When I was overweight, I was pretty good at taking it easy.
This was not the body of someone who spent a lot of time at the gym or running.
Since losing weight, I’ve learned to like exercise a lot more, and even make it part of my social life.
Yay running with friends.
While I still wouldn’t say I’m addicted to exercise, and while I still consider it a victory every time I choose working out over being lazy, I do enjoy exercise a lot more than I used to. But I still don’t think I push myself too hard or overexert myself.
Well, yesterday, I went back to the physical therapist and my lower back was really sore and my knee was a little crunchy again.
“How did your long run go?”
“Great! No pain or crunchiness, just a little stiffness.”
As we continued working on my knees and hips, I let it slip that, oh, I might have done a spin class the day before my long run and my legs felt really tired.
“Why would you do that? Spin is not an easy workout–especially the day before a long run.”
“Because I was bored with my usual cross-training of biking and swimming on my own?”
Well, now, as my lovely physical therapist so kindly reminded me, is not the time to take a class that’s hard. Even if I think I can handle it. My muscles need to be rebuilding themselves and repairing themselves from all of the work I’ve been putting them through in the past almost-4 months of marathon training.
“So I probably shouldn’t tell you about that yoga class I did Sunday and felt really sore afterwards?”
I’m posting this as a reminder to myself and a reminder to anyone else tapering–NO. HARD. WORKOUTS. Nothing that makes you sore. Those hard workouts will be there after the marathon.
I was subjected to this sweaty chamber of anti-gravity as my punishment.
Fellow marathoners: what’s your next-favorite hard workout after running that you’re excited to get back to after a marathon? For me, I’d say 30/60/90 (I haven’t dared to try it during training), barre classes and the occasional spin class.
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I’ve picked my 30/60/90 giveaway winners! (Or, that handy little plugin has.)
Blair, Cristina and Jaimie: can you please email me (theodora at losingweightinthecity dot com) your mailing addresses?
