Before setting out on my very first ultramarathon – the 250km Atacama Crossing in Chile – I partially tore my anterior tibiofibular ligament, which is on the ankle. I had to wear a moon boot (a type of adjustable cast) for six weeks, almost all the way until the race itself.
It was incredibly frustrating, especially since I’d done all this preparation leading up to the event. I had to go through rehab and build up the strength I needed again – both physically and mentally. I was absolutely crushed. It was the closest to melancholy that I’d felt, especially since I’m a typically upbeat person.
It’s okay to accept setbacks
When you discover a new sport and you realise how good it can make you feel, getting injured is particularly demoralising. You lose your sense of satisfaction, and training plans and fitness goals are easily derailed. You’ve already invested so much of your mental bandwidth and your physical energy towards this sport, and for some, that setback can be insurmountable.
Accepting my injury was almost like working through the seven stages of grief. Initially I was upset and frustrated, then I realised I wasn’t going to achieve a positive solution if I stayed this way.
It’s perfectly fine to take some time to accept your situation, but it’s also important to take a proactive approach to solve your problems. Bounce back and ask yourself, “What can I do?” whenever you feel overwhelmed in life.
Listing your sources of stress – either physically in a notebook or mentally – helps a lot when you’re coming up with solutions. For me, it was the feeling of letting my parents and my team down, who’d been supporting me so heavily for this event. After you have your list, think about which items you have control over, and cross out the ones that you don’t.
Put your energy into actions that help you recover
Instead of spiralling into despair, put your energy towards other things you can consume yourself with. In my case, I knew Atacama Crossing was going to be tough both physically and mentally, so I wanted to be in the best shape possible before the event. I continued training my upper body and tried to prepare myself in other aspects; whether it was logistics, ways to make my pack lighter, or simply visualising the route and the challenges I was soon to face.
A big part of recovery is remembering that it’s okay to feel disappointed. Allow yourself to feel those feelings – whether it’s disappointment, frustration or embarrassment – and accept them. Release it through positive actions or vent it to your support network, then ask yourself how you can best move forward.
An obstacle is usually a learning experience
When I finally recovered and was allowed to take the moon boot off, I went for an acclimatisation run in Santiago before the event. I learned that I’d lost some of my fitness, which dropped my ego and made me more conservative in my pacing.
In hindsight, it was the best thing that could have happened to me, as I’d never done an ultramarathon before. All my training and preparation before the event led me to believe that I was going to be amazing, which was naïve. I would’ve simply started way too hard, burned out and blew up. I wouldn’t have stepped across the finish line and may have ended my running career altogether.
Slowing down helped me adapt to my surroundings and finish the race with a great time. I was in the driest desert on earth, running across salt flats and sand dunes while carrying a heavy pack, and I started at the very back of the pack. That slow start led me to flourish on day five – the longest stage of the race. I performed the best I had on the entire race, and finished first in my age group and fifth female overall.
Challenges are often gifts in disguise, and you don’t always know what they are at the time. But if you keep moving forward and keep looking for the silver lining in life, you’ll find yourself in a much better place most of the time – I've experienced this time and time again in my life.
Life is like an ultramarathon
Life is like an ultramarathon of sorts, but you don’t have to be a marathon runner to practise these tips. We experience challenges daily – remember to prioritise what you can control, and don’t spend energy worrying about what you can’t.
And above all, don’t forget to be kind to yourself. Every small step you take counts towards your goals – no matter how big or small – and slow progress is still progress.
