Fitting Fitness: When You Can't Run....

By Jess in Minneapolis

My weekly recaps won't include any running for at least another week. As I mentioned in this post, I was diagnosed with a "stress reaction." This injury could have been a lot worse, had I let it go until it turned into a stress fracture. Fortunately, I was a worrywart after last Saturday's run. I went into Tria right away when the pain became bad.

I've done a bit of online research since my diagnosis, and I have heard testimonies from other runners (thank you everyone for all for your insights!). Apparently this is a very common (overuse) injury in running. Some runners will run through a stress reaction; they just back off on mileage and/or intensity. For me, it's been a full week with no running, and my shin is already feeling a lot better, but I will give it at least one more full week before adding running back into my regime. The doctor told me that I can run as soon as there is no more tenderness on the shin.

I will be honest with my body. If there is still tenderness after another week of no running, I'll wait another week. For now, I feel fortunate that I am still able to do pretty much any other fitness activity- just not running.

So what have I been up to, without running taking up all my free time? How am I fitting fitness these days?

Well, let's see...all kinds of fun stuff!

Sunday, I took hot power fusion with David K. at Corepower Yoga. 

Monday, I swam laps for about 45 minutes at the gym.

Tuesday, I took a spin class at the gym. 

The spin class wasn't all that intense, but I feel like I still got a workout in. I think a good spin instructor is awesome, but at the same time, if you are in a class with a not-quite-as-intense instructor, you can still make the class as hard as you want. I tried to push myself, even though the music and the vibe were not very intense, (which was very unlike the class LL and I took at my sister Cresta's gym on Friday morning- see below!)

Wednesday, I started the morning with a 45 minute aqua aerobics class at the gym. I had never taken a class like this, and wasn't sure what to expect. To be honest, I was probably the only person in the class that was under 70 years old, but all the ladies in the class were extremely friendly to me. Again, the instructor had to cater the level of intensity to the majority of the people in her class, but yet I felt like she gave me options to make the class more challenging, with easier modifications for the older participants.

Flotation belts for Aqua Aerobics

She had us do some pool running, jumping jacks, skiers, etc, and there were points where my heart rate was definitely high, and I felt out of breath. We also did more strength-type moves as well, working our core with planks and curls in the water. We also worked our upper body with moves on the side of the pool, lifting out of the water over and over (my shoulders definitely felt it!)

After the class, I chatted with the instructor a bit, and she told me that she is trying to revamp the aquatic program at the gym, adding water tabata and other more intense workouts. She is trying to change the perception that aquatic fitness is only for the elderly. I told her how much I LOVED this idea, and she nearly convinced me to take the training to become an aquatic instructor myself....that's a whole different post!

After the aquatic class, I quickly showered and headed to The Barre in Edina.

I have made my decision that The Barre is my favorite barre class in the Twin Cities. This was only my third time at this studio, but the class did not disappoint, and I loved every minute of it!

After The Barre, we hit the road to Milwaukee for Thanksgiving with my family. The rest of my family participated in a Turkey Trot 5k Thanksgiving morning. This was probably the toughest day mentally for me, as I felt very left out, not being able to join in on the family fun. Dustin decided not to run the race either (due to his lingering injury) but he was still able to go for a run with Matilda.

Not running on Thanksgiving morning was definitely tough for me...I know, such first-world problems, but I am just being honest that this day was definitely a downer for me, when I really felt it that I was unable to run.

Fortunately, I was able to get a guest pass to go to Elite Sports Club. There, I did the elliptical trainer for 45 minutes, until joining a 9 am Body Pump class.

The Body Pump class was a lot of fun, and the instructors had drawings between each song for little Thanksgiving gifts for participants. There was a great energy in the class, and it definitely helped to cheer me up after missing the Turkey Trot.

Friday morning, LL joined me for an AWESOME spin class at the Elite Sports Club. 

The instructor was an Ironman finisher named Melissa. She was in great shape, and led a really intense/fun/kicked our butt-class. She had awesome music and was really motivating. LL and I both got our booties kicked in a  great way!

It was so much fun to take such a tough class with my sister. Its been awhile since we were able to work out together. She used to be a spin instructor as well, so it was fun for her to rekindle her spin passion!

