10 ways to get through an injury.

The most frustrating part of this injury that I have now is that I have my marathon in less than three weeks and I put in a LOT of training and time into hitting my goals and who knows what my leg is thinking and whether it will be able to run or not on June 14th.

I keep telling myself—>  ‘It is what it is’ —> meaning sitting around feeling sad about it isn’t going to get me running any sooner. I can’t change that I am injured.  It happened and it will get better so it is time to focus on these 10 things to get me back running asap and at the same time help me to continue to be happy and not miserable just because I am injured.

1.  First, you are allowed a few days to be super bummed.  Vent, be frustrated, cry… do whatever helps you so that you can then move on and work on recovery.  

2.  Sleep like a champ. Your body recovers when you sleep which is obviously a great thing when you are a runner and getting over an injury.  Elite athletes take their sleeping very seriously… Ryan Hall calls his naps his “business meetings” because he clearly sees the important role that sleep plays for your body and his running career. 

3.  Focus on the relationships in your life.  Simple as that.  Our relationships are what really matters and now you have even more time to spend with the people in your life because you aren’t spending x amount of hours a week running. 

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4.  Strength train, stretch, foam roll.  Just go ahead and repeat the previous sentence 500 times in your head and engrain it in your head to do those things not only during an injury but ALL YEAR LONG!!!

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5.  Focus on your long term running goals.  There will always be another race.  Think about what is best for your body in the long run so that you can run for the next 80 years.  Yes, sub 3 was my goal for the Utah Valley Marathon but I keep reminding myself that I have many more races to get that goal in the future… St. George Marathon in October por favor.  

6.  Clean up your diet.  I know, this is coming from me.  I am working hard on eating better and filling up on a ton of nutrients so that my body has the correct tools it needs to repair my muscles.  Also, make sure you are getting plenty of calories even though you aren’t running.  It takes calories to heal those bones/muscles/tendons (at least that is what I tell myself:)

PS my sweet potato gave me a paper cut.  It still stings.  

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7.  Get yourself in the pool and pool run.  I have only said this 5,000 times but I really think it is the best thing to do (as long as it doesn’t hurt your injury more) when you are an injured runner.  It is an incredible way to keep your running fitness up, it is low impact and I get a pretty great endorphin high after a good pool run. 

Just hanging out and hugging in our flotation belts on the side of the pool.  This photo wasn’t staged at all;)

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8.  To go along with #7… CROSS TRAIN.  You may surprise yourself and find that you really enjoy other forms of exercise and that you are good at them too.  Cross training will help you to keep up your endurance and it will get you strong and fit….  at the same time doing these things may also make you especially appreciate running again when you are back on the roads!

9.  Be proactive.  Don’t just sit around waiting for your body to magically heal.  See a doctor and/or do the things that can help you get back out there asap.  Another fun scraping session this morning.  I cry at least once during these sessions.   Yes, these things cost money but if you want to get back (and do it the right way with the help of a doctor) then you gotta do what you gotta do and fork out the money.

10.  Take this time to learn everything possible about running/your body/your injury so that when you do come back you will be a smarter runner.  You will have learned from your training mistakes and come back and do things right.  IE I probably won’t run 23 miles for my long run the week after I run a fast/hard 1/2 marathon again in the future…  learn from me:)

*****Be a bouncy ball and come back from your injury stronger and better than ever (PS if you are wondering what in the world I mean by being a bouncy ball—>  the explanation is in THIS POST).

I LOVED Lindsay’s post this morning:

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Who is injured right now?  With what?

What is the worst injury you have ever had?

Any times for how you got through injuries?

To go along with the last picture… What is something good you have noticed today?

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86 comments

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Ahhh I almost didn’t look at that sweet potato picture because at a glance it looked like a messed up body part. Obviously I am crazy :D I love your nail polish, so pretty!

I’ve never had an injury that has taken me out of the game for more than a week and a half. During my last niggle I went pool running and found it a little boring, but definitely the closest thing to real running!

I didn’t realize Ryan called naps “business meetings” that is hilarious and I am definitely going to start doing that!

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Great advice!

