7 Reasons Being Inured Doesn't Have to Ruin Your Life

I'm pleased to report that I ran 4 miles this week with limited pain. PT Bob says I've got a minor tear in my gluteus medius. So, basically the upper part of my right butt cheek (not to be mistaken for my crack). Good news is that I can run 3 times per week (short runs) and I should be good to go in a few weeks.

Being out of the running game for the past month or so has given me time to reflect. Yes, I've missed running, but for the first time I didn't fully lose my mind. Here's why.
Back in the day when I got injured (first time was a stress fracture in my foot in 2009), I would freak the hell out. My life would totally fall apart and I became extremely self involved and self focused. There was crying and wallowing and self pity.  Kind of like a teenager girl's reaction when her curling iron breaks on Monday morning. Anyway, it was all pure panic. My thoughts then:

• I am no longer a runner (aka identity is erased)
• I will get horrendously out of shape and will never return to my pre-injury running fitness
• I want to punch every runner I see
• I wish it would pour rain and be -44 degrees outside so I don't feel like I am missing as much by not running
• No form of exercise can give me what running gives me
• My poop cycle is going to get WAY messed up
• What will I blog about?

Thank God this is not recent. This is back in 2009 with that stress fracture

Sound familiar?
These days I am much older and wiser. Well, not really, but I have gotten better at this whole injury thing. Truly, I feel like if i am going to run until I'm 100 years old then I need to roll with the punches a bit more and realize that taking time off for a variety of issues is to be expected.

1. Shit happens. If you run long enough you will probably get injured. It's just a fact. Sure there are those freaks of nature who have never been injured, but in my experience that is the exception, not  the norm. I am still a runner!
2. I will not shrivel up into an out of shape ball of fat. There are many things you can do to keep your fitness up while injured. After you have your pity party, find out what makes you feel athletic and gets your heart pumping. Swim. Bike. Run in the pool (and poke your eyes out). Walk for miles. Get on the elliptical. Strength train. Whatever you can do to keep up your strength and fitness while not injuring yourself further is what you need to do.
3. Keep the faith. You WILL run again. This is not permanent. 
4. Reach out. Talk to others who have been injured and have run again. This will help you believe #3. 
5. Know where to go. Having been inured before, I've got my go-to people that make me know I will be glued together again (physical therapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, etc). They make me saner.
6. Be choosy. Keep in mind that non-runners will not get why you are so upset. Don't expect them to understand.
7. Lighten up. The world is not ending. Learn to laugh at yourself and to see the big picture.

You do wear underwear with your suit, right?

What have you learned from being injured over the years?
SUAR