Injuries are an inevitable part of every athlete’s journey, whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out. Understanding the causes, treatments, and long-term effects of common injuries can make all the difference in recovery and prevention. In this Q&A session with Edd, whether you’re currently injured or looking to stay healthy and informed, this session offers practical, evidence-based insights to keep you moving forward.
I picked up the injury in July during the Race to the Stone 100km. I got just past the 23-mile mark and noticed some discomfort in my groin. I was able to dial the pace back and continue, but by mile 27 I was in a fair bit of pain, and made the decision to pull the pin and call it a day. I hobbled a few more miles to the halfway checkpoint and registered my first ever DNF.
Honestly, it was absolutely fine, and I was totally cool with it. More importantly, it was 100% the right call. I always thought I’d feel like I’d let myself down, but I wasn’t bothered by it at all.
There was a little mental battle going on in my head during the few miles it took me to make the decision (as I was seriously considering walking the 2nd half of the ultra), but it would have been foolish of me to continue for the sake of saving my pride.
So I’ve got a suspected hip labrum tear, which is the cartilage that surrounds your hip joint.
I was in a fair bit of discomfort for the first couple of months and I’ve been struggling with mobility issues on the left side (of my hip). It wasn’t until the end of November that I could manage to put my left sock on without the help of my wife (or my 7-year-old daughter).
I had an X-ray back in September to rule out a hip fracture and I’ve finally got an MRI booked in for early January, so hoping we can finally get to the bottom of it and work towards getting it resolved. It’s been a rather frustrating last couple of months trying to get appointments and referrals, but I’m super thankful for the NHS as they’ve been great and I’ve (luckily) ended up getting the scan arranged 3–4 months earlier than I was told it would be.
It really hit me hard for the first couple of months—I think more mentally than physically. I’d gone from being extremely active to not being able to do any exercise. Running is a huge part of my life and (as strange as it sounds) I felt a little lost without it. Also, not being able to do simple things like get in and out of the car, chase my kids around, and carry my young son really ground me down a bit.
As the months have gone by, I’ve fully come to terms with the fact that I’m going to be out for a while, and I’m okay with it now. I’m really looking forward to getting back to it, but then again, I’m in no rush as we’re going to fully respect the recovery process.
I’ve been seeing a physio and doing some strength work for the last couple of months. We started off quite light to get some mobility back and, since that’s improved, we’ve recently started adding some weights into the mix. Also, lots and lots of walking.
My NoblePro treadmill has played a massive part in my rehab. I mentioned in my previous answer that I’ve been doing a lot of walking. Nearly all of it has been done on the treadmill. In the early days of the injury, I found it a really low-risk way to get some steps in.
If I experienced any pain or discomfort, then I could just stop and be in the comfort of my own home, instead of being some distance away and possibly having to limp back. Since the hip discomfort has gone and I’ve got some mobility back, I’ve been hammering it on a near-daily basis to get moving again. I usually get a 5k walk in either before I start work or at lunchtime, and then do another session in the evenings with a focus on elevation (just to get the quads working).
My main aim is to get back running again. As soon as I get the all-clear to run, then I’ll be focusing on building myself back up again. I’m actually looking forward to putting that work in again. If I’m being honest, I don’t think I’ll be doing any ultras in 2025. If I can get a couple of shorter-distance events in during the second half of next year, then that would be a very welcome bonus.
This is a tricky one because everyone approaches being injured differently, so I can’t really answer it… but for me, it really put things into perspective, and I thought there’s far more pressing things going on in the world right now than my inability to run. I think you just have to look at the wider picture and be thankful for all the things you can do.
And as the saying goes… “The comeback is greater than the setback.”
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