Worst injury I had was 2 torn knee ligaments at the same time, I couldn’t run at all for about 8 months :( I wasn’t allowed to do anything (pool, etc) for the first 4 months so I felt like I was starting from scratch with my fitness which was rough. I got through by focusing on the parts of me that I could improve with no working out, I spent way more time with family, started writing, etc.

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Great post and awesome advice. My knee has been hurting since my marathon a few weeks ago… :( The worse injury I’ve ever had…stress fracture that required me to walk on a crutch and not run for about 6 months. This happened twice… I’ve also pulled my groin twice and had a calf tear those took a long time to heal.

Something good today…someone went out of their way to thank me for something. Doesn’t happen very often these days. :)

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Injuries suck. I blew my knee out at a half marathon last fall. I had hip bursitis that cause me to run on the side of my foot funny the whole way. My sprint down the finish shoot after running 13 miles cockeyed on my right foot finally caught up to me and caused me to throw out my left knee. My PT was so flabbergasted by my double, opposite sided injuries.

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I mildly stress fractured my shin about a month before my marathon. The doctor made me take two full weeks off and then let me run on a rubber track for no more than 5 miles. It still hurt, so I had to stop again. I ended up running the marathon as conservatively as I possibly could (it was my first marathon, so my goal was simply to finish).

My biggest injury tip is DON’T, I repeat DON’T, run through it. Nine months after my marathon, I still don’t feel 100% because I wasn’t smart about taking care of my body and forgot some of these awesome tips above. Still working my way back in to running (had an awesome 3 miler this weekend, which is one of only two times I’ve gotten that many in since the marathon), so no more marathons for me any time soon!

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I’m four weeks into healing a stress fracture, and have to laugh at your list because I’ve been doing pretty much all of those! Even with pool running and (indoor) biking, I have a lot more time on my hands, and I’m trying to use it productively by sleeping a little more (I usually get up at 4:30 to take my dog for a long walk), focusing even more on my core and strength work, spending extra time with friends and even meditating, something I kept telling myself to do but never made the time for. I’m not good at sitting still, so at least when I meditate I feel like it’s a good-for-me way to sit still. I’m hoping the meditation practice is something I continue to make time for, even when I’m back on my feet – it’s tough but worth it!

Something good I noticed today: the air is saturated with the smell of lilacs in my neighborhood.

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While I’m not technically injured, I am nursing a knee that is sore at the end of every long run. So, I’m trying to do exactly the things you’re talking about above and get back to 100%.

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I find yoga extremely helpful when injured, not only because is good for the body but because is great for the mind. keep on the positive thoughts, you inspire and make me smile with your posts.

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Ugh, I am dealing with this right now too. I got plantar fasciitis after a super hilly race last October…took 4 months off of running completely (almost lost my mind) and then it was feeling great when I started back up. But this week, boom. Right back to the pain. So frustrating! So thanks for reminding me that I’m not alone, and that there are good things I can still do for my body.

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No injury right now but my posterior tibial tendonitis changed the direction of my running and really my life. I started caring for my body in a way I never had. Prior to that injury I took running and nutrition for granted and as I recovered, my whole focus changed. I’m so much healthier physically and mentally now. Injuries can be a time to reevaluate priorities and make really positive changes that will stick for life. I love your approach!

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I have only been injured once before, and it was awful! I had some loose cartilage in my knee and I was told that I needed to take 4 to 6 weeks off from running. I remember being on the elliptical and hating it, BUT in the end it all paid off and I did recover! I know it is hard, you can get through it though! Hang in there :)

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Plantar problems at the moment which is killing me as I want to start training properly for my first ever marathon. It’s in October but I’m still worried about it…

Worst injury has to be my chest. I was doing something called ‘Bulgarian bag swings’ and pushed way harder than I should’ve. Continued to train despite the warning signs. I woke up one morning and could hardly breath, let alone move. I REALLY learnt my lesson from that. My chest still aches if I work too hard and I’ll have to crack my sternum to relieve the pressure. Ouch.

