The Injured Athletes Club

Latest Episodes:

90 | Carrie Answers a Question: Jennifer's Journey Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

"How can you navigate injury when living alone? An initial challenge for me was being alone (no spouse, boyfriend) and close friends not in the same city. Realize this is not the case for most.

One of the biggest issues was physical navigation of surroundings on crutches, no one to help, which leaves one feeling very frustrated initially. The other is an enhanced sense of isolation because nobody is there to obtain feedback, throw water on any emotional fire or otherwise provide distraction, fill air time or offer security. Ironically, being alone provides a buffer from unwanted comments."

—Jennifer

This week, co-host and mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question from listener Jennifer, who's navigating injury while living alone on her own and wondering how to get the support she needs as she recovers.

In her response, Carrie recounts the story of a German shepherd named Ducky, a broken ankle, and a community coming together. She explains some of the most common barriers to reaching out for the help you need, and how to overcome them.

And, she reminds all the injured athletes out there that no matter what, you're never alone; the Injured Athletes Club is here for you anytime.

Listen to the show for more—and to submit a question for a future episode, email us a note or a voice memo to hello@injuredathletesclub.com.

Resources/links:

Episode 57: Carrie and Cindy Build Your Team

Thank you so much to our sponsors for season 6:

Fluid Running, which has revolutionized fitness by bringing running to the deep water
IceeNOW.com, which provides innovative injury prevention and recovery solutions for athletes
ADAM Rehabilitation, creators of the ADAM Brace System, the most stable exercise system built to save the health of your shoulders

Learn more and access exclusive discount codes for their products at buymeacoffee.com/rebound or by joining The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group.

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.

89 | Olympic High Jumper Priscilla Loomis: Owning Your Narrative Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

"Every twist and turn, it was obstacles, right? And so for me, all I did was thrive. I learned from those. I realized, I can either take it two ways. I can let it overpower me and I crumble, or I freaking thrive and I rise. So that's what I did—I took that road."

When high jumper Priscilla Loomis caught COVID-19 in January 2021, she—and the team doctor—assumed she'd be fine in a few days. But instead, the illness kicked off what she calls "the scariest time of my entire life."

A week later, she still felt dizzy and weak—and, most concerning to the elite athlete, coping with stabbing chest pain. All she wanted was to get back to training, so she could make her second Olympic team. But her cardiologists wouldn't clear her, saying her heart was inflamed.

Priscilla's roller coaster ride didn't end there, nor in Tokyo; she shares the whole dramatic tale on this week's episode (tune in to hear what happens!). But through it all, and now that she's retired from track and field, her Olympic mindset has allowed her to turn obstacles into opportunities, and never stop telling her own story.

Resources/links:

Priscilla's website, Instagram, and Facebook page
The National Geographic podcast about her COVID experience

Thank you so much to our sponsors for season 6:

Fluid Running, which has revolutionized fitness by bringing running to the deep water
IceeNOW.com, which provides innovative injury prevention and recovery solutions for athletes
ADAM Rehabilitation, creators of the ADAM Brace System, the most stable exercise system built to save the health of your shoulders

Learn more and access exclusive discount codes for their products at buymeacoffee.com/rebound or by joining The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group.

You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show.

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Access webinar videos, injury sources, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

88 | Carrie Answers a Question: Marvin's Matter Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

"Any suggestions on how to deal with family or a spouse telling you that you should quit your sport?"

—Marvin

This week, co-host and mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question from listener Marvin, who's wondering how to handle a loved one who expresses a view that, for many athletes, is very difficult to hear.

Most often, your family and friends really do want what's best for you. That's where their concern about whether you should continue in your sport comes from, Carrie says. But hearing the suggestion from those whose opinion means the most, just at the time you're contemplating these questions yourself, can feel "soul-crushing."

In her answer, Carrie explains how—and why—to have this important conversation, so you can both work through your own fears and trauma to reach the other side.

Listen to the show for more—and to submit a question for a future episode, email us a note or a voice memo to hello@injuredathletesclub.com.

Thank you so much to our sponsors for season 6:

Fluid Running, which has revolutionized fitness by bringing running to the deep water
IceeNOW.com, which provides innovative injury prevention and recovery solutions for athletes
ADAM Rehabilitation, creators of the ADAM Brace System, the most stable exercise system built to save the health of your shoulders

Learn more and access exclusive discount codes for their products at buymeacoffee.com/rebound or by joining The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group.

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

87 | Weightlifter and Mental Coach Mona de Lacey Pretorius: Don't Go it Alone Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

"It was one of those that was like, injury leading to injury, and it was strange for me because in my over 20 years as an elite level athlete, I've never had really bad injuries. I've always been one—even though I used to train really hard—I was resilient. I would get niggles and things like that, but I never dealt with anything this big and had it set me back this much. So it really challenged me. I'd say, not just physically, but really on the mental side as well."

After the 2018 Commonwealth Games—where she took home a bronze medal and broke multiple South African records—weightlifter Mona de Lacey Pretorius felt like nothing could stop her forward momentum. Her longtime dream, to compete at the Olympics, felt destined to become a reality.

