Hey injured runner.

Hey injured runner.

Hey you. I know being injured really sucks. I know you want nothing more than to lace up your trainers and head out the door. I know how much you long to feel the beating of your pounding heart – hear the pitter patter of your feet dancing along to the rhythm you once knew so well. Yes, I know it's so hard to want these things and to have to remain still. I know it's so hard to be patient.
 
Hey injured runner.

It's okay. You're allowed to scream. You're allowed to cry. You're allowed to curse. You're allowed to lie on the floor and cry your eyes out - a waterfall of self-disgust and loathing. You're allowed to question how you managed to get yourself into this situation again. You're allowed to feel sorry for yourself - to be upset and angry. In fact, these feelings are only inevitable - How can this thing you love so much have the power to go so horribly wrong and hurt you like this? It is essential to accept this hurt and to feel it - a knife stabbing at your back, tearing apart your dreams. You have to let these emotions come. You're allowed to lie on the hard ground – just so long as you don't remain there. You have to pick yourself back up.
 
Hey injured runner.

Yes. You are allowed to forgive yourself.
 
Hey injured runner.

You have to forgive yourself. Please. With this acceptance, comes freedom. With your freedom - this healing process will aid the growth of your wings and you will once again fly. In fact, you will soar – so much higher than before. Forgiveness. Acceptance. Growth. Please just trust it. You are only human after all. Mistakes are part of life. Mistakes are proof you're living. Accept your mistakes, learn and move on.
 
Hey injured runner.

This is just a reminder – you're so much more than this injury. Just as you are so much more than just “a runner”. We are all carrying multitudes. Don't let this injury define you. Smile and be brave – even when your body doesn't behave.
 
Hey injured runner. 

Please don't forget, you have family, friends, a whole support team and network of people who love and care about you. Don't push them away or take this injury out on them. Remember the ones who support you in the dark deep valleys and not just on the shining, sun-baked mountain tops. You know the people who stand by you and support you through thick and thin? These people are golden. Keep them close.
 
Hey injured runner.

Don't be afraid to dream. Don't be afraid to plan and turn your dreams into reality. Go on – make your dreams happen. Be spontaneous. Even if it seems kind of outrageously crazy. Even if others don't understand. If it makes you happy or if you know it will make you happy, you should just go for it. Life is for living. Don't stop living just because you can't run. There is more to life than this. There's more to life than being an injured runner. Be true to yourself. You are you. Don't ever forget that.
 
Hey injured runner.

Spend less time on your phone. Less time scrolling mindlessly through Instagram – seeing never ending posts of other peoples' running adventures will only turn you green with envy. Don't put yourself through it. Pick up a book instead. Let your mind wander and take yourself on an adventure of your own.
 
Hey injured runner.

Concentrating on the things you can't do will only make you bitter. Instead, focus on the things you can do. Do the things you've been putting off. Let your creative juices flow. Write, draw, paint – even if you know you have no skills and your drawing attempt looks like an egg rather than a person. Maybe you can't run up into the mountains, but that doesn't stop you experiencing them in a different way. You can draw them. You can write about them. You surely can find a way to use all these inspirations you've been gifted. And no - you don't have to show anyone. Create things, not for others but for yourself. Trust me - creating something with your hands will help to take your mind off your itchy feet. Perhaps you'll even discover a whole new skill. The world is your oyster. It is true - injury time can be an opportunity... if only you let it. So change your perspective and you will find other ways to fill the running-shaped hole.
 
Hey injured runner.

Are you scared? Are you scared your body is broken? Are you scared you won't ever heal? Are you scared your dreams are shattered? Do you wonder whether it will ever be the same again? It's okay. Take a deep breath and remain calm. It won't be the same – you'll have a deeper understanding, more inspiration, and gratitude. It may be a cliché but you will return to put one foot in front of the other and you will be stronger and wiser. Many rocks build a castle. Many tiny grains of sand build these rocks. It all adds up. Courage above fear.
 