Something good today… Training with some awesome people, despite the pouring rain. I was sad about going back to uni but they’re always there and waiting when I get back :)

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Ufda where to start…I’ve been there girl! Stress fracture to shin and hip! Off for about six weeks each. Longest was a mystery calf tightness that ended up being exertional compartment syndrome…leading eventually to surgery. Was running five weeks post op! BUT I was off of running/running not the same for like 8 months. It sucked. Advice: get it over with and cry scream and vent then you are so right in saying control what you can…eat clean..rest and crosstrain.spend ti,e with friends…they are awesome cheer leaders :) some IT band issues post marathon last fall but overall I’ve been healthy for a while! (Knock on wood) I swear by clean nutrition and vitamins!!!

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Darn achilles! Good idea on the sleep. I have not been getting enough and the injury just keeps lingering.

I hope you’re able to get out there for your marathon in 3 weeks. BUT if not, then YES, St. George will be great. Just think about how much better the training is over the summer. Better to be 100% for this great running weather than get super injured and not be able to run ALL summer. That would really stink.

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I feel your pain…Ok, not the paper cut from a sweet potato. But I have Boulder 70.3 on June 15th that was supposed to be my A race of the year. And I’ve been sidelined for now 3 weeks. Hoping that tomorrow I get the OK to run, bike and swim. And I still think I’m going to do the race, but now I realize it so won’t be my A race. But we’ll see! Good luck on your recovery.

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Totally know how you feel–in March I bruised my cuboid (bone in the foot) and got some tendonitis in the same area. I had trained hard all winter and had a bunch of spring races lined up, and it was agonizing for me to be unable to run as all my races came and went. I’ve missed four so far and have cancelled a big one that I had coming up in August because there’s no way I’ll be ready for it in time. The only race from my entire spring/summer schedule that I am going to hopefully be able to salvage is a half tri at the end of June. I’ve just barely started running a few miles here and there, and I’m still struggling with the tendinitis, so it’s very questionable as to whether I’ll be able to run 13 miles by then. If there’s anything that I’ve learned through all of this it’s that “it is what it is”. :)

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Yes it is what it is! Love that! Learning I can’t control everything. Not easy for me.

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No, not easy for me either. :/ I very much like being in complete control. :)

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There is life beyond running and injuries. Though it doesn’t always feel that way. Enjoy time off and do what you can to maintain your strength and fitness. I want to race this summer, but it might not happen. I can do other workouts that help me feel good.

Every small injury has helped me gain perspective on life and what’s really important.
Ice and sleep definitely make a huge difference for me.

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Ugh, I’m 3 weeks into no running from a stress fracture. Thanks for all the encouraging words, and letting me know it’s okay to yell and scream and vent a little :) Pool running ftw!!

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I feel you. My marathon is this weekend and I am out as of 2.5 weeks ago. I felt the searing pain shoot through my foot and boom, over! There will be more

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Heal quick!

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Luckily I haven’t had to deal with a major running injury yet – knock on wood!! But I can feel my feet starting to hurt more after runs. Maybe it’s time for new shoes?

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I am injured! Peroneal tendonitis :( it’s been a month pretty much since I ran except for 2 miserable 4 milers that ended with limping) and no running for another 2 weeks and maybe more.

As far as running goes this is the worst I have ever had…most injuries seemed to be fine in a week of rest.

I put a pair of Capri cargo pants on today that I haven’t worn since last summer and they fit. A little snug but they buttoned. I was worried I gained so much weight from not running but looks like maybe I am only up 5 pounds. :) that is good.

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I feel like I have nothing else to ramble off to you about all of my injuries. I know how frustrated you are Janae and I love your positive attitude. DadLOLZ is currently injured. After months of wondering what was wrong with his knee he went and got an MRI…he has a torn menscius as well as stress fracture. He is currently training for a 4.4 mile open water swim.

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The sleeping part is my favorite! I’m kidding! ;) Injuries are no fun. Luckily, I haven’t had any major injuries (knock on wood!). I think I would go nuts if I wasn’t able to do the things I love!

