Better for a run

You get out of bed and you can’t put your weight on one of your feet. Your heart sinks knowing that niggle you have been ignoring has become more serious. You are not going to be able to run!

Like most runners I have had my fair share of injuries. Over 15 plus years of running I have had Achilles Tendinitis, Plantar Fasciitis and a couple of visits to the Accident and Emergency department for rapid unintended close examination of the ground or falls to the rest of us.

To have a routine of 3 to 4 runs per week stop immediately is a big gap to fill in so many ways. Suddenly your fitness, mindfulness, and social life are seemingly destroyed overnight.

However in hearing professional sportspeople talk about their injuries and rehabilitation I came to realise that I needed to start thinking about injuries in a different way. Rather than something that stops me running I need to think about them as something that is part of running. I need to be prepared for them psychologically and have a clear plan for dealing with them. This is part of the professional athletes’ world and as amateurs there is a lot to be said for being similarly prepared.

Some thoughts of what you can do.

Prevention. Sounds obvious doesn’t it, but understanding the causes of common injuries like Achilles Tendinitis is important knowledge as a runner. Mine came from an over exuberant hill climb, but that or suddenly increasing your speed can put stress on the Achilles and can cause tendinitis. I did not really know that before I got the injury, but I would advise swatting up on key running injuries and how to avoid them. Ensure you warm-up properly.

Backup exercise plan. When injured you will need alternative exercises to stay fit and support your mental health through recovery. Low impact exercises like cycling and swimming tend to be the alternatives most people turn to.

Know where to get professional advice. I learnt that there is quite a difference between sports injury therapists and other physiotherapy help you may be able to access. They will be specialists in the type of injury you have and will treat you holistically looking at all aspects of your physiology to understand what is causing your injury. You will be surprised to find the cause can be nowhere near the injury you now have. There will be recommendations from other members of your running club.

Sleep and eat well. Rest and a good night’s sleep are so important for your body’s recovery. Focus on this as much as the rehabilitation of your injury.

Stay connected. Just because you can’t run does not mean you need to isolate yourselves from your running community. Volunteer to be a marshal at local running events and perhaps post on social media regular updates on your recovery.

So treat injuries as part of being a runner rather than the end of the world. You will soon be back stronger and more motivated to succeed.