killer appears to be glaring at us from behind, plotting our demise.
From the “I know the feeling” department.
Dear Betty,
I also ran Nike on October 16 and since then… well, I haven’t done anything. I don’t feel like running at all. Am I the only one?
– Directionless in Denver
Oh Directionless, I absolutely feel your pain. Didn’t you read my post on Sunday night? I’ve run precisely once since Nike. Once. And I was feeling really guilty about the lack of running; if I didn’t run, was I a completely directionless slacker? Of course, that only made me increasingly stressed out about getting back into it.
Sound familiar?
So here’s my advice: step away from the computer and do something. Do something other than running. Because this is the perfect time to try something new.
Two weekends ago, I tried Zumba. This was something that was so far outside my comfort zone that I couldn’t even see my comfort zone on the horizon. It was intimidating and awkward, but just getting out there and doing something made me feel better.
A few days later, I went to the gym and hopped on the spin bike, the one with the uncomfortable seat and the complete absence of flashing, beeping and distracting graphics. I spent 30 minutes pedaling like a fiend, listening to podcasts and realizing just how different bike muscles are from running muscles. This became particularly obvious that night when my leg muscles ached. It was that good ache, the ache of activity, the ache that I’d been missing for two weeks.
I don’t know when I’ll be ready to run again, but at least I know that these non-running activities are keeping me active and engaged and setting the stage for better cross training in the future. And that has to make me a better runner in the long run, right?
So for now, just get out there and do something. Challenge your comfort zone. Work new muscles. Find a new groove. The running urge will come back eventually.
What do you do when your favorite activities just aren’t inspiring you?
Tags: advice, cross-training, cycling, inspiration, motivation, post-race doldrums, race, running, spin bike, zumba
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