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This is a great post! My injuries have all been ‘overuse’ injuries…but I couldn’t run for almost a year with them (knee injuries, foot injuries, etc.). I actually just wrote a post today about not stressing and your post definitely relates. Not sweating the small stuff and looking to the future when you can run is great advice. I’m definitely going to be pool running as part of my cross training now that the pool is open :)

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Thank you for posting this Janae. It’s really true. I have just returned to running after having foot tendonitis for the last couple of weeks – no running, no yoga, no climbing. But I am still dealing with an on/off knee injury since January. But those first couple of runs back are amazing and made me appreciate just getting outside and running for any distance and at any pace.

Last year I had hip bursitis – and that sucked. No running for 6 weeks and it was pretty painful just to walk around.

Tonight – taco Tuesday up in Park City!

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I only run 20 to 3o miles a week but I’ve had sciatica I don’t stretch well or foam roll but now I do. Lesson learned. I’ve taken 4 weeks off when my Achilles acted up. I think I have a strong mind and sometimes my mind says push harder but I’m learning to listen to my body better.
Maybe worse case scenerio if you chose to delay this marathon there’s another weeks later?
Good thing I saw watching my son read his Action Bible and want to keep reading it.

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The “popular” kids asked this freshman boy to be part of their study group that was happening in class today.

Some nonAthletic distraction just to keep it less obsessive helped me. Shopping, reading, backing……..focus on different hobbies.

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Baking

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Just fyi, if you put Chapstick on a paper cut, it takes the sting away!

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NO WAY!! That is awesome! Thanks! :)

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I don’t put in enough miles each week to create an injury – which I guess is good and bad? – but I deal with lingering back pain from work/pregnancy/car accicent/(life!), so I make sure to see my chiropractor pretty regularly.

Noticing Good: my coworkers were kind enough to see that I was under the weather today and kick me out early to get home and get some much needed rest! They had to work a little harder without me in the afternoon, but now hopefully I’ll be at full speed tomorrow!

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June 14th is my wedding day! I’ll be sending you lots of positive vibes!! :)
Karen @karenlovestorun

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I love the idea of being a noticer of the good. I was talking to a lady at work today who said that every night before she goes to sleep she writes down three things that she was grateful for in her day. She said even if it was a terrible day, it is empowering to be able to find the good in it and life doesn’t seem so bad. I loved that and I’m going to try it tonight and every night afterwards :)

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Worst injury – torn ACL. I had it reconstructed and it took me out for 5 months, but through that experience, I took up swimming (which I really enjoy now) and yoga.
I ended up with ITband issues, and then Posterior Tibial Tendonitis the year after, while running a half because I couldn’t run a full – my legs just weren’t ready / strong enough. Two years later, I completed my first full marathon. You are right – there will be other races and I had a wonderful first marathon experience with people I met through my injury.
Something good – one of my running partners took a photo of a rainbow while he was running this morning.

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I have had so many injuries over the years….like too many to count. The torn ankle ligament was pretty nasty. Walking boot for months. I crashed on my bike once and really strained my groin so couldn’t run for weeks. And since that accident (14 years ago) my left hip has never quite been the same. Whenever I can’t run, I use the time to be creative: cook, bake, work on art.

All great tips on what to do when you can’t run. I highly value my sleep!

But have they given you a diagnosis on your leg? Is this a bone or soft tissue injury?

If anyone can come back quickly and run the marathon with a speedy time, it’s you. Believe in yourself!

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You are doing an awesome job taking it easy and recovering! I’ve been pretty lucky and only suffered some hip injuries but a couple of weeks off running and I was good.

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Previous injuries have led to major cross training for me. I bike, do pilates, do barre, and lift almost every week along with biking and running. Yes, that means less running, but it also means being more well rounded, and working on some of those weaker muscles too!

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Ugh injuries are the worst. I would say my worst injury was a torn labrum in my hip which I had surgery for. I couldn’t run for about 6 months. My most frustrating injury was piriformis syndrome because it would just NOT go away no matter what I tried. After over a year of dealing with it (and sort of trying to run through it) I had dry needling and it went away almost immediately.
When I am injured I like to read about running and how to stay healthy:)

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I’ve never had an injury that put me out of commission but. had bronchitis earlier this year and couldn’t run for 6 weeks. That was terrible because I physically has no pain but when I tried to run my lungs would seize up and I’d cough like crazy. How in the world did you get a paper cut from a sweet potatoe?

