After my race, I thought I was good - I got 2nd place, I ran within myself, and most importantly, 48 hours post-race and no soreness or injuries to speak of.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that my calf needed a bit more time before it felt ready to run again and alas, a minor cramp crept up and has me sidelined.
Running is a very fickle sport and every type of runner can sustain an injury without any warning.
Today’s post is all about what to do when an injury pops up.
Assess
First, assess the situation. Why did you get hurt and can you stop doing what caused the injury in the first place? Did you outrun your fitness? Maybe you tried doing too much too soon. Whatever the reason, you’re there now. Figure out what went wrong so you don’t do it again. (This is why keeping a training log is very valuable!)
Acknowledge
Things have to change in order for you to get healthy. You’ll most likely need to stop running and, if the pain allows for it, you’ll want to cross train to stay fit. Otherwise, you end up slowly losing fitness and you’ll need to start back where you started. (This isn’t all doom and gloom. Sometimes cross training isn’t an option and the only thing that’ll help is complete rest.)
Adapt
Adapt and adopt new prehab and rehab assignments. You’ll need to get over the injury (rehab) and then once you’re back to being healthy, you’ll need to stay that way (prehab).
Accelerate
Once you’re back healthy and you’ve done your rehab drills, you’ve kept up with your cardio (cross training), and you’ve started implementing prehab drills to keep you bulletproof, you can then accelerate your training to beyond pre-injury fitness.
What Has My Attention:
World Championship Track & Field Schedule
Popular on the Blog This Week:
Stronger Glutes are Key to Running Success
Strength training for the busy runner
…And From the Newsletter:
Summer Running leads to Fall PRs
Quote of the Week:
It sounds simple. You put one foot in front of the other and you burn calories when you run. Going on a run seems like second nature, but it's a full-body workout that requires strength, coordination and most of all, determination. Exercising may seem strenuous, but it's so worth it. Running is actually one of the best mood boosters that exists!
How to Connect with Me:
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Friday’s Action Plan
What Has My Attention:
Popular on the Blog This Week:
…And From the Newsletter:
Quote of the Week:
How to Connect with Me:
Thanks for reading until the end. You can certainly get a hold of me in any number of ways, but if you have a comment about this post, click below.
Not about this post? You can find me on social media or check out my most popular links including using me as your running coach.
Did you really just love this post? Awesome and thank you. Go ahead and share it!