Don't call it a comeback...
I been runnin’ for years… just not consistently.
I’ve written before about my on-again-off-again relationship with running, and why I’ve spent the better part of the last year in an ‘off’ phase. At first, my time away from running was necessary to heal from my injury. I could hardly walk, sit, or even lay down without extreme pain, so running was clearly not an option. After recovering from my injury, thanks to lots of stretching and regaining strength in my glutes and hips, my break from running was completely based on fear. After all, at the time of my injury, I was hardly running more than a mile at a time. In my mind, if I couldn’t run a mile without getting hurt, what was the point of running at all? The problem had shifted from the physical to mental space.
I wallowed in this self-pity state for quite some time. I ran a bit here and there, but every time I’d see my pace or distance, I’d immediately feel defeated. My ego quickly chimed in with comparisons of past accomplishments, making each run feel pointless. I knew this way of thinking was wrong, but still, I let the negative thoughts stand in my way of getting back out there.
It’s taken some time, but thankfully I’ve overcome the mental block. That’s not to say I still don’t have moments of feeling sad or frustrated about not running as fast or as far as I once could pre-injury. Now, instead of staying in that sad place, I’ve shifted my perspective to focus on what I can accomplish, and simply put that’s the ability to run without pain. I’ve reframed my thoughts from defeat and despair; shifting my focus on looking at this as an opportunity to enjoy the slow and gradual gains I once reveled in at the beginning of my running journey. I may never reach my PR times or distances again, but the journey through slow and consistent improvements is always an enjoyable one, for me at least.
Consistency is key in improving any skill, which is why I’ve also reframed how I define my ‘success’ as a runner. I’ve turned off the distance and pace feedback on the app I use to track my runs and use other factors to measure my success instead.
Putting on my shoes and going for a run, even if it’s just a few blocks, is a success!
Fighting the urge to stop after each and every step I take is a success!
Taking the time to stretch before and after my run is a success!
Investing in new running shoes since my old ones have too many miles is a success!
Feeling empowered by my run, even if it’s a short one, is a success!
Now that I’ve reframed my mindset and my definition of success as a runner, all that’s left to do is lace up and hit the road (consistently).
Have you ever experienced an injury that’s prevented you from doing something you love? How did you overcome this obstacle?