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The worst injury I’ve ever had was a year a half ago. I tore one of my hamstrings from it’s insertion in the ischium bone. I couldn’t do anything…..my job (teacher), grocery shop, etc. for weeks. I am currently pregnant with twins and have been banned from running (I can do all other forms of cross training). It’s been a tough adjustment and I have five-six more months of this ban. Just tell yourself….this too shall pass.l

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I’m with you:( I just called off my June 21 marathon. I was running the Grandmas Marathon to qualify for Boston, but who knew you have these bones in the bottom of your foot connected to your big toe called sesamoid bones. It has become to painful to run so I am cross training but I know the marathon will be too much. I tell myself that there will be other races but I’m bummed to have trained like this and not race. It was a lot of hard work.
What I have noticed today is that we had a gorgeous weekend and I think winter is finally gone!

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I really needed this post, especially because I just missed a marathon this weekend that I did ALL my training for, and got injured on a dinky short run after all my 20 milers were done. Ugh. I’ve been off of running for a month, but learning to love spinning, weights, elliptical, etc. I’ve learned I need to splurge on a gym membership and keep this training up all year long. I actually don’t really think my fitness has decreased, thanks to the cross-training (spinning is SO HARD for me, like harder than any long run). I’m looking at possible surgery and a long recovery, but I know I will be back. Besides, there are many people dealing with much more serious things (cancer, heart disease, etc.) so I am LUCKY and blessed to say that tendon damage is the worst of my problems. Instead of focusing negative energy on my running injury, I want to pray for those who are dealing with life threatening illnesses and injuries.

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My worst injuries are pretty much tied. I had a complete fracture of my 3rd metatarsal a few years ago and this past November, I tore a ligament in my foot. For both, I was out for over 3 months.

This post was great. It’s so easy to dwell on the negative about the injury, but there is some positive like you said. I try to ask how negative thinking is going to help the situation and the answer is always it’s not. It’s also a much needed reminder to always be smarter in training for me.

I hope you’re able to run again soon and if not there are plenty of races waiting for you in the future :) I was wondering if you’ve ever asked your doctor about ultrasound therapy? I’ve had a couple of injuries to larger muscles and had that done and it seemed to help it.

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Pool running is definitely the best way to cross train! I tried it for the first time when I had the worst injury in my life – stress fracture in my femur! :(

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I am 6 weeks into an 8 week layoff. You forget to mention watch a lot of reality TV and get to know each and every Real Housewive.

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I suffered a femur fracture -5 yrs ago. It was very bad and I was told I wouldn’t walk again much less run or be active. By some miracle, I beat the odds. Be brave, be strong and most importantly BELIEVE. You’re on a journey for a reason. It will heal and workout the way it is meant to. You can read more of my story here. http://theskinny-life.com/motivates-stay-fit-–-miracle/

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Love all of these tips!! Here’s hoping you’ll be running in that marathon :) As for something good, I just have to look at my baby and all is right with the world!

xo

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I am just on the other side of a tibial stress fracture. This has been my worst injury yet, very painful. I’m finally cleared to begin building back up and it feels like starting over but atleast I can do some running.

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I read your blog daily, but have not posted for so long. I thought now would be ideal. I am an avid runner, and am dealing with the most severe (and scary) injury I have ever had for just over a month. Somehow a minor blister become incredibly infected literally over night. My leg was 3X its original size, and my Achilles area turned black. I was sent to the ER and placed on IV antibiotics. There was some concern about the possibility of me losing me foot. Absolutely horrible. The skin over my Achilles died, and had to be removed. My tendon is now completely exposed (and has been for the past 2 weeks). I have this whole process I have to go through daily to ensure proper bandaging and that the viable tissue never dries out. I was on crutches for several weeks and the antibiotics made me sick to me stomach. Just saw the plastic surgeon today (I don’t need a skin graft luckily…), and the wound looks really good and the infection is clear, but I have quite a few months of recovery. Who know when I will be able to run again :(

So sorry for the lengthy post, but I just had to share it! Your blog is one of the few things I have to remind me of running (and my compression socks I am wearing). I have no choice but to accept the fact that running will not be happening soon, and use this time to heal my body. It is truly amazing what humans can do when they are faced with challenges. I am just so grateful that I did not lose my foot. Also, you are 100% correct-I have been told by many practitioners that calories are essential for healing. ;)

I wish you a speedy recovery, and know you will be out there running soon.

