Injury. It’s a word no athlete wants to hear—and yet, if you train long enough and hard enough, it’s almost inevitable. Whether it’s a twisted ankle on a trail, an overuse strain from doing too much too soon, or, in my case, a dirt biking accident that led to a fractured humerus and torn labrum, injuries show up uninvited. They stop our momentum, disrupt our routines, and challenge us physically and emotionally. But they also offer something else—an opportunity to learn.
Lately, we’ve been calling it the season of injury. Maybe you’ve felt it too. If you’ve been sidelined recently, or are supporting someone who is, you’re not alone. This article was born out of conversations with athletes and coaches who are navigating this tricky terrain—literally and figuratively. I wanted to share a bit of my own experience and some of the tools that helped me move through my injury season.
Step One: Feel the Feelings—Then Let Them Go
Feel the feelings, ditch the story.
Reframing Recovery as Training
Once I accepted the reality of my injury, I approached recovery like I would a training block. That meant:
- Daily movement, even if it was just a dog walk.
- Prioritizing nutrition, especially protein, to support tissue repair.
- Hydration and sleep, the unsung heroes of healing.
- Progress tracking, where I logged small wins—like lifting my arm overhead or walking a little farther without pain.
When pain allowed, I trained the parts of my body that still worked. There’s actual research showing that maintaining strength in one limb helps prevent atrophy in the other. That gave me both something to do and something to believe in.
Finding Joy Beyond Sport
Something else happened during this time: I started painting. Nothing fancy—just dipping a brush into some colors and letting my mind relax. I realized how little space I had previously left in my life for creativity. The time I wasn’t spending training became time I could invest elsewhere: reconnecting with family, tackling a new certification, even just taking a deep breath without needing to be anywhere.
It’s a gentle reminder that we’re more than our sports. We’re friends, siblings, dog parents, lifelong learners. If your identity feels threatened by injury, that’s a good sign that it’s time to reconnect with the other parts of yourself.
Staying Connected to Your Community
If your identity feels threatened by injury, that’s a good sign it’s time to reconnect with the other parts of yourself.
Set Goals (But Hold Them Loosely)
Healing Isn’t Linear
Injury recovery is a winding path. It might be one step forward, two steps back. Or maybe you get strep throat the week of your comeback race. There’s no perfect formula. What matters is that you keep showing up with curiosity and compassion—for your body, your mind, and your life beyond sport.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in your own season of injury, remember this: You are not broken. You are in process. Be patient. Ask for help. Lean on your community. Reframe your recovery as training. And above all, keep learning about your sport, your body, and yourself.
You’re still an athlete. You’re still in the game. And when the time is right, you’ll be back out there. Maybe not stronger. Maybe not faster. But certainly wiser.
Further Reading
- Learn more about Coach Chantelle Robitaille’s experiences with injury and recovery in our podcast episode, The Season of Injury.
- Explore some practical tips for dealing with injuries specific to runners, climbers, and skiers.
- Listen to Steve House interview Hillary Allen about catastrophic injury and identity in this podcast episode.