The Challenge for an Injured Runner: Patience or Persistence?

Running injuries are interesting (in an abstract sort of way) in how they so easily can throw off an athlete. I don’t think I’m alone in this, but when I’m dealing with an injury, I feel off-balance. Like a table missing a leg. As a strong, determined woman of action, my response is to fix the thing. Let’s figure out the problem, sort it, and move on!

Of course, life never works like that, and injuries least of all.

I have been lucky enough in my life to have avoided what I think of as “hard” injuries. I haven’t broken any bones, torn any ligaments, lost my head, etc (knock on wood.) Don’t think I’ve gotten off too lightly, though. I tend to collect the “soft” injuries that linger…for months. They seem to be in the category of “mysterious inflammation” that just hang about for no good reason. Tendons, nerves, whatever is available, evidently. The injury is usually tangentially related to a weakness elsewhere (hello, gluteus medius), but seem to be a bit overdramatic about it.

What I find most challenging about these inflammatory injuries is that the cause is rarely able to be identified. Not for a lack of trying, mind you. I will see multiple doctors and maybe even get some imaging done (x-ray or MRI), but the injury will seemingly get better when it damn well feels like it (and also with the right physical therapy.) This isn’t always the case, of course, but has occurred enough times for me to notice a trend.

This leads to a dilemma I feel is common for the injured athlete. Should we continue our relentless pursuit of the root cause? Or remain patient and give the injury more time to heal on its own?

My initial response is find the cause because otherwise, how will I prevent it in the future? The trick with this is that it requires patience of a different kind. There may be challenges with working in our health care system (like getting referrals, appointments sooner than Thanksgiving, approval for imaging, etc.) There also may be no apparent physical cause and then you’re left questioning your sanity and ability to recognize pain (and let’s be honest, ultrarunners are pretty crap at this – we run 50+ miles at a time for heaven’s sake.)

Trying to figure out the cause of an injury can feel likes the world’s worst carousel –  endless and utterly ridiculously. Why is this so *#$!ing hard?? But you think, surely, all of your persistence will bear fruit. You’ll find the problem, get the correct treatment, and run merrily off into the sunset.

As athletes, we’re used to hard work yielding results. Want to get faster? Do more speedwork. Want to get stronger? Lift more weights. It’s an equation that if done wisely, works. As athletes, we tend to apply that same equation to healing an injury. I ask my physical therapist every week, “is there anything else can I do to make it better?” (Like she wouldn’t have told me the week prior, lol.) Icing? Check. Specific strength exercises? Check. Specific stretches? Check. Burn incense, sprinkle salt, chant some prayers? I’ll try anything.

Regardless of whether or not you persist in finding a cause, sometimes the answer is just…more rest.

Is there a more dreaded four-letter word for an athlete? I don’t think so. For those of us who revel and find solace in movement and physical challenge in the outdoors, rest is uniquely tough. It’s something that, frankly, we have to be trained to accept. (I mean, maybe not after an ultramarathon. If an ultrarunner has food and drink within reach post-race, you couldn’t move us with anything short of a bulldozer.) However, if rest is not our choice, but IS required by a doctor or a coach, acceptance of it is a learned skill. (Sometimes we’d rather run over hot coals than not run at all.) Priorities.

But again, sometimes rest is the answer, no matter how much we kick and scream.

Recently, when I was hosting a pity party for one featuring despair and frustration, my dear friend, Tara, said something that really struck a chord with me. “Remember Bob, the 80 year old who ran the Vashon 50K this year? Take care of yourself and that will be you. You have your whole life to run.”

So while I’m trying to remain patient (and also persisting in figuring out the cause of my injury), I am also trying to play the long game. There will be more adventures in the future. The mountains and races will wait. There is plenty of room for persistence and patience (and rest) in my future.

I have my whole life to run.