No, really.

Being injured is absolutely shit. You go from the high of endorphins to the low of, well, a lot less. I include accident in the “injury” category, given that, for instance, in the triathlon world — sadly — a fall from the bike, and subsequent layout, is all too frequent.

Some injuries are straightforward and many are not. How to survive during that period between “end of play” and “the comeback”.

Beer? Chat with sympathetic others? Sports documentaries? Pilates, dare I say it? In fact knowing my Pilates has been a wonderful tool for me during these times. It’s something you can almost always do with some parts of your body. It has its addictive element (tick, say the athletes), it’s progressive, rewarding and leaves you with a mental and physical boost.

Club Pilates Barcelona’s “Injured Athletes Society” meets once a week to help support people who are out the sport at this time. We discuss all the above and much more. And we don’t get bored with each others injuries or PBs of times past.

We meet at:

Maestro Bar at 7pm on Sundays. Please sign up here in advance.

It is 15 euros (pay online before or by card or cash in person) and that includes a beer or soft drink and the film screening (English subtitles) at the top of the bar in our own private corner with silent disco headphones!

Here is the film plan:

  • Sunday 23rd June — Chariots of Fire book

  • Sunday 30th June — The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner book

  • Sunday 7th July — No session. Away cycling!

  • Sunday 14th July — Breaking2 book

    More dates to be added for July and August soon.

It goes without saying you don’t have to be injured (at present!) to come along.

Final warning: All new members have to go through initiation where they explain their injury details, but will be rewarded with a bag of chocolate medallions for being so brave. Because you should never give up chocolate when you’re injured.

 

If you’re currently injured you might appreciate this very down-to-earth article on the topic. It’s written by a guy I used to run with at university who went on to great heights. https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/motivation/a774151/1500m-runner-andy-baddeley-i-felt-like-a-fraud-calling-myself-a-runner/