Hi folks
Sad to say I broke my ankle today, easy mistake on some slippy stairs and over it rolled, two breaks and now in a cast. Anyone been through this? How long will I be before I can get back on the program? I finished it over the summer and was so loving being a runner so utterly gutted. Hope everyone is having a nice day x jo
Oh no! I can only sympathise. I had a stress fracture in my foot last year. I couldn't run for 5 months in the end (it shouldn't have taken that long to heal really). That's not what you want to hear.
But. And it's an important but.
I discovered cycling (I could manage that in my orthopaedic boot) and that helped keep me fit and keep up a routine and, frankly, keep me sane.
When I came back to running I loved it with a whole new appreciation. I redid a cut down version of C25K and enjoyed every run - W1R1 was a joy. I built back up to 5k, to 10k and to HM and a couple of weeks ago covered 20 miles.
So it absolutely is not the end of the world, even though I'm sure it feels like it right now. You have every right to feel peed off and angry and sad - for a while, but then find a way to keep yourself fit and come back fighting.
Take a look for Caroline Jordan videos on youtube - she is a queen of hurt foot fitness and I did lots of her routines while I was in my boot.
Good luck. Speedy healing. Hang on in there.
Really Sorry to hear this! I really do hope you feel better soon. It’s probably best you focus on healing and I hope this happens for you soon so that you can get back on the horse in no time!
Im only dojng the c25k so i cannot even call a runner myself but just to say im sorry this happened to you. Must be so sore to fall down the stairs...it just want to say you can still strenght the upper body, i know this from a work collegue who runs marathons. She badly injured herself and the physio gave her a cycling and upper body strengthing exercises to keep her very fit until she recovers.
So a good physio will be able to advice.
Good luck with it and mind that poor ankle. All the best.
Ouch!!! 🤕
Your best bet is to ask the medical professionals. My guess is it'll be a few months (and a fair bit of physiotherapy) before you'll be able to put the stresses of running on it again. Sorry!
Oh no !! That's real bad luck and I'm feeling for you here. Wishing you a speedy and full recovery👍
So sorry to read this - sending lots of healing vibes in your direction!
I think Linda gave some really good advice but at the moment just look after yourself and try and stay positive. It may be a way off but you will get back to your running - I have seen so many comebacks from injury and illness here. Where there's determination there's also a way....fingers crossed for you. Take care.🙂
So sorry to hear that! I can feel your pain and been through something similar.
Had my ankle and ligaments repaired and it took me a while to recover after 4 months I was going to the gym with physio but running not sure I can yet.
Patience will be the key as if you don’t heal correctly it might have more permanent effect on your life.
Take it slow one day at the time and you will soon be able to run again ! 😉
Take care x
I really feel for you. I broke my ankle and tore 3 ligaments falling down the stairs a few years ago. Absolute agony. I was lucky enough to have private healthcare through work and if that’s an option I’d really recommend having an mri to enable a physio to really pinpoint the problem - when you’re ready for physio of course. I was worried I’d have lasting effects but haven’t had any at all. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
That's absolutely rotten, poor you and how frustrating.
Perhaps tell yourself you will heal all the faster for being fitter... and spend the time with OS explorer maps planning routes for the future?
That is terribly bad luck and must be gutting at this stage of your running career. I can't improve upon the advice from @linda9389 other than to add that getting back to running again will be easier once you can start because this time you KNOW you can do it.
Meanwhile, rest-up for now and let the healing start. I wish you a very speedy recovery!
Oh you poor thing, sending u lots of get well wishes...
Rest up for as long as your told too..
You'll get back to it eventually but rushing b4 your ready is not good..
Wishing u a speedy recovery x
Hi ojojodee
I’m so sorry to hear this jo it is really painful isn’t it?so quite scary that it’s never going to get better. I broke mine on 16 May and have had a plate put in.
I am lucky that where I live because of covid and the lockdown a physio came to see me at home. Do everything they tell you. Although it’s painful to move try and keep all your other limbs moving and keep your quads strong. I only started running after couch 25k two years ago and had just done my first 10km and was training for a virtual race so was gutted. Every one is different. I joined this forum for advice and messaged someone called ancient mum who was really encouraging. She broke her ankle about five years ago and was back running at five months and no problems related to it since.
It takes time and you just have to wait. Once the cast is off if you have access to swimming or even soaking in the bath as lots is shut for covid it helps. I looked on you tube for exercises.If you haven’t had a plate put in it will be quicker.
I can’t run yet but have been cycling on a static bike and swimming a lot at the gym. I took the crutches at first and wore diving shoes to improve balance.
Lots on you tube and 30 days of yoga by adriene great for flexibility and getting on and off the floor.
I can’t run yet but pain is much easier to contain and I can feel I am on the way to running and recovery. I am planning to completely do couch 25k again once the surgeon and physio gives ok. I have seen a physio privately twice too which has helped.