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In dealing with runners knee right now. I injured myself running a downhill half marathon that I wasn’t fully trained for. Mileage wasn’t an issue but the downhill killed me. I’ve been spending the time slowly running uphill and by strengthening my quads and calves and glutes and by researching downhill training. I’ve got a good plan now for my next half marathon. Why are most of the ones in Utah downhill!

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Oh, Janae it makes me so sad that you are injured! Sending good vibes, health, and prayers your way! I hope you are feeling 100% by race day. Your positivity is inspiring. You deserve to own that marathon :)

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I’m going on four months injured with a nasty case of piriformis syndrome/sciatica thing in the back of my hip. I used a rolling pin in place of a foam roller and hurt myself worse. :( now I have tingling all over and at one point I was afraid of something really serious.

I admire your good attitude! I am learning a lot from you!

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The worst injury hands down was that time I broke my neck sledding. Ri-dic-u-lous. But after 5.5 months, I got to run again and it was one of those “slow but best run of your life” runs. Those months provided some definite downtime and sadness of “will I ever run again”? And “can I be fast again?”

I know these injured times are so hard but the light at the end of the tunnel will shine brightly soon!! Hoping you can learn so many lessons that you can share with us!!

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Great tips – thank you for sharing!

I’m not injured right now, but I am having allergy issues that leave me wiped during the day. The good –> I went out for an early morning run and I never regret that! I knew I would have no injury left later in the day.

My son is stuffy and sick, too :( BUT, the good –> I get extra baby cuddles now!

I hope you get healed up soon and are ready to race!

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Great post!!! I have a feeling you will run that marathon–and run it strong!!

<3

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In the past I’ve struggled with my ITB (which a couple massage sessions and rolling has it working as good as new!) but I’m currently fighting shin splints ):

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Oh I’m so sad for you :(. Injuries suck and I’m sorry it’s not healing faster for you. You by the way eat really healthy! I have never seen so many salad pics in my LIFE. U eat more salads in a week than I do in a month. So good on you girl :).

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you forgot ice in #4

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this couldn’t have been more relevant, so huge thanks! I’m going on week 6 of no running for some hip/groin/leg thing. I was walking with a limp for a few weeks, but am finally walking like a normal human again. have been cross training and really working on weights and core. still feel some twings so haven’t tried to run. don’t know if I tore something or fractured something…should’ve gone to the doc.
get better soon!! prayer for ya ;)

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Is it an injury or a condition? lol. Whatever…it caused me pain for over a decade. Right now I’m truly thanking God for modern medicine :) No pain is pretty awesome even if it came at a price. I wouldn’t trade my journey for another :)

Wishing you a rapid recovery!

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I’m injured right now, too. Mine is a kind of big deal…I have a hip labral tear and it requires surgery. I was JUST getting back to running, too! I’m kind of annoyed, but by now I’m just resigned (and glad to know what is causing the pain).
I’m able to run a little now (mostly as mental therapy, even though it hurts a lot), but after surgery I’ll be out for 3 to 4 months – or longer with any complications. I am planning all my cross training for those months now.

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Oh this breaks my heart Gracie! I am always here if you need to email vent!

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Janae I may not be a runner but I adore reading your blog. Thank you for being you!!

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Yes – I’m in the injured club. Pulled hamstring – not sure how bad it is, maybe a grade 2. Your post was really good reading – thanks

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This is such a great post, and I am in complete agreement ALL of the points that you make, but especially some in particular!

While I’m not injured right now, I just went through the process of a Gait Analysis with my coaches and my team doctor. I have always been a really durable runner (i.e. 10 miles/day, every day, back to back marathon weekends, etc.) BUT the results of my analysis yielded some pretty severe hip drop (which indicates a lack of core stability) on one side of my body. Because of these results, a HUGE focus for me right now is strength and flexibility movements. I go through about an hours worth of strength and flex training twice a day, in addition to my runs.

