There comes a time in your life where you’ll need to let go of a particular sport or exercise that you love dearly. For many of you, this type of training may be even part of your identity. For example, maybe you identify yourself as a runner, a powerlifter, a crossfitter…whatever!
Here are a few examples I see often.
Scenario #1 – The Runner
Client: I run 3 to 5 days a week and I’ve been doing that for the last 175 years.
Me: When does your knee hurt?
Client: Only when I run.
Me: Have you ever thought about taking some time off from running to start working towards being pain-free?
Client: I can’t do that, I’m a runner.
Scenario #2 – The Constantly Injured Athlete
Client: I play soccer year-round, 2 to 3 days a week of indoor in the winter and 1 to 2 games a week in the spring, summer and fall.
Me: How often do you suffer from pulled hamstrings?
Client: Usually 2 to 3 times a year.
Me: What are you doing for your rehab?
Client: Some light stretches and some strengthening drills my physical therapist gave me in 1981.
At this point, I share with them a slightly sarcastic story I heard from my good friend Brett Jones. This story is 1000% true. All of the documents have been shredded to protect the involved parties.
There was this guy, and his thumb was constantly hurting. Come to find out, he was hitting his thumb with a hammer for about 45 minutes a day.
I asked him:
When does your thumb feel better?
Thumb guy: When I stop smashing it with the hammer, it feels better.
Not getting it, yet?
There was this pretty smart dude named Albert Einstein. His definition of insanity…
“Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
How about now? Making sense?
There are several other stories I can tell you, but here’s the point. I often see people identify themselves based on their recreational activities. Runners are runners, powerlifters are powerlifters, and prancercisers are well, just odd, really.
You simply can’t excel at anything exercise-related when constantly injured.
Can you try? Sure, but the number one reason for exercise-related injuries is having previous injuries. Anyone can get injured and get back to “normal,” but performing at a high-level after an injury, or in many cases, multiple injuries, is a different animal altogether.
If you want to dominate your competition, it’s gonna take a bit more than mini-band walks, clamshells, and Y’s, T’s, L’s and balancing on an airex pad.
So here’s the million dollar question, when is it time to cut ties with an exercise or sport you’ve loved for so long?
The answer is different for everybody, but I can tell you this, sooner is better than later. It’s not going to be easy, but I guarantee if you stick to a plan for 6 to 12 months with a good coach, a quality training program will be an absolute game changer.
Will it be easy? Nope.
Will you get frustrated and want to quit? Yup.
Will you always have the temptation to just simply fall back into what you’ve always done? Absolutely.
Remember, consistency trumps intensity. Work with a good coach or decide on some exercises you can do that won’t hurt you. Develop a plan and find a way to hold yourself accountable. Tell a good friend who really wants what’s best for you. Blog about what you’re doing or share it on Facebook and tell people to hold you accountable. 🙂
Another idea? Find a replacement sport or choose a new hobby. If you are a runner, try mountain biking. Maybe you’ve always wanted to go kayaking. When you’re taking time off from the exercise you really love, you don’t need to sit around. Instead, try something new!
Change isn’t easy, success isn’t given out for free and you only get one body. You can’t trade yourself in for a newer model so you might as well do everything you can to take care of yourself and make progress towards a healthy, pain-free lifestyle.
Now, STOP running if it hurts your damn knees!!!
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