Don’t be despondent yes it ‘ smarts a bit’ 🤣🤣 but eventually it improves. I think I am going to have to have the plate out though for full recovery.
Good luck and if you’re young your recovery will be much quicker some back running in three or four months so hopefully you will be one of those
Take care 🏃♀️
Thank you this is so helpful and so nice of you (and everyone else) to write. This forum is amazing, this advice and support has already made what was a pretty crappy day a little brighter. Lovely people, thank you x
Keep strong .
when I couldn’t weight bear I googled what food I should eat to mend a broken limb and have mainly eaten those foods simple things like eggs and tuna/protein and chilli I had help with shopping fortunately as live on my own. My physio kept saying vitamin d Sarah so sit outside if weather permitting.
It gets better I am going out on my bike now for the first time since May 😊
Oh no, you poor thing!
I broke my foot at the end of last year by continuing to run whilst it was niggling (I didn't realize I had a stress fracture), but thankfully it healed within 6 weeks and I was cleared to run again after that. I took it slowly, but then was able to increase my distance during lockdown and am now running far more than I did pre-broken foot! Sending healing vibes. Rest up, put on some binge worthy stuff on TV and try to enjoy a few weeks of slowing down xx
Really sorry to hear you have broken your ankle. You must be so fed up. It really depends on which bone has been broken and what kind of break? Physio is a definite following any ankle injury and can take some time to get back to full strength. You will get there though, you had the determination to finish the programme.
Patience, and following the advice of the health care professionals will ensure you have a full recovery and you will be back out there doing what you love to do.
Hope you feel better soon 🤞🏻
Oh no! I broke two toes last year (also slipping on stairs). I was told it was a minor break and I should be back to normal in six weeks but it took nearer 10. Maybe being in a cast will help with healing as I was only strapped up and had to use the foot. But take your time and good luck.
Oh, how frustrating for you! I hope that you find some other exercises to do during the healing that ease the frustration of not being able to run and enable you to feel you’re still making progress of sorts/not sliding back. And may it all heal quickly and fully for you! 
Ouch! It hurts, but do as they tell you and keep it immobilised. Make sure you keep it elevate to avoid swelling. I broke my ankle and foot in May, they only put me in a boot, not plaster, so I could walk with crutches and take it off to sleep and gently move it. I was soooo frustrated, because I was on my second time round of C25k, and I broke it while running and “falling” off the side of the road. Ask the doctors who see you about how much you can do, ask if you can have physio (difficult at the moment with COVID - I am lucky, I am a physio myself!). I had a check X-ray at 8 weeks, all mended, and gradually started walking more and more ( hiking and mountains actually, but don’t tell my consultant😉). I started back running at 16 weeks after the break, and I took myself back to week 4 of the plan.
Don’t do too much too soon. A couple of weeks’ patience now could save you several later on. Good luck!
Oh no! Hope any pain eases soon x
Wishing you a speedy recovery
Sorry to hear this. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery.
Hi, So sorry to hear about your ankle, I hope you get better soon. Rest is important don’t try to do too much too soon. I broke my ankle 5 years ago, ended up with a plate and screws. I wasn’t running then. The best advice I can give you is to try and get as much physio as you can, religiously do the exercises and if they offer you Gym membership for a year as they did for me in Wales take it. I have had no problems with the ankle I broke since I started running 7 months ago. Best of luck with your recovery. X
Hope you’re getting on ok with your broken ankle. I have done my first run of couch 25k today 23 weeks after breaking it and am optimistic for a full recovery now. Mine was a complex break with screws in. Just thought I would let you know that it gets better 👍😊
Thanks Sarah, really inspired to hear that. I had surgery too in the end with screws in and am now 6 weeks in, just about to go back for x rays to see the progress. Fingers crossed! Am planning to start c25k again in jan when it’s been 3 months so hopefully I’ll be back properly by spring/ summer. Hope yours stays strong and you breeze through the program xxxxxx
Hi ojojodee glad your ankle is progressing sorry about the plate.
I did start couch 25k and felt fine but then saw a different physio and the surgeon who told me it wasn’t stable enough yet and I was likely to cause an injury. I am back with a brilliant hospital physio though who has given me a gym plan including static bike and cross trainer and a wobble board to strengthen the balance too. Which is helping and getting cardio fitness back.
One of my run leaders has also said don’t rush into it and make sure walking is easy and pain free before starting running again. I think they were right as ankle much stronger and less painful than three weeks ago.
So listen to the physio and dr. I had given myself a 12 month healing plan anyway.
At least this time you know you can run 5km good luck with it 👍🏃♀️
Great advice thanks and good luck! X
I've just got the all clear from physio to start running again, WHOOPPPEE!!! going to try at week 3 to see how it goes, fingers and toes crossed! xxx
Broken my leg - gutted!
Park run virginity broken
broken foot, broken dream! 
Went over on ankle, grrrr
