A place for injured athletes to find support, resources, and community.
On some level, we all know what stress feels like—a sense of panic, a pounding heart and quicker breath, a notion that we’re overwhelmed and just can’t handle it all. But injured athletes might not realize the degree to which stress infiltrates deep within our bodies. The cascade of hormones that triggers our flight-or-fight … Continue reading 12 | Cindy and Carrie Take Stress Head-On
When you’re on top of the world after a major victory—say, an Olympic gold medal (or two)—it’s relatively easy to think positively. But David Wise has had his fair share of challenges surrounding his greatest achievements. Through his work on mental skills, though, he’s learned to view each setback as a chance to soar higher. … Continue reading 11 | Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist and Freestyle Skier David Wise: High Hopes and Low Expectations
Your doctor’s appointment doesn’t go the way you planned. Your healing is taking longer than you thought. Your first competition back ends in a poor performance—or, worse yet, a re-injury. Even the strongest, most resilient athletes might explode in anger or sink into despair in the face of these unanticipated setbacks. You can’t always control … Continue reading 10 | Cindy and Carrie Turn Obstacles into Opportunities
The day after Roy Tuscany burst-fractured his T12 vertebrae in a skiing accident, the doctor who performed the eight-hour emergency operation that stabilized his spine came to his hospital room. Roy, eager to show appreciation, put his hand up to to give the surgeon a high-five. After a few awkward moments, the physician reciprocated—and Roy … Continue reading 9 | High Fives Foundation’s Roy Tuscany: Not the Same, But Still Awesome
In the past few weeks, Carrie has done several interviews related to fear and anxiety, including this one for the New York Times running newsletter by injured runner Jen Miller. There’s good reason to expand on this topic. Of all the emotions you’ll encounter in your injury journey, fear and anxiety are among the most … Continue reading 8 | Cindy and Carrie Climb the Anxiety Pyramid
Running coach Julie Sapper, half of the duo behind Maryland-based Run Farther and Faster, has finished the Boston Marathon 10 times. Three and a half weeks before this April’s race, she felt a strange pop in her knee during an easy run. Though the pain wasn’t severe, she knew it was something serious. The next … Continue reading 7 | Runner and Coach Julie Sapper: Earning a Personal Best in Recovery
In the summer of 2018, pro runner Kaitlin Goodman—known for her positive personality, as well as times fast enough to qualify her for the Olympic Trials in multiple events—had just signed a new contract with the Boston Athletic Association High Performance Team and Adidas. She was training for the TCS New York City Marathon that … Continue reading 6 | Elite Marathoner Kaitlin Goodman: A Return to Running Joyfully
We’re sorry you’re here, but we’re glad you’re with us! It’s the week before the Boston Marathon, and I—Cindy Kuzma—won’t be running the race, for the first time in six years. I’m disappointed and know I’ll feel left out on Marathon Monday. But I’m also excited to watch an amazing elite field and cheer on … Continue reading 5 | Cindy and Carrie Share Bad News and Good News
Every sport comes with its unique injury risks. But of course, athletes are humans living in the real world—and sometimes it’s incidents outside of training or competition that create injured athletes. Miranda Alcaraz—a former high-level CrossFit competitor and now co-founder of thriving fitness community Street Parking—has experienced both types of setbacks, including a serious … Continue reading 4 | CrossFit Athlete Miranda Alcaraz: New Ways to Move
We’re sorry you’re here, but we’re glad you’re here, too! Welcome to the third episode of The Injured Athletes Club, a podcast about how to cope with sports injuries. We’re your hosts, mental skills coach Carrie Jackson Cheadle and journalist Cindy Kuzma. This week, the two of us are here to talk you through a … Continue reading 3 | How to Go FAR: Feel, Accept, Recover