Returning from injury

skater1

Hi
I've been out of action for over 2 months with a bit of a nasty running injury, and it will be at least another month before I can start training again. Just wondering from other peoples experience, when you start training after a long gap like that, is it like starting completely from scratch, or is it any way easier, given the years of running that had previously been put in....
i.e. does the body take to it better than a complete newbie to running??

I may be clutching at straws here, despair will do that to you!
Thanks guys

tunney

skater1 wrote: »

Hi
I've been out of action for over 2 months with a bit of a nasty running injury, and it will be at least another month before I can start training again. Just wondering from other peoples experience, when you start training after a long gap like that, is it like starting completely from scratch, or is it any way easier, given the years of running that had previously been put in....
i.e. does the body take to it better than a complete newbie to running??

I may be clutching at straws here, despair will do that to you!
Thanks guys

Slowly slowly ease back in. Injuries are much more likely when returning from injury.

token56

3 months isn't a huge amount of time to be out for but you will have obviously lost a lot of fitness. The first few weeks will be tough and feel like you are starting out from scratch. But it shouldn't take you nearly as long to get close to the level you were at before you were injured compared to if you had just taken up running. It varies person to person really. The important thing as tunney says is to get yourself back into it slowly and be patient. The first few weeks will be probably feel like crap but once you get past that you'll be glad you were patient.

mitresize5

I feel your pain - out for 6 weeks and looking at another 4 at least. Christ its maddening and I've turned into a serious cranky pants.

The only consolation I'm taking is that its probably the best time of year to be out i.e. end of the season.

slow and steady seems to be the general concenous

dna_leri

I was out for almost 6 months during which I just did occasional jogs and maintained some fitness through cycling. I'm in week 6 of my come back now and have gone from being able to walk 3km to easy runs of about 6km three times a week.

If I compare to when I started running 3 years ago, it is not as difficult but I am planning to continue to build up slowly, targetting a 5k by the end of the year but not expecting to be back to my best by then.

I'm sure it depends on your injury and how much cross-training you can do while not running, a rule of thumb I heard is that it takes twice as long to get back as you spent out injured, so if you are going to be out for 3 months, it might take 6 months before you regain full fitness.

Good luck, listen to your body and have patience.

shels4ever

skater1 wrote: »

Hi
I've been out of action for over 2 months with a bit of a nasty running injury, and it will be at least another month before I can start training again. Just wondering from other peoples experience, when you start training after a long gap like that, is it like starting completely from scratch, or is it any way easier, given the years of running that had previously been put in....
i.e. does the body take to it better than a complete newbie to running??

I may be clutching at straws here, despair will do that to you!
Thanks guys

Body will take to it better then a complete newbie but still takes work to get back, as Tunney said take your time hardest part for me was know when to start training harder made the mistake too many times and ended up injured again. Best of luck with the come back

huskerdu

I did loads of core strengthening exercises and squats / lunges etc as well
as some cycling and swimming.

I felt pretty strong after a few weeks of easing myself back into training.

skater1

Thanks everyone for the great feedback. I will definitely heed your advice to take things slowly once I return (says the normally very impatient person!). I dont want to ever find myself in this situation again. Follow up scan in a months time so hopefully I'll have the green light then.

Unfortunately I have been warned to do no exercise at all while healing, so I went from 40 mpw + cross training, to sitting around + more sitting around... starting to wonder what I did with all this free time years ago before I started running!

Thanks again

DangerMouse27

I had a great level of fitness this year but missed seven weeks of any running after my father died. Id lost the motivation a tad but just needed the time to get my head together. I began winter training four weeks ago and ive just run a 5.11 mile with just one day of running. I mixed it up with
Mon:day off
Tues: med ball and core work
Wed: Deep water aqua running(30 secs on,60 off x 4)
Thurs:day off
Fri:Running (lma) circuit
Sat:day off
Sun: Long steady Hills(70m plus)

Now im back at it and with the bit between my teeth,got to say,the break is always wothwhile. Ul be thankfull of it come next spring