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Coming back from injury - Ladies Thread
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flag she-goes-downhill
Posted: May 28, 2009 at 14:03 Quote
I had a hard fall two years ago and broke a few bones, I am back physically, I may even be stronger than before, but I can’t seem to get over the mental block. I don’t really remember the fall, (had a good knock to the head) but I am not as fearless as before, my ability says I can do it, but my mind just won’t let me… Any ideas on how to get over my mental block?
flag andieW
Posted: May 28, 2009 at 19:41 Quote
After hurting my knee skiing last year, I started looking for advice for the same thing, a couple of things other people said did help me start to get my head in the right place. I found a really good quote from a girl on ski-diva forum; she had said that she did a bit of self-talk to the effect of 'I hurt myself doing something I love, it was not the thing I love that hurt me, in hurting myself doing something I love, I am now stronger and know that I still love my sport', she went on to say that she allowed herself to take it easy, someone I really admire said to me fairly recently 'not today is not a failure'... Also, a great article on mind-set(albeit ski focussed, but the ideas behind it are still relevant:
http://utah.powderrush.com/blogpost.php?id=98
All little things that have helped me a lot. Of course there is Nike as well (just do it)...which sometimes I find is also what I need to tell myself!Big Grin
flag Cazza21
Posted: May 29, 2009 at 22:36 Quote
Everything that andie said/ quoted is so true.

My friend and I were talking the other day about our injuries and the sports we love. I've been out for almost 3 months, and her 8. And both our injuries came from rediculous accidents. We started thinking about the sports we love and how we are so afraid to go out and push it and get dirty and try new things, when really, sure you will get bruised and bangged up, but the likelyhood of getting really really hurt (again) isn't that good. I think that helped me realized that if it's ment to be, i'm going to get hurt no matter what I am doing. Hopefully when i get to ride again i can get over the mental bit as well and push it further. I miss biking and boarding too much right now to let this injury stop me from enjoying every bit of it for years to come.
flag t3rry
Posted: Jun 2, 2009 at 19:56 Quote
Biggest piece of advice on my behalf is make sure your physically ready to ride before you just head out. Nothing sucks more than reinjuring something first time out. Let it heal up good, than head out with confidence learning from your past mistake. Injuries are bound to happen.. broken bones, concussions, cuts, scrapes, bruises, it comes with the territory. As long as you do your best to minimize the risk, wearing body armour, getting a good helmet - even if it is only to boost your confidence, backing away from something that just looks too dificult etc. There is no shame at taking things slow. And find some moral support that can challenge you to acheive more- whether it be a boyfriend, husband or just a good pal - that always helps!
flag hoffer10
Posted: Jun 2, 2009 at 19:59 Quote
^^agreed
I have broken a few bones in the past 2 years. The first one was just kind of unlucky, but the rest were mostly because i tried to ride at the level of my friends who had been riding while i was injured. Take it slow and build up you confidence on easier things and then you should feel more confident.
flag andieW
Posted: Jun 3, 2009 at 14:20 Quote
t3rr1 wrote:
Biggest piece of advice on my behalf is make sure your physically ready to ride before you just head out. Nothing sucks more than reinjuring something first time out. Let it heal up good, than head out with confidence learning from your past mistake. Injuries are bound to happen.. broken bones, concussions, cuts, scrapes, bruises, it comes with the territory. As long as you do your best to minimize the risk, wearing body armour, getting a good helmet - even if it is only to boost your confidence, backing away from something that just looks too dificult etc. There is no shame at taking things slow. And find some moral support that can challenge you to acheive more- whether it be a boyfriend, husband or just a good pal - that always helps!

or kick ass new pals to bike with who are awesome, supportive and encouraging....(much like you T3rr1) Salute
flag CHSC
Posted: Jun 21, 2009 at 11:40 Quote
andieW wrote:
someone I really admire said to me fairly recently 'not today is not a failure'...

Andie, with those words in mind, I'll be taking that attitude with me this week up in Whistler for my first DH experience. If any of you girls see me on a little blue Santa Cruz navigating those intermediate trails, forgive me for being slow! Big Grin
flag andieW
Posted: Jun 21, 2009 at 13:53 Quote
CHSC wrote:
[Andie, with those words in mind, I'll be taking that attitude with me this week up in Whistler for my first DH experience. If any of you girls see me on a little blue Santa Cruz navigating those intermediate trails, forgive me for being slow! Big Grin

