any non runners?

[teigyr]

Ex-competitive runner here and for the longest time I felt I couldn't run. What I did was get the idea out of my mind that I had to be fast or do great distance! I also got orthotics and got shoes that worked for me, just not what was cheap or cute.

I've been running on the days I don't have time to ride. I'm also doing the tri (sprint) so while a lot of that will be walking, I can run some.

I walk a LOT too. Orthotics pretty much save me there too. Hiking is good

[LBTC]

I guess I could have mentioned that in winter I snow-shoe, I do yoga most mornings, and I used to (when my body could handle it, and will do again when it can) kickbox training.

There are plenty of things we can do to stay fit, we just have to find the things that are the most fun for us.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[salsabike]

Was a non-pro but very serious ballet dancer for years before getting fibromyalgia and having to quit. Running was a total no-no in the ballet studio--its effect on leg muscles not compatible with ballet needs, not to mention injury potential/joint stress.

[TsPoet]

Running was a total no-no in the ballet studio--its effect on leg muscles not compatible with ballet needs, not to mention injury potential/joint stress.

Salsa,
Just curious, could you cycle when you were doing ballet? rules against any leg-building exercise, or just running?

I *hate* to run, everything hurts. Also, as a big woman, I look funny when I run, not that I'm vain or anything.
There was a woman in my old neighborhood who started running. She was so large up top that she had to run hugging herself. A year later, she fit into what looked like a DD and had lost at least 100 lbs. I didn't know her, but I wanted to hug her.

[Torrilin]

I don't run. The bone deformities I have mean I never learned how as a little kid. And the structure is bad enough that learning to do it properly is likely to lead to injury. Even with orthotics, it's very painful for me to run. A 12 minute mile "running" is fast for me. That's how fast I can walk a mile.

I quite happily swim and walk. I keep wanting to get a jump rope for more impact exercise... that doesn't *hurt* the way running does. I want my bones to stay strong.

[Zen]

I want my bones to stay strong.

Do you do any weightlifting/resistance exercise?
To maintain healthy bones exercise has to be weight bearing (another strike against swimming).
I think cycling qualifies.

[emily_in_nc]

Do you do any weightlifting/resistance exercise?
To maintain healthy bones exercise has to be weight bearing (another strike against swimming).
I think cycling qualifies.

Unfortunately, that's not the case. I believe that cycling is considered mostly non-weight-bearing. A recent study that Bicycling magazine cited determined that a large % of male elite (road) cyclists had bones similar to women after menopause! Perhaps someone could provide an exact citation - I'm at work and can't look it up now.

I seem to recall that the intense sweating cycling can result in can deplete calcium as well.

As I recall, the article recommended that cyclists participate in other forms of exercise as well to get bone-maintaining benefits, such as lower body weight work, running, hiking, and so forth.

Hope this helps!

Emily

[Torrilin]

Do you do any weightlifting/resistance exercise?
To maintain healthy bones exercise has to be weight bearing (another strike against swimming).
I think cycling qualifies.

Cycling doesn't qualify, according to my doctor. Nor does walking. Jump rope does. Thus my desire for one *g*. It's one of the few forms of exercise that doesn't hurt *and* will help my bones. He's also suggested weight training. Both body weight exercises (like pushups and pullups) and free weight training meet his criteria. Most of his other suggestions are things that hurt, and so we've agreed it's best to ignore them.

I've been doing some bodyweight exercises, but they focus on the upper body. Jumping rope would focus on the lower body.

Based on my research, he's being careful because I'm on medication that increases my risk of bone loss. This is not a bad thing to my way of thinking . Bone loss and my already bad skeleton are not a good combination. Hrm, I think I just talked myself into hunting down a jump rope.

[IFjane]

I don't run either. I never liked it - even waaaaay back when I was in school. And now I have chronic bursitis in my hips & running REALLY hurts. Walking - even power walking - is fine, just no jarring on the hips/knees. I walk when I don't ride, just to mix it up a little. I must mention that I live on the side of a small mountain and there are no level spots on the whole thing so all my walking is either up or down.

[Geonz]

Hmmm... I'd probably run if I couldn't bike - I've done a mini-tri or two - but ... when would that be??? I've been able to find at least a stationary when I had to go on the road (if I didn't have my bike with me) for the past couple of years, tho' there was a time I had to run up and down the stairs at the Microtel.
I have also swum but it's a little hard to get the level of aerobic exercise that way if I'm in bicycling condition because my arms wear out long before my lungs.