Lately I haven’t been running and it’s been tough.

Not overwhelmingly difficult, because thankfully I’m no longer in crazy running obsession mode.

But I do miss the energy and feel of a solid run, and it’s hard to be losing some of my cardio fitness.

It’s been weird the past few months… with all the health work and healing my body is doing, I haven’t even had energy for running. Like, AT ALL.

Normally, I can push myself to go running even when my energy isn’t the best (admittedly this probably isn’t the best!).

But, lately even when I want to be running and have been sleeping better, it’s like there is literally no gas in the tank. It’s like my cells don’t have the raw materials to provide the energy for something like running, therefore NOPE NOT HAPPENING STOP RIGHT THERE to the running, says my body loud and clear.

For a while, I was going on slow jogs, which then transitioned to slow jogs / walks.

Now I’m just walking.

Giving my body the healing and space that it needs.

I’ve gone through periods before when I’ve had to drastically dial back exercise, so this isn’t unfamiliar territory. But it’s not exactly my chosen cup of tea either!

Maybe you find yourself in similar shoes today when it comes to exercise… maybe you’re needing to take a break or decrease your exercise intensity as you recover from an eating disorder, work to restore your period, or heal your relationship with compulsive exercise.

Maybe you’re exhausted, your schedule is overly demanding, and your adrenals are screaming for a break.

Maybe you have an acute or chronic illness, or you are resting from just having had a baby.

Whatever your reason for not being able to exercise how you’d like, in today’s post I’m sharing a few thoughts that I’ve been holding onto. ✨

Thoughts on when you can’t exercise how you’d like 

Shift your perspective 

When I’m tempted to dwell in my frustration over the fact that my body needs space to heal and I can’t run how I’d like to right now, I’m trying to notice these thoughts and actively work to shift my perspective on the situation. Instead of focusing on how this is terrible, so frustrating, etc., can I focus on something more constructive and helpful?

For me, this is looking like thinking about how because of this running break I’m experiencing greater healing. My minerals are rebalancing more effectively and my thyroid and hormones are coming back into balance. I’m growing in patience. I’m still able to get outside on walks and enjoy the sunshine — being outside is what I like best about running anyway!

This isn’t just “think happy thoughts” — this is me setting aside thoughts that are simply not helpful, and setting my mind on what IS helpful and will help me move forward toward my goal — improving my health / energy and getting back to running from a healthier place physically.

Allow yourself to be a beginner again

For someone who likes being in shape cardio-wise and values having a solid baseline of fitness for both health and going-on-adventure purposes, it’s hard losing some of that fitness. It’s also tough when some of your identity is caught up in “being a good runner.”

Instead of judging myself for losing some fitness or for the fact that I’m “just walking,” I’m seeking to show myself compassion. That it’s okay, and my body needs to slow down.

I tell myself that I’ll get back to running only when my body is ready. I’ll build back up my mileage at a very slow pace, backing off when needed. I tell myself that it’s okay if I feel like a beginner again at this point.

Continuing to run was only derailing my health and fitness further, so to get back to where I’d like to be fitness-wise, my body is letting me know that this healing break is needed.

Think about the big picture 

I’m someone who would like to be running 10, 20, 30, maybe even 40 years from now. Sure, it’ll look different as the decades go on, but continuing to hike, ski, walk, run, and adventure in some capacity as the years go on is very important to me.

When I’m tempted to feel discouraged about the present moment, I’m finding it helpful to train my mind to focus on the big picture. Taking what will likely only be a several-month break from completely not running is NOT a lot of time in the grand scheme of things.

Consider well-rounded health

Lastly, I’m seeking to keep my mind centered on well-rounded health. From a physical health standpoint, continuing on per usual with my running was not adding to my health. By walking and stepping back from running right now, I’m working toward improving my health.

There are many other facets of health I’m leaning into — prioritizing sleep, rest, and downtime to name a few.

I’m focusing on getting outside in the sun each day, doing what I need to do for my health protocols, eating nourishing meals, and challenging unhelpful thought patterns.

There are so many aspects to health, all of which mutually reinforce each other! When we only focus on a certain facet of health in isolation, our overall health tends to suffer.

Questions to consider

• Are there certain thought patterns about exercise that pop up for you that are clearly not serving your overall health? For example, maybe you struggle with compulsive exercise, aren’t having your period, but continually tell yourself you “have” to run 5 miles a day “in order to be healthy”.
• If you aren’t able to exercise how you’d like to right now for whatever reason, what might it look like to shift toward greater self-compassion toward yourself regarding your current situation or challenge?
• When it comes to the discouragement that can come with needing to take a break from exercise, what is a mantra or affirmation you can write down and read to yourself every morning to help with providing a shift in perspective?

As I continue on my break from running, I’m taking it one day at a time. It’s overwhelming and unhelpful to panic about “what if this continues for however many more months??”

My body will take the time it needs. This slow and steady approach IS the fast approach.

I can appreciate my body in the here and now for what I can do, and I have all the time ahead to get back to running when it’s a good time. 💜

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