The Mental Side of Injury: What to Do When Your Recovery Isn’t Going So Swimmingly

Let’s talk about the oft-forgotten and ignored mental side of injury recovery. “How are you feeling after yesterday?” my friend Todd asked me as we walked down the steps toward the pool. “I feel good,” I replied. “Aren’t your shoulders sore?” he asked. “Not at all,” I

Read more

I Called for a Taxi and Never Expected It to Change my Life

Whether you’re facing the emotional fallout of injury or PTSD, the tools you’ll need to dig out of your hole are exactly the same. When you call for a taxi, what do you expect? Like most people, you probably expect an individual to show up on time

Read more

From One Athlete to Another: His Injury Advice Stands to Make Your Recovery Easier and Faster

In the fall of 2013, Austin-American Statesman journalist Pam LeBlanc wrote a story about my injury and creation of Injured Athlete’s Toolbox. Shortly after the article’s publication, I hosted one of my regular seminars for injured athletes. We answer each other’s questions; we help each other navigate

Read more

Part 4: Epilogue – Injured Athlete Inspiration (NAA Mentors Aren’t Always Winning Races. Sometimes They’re Injured. What They’ve Learned Can Help You. – Guest Blog Post for Network for Advancing Athletes)

Network for Advancing Athletes mentors Courteney Lowe, Carrie Toleffson, Tina Pic, Annie Ewart, Alison Tetrick, and founder Amber Pierce share a love of their sport, a passion for guiding fellow female athletes, and all-too-much experience with injury. Through traumatic brain injuries, an obscure vascular condition, and various

Read more

Three Steps to (Re)Finding Your Motivation After Injury

Finding your motivation after injury can seem like your own personal Mt. Everest. “I don’t want to hear about creativity and finding other ways to move. Running is my life. It embodies everything I love. I’ve tried cycling and swimming. Nothing makes me feel as good as

Read more

Injured and Having a Bad Day? Advice for Getting Out of the Mental Hole

Awesome, amazing, spectacular, incredible, the best ever, PR (personal record): demonstrative superlatives infiltrate our vocabulary, thoughts, Facebook status updates and Tweets. Doesn’t it seem like the onslaught of exaggerated happiness leaves little room in our culture for having a really bad day? Pay too much attention to

Read more

Injury Recovery: Injured Athlete’s Toolbox in the News!

There’s a coach who can help you with your injury recovery! My injury recovery journey and the services I offer through Injured Athlete’s Toolbox were featured by Pam LeBlanc in the (Austin American-Statesman). You can read the full story on The Statesman’s website here. I’ve also attached

Read more

Setbacks: Injury Recovery Is Not a Linear Process

When you were 20 and sprained your ankle, a bit of rest, ice and ibuprofen usually did the trick. You were back up and going in short order. As you age, your body responds differently to injury, usually by healing at a seemingly glacial speed. Did you

Read more

Overcoming Injury Requires Hard Work

You may notice this blog lacks the snuggly warmth of your favorite fleece PJs. Welcome to the tough love blog; this blog is about making hard choices. Mentally overcoming injury isn’t for sissies. Do you have an injury? Is it healing slower than you thought? Did you

Read more

Coping With Injury: What’s Your Most Important Tool?

I know what you are saying: “Heidi, you’re crazy! I don’t have a creative bone in my body. Not even one.” Frankly, I said those words before my injury. Believe me: your creativity does exist. And it’s your most important tool for coping with injury. Recall your

Read more