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I am a runner.
I run.
A lot.
You know this.
So does just about everybody else.
“Hey, do you know Luau?”
“Who?”
“The running dad.”
“Oh yeah! I know him. The guy with the funny shoes, right?”
Yes, anybody who knows me, even tangentially, knows me as a runner.
***
So what happens to a runner when he or she can’t run, or as is more my current situation, shouldn’t run.
Two marathons in two weeks beat me up far worse than I initially thought. The pain I am in gives me an even greater appreciation for what guys of Operation Jack and MarathonQuest250 are doing. My right knee just is not a happy puppy right now. The right thing to do after my Providence and Boston combo was NOT to run. But purchasing the new Bikilas was too much of a temptation to resist, so I ran. And then I ran again.
And as awesome as running in the Bikilas were, an injured knee is an injured knee. What’s a runner to do? Running has come to define me. It is who I am. It is my therapy to deal with the craptastic issues I’m dealing with in everyday life. It is my medicine. My escape. My release.
What am I to do when I can’t run?
I go to Plan B.
I love running, but one of my favorite parts of running is the sweating.
When I break a real sweat, I feel cleansed. When I am exhausted, I feel energized. When my muscles ache, I feel great.
It the paradox of running, but running isn’t the only way to achieve those feelings.
I have been inspired by my friend Jersey, who gets up every morning at 4:00 to hop on to her elliptical for an hour. She uses her hour of redlining it much in the same way I use my runs. She is just about as crazy as I am when it comes to needing that rush, that escape. So at least for now, while I know I shouldn’t be running, I am going to go with Plan B. I’m taking it easy on the knees and hopping on the elliptical for hour every day. Thank God my DVR is overflowing.
And you know I’ll still be wearing the Bikilas!
Run Luau Run 
You’ll be back at it in no time. The body needs time to heal, that’s all. Once you are 100%, just THINK how great it will feel to run again.
Just about as crazy?? 🙂 Tough Mudder anyone?
Jersey talks about sticking with the elliptical hour partially because she needs to be here as long as possible for her child(ren). Same for you — I completely, completely “get” how difficult it is to be away from the rush of running, but if you’ll cut your knee (and body) this break by backing off long enough to heal, you’ll be that much better off in the long run (pun INTENDED!!!!!!!).
If it is any consolation, I backed out of the 2nd of my marathons (also within a 2 week period) based on your blog – so thank you! You’ll heal in no time.
I hope you get back on the saddle soon Matt.
Good luck on your recovery.
I’ve been dealing with chronic planter fasciitis for going on two years now! I’m in constant pain. I’m in pain right now as I type this … (And yes, I ran today!)
But I feel ya … I need to run.
You and Jersey have inspired me .. I’m going to pop an Aleve and hit the elliptical. 🙂
I’m kind of having a parallel dilemma: When one defines himself as a trail runner, what is he when he starts running on the road? I’m preparing for the SF Marathon and it will be my first one. I’m hoping running on trail will give me a superpower, but I can’t rely on magic. I just need to hit the roads like a do the trails, with the same intensity, devotion and intention. I found a cross training that really appeals to me and have found that I am enjoying it as much as running. Yoga. I have run pretty much injury free in this new iteration of training and looking at past blogs the hugest significant difference is that I have done yoga 5 days a week. Tell me one runner who loves to stretch before a run…. I just get the yoga stretching in my classes. Also the meditation and breathing really help me focus on the trail and letting it go.