Saturday was a rest day, as we made the 5 1/2 hour drive to Minneapolis, and then today was another packed fitness morning, where I swam laps, showered, then zipped to The Barre in Edina for their 9:15 class. Jaclyn was the teacher, and she was really great!

In a few days, I will have a post about all the different barre studios that I have tried in the Twin Cities area, but let me say that currently, The Barre is my favorite!

Of course, I missed running this week. It will always be my favorite way to work out. However, I know that this temporary change of pace is good for me both physically and mentally. I didn't take that much of a break (less than a week) after the Berlin marathon. My body probably needs this, not to mention that all the cross training is probably helping to strengthen different parts of my body.

....but alas, I'm ready to lace up my running shoes again. Hopefully just one more week until I'm hitting the pavement again!.

Have you been injured before? What did you do to stay in shape? Please share in the comments!

Fresh New Fit: Swimming Laps...

by Cool J in Minneapolis

All these snowboarding pics...what about the RUNNING, Cool J?

It's true. I barely ran in Big Sky! It was all snowboard, snowboard, snowboard, all day, every day. We would head to the mountain right away every morning, and be there until the lifts closed. The long days on the mountain, combined with a few late nights, meant that I just wasn't feeling an early wakeup. I mean, it was vacation, right?

I did finally made it out of bed once early enough to head out for a run. I was rewarded by a gorgeous snow-covered view.

 The run was hilly and challenging- slick and uneven, but oh so refreshing.

I made up my long run on Monday when we returned to Minneapolis. Tuesday was a hard workout at the Metrodome (that makes three times we went to the Dome this year- read about the other times HERE and HERE). Then Wednesday was more running.

By Thursday, I started to wonder if I was setting myself up for injury. I took a rest day, and then ran easy on Friday. My IT band didn't seem to be bothering me though, so I wasn't too worried. I figured the cross-training in Big Sky must have been good for it! I was ready for my 16 miler on Saturday.

Unfortunately, my IT band was not ready for a 16 miler. Around mile 12, I started to get that knee-buckling pain (Erin and Abby, I know you know what I'm talking about!) I tried pushing through, but it was hurting so, so bad. I told the other girls to go ahead and let Dusters know the deal, (they are all the best- thanks ladies!), and then I managed a run/walk for the last 4 miles. It was ugly and disheartening.

I spent Sunday icing, foam rolling, and then a 90 minute Moksha yoga class. Today, I went to see Dr. Jenna Boren at Uptown Natural Care (She's the best. And she just ran a 2:42 marathon last weekend- check it out HERE!) Jenna did soft tissue massage on my IT band, and then did an ultrasound. We went over some exercises that I should do at home, and discussed my injury. She seemed to think it was actually the snowboarding that may have triggered the pain. She said it could have been all that torque on my hip from constantly turning. She also thought it could have been the weight of the board when riding on the lift. When on the lift with a snowboard, your back foot is unstrapped, and the weight of the board is all hanging from your left foot, pulling on your knee- lots of strain on the ol' IT band!

She did think that I should be fine to run today, but I decided to be cautious. Instead, I headed to the gym to swim instead.

SWIM? Yes. Swim. I'm not sure if I have swam laps since I broke my ankle in 2008! Back then, I would hobble out to the pool on my crutches, take off my velcro boot, and get in the pool. It was all I could do, and it kept me sane.

But it had been awhile. Clearly, my gear left a little to be desired.

I'm pretty sure that is the same one piece suit I wore as a lifeguard in high school. Yikes! And I am not the same size as I was in high school. I may have been pushing the line with the family appropriate  rule...time to buy a new suit!

Do you want to see a true Failed Fit?

Yes?

Here it is.

AHHH!!!

Scary! Failed Fit!

Despite the failing gear, and the failing look, I was able to swim hard for a good forty-five minutes (with some breaks). I definitely could tell that it had been awhile when I got out of the pool- I felt a little light headed! But according to "Fitness For Weight Loss" I burned about 400 calories. Swimming was a zero impact cardio full body workout. I felt it in my core, my back/shoulders, and my legs. I'd say swimming is definitely a Fantastic Fit!

I was happy to be able to get in a workout, even if it wasn't running. I hope Jenna is right, and that this IT band issue is a temporary one, and fingers crossed that it soon will pass.