Injured and getting Depressed

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2009-06-21 9:30 PM

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Brambleton, VA
Subject: Injured and getting Depressed

Would welcome any tips on how to deal with the mental side of injury.

My A race this year was IMWA (Dec 09) and my B race HIM Malaysia (Jul 09). Due to some unexpected work committments coming up this fall I will not be able to swim, bike or run for 6 to 8 weeks - so that has pretty much killed IMWA. Work is work, it pays the bills and allows me to do my triathlons. So, while I was not very pleased with canceling IMWA (yes, I had already signed up), I could (kind-of) deal with it.

So my B race became my A race . . . but a nagging calf injury / achillies tendonitus has now pretty much killed that plan. This has left me quite blue, unhappy, frustrated, etc. The wife is trying to be supportive. And yes life could be much worse - great family, job, etc. But, being trapped in an injury loop and no race in sight . . . it is tough to get-up, go to work and be productive.

I guess I just need to suck it up and stop whining. But, the motivation is not there to do much. Welcome your thoughts.

ps: there is virtually no decent sports medicine care in Thailand which does not give me a great sense of confidence that I can fix the injury.


2009-06-21 11:07 PM
in reply to: #2232683

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Subject: RE: Injured and getting Depressed
Why not focus on what you can do... instead of what you can't do?

I hurt myself (stress fracture- not sure? No health insurance yet) at my marathon on 5-16-09. I had a 25K scheduled for July 18th that I finally realized I have to pull myself from. I can't do tri's right now either.

BUT what I can do is swim and bike. So I signed up for a couple of long distance open water swim races and I'm using this downtime from running to get my bike fitness back up to par (I kind of stopped riding during marathon training- for 5 months!).

So while it sucks, I'm trying to focus on what I can do and to do it the best I can.

Good luck. Hang in there.
2009-06-22 9:32 AM
in reply to: #2232683

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Brambleton, VA
Subject: RE: Injured and getting Depressed

FWIW / Post-script : Appreciate the feedback. Was having a bad day and lost sight of the fact that 'its about the journey and the not the destination'.

On my Saturday bike ride I had a chance to pull over and watch four monks in their orange robes make their morning rounds. The Thai Buddist Monks walk through the villages around dawn and exchange blessings for food - its their only meal of the day. As they passed me on the road I contributred my Cliff Bar to their collections. Not the type of thing you see normally see in Kansas.

How about that for your moment of international Zen
2009-06-22 11:28 AM
in reply to: #2232683

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Subject: RE: Injured and getting Depressed

I am going through a knee injury.  No running or riding for 4 months before surgery.  Doctor wanted to see if it would heal on it's own.  Then no S/B/ or R after surgery for 4 months.  I just got released last week to swim and bike.  (no running for a few more months)

In the last 8 months I have done alot of walking, weight training for the upper body, and even more ab work.  I had to realize that an IM was a lifelong dream and it didn't need to be done this year.  I just changed the dates on my training plan.  I also thought that the injury would make achieving my goal more satisfying.  I can look back and think about what I had to overcome, and know that I didn't give up when it would have been easy to.  I am sure my wife enjoyed having me around the house more anyways.  I was able to do more honey-do's.

2009-06-22 1:04 PM
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2009-06-23 9:14 AM
in reply to: #2232683

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Subject: RE: Injured and getting Depressed

I highly recommend you check out Julie Donnely's site, forum, and books. 

http://julstro.com/

Recurring calf and Achilles injuries had me sidelined on and off over a period of a couple years.  Once I found Julie's site, corresponded with her on her forum, and followed self-treatments described in her books, I haven't been sidelined since.  In fact, I just completed my first 100 mile ultramarathon.

She teaches you how muscle spasms, or trigger points, in numerous muscles, tend to create a chain of problems that very commonly lead to calf, achilles, and plantar pain in runners.  And, she explains step by step how to release the spasms causing the problems.

Check out the thread I started awhile ago on her forum, here:

http://www.forum.julstrointernational.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=272

I have no financial interest.  Just wanted to share because it works!!

I've been to doctors.  I've been to massage therapists.  Nothing has worked better than learning how to treat these problems myself.

Good luck!

 

2009-06-23 2:58 PM
in reply to: #2232683

over a barrier
Subject: RE: Injured and getting Depressed
X2 on Julie....her forum and books are gold.

They're part of my every day life now....
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