Any time that humans move through space, they are in danger if injury. Being that we are a somewhat fragile species, injuries of some sort are bound to occur. The trick is dealing with them in the most intelligent manner without doing yourself any further harm. Many people call this common sense, but for the runner, it isn’t that cut and dried.

For the runner, the first sign of pain often brings denial. Maybe it is just a cramp. Maybe it’s just my brain playing tricks on me to get me to slow down. Maybe I can run a little farther and it will go away. Maybe, maybe, maybe… Yes, there are times when that little bit of discomfort is just a “niggle” that means nothing, but what do you do when that niggle becomes a pain?

First off, I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. I haven’t even stayed at a Holiday Inn Express lately, so I am not qualified to give anyone any sort of medical advice. I’m not here to talk about what you need to do FOR an injury, rather I’m interested in what goes on between the ears of a runner, once they realize that something is physically amiss.

For starters, if any body part swells, loses feeling, causes pain, moves in an odd fashion, or fails to move – See a doctor! It’s your body, so you are the one most qualified to know when things aren’t right. So use some smarts and do what you need to do to keep your body in top shape. With a proper diagnosis out of the way, let’s get to the heart of the matter.

Injuries are something the athletes hate! Why? Because an injury does more than just break your anatomy. An injury breaks your routine, your training schedule, and forces you to change a whole bunch of your plans. It will also cause you to re-think your short term goals, and maybe even a few of your long-term ones. And if you don’t make those changes up front, your injury will make the decision for you.

While small annoyances may allow you to keep running, even they will require that you cut back on both the distance and the intensity of your training. A more serious injury will mean that complete rest from running will be needed to at least get the healing process well underway. Either way, there are changes that need to be made, but these changes need not freak you out!

Since most injuries won’t lay you up for months at a time, the training base that you will lose will be slight. The endurance that a marathoner has built up will barely be diminished in four weeks of very easy exercise. It isn’t like missing a few runs will turn you into a couch potato. Quite the opposite is true. The fact that you are an athlete is a big plus in your recovery. Unlike the common person, your body is in better shape and has better blood flow, which helps the healing process.

So in the event of an injury, don’t become too anxious. You will get better, if you take your healing as seriously as your training.

Next time: Learn to Love the Taper!