Awesome! Have a great time! Beer I've had a few good days and a few bad days so far this year, and have figured out this weekend that my perspective and attitude really have made the difference. Bad days are when I feel like everything is riding (no pun intended!) on my being good or succeeding (when in reality succeeding is trying...) Its when I put a lot of pressure on myself (funnily enough I absolutely lambaste my students for doing this in music! I've taken to saying 'no one's going to rip the heads off newborn babies if you get a note wrong..)
Good days,Jailbreak I'm more positive and relaxed: Singing and talking to myself helps!
saying 'Yes' or 'I can do this' or 'its fine' over and over again, and reminding myself of techniques; I tend to look at my front tire, so if I find myself doing it I usually mumble to myself (yes, audibly!)look far ahead, or look up... descending its 'cowboy knees' (a quote from a fantastic women's skills clinic!), or if I find I'm tensing up or overthinking or starting to get negative (I blame my mom for telling me I can't do things or that I'm going to hurt myself as a kid!) I start to sing.... I probably look and sound crazy to everyone around, but I really don't care, it works and gets the FUN back into biking!
flag t3rry
Posted: Jun 21, 2009 at 14:21 Quote
No looking at your front tire Andie! Need to put some blinders on you to keep you from looking at it. Razz
flag Cazza21
Posted: Jun 21, 2009 at 23:19 Quote
CHSH good luck this weekend with the DHing!

I just got the okay from my physiotherapist to ride on the valleytrail/roads here in Whistler.. i'm dying to get into the bike park! going to hit the pool and work on my strengthening all week so that in 2 i can at least do the XC trails!! I can't wait to get back into it, but still so nervous. I only hit the bike park about 6 times ever! but i heart it!! I just am worried i'll be afraid... guess we'll have to see what happens eh?
flag downhiller21
Posted: Jun 21, 2009 at 23:27 Quote
I have broken a lot of bones and am out rightnow with a bad concussion. I may not even to ride ever again.it sucks so bad. I know exactly how you feel. My advice is to almost forget that you broke whatever you did and the chances of hurting it are pretty slim. the reason I say almost is because if your going to crash try and protect it!
flag CHSC
Posted: Jun 22, 2009 at 14:56 Quote
t3rr1 wrote:
As long as you do your best to minimize the risk, wearing body armour, getting a good helmet - even if it is only to boost your confidence, backing away from something that just looks too dificult etc. There is no shame at taking things slow.

You said it. I've got armor to the gills. A buddy of mine let me borrow his flak suit, full face, and hard shell racing leg armor for the DH runs. He's my size (little!) so it all fits. Plus I have my own regular crash pads for the harder XC trails we're going to ride. Wearing gear definitely helps the confidence levels.


Cazza21, thanks. I'm hoping you can get back out there as fast as you want to! It sounds like you really love this sport and you're determined to make steady progress - you ARE on the road to returning to the saddle. After recuperating from my knee injury, I'm still fighting those same mental blocks that you are; time and patience, for me at least, are the things I must allow.

downhiller21, here's to you getting back on yer bike as well. Heal up quickly, and I'm sending my best wishes for you to rip the trails again.
flag she-goes-downhill
Posted: Jul 5, 2009 at 10:24 Quote
Thanks for all the awesome advice... I had a good bail 3 days ago, knocked my head hard, and have a tone of bruises!!!

Best thing that could have happend to me... I feel so good falling and walking away and getting back on the bike and riding out!!! That's what I needed, to fall and not really get hurt... now I am not afraid to fall... so I am back in full swing... and going to be touring BC, starting in Whistler, Sun Peaks, then Kicking Horse. Ya hooo...

Thanks Again,
flag Cazza21
Posted: Jul 7, 2009 at 19:18 Quote
she-goes... I agree.. i need to get my first bail of the season out of the way to remind me that I am not as fragile as this injury makes me think I am!

Thanks CHSH!!! I decided that I needed to push myself to prove that I could bike without getting hurt... so I grabbed a bunch on my very talented by friends (guys and gals) and tortured myself through River Runs Through It here in Whistler. I walked almost all of the ladders (still too afraid of those) but rode all the roots and rocky bits... I was so stoked! Jammed my bad leg a few times but it held up really well, no real pain just very tired! Pretty much i know the trail is too hard for me, but it helped me realize where exactly my limits are and what I need to work on. My biggest limit (besides my fear of wooden features) is that if i need to power over a root or rocky bit with my injured leg, 9 times out of 10 it doesn't have the strenght to get me over it. I'm working on strenghtening and doing lots of swimming at the pool as well as physio to get back to 'normal'.

I am also going to try to DH this week. I'm waiting for one of the guys to be off to take me up cause I'm too afraid to go alone my first couple times. I'm thinking some nice mellow runs to see how my knee holds up!! Keeping my fingers crossed... it has been 3 months since surgery, and I have most of my range of motion back... just missing lots fo strenght in my leg. Even if I only manage to get in one run a day, I'll be happy to be giving it a try and being back out there and seeing where my limits are so that I can work on building back up to where I was last year and getting much better!

I set my goals pretty high.. I want to improve enough this year that I can start to race in the Phat Wednesday races next year. We'll see how that goes!
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