Aw, Caitlin,

I’m so sory you are feeling discouraged. Please don’t let this get to you because you are completely right! Taking care of your body is ESSENTIAL and you are definitely doing the right thing.

I know that it’s easy to admit it and you know that you are doing it the right way, but I totally understand how it starts to effect your overall state of mind when you have a true passion for it.

Keep strong girl! You will be healthfully running again in no time!!!

i’m dealing with my own ‘laziness guilt’ but for me it’s because my work schedule has been (bizarrely) light this week. i know in my own heart that we both need to give ourselves a break. we get so used to pushing that the idea of rest seems wrong . . . but it’s not!

i hurt my hip earlier this year (reaggravated an old injury) and took a full week off of complete, lying-around rest. it was definitely the best thing i could have done! i followed it with a cross-training week, and then only gra-a-a-dually added back running — and now i am enjoying my routine so much more AND am pain free.

non-running activities i have enjoyed are yoga, the shred (although i think you are probably sick of that one!), elliptical, biking @ the gym, spinning. i would also love to try swimming but sort of don’t know how to get started!

anyway — good luck and i hope you can start to enjoy the relaxation! i’ll be working on the same thing.

I think it’s just hard to break a habit. Couple years ago I was so hard on myself I barely missed a day of working out ever, and was very strict about it. I learned to relax and give myself a break and now, while I probably do less than I could (not should, because I think “should” really is just “being active”)… I love my life so much more. I was so scared that something horrendous would happen if I laid off of exercise (silly) and then one day it just dawned on me that I don’t HAVE to do everything full-force.

Oh, and if I could run a 15 mile trail race you’d better believe I’d be so proud I’d take like, a freaking month off, lol.

Hang in there!

I force myself to take full week of rest every couple months with maybe only a little light exercise. It is so hard!! I swear, sometimes NOT exercising is harder than sticking to a training regimen every day. I think we just have to remember that we won’t turn into a lazy blob if we don’t sweat like maniacs every day, and we’re doing our bodies more good than harm by taking it easy!

Also, there’s been many a morning where I’ve talked myself out of bed with pancakes 😛 Yum!

You are doing the right thing! Don’t be so hard on yourself!

Keep up the positive thinking! I truly believe that after a few weeks, you will realize that listening to your body and resting will not cause you to gain significant weight. I think this will be really empowering, and you will no longer feel like you “should” be working out every day. Have you given any thought to trying out yoga again? It has such awesome mental and physical results 🙂

I can relate to your struggles of taking time off. It’s great that you can identify when you’ve worked too hard and need a break. I’m working on trying new activities other than going to the gym to keep active. I played tennis yesterday and I had a blast and worked up a sweat.

Hang in there, lady!

i was thinking of you this morning on my 9 mile run. i think it would bother me to take a “rest” or break from running simply because I don’t sweat that much doing other stuff, only spinning. running and spinning i feel are “hard” workouts and that’s what i crave sometimes

It’s definitely hard to stop doing something you really do enjoy. You might also want to look at it from a different angle. Instead of taking a break from running, your giving yourself the opportunity to cross train, which in the long run will help you with your running. With cross training (pilates, spinning, etc), you work and strengthen muscles you wouldn’t with running.

It’s just spinning the idea on it’s head and starting from plus.

I, too took a hiatus from running – last fall, after my last 1/2 marathon. Like you, I had knee pain and the training for that event nearly killed them. I took about 4 months off and also felt like a huge loser. However, I recently returned to running, and realized the break was the BEST THING EVER. My run was not only pain free, but also felt like much less of a chore compared to those days when I was super training to the max.

I stayed inspired during my hiatus by doing more high intensity (yet low impact) training, similar to the Shred – circuit training in a longer form. I also did interval cardio workouts at the gym. There are ways to push yourself to the max without running.

I applaud you for your determination to change your own mind. I’m pretty sure that ceasing regular running has similar effects on the brain as depression. It’s hard to get through and I think you’re doing a great job.

caitlin,

first of all, you are anything but lazy! you just rocked a 15 mile trail race, had an incredible racing season with tons of prs, and now you’re being intelligent and aware by taking care of yourself and your body. give yourself more credit!

when i had to take time off, i constantly reminded myself that i would much rather spend the rest of my life running than only be able to run today. in ten years, i don’t want to be in a situation where running simply isn’t an option because i ignored what my body was telling me now. i’d guess you feel the same. 🙂

try and enjoy the rest, and remember all the good you’re doing your knees!

You’ve gotten some great advice, Caitlin, but just remember that this is what your body needs right now. I understand how you feel about feeling guilty for resting, though. Good luck!

Check out my blog http://www.HelpMeghanRun.com as I run with Team in Training and raise money for blood cancers!

You are definitely not lazy! I can imagine how the hiatus is hard for you though, I get a bit all-or-nothing with my workouts too, ie sometimes I don’t feel like I really worked out when I did yoga, although I need to remember I am achieving other important things (flexibility, strength) that I don’t get as much on my runs.

taking care of your body is definitely better in the long run!!

also i love when you make pancakes, i only crave them after i see your pics LOL!

I think it’s great that you are taking the proper steps to make sure your body – especially your knees – are getting the treatment they need! Stay positive 🙂

Awww, so sorry you’ve been feeling this way! It’s hard to take a break when you’re used to going, going, going. Take gentle care of yourself and your knees will feel fabulous in no time! In the meantime join Meghann for some biking, yoga, and shredding!

Caitlin,
I has been so nice to read your blog this week. I have been dealing with knee/ IT band pain for two weeks and decided to take a cardio break to heal. This is such a problem for me!! But I have been reading your blog and feeling better knowing i am not the only one who deals with this!! THANK YOU!