The injured break

We take breaks from running for all sorts of reason. We get busy, go on holidays, are sick, the family are sick, work is overloading us, we lose our ‘mojo’ or for most of us, the worst thing that stops us running…is injury. Because this usually means a forced stop, we often have mixed feelings about it. Our mojo, our wanting to run can still be there, yet, we have to not do the thing we love.
It can be a very emotional time. We struggle with our feelings of failure, of the what ifs, the why didn’t I’s. We think about all the things we know we should have done, the exercises that could have prevented it. But what if something happens that is hard to prevent, an injury that may or may not happen. Something that you can’t prepare.

What if we just go about our business with no idea we are doing ourselves harm until it is too late and then sit on said injury for maybe too long before realising it is slightly more serious than tight hamstrings or a sore glute.

Such a thing has sidelined me for at least two weeks. And it hit home hard. I had felt the pinch for a few months but did nothing about it. I finally went off to the physio to see what she could do. Nothing as it turned out. I was not at all impressed with her diagnosis, (even though she kind of got it right), no actual proper term was mentioned, only a pfaff about answer and exercises which I believe were not going to work. I paid, said my thank you’s and off I went.

The next day I asked my brains trust (running group on Fb (of 30,000 women) where there is always more than one person who has had an infliction at some point) for their thoughts.
Several answers came back so off I went to do some research. Now I had an idea of what it was, everything I read made sense. It was like I could have written it if I had a better way with words and knew all the scientific names for things. 
It turns out I had Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy. A real pain in the butt. Literally and figuratively.

A friend had recommended her physio so I rang and booked in to see if I could get some definitive answers.
Well, the man brought tears to my eyes, but in my head I knew it was the right thing.

After a short conversation and a couple of tests I had my answer.  
I knew deep down I would most likely have to cool right back or stop running. 
I knew it would be hard work, after my ITB. 
I didn’t want to accept it. I didn’t want to feel like a failure. I didn’t want to accept that I am not as young as I was. I didn’t want to stop. Simple. And right at the point where I was thinking about the new direction I was heading.
I did know though, this was part of the catalyst for the new direction.
I wasn’t expecting it to hurt like it did.
I could feel the emotions welling up, I could feel the sting of tears. 
I was all good until he said those words – “…no running for two weeks…”
Walking is fine, but if it hurts, then stop.
That was the end of me. 
Where I live is not exactly a flat place so I now have to drive everywhere, even to go for a simple walk. My street is steep, my driveway is steep.
I cried all over him. 
It was horrible.
I paid up, made my next booking and sat in the car.
Sombre. Feeling sorry for myself. Pity party for one.
Sent hubby a message.
Then pulled up my big girl panties and drove home.

I have one exercise to do. That’s it. One. Three sets, three times a day every third day.
I’ve done my first day. It was intense. A half hour for each session. 
I will do my two weeks of exercise. I will get stronger. I will continue to run. I will be stronger on my return. 
It’s not the end of the world. I still have my health, I am still capable of doing so much physically. 

The point of this is that we all have days, weeks, sometimes months, where we cannot run for what ever reasons.
We can throw ourselves pity parties as much as we want. It wont get us anywhere. Just further down in the dumps about whatever the predicament is. Why bother, so long as you are upright, breathing and have relative good health, there is nothing to bitch about. two days ago I wouldn’t have been able to write this, I was still in party mode. Yesterday I concentrated on getting my reps done. Properly.
Today, I have collected my thoughts, and put it all in perspective. I AM healthy. I CAN still do exercise. This is just a BUMP in the road. 
So while we all go through the motions of denial, anger and then sadness when we get injured, we have to pick ourselves up and get back on the horse.  Don’t be scared. Work through the pain. Come back stronger than before.
That’s my plan.

What injuries have you had that have put a stop to your training. How long were you out of action for?