Success can breed confidence and with confidence you feel like you can go out and do anything. In running, doing more is not necessarily a good thing. Thousands of articles read in runner’s world magazine have told me that after a race you need to give your body rest but I’m by nature a very hardheaded individual. From August 7th through October 3rd I ran 6 different events. In September I had a stretch where I ran a race two weekends in a row. One race, I biked to the race, ran the race, then biked home, then ran over to the stairs to get in some extra training. Completing a running event and running well in that event, gives you such a boost of confidence and momentum is the name of the game but the downside is that you really do not give your body much time to rest and recover. You end up running a when your muscles are fatigued and your mind can be a little weary as well.
The end result of overtraining is where I am now. Sitting in front of my laptop and typing this blog. After completing a gritty 6.5 mile trail race October 3rd, I got up the following weekend on Saturday wanting to get in a short, easy run but what did I do? I ran in the direction of the stairs over at the Baldwin hills overlook knowing that I couldn’t just run there and run back home without at least going up the stairs just one time. I had already felt a small twinge in my left knee but that didn’t stop me from going up and down the stairs at a ferocious pace. Later that evening I felt my knee stiffen and I was beginning to limp around in pain. It only got worse the next day when I rolled out of bed. I could only hope that I didn’t cause serous damage but the days after were not good. I limped around most of the week and I was pretty convinced that I would be seeing a surgeon and the next thing, I’d be on crutches but my doctor told me it looks like I have a simple strain and I need to rest and ice. What a relief but at the same time I still have some work to do before I can celebrate.
Each year, I’ve been sidelined for a period of time with an injury that comes at my expense. The hardest thing to do is to sit back and do nothing for an extended period but I have no choice but to. The key to getting over any injury is rest but more importantly you have to keep your mind on the positive things. It’s has been well documented that athletes from all levels can suffer from depression when dealing with injuries that keep them from participating in the things they love most. If you’ve been an active person your whole life, you’ll be able to relate. I know for me, it has always been really tough skip certain events that I’ve run year after year but I realize the big picture which is to return healthier and stronger. Running while hurt is no good for your body and you cannot perform at your best. Picking out a race you want to do a month or two month away is good motivation. This gives you a target to focus on but you have to remember not to try and get back to training before you’re 100% or you’ll just prolong your recovery.
Being injured doesn’t have to be a death sentence. This gives you some time to work on things that you may have neglected before. For me that’s going back to the basics like stretching, working on your core, and strength training. When I began running 7 years ago, I fell in love with the fact that you get in a whole new type of shape. I gave up on lifting weights and trying to be on the cover of muscle magazine but one of the things I have realized in the last few years is that I have become weaker overall. That was apparent in July when I thought I could just hop in the pool and swim 20 laps in preparation for a 1000-meter swim and run. The theory for years was just to go out and run and run more but new studies have shown that you still need to workout your legs, core muscles, shoulder’s, and most importantly eat right.
Athletes have to remain determined and know that you will be able to get through any injury or setback but one thing I have learned is to stay away from those who will try to pull you into their dark world of misery. The worst thing for an injured athlete is another injured athlete who moans and groans about what they cannot do. People like this just want someone to join in their misery but what they do not realize is all that negative energy does nothing for their confidence or anyone else. They just become what will call energy vampires. Stay focused, and stay motivated and most importantly don’t ever give up hope.
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