Rebuilding

Rebuilding from Injury: The Long Road Back (and Why I’m Finally Ready for a Marathon Again)

Four years ago, I tore my calf for the first time.

Not a little twinge. Not a niggle. A proper, full-stop moment. The kind of injury that doesn’t just hurt — it interrupts your identity. As a coach and someone who lives and breathes movement, this wasn’t just a setback. It was a psychological slap in the face.

Since then, I’ve torn the other calf. I’ve re-torn the first one. I’ve had weeks of progress and then — boom — two steps back. I’ve iced, rolled, rested, rehabbed, strapped, and cursed my way through more setbacks than I care to count. Every time I thought I was back, I’d push too hard too soon (sound familiar?), and down I’d go again.

But I never stopped.

That’s the point of this post. Not that the road was smooth — but that it was continuous.

Recovery from injury, especially after 40, is not linear. You don’t bounce back like you used to. You don’t just “run it off.” Healing takes time. Tissues take longer to regenerate. You have to learn patience, I had to learn patience. You have to rebuild smarter, not just harder. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll also have to learn to not be a complete idiot when things start feeling “good again.”

The ego? Yeah — it’ll try to drag you back to 25. Don’t let it.

I’ve rebuilt my fitness with consistency, strength training, mobility work, gradual loading, and a massive slice of humility. It’s taken four years — but in 4 days, I’m running my first marathon in a decade.

It won’t be fast. It won’t be pretty. But it will mean everything!

If you’re dealing with an injury right now — especially if you’re over 40 — here’s what I want you to remember:

• Healing isn’t weak. It’s strategic.

• Rest isn’t laziness. It’s progress.

• You’re not broken. You’re rebuilding.

Keep going. Keep listening to your body. Keep doing the boring stuff. Because that slow, steady climb back? That’s what real strength looks like.

See you at the start line. 🏁