There is nothing more frustrating than an injury that you can not figure out how to fix. In the same breath, it is a great feeling when you figure out what the problem is. Since coming back from the World Youth Championships in 2007 my back has not been right. It has cost me 3 seasons of track and field, all in which had a ton of potential. It cost me a chance to run in the Big 12 100m final in which I was the only freshman to get into the final. The frustrations my back caused me go on and on. They cost me my last year of football in high school, international teams, and it reduced me to tears many times and made me consider quitting the sport that I have put my whole life into.
Its funny because so many people told me that back injuries are not complicated and are easy to fix but I could never see the light. I’m in my sophomore year of college right now and my back feels the best it has ever felt in the last 3 years.
Keys To Back Health:
- Stretching every night, especially hips and quads
- Making sure the Glutes are activating before any sprinting is started
- Working the Glutes in the weight room even hard than the Quads and Hamstrings
- Pushing off the big toe while running (not on the outside of the foot)
- Getting good A.R.T. on the back at a minimum of once a month
The worst thing about the back injury is that my brother and I watched it ruin our seasons at the same time. NO MORE. Now I can run well and COVER GROUND without worrying about how my back will react.
(original image by corbis)
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Good story about overcoming obstacles. I think you should go in depth with your whole story. I think you can help a lot of people learn that even when something seems insurmountable that you can overcome it with dedication and hard work. I personally witnessed you go for months without stepping on the track; constantly having to do drills…I think going in depth will show people what it really takes to rise above sometimes. Talking about how you constantly did drills, changed things in the weight room, and found a good stretching routine. I look forward to seeing more articles
@ Bryce – Very true and a great idea!! You heard the man Ian…
Thanks for the comment!
Good looking on that Bryce, I am going to get on that and start going through the whole process of what happend to me because you are right there is so much more to it man