But the road leading up to the Games was far more winding than she could have ever expected, including injuries, a pandemic, and travel challenges and restrictions that tested her limits more than any barbell ever had.

Mona talks us through it all on this week's episode, including the dramatic conclusion—listen to hear more. She also explains why, though she's a mental coach herself, she reached out to a sport psychologist for support. And, she tells us how her experiences have fueled every aspect of her career and the rest of her life (since this recording, she's become a new mom!).

Resources/links:

Mona's weightlifting website, mental coaching website, Instagram, and Twitter
Her YouTube channel—and the video discussed in the episode, about her Olympic journey

Thank you so much to our sponsors for season 6:

Fluid Running, which has revolutionized fitness by bringing running to the deep water
IceeNOW.com, which provides innovative injury prevention and recovery solutions for athletes
ADAM Rehabilitation, creators of the ADAM Brace System, the most stable exercise system built to save the health of your shoulders

Learn more and access exclusive discount codes for their products at buymeacoffee.com/rebound or by joining The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group.

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Access webinar videos, injury sources, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

86 | Carrie Answers a Question: Cara's Query Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

"After being injured for almost 2 years, I finally found a PT that I could work with to deal with my traumatic ankle injury and have made huge improvements, to the point where I have been able to run pain free more often than not.

What I'm struggling with now is keeping up PT exercises. I'm so excited to be running again and quickly am finding that I'm putting all my energy into the sport that I love and am getting very inconsistent with the exercises that will actually keep me able to do it. An additional layer is that I have an autoimmune disease that leaves me with lower energy than I used to have, and I'm choosing to use what energy I do have to run rather than do PT.

It's been a long and frustrating journey to make this progress and I don't want to lose it. Do you have tips for motivation or advice on how to prioritize the things I know will help me in the long run?"

—Cara

This week, co-host and mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question from listener Cara.

First, Carrie acknowledges that Cara is far from alone in these struggles—nearly everyone struggles to stick to rehab at some point. By highlighting the difference between passion and motivation, Carrie explains how to shift your mindset to see PT as part of your sport rather than a separate activity, and gives tips on both streamlining your routine and making it second nature.

Listen to the show for more—and to submit a question for a future episode, email us a note or a voice memo to hello@injuredathletesclub.com.

Thank you so much to our sponsors for season 6:

Fluid Running, which has revolutionized fitness by bringing running to the deep water
IceeNOW.com, which provides innovative injury prevention and recovery solutions for athletes
ADAM Rehabilitation, creators of the ADAM Brace System, the most stable exercise system built to save the health of your shoulders

Learn more and access exclusive discount codes for their products at buymeacoffee.com/rebound or by joining The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group.

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

85 | Runner and Dietitian Starla Garcia: Empowerment in Recovery Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

"I always felt like I was supposed to help people in general, and then I just thought, 'Well, maybe this is actually what I'm supposed to help people with, is navigating nutrition and navigating feeling like they don't belong.'"

So many athletes who cope with injuries and other setbacks emerge with a powerful drive to give back. For Starla Garcia, that desire arose even before she'd reached the other side—when she was still a collegiate runner in the depths of an eating disorder.

Even in her darkest days, Starla knew that when she reached recovery, she would want to help other runners in the same position—especially people of color, who are underrepresented in dietetics and eating disorder treatment.

As she explains in this episode, overcoming challenges has brought her not only a fulfilling career, but the confidence to advocate for herself and others (including at the doctor's office—something many injured athletes struggle to do, and Starla has amazing advice about this). And, it's brought her an entirely new perspective on running, one that allows her joy and freedom even as she reaches better, faster times.

NOTE: This episode discusses eating disorders and recovery. If you are dealing with these issues right now and want support, you can call or text the National Eating Disorders Helpline at (800) 931-2237 or chat with someone online at nationaleatingdisorders.org.

Thank you so much to our sponsors for season 6:

Fluid Running, which has revolutionized fitness by bringing running to the deep water
IceeNOW.com, which provides innovative injury prevention and recovery solutions for athletes
ADAM Rehabilitation, creators of the ADAM Brace System, the most stable exercise system built to save the health of your shoulders

Learn more and access exclusive discount codes for their products at buymeacoffee.com/rebound or by joining The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group.

Resources/links:

Starla's website and Instagram
Link to purchase the video replay for the IAC webinar she spoke at, Eating During Injury Recovery (doing so helps support the podcast!)
Starla Garcia is Helping Runners Embrace Their Cultural Identities Through Food, an article by Stacey Megally for Women's Running

84 | Carrie Answers a Question: Conveying Her Own Challenges Sep 15, 2022

Show notes

"It's been really interesting, this journey with the left shoulder, because I think finally, one of the things I've come to realize is that maybe I've been a little too patient with the process, sort of comparing it to the right shoulder. With my right shoulder injury, it was a different injury, and there were different things going on. And I knew it was going to be a minimum of a year of PT and that I really had to commit and dive in and trust that it was going to be a long recovery, but that it would pay off and it would work out and it did. And so I took that same approach with the left shoulder and I think I'm realizing that's not the only thing that's it's going to take to fix this."

