Idiotic ankle injury

[suburbanplodder]

Having only recently managed to run 10k for the first time (just a couple of weeks ago!), I'm so disappointed to have immediately picked up an ankle injury.

I'm pretty sure it an Achilles tendinopathy, though I may have a bit of an anterior talofibular ligament injury as well. This all came on a day after running another 10k in which I stupidly increased the pace too much towards the end and took some fast corners. I'm an overpronator, which doesn't help (though I wear stability trainers), but I also did some extended hill walking a couple of days beforehand. All in all, I was just being arrogant and overloaded my body.

It's grade 1, which means the pain itself isn't too bad and there's no swelling to the ankle (more of a dull throb), so I'm following a set of NHS physio exercises.

I hadn't realised, though, just how important running had become to me, so this is a crushing event, and I feel like a complete fool.

The worst thing is that, in my deluded excitement upon initially completing a 10k, I signed up to take part in a 'race' in my city, which I've been a spectator at many times and takes place in just over 6 weeks time. I'm assuming that participation is now a nonstarter.

I'll obviously be resting up for a couple of weeks or for as long as it takes for my ankle to feel better, and then hope to gradually undertake some short recovery running. But even if things improve relatively quickly I'm guessing that a break in training will mean I won't be running extended distances again for quite some time.

Does anyone have any words of solace?! It seems that this is a pretty common running injury, so do any of you have experience recovering from similar situations?

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Lots of us have been in the exact same position as you, getting carried away and hurting yourself. Mine was my first Parkrun - 6 weeks recovery (peroneal tendon problem). I know the feelings of disappointment, annoyance, self blame etc but the fact is your tendon isn't well and there is nothing you can do but follow the medical advice you've been given and take it easy until it's healed.

Now for some solace: there is no reason why you shouldn't make a full recovery. When you start again you'll be reminded of the need to take care which should help you avoid further injury. No reason why you shouldn't get back to 10k provided you don't overdo it (and now you know what happens when you overdo it this is less likely to happen).

Console yourself that the weather should have picked up by the time you're ready to put your trainers on again.

Don't be tempted to get back to running too soon, tendons take a long time to heal. Do the exercises you've been given. I'm not medically qualified but my guess is that 6 weeks might be a bit soon for a race, the temptation to run too far and too fast may be irresistible. If you really want to do it speak to a doctor or physio, they can make a proper assessment which obviously I can't.

You can do it another time when you are back to full health

[suburbanplodder in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thanks, that all sounds like wise advice. I've decided to forget about the race - as you say, it's not worth risking another injury by attempting to get back to full fitness too soon. I'll certainly be nervous about repeating the injury when I do get back to running again, but a dose of caution may be just what I need to keep fit in the long term.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Sorry to hear this, but you definitely aren’t the only one to get carried away by this magic thing called running. It sounds like you know that you won’t be fully healed by the race start, but getting fully fit is more important than. Sounds like you are doing the right things but seeing a sports physio may speed things up a bit. Mine is worth his weight in gold!

[suburbanplodder in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks - yes, a physio might be the way to go depending on how my recovery progresses over the coming days. Perhaps I'll try the race another year instead (though I wish I'd taken out the cancellation insurance this time!)

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

6 weeks is quite a long way off so don’t write it off completely yet. Just listen to your body and you may be able to do it with run walk intervals. Only you and your medical advisor can know that one. But good luck.