Vulnerability - Physical & Mental Injuries

“Just 'cause you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there” Chester Bennington, Linkin Park

Let’s talk injuries here, because you really want to avoid those at all costs -obviously. 

They get you out of routine (if you have one already), they put you into an inactive routine, and help to drag you down both mentally and physically. From the site of the injury across your entire body, you feel the struggle.

I classify injuries as both physical and mental, as they both take the same toll on you. They drain you.

Physically you can hurt an ankle or a foot, awaken some longstanding knee issues, back problems, neck problems, toes, chest, shoulders. Whatever it is, it happens to us all in one way or another. We all have something that aggravates, especially when we head out for a longer run, try a new exercise, or lift a child a wrong way. Some are worse than others. Some have cures like different shoes or socks, some need extra special care, and some hold you back entirely. Knowing what your potential issues are before heading out will help you to deter them from holding you back. 

Mental injuries are the worst, in my opinion. Self doubt, negative talk, inner struggles, and battles with yourself.

Questioning “why am I doing this?”, “why even bother?” “I’m not getting anywhere”, “this is too hard”, “I’m failing at this”. These are all things that cross majority of people’s minds at one point or another. You seemingly have a bad day, bad week, bad year and can’t seem to find anything going right. I say seemingly here, as when you’re in that rut you feel everything is going wrong and against you. It’s not, but it’s up to you to realize it. 

While training for the marathon and during the marathon I had to stay ahead of the potential for physical injuries. Knowing anything was possible and prepping for it. I took up yoga to ease my body around the strenuous KMs I was putting in and to learn better breathing techniques to help fuel my body with air (sounds odd but I really had to learn how to breathe). I had to put in long periods stretching and knowing what would need more attention, as to avoid those unknown injuries from years of haphazardly playing sports. I had to change from stair running as my feet began to hurt from it. I had to buy better shoes, better socks, body lube to keep from blistering. I learned much of this the hard way, as I didn’t quite research enough before going out training on long runs. 

To avoid mental injuries there is this thing with running, runners know it. It helps to settle the mind and make you feel a little less crazy and mentally off, the outdoors and some deep breathing drives this. When I’m off mentally, going for a run at least distracts me into that situation for a bit and generally helps me feel better about myself. Physical activity will do it for most people. Focusing on something else and getting that deep breathing going, or taking out your frustrations on something else.

Last week I had some mental injuries. I battled through the week even though everything should have been great. I was more tired, less motivated, maybe less distracted, and battled myself mentally all week. It happens. Proactively prepping ahead for that stuff will help to ease it. Knowing what works for you, for me it’s writing, exercise, keeping busy, following motivating people online who seem to have it all together, and vulnerability through being honest with myself and not keeping it in. 

However you endure injuries in life, fitness, or parenthood, know your way out of them and how you go about avoiding them. A bit of proactivity will go a long way when those injuries come up, inevitably they will show up.

“Embrace Vulnerability as Strength”

DadBud