A warm welcome please for my guest today, the master mind behind the Race Ready Coaching Plan I’ve been training with for the last 12 weeks, Joanna Zeiger. Joanna’s addressing a question I, and I suspect many of you, have about the right way to get back to training after sustaining an illness or getting injured.
Q: I had to take some time off from running due to illness. What is the best approach to getting back to training?
A: Just about everyone has been forced to take time off from training due to injury or illness. Running is a lot of fun when everything goes smoothly. But, when something hampers the daily run fix, all of a sudden there is panic and fear. It is natural to think: “I’m going to get so out shape!” or “What about my upcoming race?” It isn’t the short illness or tight muscle that upends training. Those circumstances usually do not require major changes to the training plan; just a little TLC to the body usually is enough to get back on schedule within a day or two. It is the prolonged absence from running that presents the challenge and necessitates a whole new approach to training.
Illness
Coming back from an illness can be difficult, especially if you have an upcoming race. The problem with coming back too quickly is the potential for a relapse or delaying lingering symptoms like a cough. Don’t try to make up for lost time by doing too much intensity; and, definitely don’t try to pick right up with the same mileage you were doing prior to your illness.
If you couldn’t train for 1- 2 weeks: Your first week back cut your volume by 1/3 of what you were doing before you got sick. Don’t attempt any intensity until you’ve been back training for 3-5 days. Opt for consistency with your aerobic workouts and build your strength training back into the routine gently. For the first week back, don’t run more than two days in a row.
If you’ve been off more than 2 weeks: Cut your first week volume in half and do not attempt any intervals until you’ve been back to training for 7-10 days. In any case, you do not want to attempt a hard workout while you are still having symptoms such as coughing. No matter what, do not train with a fever. The first week, only run 3 days and then add 1-2 days the following week depending on your normal routine and by the third week you should be ready to get back to your normal routine.
Injury
Injuries can be very complicated, especially if you don’t know exactly what you are dealing with. It is imperative to get a proper diagnosis. This step cannot be ignored and can take a very long time. Until there is a diagnosis, it is difficult to treat the injury or know the long term prognosis. Don’t give up on this step, even if it means seeing or talking to multiple doctors.
Once you know what you are dealing with, make an action plan. Determine how long recovery should take. Read up on the injury until you are an expert. You need to understand how it happened, how to make it better, and how to prevent it in the future.
Find good rehab therapists. Massages, acupuncture, PT all play an important role in recovery. I have used all of those modalities with a lot of success.
Be diligent with rehab exercises. Getting into the gym to strengthen muscle imbalance and weakness will help facilitate recovery and will make you a better runner.
Cross-train. One of the biggest problems with an injury is the inability to get the endorphins we love so much. Be creative and find other activities that you enjoy or somewhat enjoy and embrace it/them. Doing something is better than doing nothing. I despise walking, but I make it a huge part of my daily activities when I can’t do anything else.
Don’t ever give up. Long term injuries, by the very nature of their name, last for extended periods of time. It is easy to become disheartened and lose faith that there will be a conclusion.
A positive attitude goes a long way in recovery. Believing in yourself, even when others do not believe in you, is probably the most pivotal step in the process. If you know you will get better, eventually you will.
When you start running again, work on your form to prevent further injury in the future.
In terms of getting back to training, a lot will depend on the nature of the injury. Start back to running gradually; usually a walk/run program is best (eg. 1 minute run/1 minute walk for 20 minutes). Increase the amount of time running by 10% each week. Do not run if the pain is more than 3 out of 10 – that is your body’s way of telling you to STOP.
A final note: Do not let time away from running due to an illness or injury derail your run training. A lot of times getting out of the habit of running can have the deleterious effect of stopping completely. Remember how much you enjoyed running before your forced rest and get back out there!
Joanna Zeiger, M.S., Ph.D., of Race Ready Coaching is an Olympian, 70.3 World Champion, elite Masters Runner, and coach. Race Ready Coaching helps endurance athletes achieve their best through online coaching and education while keeping it fun!
taking it slow and not giving up are so important!
having a positive attitude is key! it makes or breaks you
Good tips to remember, although I hope not to be in any of these situations soon!
Those are all great tips!
Fantastic tips. I love how you formatted this as interview. Have a great weekend, Marcia!
Oh, how many times I have disregarded all of these rules! Now, just as I have to be a good overall example to my child, I always make sure my clients know time off for injury or illness is OK! Often, they need to know that I take days off, too.
Other times, I have to beat them over the head with their training notebook until they go see Dr… but once they do, they are grateful I made them!
Having an illness or injury setback is the worst! Remaining positive is definitively key!
Ok, loving the match up of Marcia and JZ here today! Joanna knows of what she speaks, so I hope everyone is reading up and taking notes.
I’ve found that listening to my body works pretty well for me. If I’m not feeling great I take it easy.
Useful article! I don’t know any athlete in general or runner in particular who hasn’t had to deal with illness or injury. My trick is to keep the big picture in mind: slowing down for a while does not mean the training is ruined. 🙂
Train smart & listen to the bod – too many go back too soon,,, 🙂
Great info!
I know that personally, a couple of major injuries were key in really stepping back and looking at why I run and focusing on being able to keep running for the long haul.
While I’m not a runner, I am an exerciser. I am getting over a horrible bronchitis and it’s been SUCH slow going. I think I did make things worse by trying to go all out too soon…and my cough came roaring back. This is just such good advice! I’m bookmarking it for the next time, too! –Lisa
Where patience used to be my point of greatest weakness, this injury/disease has turned it into a rock-solid strength. Taking it slow will be key. Liked this piece. Thanks!
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