My body feels so flabby and weak, after just 7 days of not working out. While I do LOVE having more time (likely why I have now created TWO blogs in ONE week, which is probably some sort of record), I really miss just simply having to shower 1-3 times a day due to working out.
As athletes, when we get injured, we want to know what other activity we can do so that we can still get our heart rate up and not lose our fitness. As I have now realized I've NOT run more days than I HAVE run in 2015, I have come to terms with the fact that maybe taking time off when injured is the smartest thing to do.
Rather than find out what can I do to replace ___ (running, biking, swimming, etc.), an injured athlete should ask what can I do to promote effective and efficient healing.
Think about it: your body is trying to heal something that is causing it to shut down. Any sort of working out requires rebuilding of your muscles, so to continue to workout while nursing an injury, you're taking away some of the "healing powers" your body has. Rather than your body fully focusing on healing your injury, it now has to repair the muscles you used during the cross training.
So, rather than rush back into cross training that was allowed, I decided to focus on giving my body a full week to heal the area of the Amniofix injection. I probably could have started biking (again, the activity that has never caused any pain or discomfort throughout the past 3.5 months), but if that could potentially interfere with the healing going on in my foot, why would I risk it?
One thing I do know: when I get to the starting line of whatever race I am able to compete in next, my mental fitness will be ON POINT. And hopefully, with this return to cardio work, my physical fitness can deliver as well.
Thanks for all of the support, positive vibes, prayers and kind words throughout this whole crazy injury. I can't even think about feeling sorry for myself when I know how many people are rooting for my comeback! :)