I need to get my confidence back

[Lindyjane]

I was out for a run a couple of weeks ago and tripped. I landed face down and bruised the side of my face and chin quite badly and the paramedic sent me to A & E for an X-ray in case I had fractured my cheek bone. Nothing was broken and the bruising is nearly gone, but I am worried now every time I go running in case I fall again. It has made me a lot slower and I am thinking about it all the time I’m out. Is there any advice on how I can enjoy running again?

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Sorry about your fall Lindyjane, I do understand why you have lost confidence on running again, however, if anyone falls while walking, does that put anyone off walking again? no, so once you start running again just be careful not to fall again, good luck ✔️✔️🏃🏾

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

I had a bad fall last year and I can relate to so much of what you’ve said here. I scraped my chin, bashed up my knee and sprained both elbows and wrists. I had to go to an and e for x rays. It was awful. I had to phone my husband because everything hurt so much I couldn’t drive home. I couldn’t get dressed without help for a couple of weeks. It really shakes you up. What you’re describing above is a totally normal reaction to a horrible experience. It’s all very well knowing you’re unlikely to fall again-logic doesn’t always convince our brains we’re safe! Sending virtual hugs your way.

What helped for me was time. I went out in good light on good surfaces for short, regular runs. It felt uncomfortable and I worried about falling a lot. Every time I had a little slip (the sort of thing you’d just write off before), I almost panicked and my pulse shot through the roof. It wasn’t fun. The good news is it got better. You just have to go through that phase of “I hate this and I hate feeling uncertain” until suddenly you realise you’re thinking about it less and you’ve slipped back towards where you were before. It took a while but I no longer think about falling-I hope that’s encouraging.

Just wishing you lots of luck. There are a lot of us who’ve fallen here and I hope some others might be along to share their experiences too.

[Lindyjane Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

thank you for telling me about your fall, I am glad you could continue to run and I won’t give up either, I have been running regularly for over a year and it is the longest I have gone without stopping for a few months.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

MissUnderstanding has given you some super advice...take it...and all I can add, is try to relax... hard to do I know... and just take it slow and steady! Well done you for wanting to get out there again...

You will do this.,, and we will be rooting for you.

[Lindyjane Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you for replying, I am going slower now, which is annoying me as I wasn’t very fast before! I will keep going though.

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

oh no Lindyjane ?? That sounds terrible…you just need to take it steady when you do go back out again…make sure it’s flat and just go for a short run…do this a few times and get longer gradually..that’s what I did when I fell and it worked for me..chin up xx

[Beachcomber66 Graduate]

Hi Lindyjane. Good advice already given 🙂

I had a mystery fall whilst running last year. Knee badly cut, bruised ribs and shoulder.

I had to lay off running to allow the cut to heal, so lost a few weeks. When I returned to running, I managed to focus my anxiety on the particular spot where I fell; so I ran slowly elsewhere for a couple of weeks. Once my running was ok, I revisited the scene of the crime and I just ran through it without any trouble. You will get there 🙂