What’s more, my coaches/doctor are actually recommending that I STOP running for 2-4 weeks, focus strictly on strength, and then rebuilt my movement pattern as a runner (kind of like forgetting a habit and creating a new one). It has been SO hard for me to wrap my head around the idea of quitting running, to the point where it has brought me to tears! I’ll be in the pool for that block of time (after my next two races) and your stories have been helping me cope with the idea!

Anyways, it’s refreshing to see that you’re so positive about your time off and are focusing on things like strength, clean eating and long term goals! Just really important stuff to keep in mind when you’re on a running sabbatical.

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alll great suggestions :)

i am healthy right now. knock on wood but i am pretty lucky in the fact that i havent had to deal with serious injuries save the stress fx i had when i first started out. but my sister is dealing with a hip strain. she thinks anyway.

tibial stress fx when i first started getting into running and did everything the wrong way. i kept pressing it too much- trying to come back too early- and i ended up being out for a long time

some good I noticed (yesterday)- its only 7 am here so i cant do today yet haha was that my best friend from growing up and i got together for dinner. we dont see each other hardly at all but whenever we do- it feels like old times. i love relatoinships with that. and it made me happy :)

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I am injured and had to miss out on three races so far this spring…huge bummer and disappointment as I trained all winter like you. I did not get an MRI but I am pretty sure a groin/adductor muscle is strained. They take a while to heal and I am in week 4. I was injured this fall too for about 7 weeks with a calf strain and really bad shin splints or stress fracture. It’s been a tough year.

Just like you I keep telling myself I will eventually heal and be able to run again and how I have a lot of other races ahead of me. It’s still hard to watch goal races go by that I wasn’t able to run in. I hope I am healed soon…and you too!

So far, the “good” I have seen today has been my little puppy waking me up by resting her face on my neck while I was sleeping in bed. She is a cutie that one!

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haha I love the idea of calling naps ‘business meetings’ – I’m going to remember that one!

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I’m not injured now, but I’m not running, so I can kind of commiserate. Taking 6 weeks off to recover from childbirth makes a lot of sense, but now that I feel good, it’s hard to wait the last 4 weeks.

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I had a partial tear in my quad earlier this year and it sucked. I went through a serious depression because it threw my workout routine off totally and I couldn’t do much of anything. I should have done what you suggested and cleaned up my eating but I ate junk to make myself feel better and that made it even worse.

I have been noticing many good things in life lately because I am super happy these days!

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Great tips! I think your positive energy is helping you get back to 100% quicker for sure!!

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I think I’ve spent more time being injured than I have running healthy :( Most recently it’s been high hamstring tendinopathy. Did you ever get a diagnosis on your leg?

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I am still having muscle soreness in my hip flexor, where thigh meets lower body. I am just powering through it, but each run I do makes me wonder ‘is this going to be the run that takes me down?’ bah.

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Hi!! I just wanted to say i read your blog every day! I am a collegiate runner who has suffered from many injuries the past two years and it has really helped me to read your thoughts and words of encouragement! :) Hope you are healing fast!!

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I had a stress reaction in my tibia that prevented me from running my marathon in April, so I can really relate to your post. I trained really hard for that marathon through one of the worse NYC winters ever… I had never been that bummed in my whole life. But guess what? I swam like a crazy person, checked my diet and did everyhing possible to heal and come back stronger. The result? I lost very little fitness and all the speed that went away is already coming back. Personally, I feel that my injury was a blessing in disguise. I learned the hard way that we’re not unbreakable and that we need to really take care of our bodys ALL THE TIME.

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I’m not injured right now *knock on wood*! My knee has been acting up though, os I need to be careful about that.

Worst injury I’ve had was pulling my achilles tendon. Luckily, I’ve never had to be out of running for more than a week or two.

I just try to stay positive and DEFINITELY take advantage of cross training to keep those endorphins coming! I try to remind myself that by taking a break from running, not only am I healing, but that first run post-injurty will just be all-the-more amazing after a hiatus from running!

