I am now starting week three of not running. I know it’s not the end of the world, but it is not how I planned to spend my June! Since running is important to my sanity, I’ve had to come up with a plan for coping with a running injury.
1. Get a diagnosis. I hurt my foot
hiking (so maybe it’s not technically a
running injury, but it is keeping me from running!) and when it was still swollen and painful a week later, I went to the orthopedist. I needed to know whether it would be OK to push through the pain, or whether that could make things worse. Since I chipped a bone on the top of my foot, pushing through the pain is not what the doctor ordered!
2. Do what you can. Coping with a running injury is all about doing what you can when you can. Borrowing from some of my favorite chapters of Carla and Ronnie’s book, I am being flexible so I can stay consistent, being determined instead of obsessed about not running, and seizing the opportunity to catch up on my cross-training.
click the image to purchase via my Amazon affiliate link
Basically, I can do anything that doesn’t hurt, which means cycling, most low-impact weight training exercises, and yoga. I am still exercising 6 days a week, just not running. Some days, I have to push away thoughts of “why bother?” but I know my body is benefiting from the change of pace.
3. Maintain your routine. I have my alarm set for 4:40 or 5:00 am so I have time to walk Tiger Lilly and get my run/spin/workout in before work. I don’t need quite as much time for my injury-modified workouts, but I am still getting up early so I don’t get used to a different schedule. Plus, my body expects a workout in the morning, and a shower and coffee just don’t work as well to wake me up if I haven’t gotten some movement in too.
4. Treat yourself. It was serendipitous that I got new tops for spinning class at the Athleta Sweatpink event the day before I hurt my foot, but having new outfits to wear for the fitness activity I still can enjoy makes it slightly less painful to not be running. 
Yes, I do like the strappy peek-a-boo look!
I also treated my toes to a gentle pedicure–if they look better they will feel better, right?
5. Anticipate your recovery. Just like looking forward to a vacation can help me get through those last days of work, anticipating my recovery is keeping my spirits up. I’m not counting on being able to run at Fitbloggin’, but being forced to take June off will have me almost looking forward to running in the heat and humidity of July.
Do you have any other tips for coping with an injury?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
