What should you do when you get injured? I’m not talking ice, rest, compress etc. This isn’t going to be a medical advice post – Mum’s the only doctor in Veggie Runners, and she’s a doctor of philosophy, so not much good for a broken ankle or other injuries. This post is talking about things to do in the weeks after your injury, when you don’t hurt too much any more, are prowling around the house like a feral cat, and still have 4 weeks until the doctor says you can run again.
I’m out of commission on doctor’s orders for 6 weeks (nothing serious!), and I’m halfway through. My doctors say I’m allowed to start ‘light jogging’ again in 20 and a half days… Not that I’m counting, or anything. I was feeling pretty down, and lethergic until bedtime when all of a sudden I wouldn’t be able to sleep. A plan of action was needed!
This post looks at the things that I’m doing to stop myself going totally coco bananas in the house. I hope that they will help you too if you’re currently not able to get out and do whatever exercise you normally love.
- Read Chi Running by Danny Dwyer. The book takes the concepts of mindfulness normally associated with yoga or t’ai chi and applies them to running. Not only will you feel more zen about your rest time away from running, the tips on best running form will mean you’ll be less likely to go crazy and injure yourself when you start up running again!
- Know your limitations, but try to keep your strength up within them. I’m lifting light weights, doing the plank and walking as much as I can so I don’t atrophy and fall on my face when I start running again.
- Take the 30 Day Happiness Challenge to counteract the loss of the endorphin boosts that you usually enjoy. I’m only on day 6 of the challenge, but I’m really enjoying the chance to focus on what my brain, and not my body, is capable of. All you need to do is meditate each day, do one kind thing for others, and keep a gratitude journal. These are all things that are recommended by Action for Happiness, an international movement for positive social change.
- Volunteer your time. A) you’ll have a bit more time on your hands and B) doing things for others will make you feel happy. If you want to keep in the running community, you could volunteer your time as a race marshall, as Mum did last summer. Or perhaps help with your local ParkRun. I’m helping with my local Rainbows – such a nice way to give back to the community while feeling great too.
Are you injured at the moment? What are you doing to feel less bad about not getting to go out?
I’m so sorry your injured! In the past year I’ve been sidelined due to low back issues, knee problems and now a pulled hamstring. The knee was the worst, and I didn’t realize how much I was addicted (in a good way) to exercise until I couldn’t do any for a week. I remember tweeting (and getting a ton of great feedback) that the hardest thing I had to do after becoming a runner was not run. It was torture!
That’s exactly how I felt – it really brought home to me how fundamental exercise has become to my sense of wellbeing and self (aka addicted!). When I’m back running again and I have those days I don’t want to get off the couch, I’ll try to keep this feeling in my back pocket to remind myself how lucky I am to be able to get out and exercise.
This really helped me put today! I missed a half marathon through illness (so not quite the same as injury) am I was honestly devastated I couldn’t run. But there will be other races, and mending myself is more important. Still a bit gutted though…!
Such a horrible feeling, particularly when you’ve been training for something! Have you had a chance to do another race yet Josie?
I have! I did the BUPA London 10k yesterday, and I’ve got (I still can’t believe this is happening) the Blenheim triathlon in just under 2 weeks! EEEK!
Wow-wee! That’s so exciting. How did the 10K go? Do you feel ready for the tri? I’d love to try one one day, but my front crawl is like drowning with some slight lateral movement at the moment, so I would need some serious work on that.
I didn’t have a great race during the 10k, I got caught in people traffic and just never really settled in. A focus issue I think but something to work on anyway! I’m excited for the triathlon knowing that I’m doing all I can training wise, but equally terrified when I actually realise that it IS coming. A bit like my first ever race on two feet I guess, it’s the fear of the unknown! I loved your race report on Edinburgh, congratulations on a tough race, it makes the finishers medal all the sweeter!