Injuries

One of the "lores" of running is that all runners are injured, recovering from injury, or just about to get injured.  Avoiding injury involves being sensible with increases in training distance and intensity - not doing both at once and only increasing by 10% per week, and every 3-4 weeks having a lighter week where you don't increase, or you even drop back a little.

Dealing with injuries is though tough, as much mentally as anything.  There is the tension of wanting to get back as quickly as possible, but also the knowledge that if you push things too hard too fast you may well just make matters worse.  Then if you take time off it is amazing how much this leads your motivation to drain away.  It takes a lot of determination to get back to things and gradually build up to where you were pre-injury.  However, this is inevitably part and parcel of running.  The key, I think, comes down to several factors:

1) Don't give up - there are actually very few injuries that really mean an end to a running career.  Most can be manged often through working on stretching and strengthening certain muscles.

2) Consider all exercise options, not just running, that are going to help you recover and get back to where you were.  Further make sure there is a purpose to every exercise session - even if this to simply loosen your legs through a short easy run on the flat. (The maxim of every run having an identified purpose is good at all times).

3) Recapture your enjoyment of running.  When you are working on building up again after an injury and inevitably your motivation might not be what it was, think of anything that might make the run a bit more of a pleasure - the route, the music you listen to, the people you run with, even the kit you wear.  Anything which makes you feel good.  Then a positive feel at the end of the run will help fuel your continued rehabilitation.  

​So, where ever you are with injuries, I hope you are making good progress!