Main Menu

Finding strength and balance in other ways.

After the difficult long run on September 19, I chose to step away from running for a full week. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it felt necessary. I could hardly imagine taking a full week off from running, it almost never happens. Wanting not to run is very rare for me, which made this pause all the more meaningful.

Instead, I turned to strength training, Pilates, ballet, and rest. The week became less about distance and more about listening, moving differently, and allowing space to recover.

September 22 – Strength Training & Ballet

No run today. Instead, I followed a strength session with a fitness app. It felt brutally hard; as if I had no muscles left. Still, once it was done, I felt good. I added 5 minutes of core training, and in the evening, ballet. Ballet was demanding, especially for my feet and calve. I realized again how weak that muscle group still is. Lots of posture work, lots of sweat, and definitely sore calves the next day.

September 23 – Pilates & Core

I stuck to the plan: Pilates. Once again I felt my lack of strength and balance, but I was glad I showed up. Afterward, I added 5 minutes of core work.

September 24 – Rest Day

No training at all. The body and mind needed the pause.

September 25 – Core Training

September 26 – Strength Training & Dance

Still no run, but I chose a 55-minute strength workout. Tough, exhausting, but fun, and it brought back a bit of my energy and joy. In the evening, dance class: an hour of steps, posture work, laughter, and plenty of calf burn. Training for both body and mind. I feel so happy!

September 27 – No Run Again

I thought about a short 5 km jog, but decided against it. For once, I didn’t feel under-challenged, just focused on other forms of movement.

September 28 – Rest & Self-Care

A quiet day. Relaxation, self-care, and letting go of the pressure to do more.

⸻

This week reminded me that stepping back from running doesn’t mean stepping back from progress. Strength, flexibility, posture, even laughter in dance class, all of it matters.

I didn’t miss running as much as I expected, though I thought of it a few times. Maybe that’s okay. Maybe it’s exactly what I needed: space to recharge, reset, and prepare to return. I’ll be back ;-)

Sometimes recovery isn’t about kilometers. It’s about balance, physical and mental.

M’s