The lessons I have learnt from running post-injury.

 

For the last six months, I have really been struggling with my fitness. I've been injured, ill, injured again and, yep, ill again. I have had three fractures and three broken bones occurring across three different incidents (all of which were caused simply by being as clumsy as a new-born deer on an ice rink most of the time) but I'm finally through it, or so I hope. In fact, I have made it a month now of regular exercise, following two months of building up the miles gradually, and have had little to complain about. That is except for the occasional sore shin, which quickly subsides thanks to the bag of peas that I keep in the freezer.

But, as much as I loved running before and was excited to get back to it, I found starting to run again to be very demoralising and, with memories of a strong half marathon not quite six months old in my mind, quite frustrating. But I persevered and I learnt a few lessons I wish I had known before starting, so I thought I would share my top 5 with you, in case you find yourself in the same situation. These are also, I hope, more useful than the other relentless websites reminding you to build it up gradually. Yeah, we get it!

1) Get a new running app.
If you use one, I would seriously recommend starting a fresh. "That run was 1 minute, 45 seconds slower than the average pace of your last seven runs." Shut up, stupid Nike+ witch. Seriously, you don't need to be told by an app, judging you against your previous best, that you are indeed as rubbish as you feel. Ditch your app and download a new one, which treats you as a new runner and charts your progress accordingly, rather than comparing you to who you were. If you are really attached to your old running app, by all means go back to it when you are ready to compete with your old PBs, but definitely relegate it to the side-lines in the meantime.

2) Remember your old programme.
Did you follow a certain programme when you took up running, like a couch-to-5km, or did you start building up miles on a treadmill first? Whatever you did the first time, if it worked, do it again, even if it is really frustrating to reign in the miles. I tried using a new regime I found on Pinterest (aimed for complete beginners, might I add) but it didn't suit me as runs were longer and less frequent than I had previously been doing, and I ended up injured again. It was only by heading back to the gym and building up the miles on a treadmill, like I did in the very beginning (I'm a converted gymoholic), that I managed to get back to my former best. If it worked before, it will work again!

3) Be aware of your limitations.

My gorgeous new shoes :)

Don't let your body fool you. If you have been keeping up with fitness in other ways (Swimming, cycling, elliptical etc), your cardio will be sufficient to carry you many more miles than your muscles are ready for. (Ok, so that was a bit like the 'build it up gently' advice I said this post wasn't... Sorry!)

4) Buy new running shoes

The old ones were for the runner you were then. You are a new runner now, and new runners need new shoes. It's like the end of an era, right?! Plus, who doesn't like an excuse to buy new ones? It will therefore add more excitement to your runs if you are excited, literally, at the prospect of lacing up and getting going.

5) Change it up

I found that, when I ran the routes I used to love, I was disheartened at how much I struggled over the hills I used to blast, or I was disappointed with my times. It was through running a few new routes, which allowed me to see my progress rather than comparing myself to before, that I became more motivated. It allowed me to regain that determination most runners have to always beat their previous records, as I had a new goal to work towards. So, open MapMyRun right now and find somewhere new to run. As they say, a change is as good as a rest!

So there we go, those are my little tips and tricks. I hope they help and that, if you're reading this and are injured, you get better soon :)

Happy running!