—Carrie

After posing her own question two weeks ago, co-host and journalist Cindy Kuzma turns the tables on mental skills coach Carrie Jackson for this, the final podcast episode of season 5.

Carrie reveals that, while she's been coaching all of us through our injuries, she's been coping with her own roller coaster of a journey. Clearly, being a professional doesn't mean she's immune from emotions—but she does have the tools to cope, and she shares how she's been navigating the uncertainties and setbacks.

Listen to the show for more—and to submit a question for a future episode, email us a note or a voice memo to hello@injuredathletesclub.com.

New this season: We're asking listeners to support the show directly, which you can do at buymeacoffee.com/rebound. Make a one-time donation or download extras like webinar recordings and resource sheets. Or, you can join as an ongoing member; for $10 a month, you'll get goodies like podcast extras, live monthly Q&As with Carrie, and discounts from great companies like Fluid Running, Lever Movement, Netic Health, and Reflex Health.

Resources/links:

The Injured Athletes Club Buy Me a Coffee site, where you can download the webinar video on navigating the medical system

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

83 | Acrobat and Circus Artist Shelli Epstein: Expanding Your Identity Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

"I'm walking again, I look like a normal person, I feel very able. But internally, the struggle is, I am not where I used to be. I cannot do the things I love. I cannot run. I cannot jump. So, I still feel the injury is a cloud hanging over me, and I've still got a long way to go. It's an interesting feeling and mental battle that I have with myself on a daily basis."

It was January 2022, and Shelli Epstein was poised to make a big comeback. After an injury and then the pandemic, she was overjoyed to return to the stage as Running Woman in Cirque du Soleil's touring show Luzia. Icing on the cake: The production was opening at the Royal Albert Hall in London, where she'd fallen in love with the circus as a child.

Her performance involves a discipline called the Russian swing, where, as Shelli puts it, "the margin of error is minimal." In the private preview performance, her trajectory was just a few centimeters off. She landed on the swing, but in the process, tore ligaments in her foot and damaged her knee.

Eight months later, Shelli is still very much in the process of recovery. In the meantime, she's published a book, taken sport psychology courses, and reconnected to who she is, outside of her performances. On this week's episode, she shares her journey, including the role *our* book Rebound played in helping her through the tougher times.

Resources/links:

Shelli's website, Instagram, and TikTok
Her book, Flying High: Life Lessons from the Big Top

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

82 | Carrie Answers a Question: Cindy's Concerns Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

"What's the best way to remain confident and advocate for yourself when the medical system doesn't seem to be working for you? Recovering from this stress fracture, I've had a number of instances of having to push back. First there was the surgeon I went to for a second opinion who told me I didn't need surgery—but that my body was trying to tell me "something," namely that I'm not a gazelle and I should probably stop running long distances. Then there was the primary care doc who said she couldn't order thyroid tests, instead shaming me for not making an appointment with the specialist (whose office took three months to return my calls). I have a great support system and several doctors and PTs who've been wonderful, but it's still hard on some days to weather these bumps in the road and persist in getting the care I believe I need to recover fully, whatever I decide to do with my running in the future."

—Cindy

This week, co-host and mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question from a listener—or, more accurately, from her co-host!

She begins by commiserating about the sometimes-unintentional callousness of medical providers, but then provides actionable advice, including phrases to keep in your back pocket for difficult encounters. And, she reassures Cindy and everyone else that they're worthy of support, even if they have to advocate fiercely to receive it.

Listen to the show for more—and to submit a question for a future episode, email us a note or a voice memo to hello@injuredathletesclub.com.

Resources/links:

The Injured Athletes Club Buy Me a Coffee site, where you can download the webinar video on navigating the medical system

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

81 | Runner Pippa Woolven: Recovery from RED-S Aug 25, 2022

Show notes

"I think first of all, it is so easy to dismiss this diagnosis and think there must be something else the matter, because the symptoms are so extreme and it is hard to believe that it can be something as simple and as basic as an energy imbalance. But it really can. And until I was brave enough to get really honest with myself and almost reach a point where I had to admit that there was an energy imbalance there, it was hard to buy into it.'"

British runner Pippa Woolven was 19 and running collegiately when her once-promising athletic career took a turn. She began developing a wide range of symptoms—small injuries, frequent colds, dark moods. And after a brief period of time when she was running faster, her training and racing began to suffer, too.

As she explains on this week's episode, it took some time, some bravery, and a blog post by another athlete that echoed Pippa's experiences before she got to the bottom of the issue. She had relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), a condition in which her caloric intake wasn't sufficient to support both her training and her body's other essential functions.

Eventually, Pippa recovered. Now, she's the founder and director of Project RED-S, an organization that aims to provide the resources she didn't have when she was solving her own puzzle. "Thankfully, this is an issue we can prevent and we can recover from," she says. "I think not enough people are sharing those messages."

Resources/links:

The Project RED-S website and Instagram
Pippa's Instagram
The Runner's World article about her

To access more resources for injured athletes:

Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!
Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates
Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie
Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes
Email us at hello@injuredathletesclub.com with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

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