Along with starting a blog, here are some other things you can fill your time with when you’re sidelined with an injury.

Sleep in on the weekend! Remember all those times you didn’t want to get out of bed for that long run? Well now you don’t have to!

Read about running. This is another way I’m hoping to stay motivated and focused on my running goals. I started Meb’s book this weekend and so far it’s great. I figured this would be a good one to read because not only does Meb put a lot of my own problems in perspective, but he also talks about when he got injured during the Olympic trials and thought his running career was over. Then of course he bounced back and won the Boston Marathon a few years later. I’m pretty sure I’ll do the same thing.

Set your sights on the new running gear you’ll buy as soon as you’re back. For the last year or so I’ve been a New Balance gal, but lately I’ve been eyeing these. I’m definitely going to have to try them out as soon as I’m back on the road.

Do a home project. I recently moved in with my boyfriend and so there’s been a lot of little things I’ve been doing around the house to settle in a bit more. But this past weekend I made him paint with me. It was a lot of work, but we’re both really happy with how it turned out.

Try something new. Running has always been my thing. I’ve never been terribly crazy about any other form of exercise. But obviously I needed to find some sort of alternative for these last few weeks to burn calories, maintain a routine, and also keep those endorphins flowing. So I tried BodyPump, and I’m actually really enjoying it. Like running, it’s easy to notice your progress, which makes it pretty addictive. Plus, I think I might actually be getting biceps so I’ve  been flexing for basically anyone and everyone who looks in my general direction. You’re welcome.

See your friends. When I’m marathon training I can get pretty wrapped up in it. Between going to bed early before a long run, and falling asleep early after it, my social life on the weekends can really suffer. If you’re the same way, now’s the time to take advantage of your mandatory break and spend some time with the people who will help take your mind off your woes.

Not being able to run is basically the worst thing for a runner. But you need to remember that running (or any form of exercise) will always be there for you. There will always be another race or another goal to work toward. So, wallow for a week and then move on. It won’t help you heal any faster anyway.

It seems silly to start a running blog when I can’t actually run. But I think my obsession with running has only grown since I haven’t been able to run for the last 6 weeks. Maybe it’s fear of losing the drive, or maybe it’s my way of still being able to call myself “a runner.” Maybe it’s just good ol’ FOMO. Who knows? But the thing is, running has consumed about 90% of my thoughts since I haven’t been able to run a single step. So I thought: blogging, what a great way to channel my pent up energy, while also sparing all my real life friends from my relentless running blabber!

A brief background on what brought me here to all of you non-existent readers: In short, a reckless bike commuter. He crashed into me while barreling through an intersection (he, of course, had a red light) and he banged up my foot pretty badly. My super qualified, very friendly (lol) and intelligent ER doctor said it was soft tissue damage that would take about 2 weeks to heal. Well, he was close (no, he wasn’t). It’s been 6 weeks and I’ve been diagnosed (by what I hope to be a better doctor) with tendonitis. And while I’ve improved drastically, especially in the last few days, I’m still far from where I was just a few short months ago in terms of physical ability and fitness.

So here I am. Just another runner who can’t run and decided to write about running instead. This should be fun!