In the last seven years of teaching group fitness classes, I’ve amassed a few certifications and licenses: Bodypump, Bodyflow, Bodyattack, CXWorx, Zumba, Insanity, and PoundFit. The only three I don’t teach regularly are Bodyattack, Zumba, and Insanity. I’m not a huge fan of cardio; PoundFit is about as cardio as I get. So even though I’ve had many opportunities to teach these classes, I often hesitate long enough so that someone else who absolutely loves teaching those formats can have a go at it. I don’t want to be a class hog, after all.
Obviously marathon training involves a great deal of cardio, however, I’ve come to the realization that the temporary bout of insanity brought on by cabin fever around the frigid months of January to February is the reason why I tend to find myself at the start line of a marathon the following fall. It sounds like such a great idea at the time: the warm wind in my hair, the sound of pavement beneath my feet, the chance to be one with nature. But then there is the training schedule, and so many miles. So many miles.
Yet, as the first week of marathon training was underway, where was I? Sitting in this very spot starting a new blog because I couldn’t do much else. I’ve had injuries before that involved broken toes, sprained ankles, a random ache and pain that is easily foam rolled away. However, this thing going on with my back was maddening because I could not pinpoint what it was. I immediately looked up the anatomy of the back to try and find what muscle was affected, perhaps so I could attempt to fix it somehow. But the following day I was rendered immobile, literally. The only remedy was to sit and wait. And wait some more. As much as I welcome the idea of sitting and doing nothing, being forced to do so was starting to gnaw at me.
Tomorrow I’m back teaching Bodypump, which will be the true test to see how the back holds up. With my husband there, I won’t be tempted to go over the top, even though I am so incredibly antsy at this point. If anything, I suppose I should give myself some credit for following doctor’s orders, and also for showing restraint every time a friend mentioned another race. I could have easily signed us up for half a dozen races between now and December.
But lesson learned: Let the body heal itself. Rest. Recover. Because being sidelined, even for a few days, really stinks.
The Balancing Act 