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I have a couple of niggles but I have run consistently for almost 3 years now. The most time I have taken off for injury in those 3 years was a couple of days for a sprained ankle.

My worst injury was when I got hit by a van, riding my bike home from the gym, and fractured my knee in about 15 places.

Being injured used to be the norm for me so I can’t recall ever being particularly bothered by it. I have made a few change since then so that I can run consistently
– more minimal shoes. I usually run in Brooks Pure Connect or Nike Frees. I mix them up so my body is getting less repetitive motion.
– an increase of as little as 1km per week, every week, is too much for me. 0.5 km per week, every week, is probably closer to what I can cope with. It adds up over the years and I am now running far more than I really have time for.
– dropping my mileage down for 2-3 weeks if any niggles start to become more serious
– it’s not normal for me to really not feel like going for a run. If I really don’t feel like going for a run, my brain is trying to tell me to rest.
– recovery weeks usually every 4th week

If I was to get injured I would focus on my diet because that’s what makes the most difference to my speed – a combination of losing weight and being much more energetic I think.

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Thank you for this post. I’m going on 8 months now with an injury that may have started as an overuse running injury, but it’s now been revealed that an old horseback riding injury likely threw me out of whack leading me to tear my left high hamstring and more recently, when I just got back to slowly easing into my running routine, strain some muscles along my iliac crest on the same side. That’s a key, too: To determine the WHY behind the injury. I had several experts from PTs who deal with runners all of the time to sports medicine physicians keep telling me it was just an overuse injury that was taking a long time to heal, but something in my gut told me there was something else going on, especially since I have worked incredibly hard to rehab my hamstring, strengthen my core and glutes, etc. and was starting to have pain just being a mom to my kids and walking my dog! I finally seem to have found a PT who is getting to the bottom of it. Without me even telling him that I used to ride/train horses, he asked if I’d ever taken a fall from a high place. Um, yes. Quite a lot because I trained a very green horse when I was young teenager and was thrown quite frequently (obviously, the risk part of my brain was not properly developed because I remember thinking it was fun!). I am very hopeful now because he’s going to help realign me, etc. I’ve always known I am out of whack, and so did other PTs, but they said my hip was higher because of muscle imbalances and didn’t seem to notice or do anything about my titlted pelvis. Now I know there’s something else going on and am so thankful and hopeful that there is light at the end of what has seemed like an interminable tunnel.

Despite having dry needling, acupuncture, active release therapy, scraping, cupping, etc., and spending loads of money, missing running (my therapy!), missing my running peeps, and dealing with some depression over the injury, I am thankful for this experience because I know it’s taught me a lot of about appreciating and respecting my body even when it doesn’t “perform” to my own expectations, not comparing myself to others, being kind to myself, cultivating gratitude, and tenacity.

We are not human bodies; we are human beings. We have worth and dignity whether we can achieve something physically or not – or whether we DO anything at all. Our value lies in being, not our doing.

I have noticed so much good today. There’s a summer thunderstorm brewing outside. I hear my happy kids playing spa upstairs (the mess probably won’t make me as happy, but their giggles do). A dear friend of mine’s brother woke up last night after being non-responsive for almost two weeks. I am about welcome a precious, little niece into the world. God is always, always good. Sometimes He just asks us to open our eyes a little wider.

Praying for you and your leg!

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I have a strained Soleus and Achilles right now.. such a bummer, but i’m down to the end here and can possibly get the okay to run this weekend!

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Thank you for posting this. I just had to make the very difficult decision to back out my first half marathon due to an injury. #5 especially REALLY helps me feel like it was the right decision!

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I’m running the UV Marathon too. Hope your injury gets feeling a little better so you are able to run. You can always come walk/run slower with my sister in law and I. You’ll do awesome!!!

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A lot of Utah love out there, I lived in murray, I am a SLCC graduate! Anyway, I love the ideas for quick recovery. It drives me nuts when your mind is ready to rock but your body holds you up. Makes the days of Orem High School look like the good old days! I like the idea of running in the pool. Do you think physical therapy is ever useful in injuries like runners knee or torn hamstrings? I am debating on just doing research on blogs like this and Runner’s World articles and follow their exercises instead.

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