What to do When You Can Not Run?

So, what can you do when you can not workout or run? I seem to want to shop for workout/fitness related stuff. I actually really do not like to shop. Still I find myself stir crazy and restless all the time. I feel like I am a drug addict and I am crawling out of my skin waiting for my next score. So I find myself perusing through Craigslist, eBay, and online clearances for stuff I can't use right now and do not need. I have heard that admitting you have a problem is the first step towards recovery. So here I am, admitting that I am misplacing all this workout energy into shopping. But let me show you all the cool stuff I have gotten.

First, I have gotten myself a Road I.D.  I have been wanting to get one for over a year but it has always seemed to be low on priorities when it came to spending my running budget. Shoes, socks, race entry fees, and race weekend costs always came first. With all the running I usually do in the early mornings, late evenings, and all alone. I probably should have gotten one earlier. They really are worth it and don't cost much at all. Plus usually you can get discounts from races. If you don't get a Road I.D., than at least keep some I.D. of some sort on your person. The best idea I've heard so far is using your business card and just writing emergency contact information on the back. Just remember boys and girls, safety first.

Spiffy New Road I.D.

Handy Dandy Case

The other purchase I have made is a "new to me" mountain bike off of Craigslist. I needed to replace the one I currently had because it was just too big for me. I couldn't ever get comfortable learning how to ride it knowing that at any time while I was on it, I could crush my "manly bits" if I couldn't reach the ground in time.

I believe I am on the road to recovery and am showing progress. I was able to show restraint while I was at the Reebok store the other day shopping for back to school shoes for the kids. Being around all the workout clothes and running shoes was a huge temptation. Especially since everything seemed to be on sale. But I was able to leave the store without buying anything for myself. So, in the meantime everyone has to continue putting up with the future race pics with me wearing the same running outfit.

 Now, to find me a hydration pack. ha-ha

So what do you do with the free time during injury or race recovery?

Why I Run

 Since this is a running blog, I probably should tell you why I run. I run because I am fat. Well, I am actually not that bad anymore after losing 108 lbs to date. But I am still well over what is considered healthy in terms of weight, BMI, and body fat percentage. I have read a lot of runner's stories of how they used to be runners or athletes in high school or college. Well, I am not one of those runners. I never used to be a track star while in high school. I never was an athlete of any sort for that matter. The closest thing I can claim was that I was in Little League for a couple years while I was in middle school. I did enjoy being outdoors though and living next to the Colorado River during my high school years gave me plenty of reason to be outside. Especially during bikini season.

 In 2010, after a year of being out of the military and jobless. I did a lot of nothing and watching television during the premium hours of midday. Before I knew what was going on, I had ballooned up to 297lbs. While I never felt fat, the pictures I saw of myself told another story. I found a job and things started going pretty good. Even though I would get winded just sitting, I started walking during my lunch. To everybody's surprise and to mine, the walks didn't kill me. So I started adding a couple 1 mile attempts at "running" during the week. I am using the term "running" very loosely here. For any one else, I am sure my gasping for air, red-faced, sweaty, barely faster than walking shuffle would not be considered running.

After I was able to run a mile without stopping and was losing a bunch of weight, I started feeling good about myself. I was enjoying the fact that I was making progress.

I even started to watch my calories and to eat healthier. I also bought some running shoes, a couple of tech t-shirts, some basketball shorts, and a Garmin watch. So now at least I looked mostly like a runner or maybe I just looked like I ate a runner and took his stuff. Either way the next step was to create a goal for myself. So whether I was ready or not I signed up for a local 5k. My time for my first 5k ended up being 34:49 and ever since than I have been really hooked on running.

So there you have it. I run because I am fat and I have fun doing it.