Still Beating Yourself Up Over Your Injury? Read This.

Feb 164 min read

If the Devil Wanted to Mess with an Injured Runner… Here’s How He’d Do It

Injury. The word alone makes a runner’s stomach drop. Whether it’s a nagging ache that won’t go away or a full-blown setback that sidelines you for weeks, being injured is more than just a physical challenge—it’s a mental battle.

And if the devil wanted to get in your head and make you feel guilty, frustrated, and completely defeated, he’d whisper some sneaky little lies that can shake even the strongest runner’s confidence.

But here’s the thing—you don’t have to believe them. Let’s break down these common mental traps and, more importantly, how to fight back. *I'll be honest, this post is for me, personally right now. But I hope it helps others!

Lie #1: “You’re Just Being Weak.”

👿 The Whisper: “It’s not that bad. You’re making excuses. Tough runners push through pain.”

✅ The Truth: Rest isn’t weakness—it’s smart recovery.

Every great runner knows that ignoring an injury only makes it worse. What’s actually weak? Refusing to listen to your body and forcing yourself to run through pain. Strength comes from making the tough choice to step back, heal, and come back stronger.

💡 Flip the Script: Instead of thinking, “I should push through,” tell yourself, “I’m doing what’s best for my body.”

Lie #2: “You’re Falling Behind.”

👿 The Whisper: “While you’re sitting out, everyone else is getting faster and stronger.”

✅ The Truth: Healing isn’t falling behind—it’s setting up a stronger comeback.

It’s easy to feel like you’re missing out when you see teammates training, races happening, and progress slipping away. But here’s the reality: rushing your recovery will only set you back even further.

Think of it like a race—you wouldn’t sprint the first mile of a marathon, right? You pace yourself so you can finish strong. Recovery is no different.

💡 Flip the Script: Instead of thinking, “I’m missing out,” remind yourself, “This time off is setting me up for a healthier, stronger future.”

Lie #3: “This Is Your Fault.”

👿 The Whisper: “You should have trained smarter. You should have stretched more. You should have…”

✅ The Truth: Every runner makes mistakes—injuries are lessons, not punishments.

Did you overtrain? Skip strength work? Push through pain when you shouldn’t have? Maybe. But beating yourself up over the past won’t heal your injury.

What will? Learning from it. Take this setback as an opportunity to adjust your training, improve your mobility, or focus on weaknesses you may have ignored.

💡 Flip the Script: Instead of thinking, “I screwed up,” tell yourself, “I’m learning how to be a smarter, stronger runner.”

Lie #4: “You’re Letting Everyone Down.”

👿 The Whisper: “Your team, your coach, even your past self… they’re all disappointed in you.”

✅ The Truth: No one who truly supports you is disappointed—they want you to heal.

We runners are often our own worst critics. We assume that others are judging us when, in reality, most people are cheering us on in our recovery.

Ask yourself this: If your best friend was injured, would you call them a failure? Of course not! You’d encourage them to take the time they need. So why not offer yourself the same kindness?

💡 Flip the Script: Instead of thinking, “I’m letting people down,” tell yourself, “The best way to show up for my team and myself is to heal fully.”

Lie #5: “You’re Not a Real Runner Anymore.”

👿 The Whisper: “If you’re not running, who even are you?”

✅ The Truth: Running is something you do—not your entire identity.

This one hits deep. When we spend so much time training, competing, and setting goals, it’s easy to feel like running defines us. So when an injury takes it away, we feel lost.

But here’s the reality: You are still a runner. You’re just in a different season right now. Your body may be resting, but your passion, discipline, and mindset? Those are still there. And they’ll carry you through this just like they’ve carried you through tough races before.

💡 Flip the Script: Instead of thinking, “Without running, I’m nothing,” remind yourself, “I am a runner, and I’m proving it by taking care of my body.”

How to Fight Back Against the Guilt

The next time these thoughts start creeping in, stop and recognize them for what they are—mental traps, not reality.

Instead of letting guilt and frustration take over, focus on what you CAN do:

✅ Keep a positive mindset.

✅ Work on strength and mobility.

✅ Fuel your body well.

✅ Learn from past mistakes.

✅ Trust the recovery process.

Being injured is hard, but it’s temporary. Your comeback is coming. And when it does, you’ll be stronger, smarter, and more resilient than ever before.

💬 Have you ever struggled with injury guilt? Drop a comment and share how you pushed through!

Happy running

Dayna - your fav. Exercise Physiologist

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