When cold weather rolls in, staying active takes more dedication and creativity. Staying active while rehabbing a sore ankle doubles the need for dedication and creativity. About two weeks ago, I tweaked my ankle at cross country practice. It didn't seem like a big deal so I kept running on it for a few days. Then it started feeling worse. It's the same ankle that I sprained back in July. After doing a little research on the tendons, I reluctantly committed to fully healing and strengthening my ankle before running again. I took eight days off from running (that's a LOT for me), and it helped. My ankle still isn't back to normal, but I think it's healing. It is hard not running! Instead of running, I have been biking, which is the only reason I have held on to some semblance of sanity over the past seven days.
After enduring four anguishing days of bike seat bruising, my bum adapted. I was shocked. I never quite believed my cycling friends when they said "you get used to it," because I had never biked enough consecutive days to get used to a pointy razor sharp bike seat. But I got used to it. Mostly. My main issue with biking was I couldn't seem to find that sweet balance of aerobic benefit and rhythmic motion that I get from running. I missed my endorphins!
Another big problem with biking, at least at this time of year, is the COLD. I can run in pretty much any temperature. I know what to wear and what to expect. But I am a total cycling novice! I learned that biking in 31 degrees can be excruciatingly painful on the fingers, feet, and face. That day I rode north for a couple of miles and worked up a nice warm sweat because it was all uphill. Then I turned south to head home and that seemingly benign 31 degrees suddenly felt like knives carving off my fingers and toes and eyeballs one at a time. Back at home, I used most of our hot water to thaw out in the shower and vowed never to bike in freezing temps again.
One fine sunny Saturday morning, I was pedaling along wondering where to ride when our next door neighbor, Jory, pedaled up behind me. He about scared the living daylights out of me! Jory is an intense cyclist--road biking, mountain biking, all of it. When he offered to take me on one of his famous mountain bike loops through the rugged farm roads, I agreed. Turns out mountain biking is FUN when you have actual hills to climb! The gnarly hill we rode up was my first true bike climb, and it was awesome! When I got home 13 miles later, I felt endorphins flowing for the first time since my last run! Hope was restored! Climb big hills and biking does the trick! I just need rest days after those steep climbs. I am beginning to find my biking balance.
That was a lot of boring details. Boring but important! I have never figured out how to cross train in my 23 years as a runner. Thankfully I have rarely ever had to take more than a week or two off of running for injuries. Maybe that's why I have never figured out cross training. I'm figuring it out now!
Meanwhile, Jeff is feeling GOOD. He is healing up his various chronic injuries and starting to hit his running stride again for the first time in six months! He lost some weight and rehabbed his knee and ankle relentlessly all summer and he has been enjoying running with the high schoolers at track and cross country practice. Jay is still endearingly dedicated to running. We still have the kids earn their non-school screen time, and I love watching them go out and bike, play, and climb. Jay chooses to bike and run exclusively. Rose chooses to bike 60% of the time and then climb trees and play in the dirt with Amber the rest of the time. Amber does a little bit of everything (mostly rocks and DIRT), and we count it.
Hurrah for adapting and staying active!
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