34 | Runner, Coach, and Author Anji Andrews: Facing the Challenge
Release Date: 09/10/2020
The Injured Athletes Club
“ How can you let go of the injury? Sometimes when you spend a long time with a chronic injury, it shapes how you move, plan, and think about life and your body. How do you let go when the time has come?” In the seventh season of The Injured Athletes Club podcast, mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question every other week about the mental side of overcoming injuries. This week, Coach Carrie delves into the complex issue posed by listener Cecile on letting go of the identity formed around a chronic injury. She points out how this attachment can make the...
info_outline 117 | Strongwoman and Author Alyssa Ages: Learning through FailureThe Injured Athletes Club
“Because I wasn't a competitive runner, I don't think I ever had to face failure in that situation … but in strength sports, when I compete, I'm doing that in front of a crowd and a judge who is just looking at me. And it's totally changed the way that I have to handle that fear of failure because it's right there in front of me. I can't escape that someone is looking directly at me and judging whether I've passed or failed. And what I've learned from that is just that it makes you, I think, a better person when you face failure in that way.” On this week’s episode of The...
info_outline 116 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question: Cassandra’s CocoonThe Injured Athletes Club
“ As someone in long-term recovery, likely 12 to 18 months before I'm running again, I've struggled a lot with the muscle loss and atrophy to the point it's causing identity struggles. I don't look or feel like an athlete anymore. My coach and I will have to literally rebuild my strength and my body. How can I cope?” In the seventh season of The Injured Athletes Club podcast, mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question every other week about the mental side of overcoming injuries. This week, listener Cassandra is struggling with losing her athletic identity. Coach...
info_outline 115 | Former NCAA Basketball Player Britt Hunter: Pour Into OthersThe Injured Athletes Club
“You need to equip your young adult for how to get through it on their own. So shepherd them. Get them the tools and resources. Let them mess it up a little bit. It's natural to protect, protect, protect, and direct, direct, direct—but your child needs to explore this time on their own a little bit with the right resources and the right people around them. They're going to go through this again and again and again at different stages of their life and going through an injury at a young age, they're going to have to grow up a little bit faster. So help them, but don't control them.”...
info_outline 114 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question: Jennifer’s JunctionThe Injured Athletes Club
“ How do I walk the fine line between being independent and self-reliant in recovery—a positive—and opting to go it alone, which can be a negative? Separately, I’d love to know more about managing an injury in the context of a chronic condition. For example, I have epilepsy but seizure meds are not great for bone density. Flip side, reducing meds is good for bones but bad for the brain. Doctors can offer guidance but making the decisions is ours alone.” In the seventh season of The Injured Athletes Club podcast, mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question every...
info_outline 113 | Ultrarunner Amelia Boone: The Best Days Are AheadThe Injured Athletes Club
“I would tell [Amelia of four years ago] that you may not believe it, but it's gonna get better, and recovery is possible, and honestly, your best running days are to come. And that's something that I've had to tell myself now too. I actually still do believe that, especially as we're seeing women in their 40s just blossoming in distance running.” In this episode of the Injured Athletes Club, Coach Carrie and Cindy are grateful to catch up with our first guest ever—and first repeat guest—elite ultrarunner, championship obstacle course racer, and eating disorder advocate Amelia...
info_outline 112 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question: Amy’s InquiriesThe Injured Athletes Club
“ I have a question about the mental roadblocks when you are coming back from an injury. How can you handle the sensations you feel when you return to movement and the worry whether you made it worse; the patience to progress back slowly; and the fear that you won’t ever feel 100 percent again?” In the seventh season of The Injured Athletes Club podcast, mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question every other week about the mental side of overcoming injuries. This week, in response to Amy’s uncertainty about her recovery, Coach Carrie outlines various...
info_outline 111 | Ballet Dancer John Lam: Open to GrowthThe Injured Athletes Club
“Dancing on a high level is—you have to be open. You have to be open that you can get injured. You have to be open that you will have to face things that you don't want to face. Because if we are not open and instead are close-minded, we cannot grow.” In this week’s episode of The Injured Athletes Club, principal dancer at the Boston Ballet, John Lam, discusses his journey from a catastrophic injury back to the stage. He details the physical and mental struggles he encountered during his recovery, emphasizing the importance of patience, personal growth, having a...
info_outline 110 | Coach Carrie Answers a Question: Kathleen’s QuandaryThe Injured Athletes Club
“ For the athlete who doesn't have a "staff": coach, trainer, PT. How do you get emotional support and guidance on a regular basis from doctors and PT you may see one or two times a week?” In the seventh season of The Injured Athletes Club podcast, mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question every other week about the mental side of overcoming injuries. This week, she discusses all the different types of support injured athletes need—and which types you can reasonably expect to get from your healthcare providers. She explains how to manage expectations in the healthcare...
info_outline 109 | NFL Quarterback Alex Smith: Small Steps, Huge DreamsThe Injured Athletes Club
“ A lot of times you're stronger than you think you are. You just keep going. You don't necessarily have to see all the way to the finish line. You just keep finding that next step.” In the seventh season of The Injured Athletes Club podcast, we—mental skills coach Carrie Jackson and journalist Cindy Kuzma—continue to delve into athletes' resilience in overcoming injuries. We kick off with a can’t-miss interview with pro quarterback Alex Smith, who shares his journey of returning to football after a severe leg injury and life-threatening infection—and then, a...
info_outlineOn most days, British runner Anji Andrews lives the athlete’s dream. She works from home—with plenty of time and flexibility to train—making a living coaching, writing about running, and handling social media for organizations like the popular UK-based podcast Marathon Talk.
But this summer, a foot injury that had begun to develop earlier this year worsened just as the country locked down due to the pandemic. Anji found the constant reminders of what she couldn’t do difficult to bear. In this week’s episode, she talks openly and honestly about the raw emotions of this combination, and how underfueling and overtraining played a role.
They’re challenges that will sound familiar to so many injured athletes, and while she’s still traveling her road to recovery, Anji has plenty of insights, advice, and encouragement to share with others in the same boat.
A huge thank you to Fluid Running H2GO, the only app-based deep-water running system in the world, for sponsoring this season of the Injured Athletes Club. CLICK HERE and use code IAC 30 to take $30 off the full system or the digital bundle.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How injuries are viewed in running (4:53)
- More about the challenges of being around running everyday, even when she can’t do it (7:10)
- Her big goal for the half marathon, and how the foot injury first began to threaten it (9:39)
- Why she held back from telling her coach at first (14:44)
- How the pandemic played a role in exacerbating things, as did overtraining and underfueling (23:05)
- When she finally got a diagnosis, and why it actually came as a relief (28:55)
- What it felt like to realize, after five months of pain, that she would be able to run again (36:27)
- The difficulty of revealing the depth of her struggles to those closest to her—and then the strength and hope she experienced on the other side (38:12)
- How journaling—including some of the specific exercises in Rebound—has helped her cope (44:41)
- Her advice to the friends and teammates of others who are dealing with similar issues (50:21)
You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show.
Resources/links we mention:
- Anji on Instagram and Twitter
- Anji’s forthcoming book, with Martin Yelling: Running in the Midpack: How to be a Strong, Successful and Happy Runner
- The Marathon Talk podcast
- An article about Anji’s heart condition—a topic we only barely touch on (perhaps she’ll be a repeat guest to tell this story!)
To access more resources for injured athletes:
- Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for weekly news and updates
- Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
- Email us at [email protected] with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback
DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.