I love running, but can’t do it at the moment due to a minor foot injury. On the surface, it’s plain demoralising. Stepping back a little, though, there’s a chance to gain perspective.
The injury emerged as a niggle a couple of weeks ago. I proceeded with plans to do a triathlon, and the 21.1 kilometre run upgraded the niggle to a proper injury.
I hoped that a few days of rest would allow it to recover, but the healing process has been slow, and I only felt comfortable to return to running this morning.
Just 100 metres from my front gate, the pain returned and it became clear that more healing is needed.
Gah!
While frustrating, the opportunity to gain perspective is significant:
- Being deprived of the chance to run makes me aware just how much I value the act of running, and the process of training.
- Trying not to rush back too soon is an exercise in patience, that forces me to take a long term view: waiting a little too long rather than a little too little is the wise option, because the risk of worsening the injury is significant. It’s not worth returning too soon, and extending the length of my injury layoff from a couple of weeks to a couple of months.
- Not being able to run helps me to appreciate other sports more. I’m still able to cycle, swim, and do yoga. So, on the whole, the wait to run is not so bad.
As lofty as my ideals on perspective might be, I’d honestly swap them in a heartbeat for the chance to run again tomorrow.
For now, the only option is to wait for my foot to heal. While waiting, I imagine what the sports media might be saying, if I was a footballer:
“Harrison faces a setback in return from foot injury” or “Harrison’s plans to fly to Serbia for horse placenta treatment thwarted by the COVID pandemic.”
To my fellow runners currently battling injury: take courage, find perspective, and once you’re able to start running again, enjoy it!
Running can be hard, but it’s hardness that we choose and that we emerge fitter and stronger from. Something to be grateful for.