The first time I tried running, I had to go down hill. Until then, running was this impossible physical feat practiced by really fit people and athletes. I always thought I couldn’t do it. That first run was filled with exhiliration and pride as I watched my feet fall one after the other; I was running! More runs followed in the weeks and years during college, in the English Garden in Munich, and the back roads of the English countryside. I saw places most people never go and enjoyed the feel of sun and rain on my face. Running was a constant in my ever-changing life.
Women Who Run is a book that celebrates women’s running. Shanti Sosienski is a runner herself and was obviously inspired to bring these stories onto the page for everyone to enjoy. Her running grew from the difficult experience of narrowly escaping the Tsunami in Thailand in 2004. It was a challenge and an awakening as she returned to Thailand to help those affected by the disaster. For her, and for many women she writes about, running became therapy. The days of struggling and exhilaration helped to work through the challenges of life and find new paths and possibilities.
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Earlier this week I wrote about the mental states that can contribute to an injury. Using some of the strategies to cope with stress can lower your risk of getting hurt. But in triathlon, or any endurance sport, being injured is a part of being an athlete. There are attitudes and strategies that can really help you to cope with the stress of an injury and plan how to get back on form. Treat rehabilitation like you treat your training to get yourself on the road to recovery fast.
Gather support from your team
Being injured can be a very stressful time as plans for competitions are pushed back or cancelled altogether. Triathlon is probably a part of your identity, and having a void in your life can be a big change. Athletes who create a team for recovery and get moral and physical support are more likely to recover quickly and fully.
Your team should be made up of people who care for you, understand your concerns, and accept you. Your friends and family are a big help with encouragement and even physical support if your mobility is limited. If you have a coach, they can offer moral support and a modified training plan while you are recovering. Teammates are very important for friendship and having someone will listen and understand what you’re going through. Trainers and physiotherapists have a good understanding of your physical progress and will help support you and push you when you need it. Gather the people around you that you feel will best help to support your recovery.
Athletes who create a team for recovery and get moral and physical support are more likely to recover quickly and fully.
Your recovery team needs to be informed and educated about the injury and the plan for rehabilitating it. If you can communicate with them well and let them know how you’re doing, they’ll be there to listen and to help you along.
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I train with a group of about 30 triathletes. In chatting with all of them during training sessions in the last year, I can think of about 5 who haven’t talked about an injury that is affecting their training and racing. Endurance sports are hard on the body and injuries are common. Although the physical act of training is what causes the injury, the chances of someone being injured are also affected by their mind.
Life and competition stresses increase the risk of injury
Many studies have shown that recent life stresses such as family issues, loss of a family member, or loss of a job are more common in athletes who experience injury. Even minor daily hassles like being in a new area, having trouble getting to practice, or any annoyance that disrupts your normal routine can increase the chance of injury.
Performance anxiety is another form of mental stress that can affect the likelihood of injury. People respond to competitive situations either with anticipation and joy, or with fear and unpleasant expectations. Think about how you felt before and during your last race. Were you looking forward to it or dreading it? Athletes in the negative group may also have more chance of injury.
Life stress and performance anxiety can increase your chance of injury.
Possible reasons for the greater risk of injury in negative emotional states include more muscle tension, a narrowed visual field (less awareness of what is going on around you), and being more likely to be distracted. All of these reactions can cause poor decision making or extra force on the body. The result could be a twisted ankle or a crash on the bike.
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