Hey injured runner.

Yes, I know being injured really does suck.

But I also know...

Falling down is part of life.

Getting back up - That's living.

"So m-m m-m-m-m maybe you should
Take the first step
And the rest will follow" - Follow / Tom Misch

my body is still
but my mind
oh
how it runs

Hey injured runner.

This is a gift.

So smile. 

It will be okay in the end.

Sending positive vibes to all the runners who are battling their way through injury right now. You will get through this. You will find the light.

 
With love & dreams,
Heidi x

"Fancy running another lap?"

(This short blog post is influenced by inov-8's latest article, "Get To Grips With Trail Running" which features some top tips from inov-8 ambassadors inspiring you to step off the road and out onto the trails )

I challenge you to run 1500m, 3000m, 5000m or even 10,000m around an athletics track - honestly, the distance doesn't matter. Just experience the monotony of becoming ever increasingly dizzy. Tick off the laps one by one until you reach the ringing bell and really push yourself towards the final time you cross that ever important white line that signifies the end. You're done. There's nowhere else to go. Stop your watch - check your splits. You ran pretty fast? That's great, well done! Pat yourself on the back and allow yourself to feel satisfied. Now reflect on this experience... what did you see along the way? What did you feel? Fancy running another lap?

running my own laps in 2016 // "Fancy running another lap?"

Wait, I'll answer that last question for you. No. You really don't want to run another step on that red synthetic material.

Open your eyes. Look past the track and the housing estate in the surrounding streets. Turn your back on the oval and cast your eyes out to the horizons. Out there somewhere is a hill or a trail and it's calling your name. A path not yet traveled is eagerly anticipating your silent arrival.

Maybe you're a little bit scared or anxious. Fear of the unknown is only natural I suppose. These trails may be outside your comfort zone - a whole world away from the predictable track or your familiar roads. But still, I urge you to embrace your fear and leave the tedious track behind. It will still be there if you ever feel the need to return.

I dare you to not become exhilarated by the endless trails reaching out in front of you. There's a whole world to explore. Just step off the track, off that road. We weren't born to just run in circles. Don't allow yourself to be limited. Hop over the gate. Open your arms out wide. Find your wings. Fly. Your trails are waiting. Go. You won't ever regret it. I know I don't.

So go on. Be brave. What are you waiting for?

Don't forget you can read some more top tips to inspire you to hit the trails from inov-8 ambassadors Ben Mounsey, Damian Hall, Ben Abdelnoor and Victoria Wilkinson here.

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. there are many things i miss but the freedom is the most of it

A post shared by Heidi Davies (@heididavies98) on Oct 28, 2018 at 2:05pm PDT

electricity

These days aren't so much about movement. It's the in-betweens. The stillness. Itchy feet and a running mind. It's days of dreams, words, lists, plans, brilliant sunshine and moody storm clouds. It's the slow satisfaction of recovery and the frustrating struggle of stillness. 

It's understanding you have all this energy inside you. All this electricity - probably enough to power a lightbulb or such like for a considerable amount of time. It's about deciding what you want to do with all this energy. Which lights you want to spark and glow. It's about seeing and getting excited about all the possibilities and not just feeling depressed over the problems. 

We're all here, stumbling around. Trying to figure out what we want to do with all this future. It's about realising, in reality, just like you - everyone else is just winging it too.

And so it's about becoming the journey - your journey. Maybe with some changes of directions, new paths, periods of rest and recovery along the way. But always moving - continually forward. Onwards. Your possibilities are endless. 

These days are about learning to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. It's about the understanding, revelations, growth, inspirations. 

This is life. You've got to live it. Like the network of wires providing the electricity to light our homes on these dark autumn nights; you've got to transform your energy into your own personal sparks - into your dreams. Growing them into realities. 

When you're on the right path, you'll feel the energy - you'll know.

So yeah just keep dreaming...

With love

Heidi x