It seems this summer I’ve been in recovery mode the whole time. Not from racing, but from a series of medical events that have sidelined my normal running schedule.
It’s easy to get discouraged, and I have to admit, I’ve felt like throwing in the towel more than once.
What keeps me going is not some goal race to prepare for in the future, but the firm belief that running, not too fast, not too often and not too far, is the key for a longer, heathier, happier life.
So what happens when you can’t run?
What I’ve found is when you’re starting all over from zero, walking is the solution.
I would argue that you should not only have a strong walking base before starting running, but you should continue walking in addition to your running.
You don’t need to run every day, but you should be walking every day.
Walk your dog, walk after meals, or start each morning with an hour walk. The time you spend moving during the day is more important than your run.
Walk with intention, with curiosity. I like power walking up hills and also stopping to enjoy the wildlife at our local lake.
Take up rucking. Adding a little weight is great training. Since I have a lot of running vests. I just filled up a couple of gallon zip lock bags with sand and threw them in one of my running packs. No cost to ruck with 20 lbs.!
If you are also in recovery mode, or comfortably running week after week. Add daily walking to the mix. You can thank me later!
-Herb