Injured, Not Broken. How Runners Rebound after Setbacks w/ Carrie Jackson & Cindy Kuzma s6e10

This episode of the Running Explained Podcast dives into one of the most overlooked parts of running performance: the mental and emotional side of injury. Coach Nick is joined by journalist and runner Cindy Kuzma and mental performance coach Carrie Jackson to unpack what really happens when runners get injured and why it is far more than just a physical setback.

Together, they explore how injuries impact identity, confidence, and motivation, and why so many runners struggle to slow down or step away from training. The conversation highlights the emotional complexity of injury, including surprising feelings like relief, frustration, and even grief, while also addressing the challenge of rebuilding trust in your body during recovery.

00:00 Introduction to the Conversation

02:29 Understanding Injuries in Runners

05:26 The Emotional Impact of Injuries

08:21 Mental Challenges of Injuries

10:54 Building Resilience Before Injury

13:56 The Struggle to Slow Down

16:42 Identity and Injury

19:56 The Role of Comparison in Running

22:41 Identity Loss and Its Impact on Athletes

24:46 Identity and Athleticism

29:23 Navigating Injury and Recovery

38:47 Mental Tools for Injury Management

45:59 Staying Connected to Your Athletic Identity

51:21 The Importance of Coach-Athlete Communication During Injury

53:19 Finding Joy and Purpose in Sport

54:44 Understanding Injury as Part of the Athletic Journey

56:21 Transforming Adversity into Growth

58:14 Building a Supportive Community for Injured Athletes

59:53 Advice and Insights from Experienced Coaches

01:05:43 Breaking Stigmas in Mental Health and Sports

01:08:23 Connecting with Coaches and Resources

Carrie Jackson is a performance and mental training expert, a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, listed provider in the USOPC Mental Performance Directory, and the author of On Top of Your Game: Mental Skills to Maximize Your Athletic Performance. She’s one of the world’s foremost authorities on the mental and emotional challenges of recovering from injury. She co-authored the book Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries, and is the co-host of the widely regarded podcast The Injured Athletes Club.

Cindy is a freelance journalist with bylines in Runner’s World, SELF, The New York Times, and more. She’s the coauthor of both Breakthrough Women’s Running: Dream Big and Train Smart (with Neely Spence Gracey) and Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries (with Carrie Jackson); she co-hosts the Injured Athletes Club podcast and is on the leadership team of Starting Line 1928, an oral history project documenting the lived experiences of female distance running pioneers. She lives and runs in Chicago.

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