I feel like I'm constantly suffering through minor injuries

[Wines Not Whines]

Am I injury prone, or is this normal? Knock on wood, I haven't had a major injury in a long time. But over the past few years, I've had two bouts of plantar fasciitis, ITBS, achilles tendonitis, and now I have a hamstring and lower back strain. Most of them happened when I increased my mileage during marathon training, but I was able to train through them and then rest/recover after the race. My current hamstring/back thing is not running-related. I'm 35 years old. Is this just the current state of affairs for my body at this point in my life? Anyone else feel like they're never 100% healthy and pain-free?

I know plenty of people my age who aren't athletic and also seem to have plenty of aches and injuries - back, neck, feet, shoulders, etc. So maybe this is an age thing? It's frustrating.

[woowoo]

This is me. I quit CrossFit after a plague of constant injury/pain and have been endurance/tri training on my own for a little over a year and am still dealing with issues. I personally blame it on the fact that I was never an athlete as a kid and growing up, so my body is just not accustomed to the rigors of training, but who knows.

I hear ya. It's frustrating, especially when you're working so hard to be healthy.

[libbygrl109]

I've got a couple more years on you - hitting 40 in a couple weeks. I know exactly how you feel. Even when was younger, I always seemed to be the one to get strains, sprains, and back spasms. Some of those came when I was out of shape, others when I was in the best shape of my life. For both, it may have been due to muscle imbalances because I wasn't training properly. I've been better about here since being on here and learning so much from everyone, but i still get the random tweak now and then.

[Susie]

That's how I feel as a runner, although not as a swimmer/cyclist. I chalk it up at least in part to not honestly doing everything I can to strength train to protect myself from injuries. I also accept that I am generally just an injury prone runner. I've only been running for 3 of the last 32 years, and I think that's part of it.

[tuggyruns]

Feb 17, 2014 8:53:29 GMT -5 Susie said:

That's how I feel as a runner, although not as a swimmer/cyclist. I chalk it up at least in part to not honestly doing everything I can to strength train to protect myself from injuries. I also accept that I am generally just an injury prone runner. I've only been running for 3 of the last 32 years, and I think that's part of it.

This is me too. I know I HAVE to be more proactive in strength training for running. I don't know why I seem to think it's ok not to! For years as a competitive swimmer, dryland (strength training) was a part of my routine, and I stayed healthy. I too have only been running for a few years. 

[biomaj5]

I've wondered the same thing. As soon as I hit 30, things just fell apart. It's very discouraging.

[labbie]

I think you hit the nail on the head when you say that you know others your age, not athletic, who have aches and pains (i.e. aging has a lot to do with it, imo).  The difference is that their aches and pains are from just living daily life, where you are out there going above and beyond, working hard to improve yourself.

I've also got a few years on you, and can say that I've had to learn to approach certain things differently. I was athletic in my teens, and sometimes this makes it harder because I know what I *used to* be able to do. Now I may need to take a longer time to get there, but trying to stay injury/pain free can be a job in and of itself.

Hang in there!

[gt7301b]

You've done a lot this year. I think running marathons puts a strain on your body. Maybe try cutting back on the miles and upping the strength training and yoga and see how your body reacts.

[Deleted]

I think muscular imbalances just cause more issues with intense training and I figure the older you get the more this will aggravate things. Every issue you mentioned can be caused by weak core/hips. It could be that with whatever you are doing to cross train you are just not resolving your main issue. Maybe cutting back and focus on cross training will help.

[Brit]

I have no idea, but I feel for you. I had two years or so with an endless string of running injuries. I think a lot of it was from not getting enough recovery between hard workouts. I need a lot of sleep when I run a lot and I need to have enough days off or low intensity (non-running) days to keep injuries at bay.

[emilyj]

This is me. I have just accepted that I'll never be pain free again. I do my best not to push too hard through the issue (I have a nagging achilles issue right now that is SUCH a pain to manage), and try to remind myself that I'm not 18 anymore.

[jene]

I seem to go through phases where my injuries just pile on one right after another. Once I started being a little more dedicated to cross training/strength training, I noticed an improvement.

[secretlyevil]

Make room on the couch!

I've been talking to a few people and there seems to be a general consensus that minor strains, etc. are part of it. However, a lot has to do with things like cross training, strength training, stretching, proper mechanics, even the foods we eat and the amount of water we drink.

I don't know about ya'll, but dear lord, there is just not enough time in the day for me to do everything I am supposed to do.

[sadlebred]

I won't say I'm injured more as I get older, but it takes me longer to recover from an injury. I make sure that I take the time off or decrease my intensity and activity until I'm as healed as it gets before resuming my normal riding.