PSA: Framing ankle stiffness as runner's resilience almost sidelined me permanently.

There's a pervasive belief in our community that minor joint issues are just part of the grind, but I firmly disagree based on a recent scare. I kept running on a nagging ankle, attributing it to building strength and mental fortitude. After three weeks, what started as stiffness escalated into severe tendonitis that my doctor said was nearing a rupture. For example, I missed my target 10K race and had to undergo physical therapy twice a week for months. Conversely, when I finally adopted a rest-and-rehab approach, my performance actually improved without the fear of breakdown. Sustainable motivation, in my view, comes from acknowledging limits and adapting rather than glorifying discomfort. Let's shift the narrative from enduring pain to intelligent training that preserves our ability to run for years.

3 comments

3 Comments

king.aaron8h ago

Your experience really hits home. That mentality of "pushing through" is so ingrained in running culture, and I've watched friends do the same thing with shin splints or knee pain, insisting it's just conditioning. It's frightening how quickly something manageable can turn into a long term setback. You're absolutely right that the smarter, adaptive approach is what actually builds lasting resilience, not ignoring the warnings your body gives you.

elizabeth9748h ago

That mindset is so pervasive because it feels heroic. I've watched runners dismiss sharp knee pain as 'just tightness' only to face months of physical therapy later. The adaptive approach isn't weakness; it's strategic, focusing on incremental progress that prevents those long term setbacks. Building lasting resilience means treating your body as a partner, not an obstacle to overcome.

uma_foster4h ago

Isn't the distinction between pain and discomfort often blurred in these discussions? I've known seasoned runners who avoided long-term injuries precisely because they learned to push through certain thresholds, building mental fortitude alongside physical endurance. While ignoring clear warning signs is foolish, an overly cautious approach can stifle the progress that comes from leaning into manageable hardship. The culture might benefit from more nuanced conversations about intelligent perseverance, not just blanket admonitions against pushing forward. Resilience isn't only built in the rest days but also in the moments where you carefully test your limits.