Injured, Not Broken. How Runners Rebound after Setbacks w/ Carrie Jackson & Cindy Kuzma s6e10

This episode of the Running Explained Podcast dives into one of the most overlooked parts of running performance: the mental and emotional side of injury. Coach Nick is joined by journalist and runner Cindy Kuzma and mental performance coach Carrie Jackson to unpack what really happens when runners get injured and why it is far more than just a physical setback. Together, they explore how injuries impact identity, confidence, and motivation, and why so many runners struggle to slow down or step away from training. The conversation highlights the emotional complexity of injury, including surprising feelings like relief, frustration, and even grief, while also addressing the challenge of rebuilding trust in your body during recovery. 00:00 Introduction to the Conversation 02:29 Understanding Injuries in Runners 05:26 The Emotional Impact of Injuries 08:21 Mental Challenges of Injuries 10:54 Building Resilience Before Injury 13:56 The Struggle to Slow Down 16:42 Identity and Injury 19:56 The Role of Comparison in Running 22:41 Identity Loss and Its Impact on Athletes 24:46 Identity and Athleticism 29:23 Navigating Injury and Recovery 38:47 Mental Tools for Injury Management 45:59 Staying Connected to Your Athletic Identity 51:21 The Importance of Coach-Athlete Communication During Injury 53:19 Finding Joy and Purpose in Sport 54:44 Understanding Injury as Part of the Athletic Journey 56:21 Transforming Adversity into Growth 58:14 Building a Supportive Community for Injured Athletes 59:53 Advice and Insights from Experienced Coaches 01:05:43 Breaking Stigmas in Mental Health and Sports 01:08:23 Connecting with Coaches and Resources Carrie Jackson is a performance and mental training expert, a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, listed provider in the USOPC Mental Performance Directory, and the author of On Top of Your Game: Mental Skills to Maximize Your Athletic Performance. She’s one of the world’s foremost authorities on the mental and emotional challenges of recovering from injury. She co-authored the book Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries, and is the co-host of the widely regarded podcast The Injured Athletes Club. Cindy is a freelance journalist with bylines in Runner’s World, SELF, The New York Times, and more. She’s the coauthor of both Breakthrough Women’s Running: Dream Big and Train Smart (with Neely Spence Gracey) and Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries (with Carrie Jackson); she co-hosts the Injured Athletes Club podcast and is on the leadership team of Starting Line 1928, an oral history project documenting the lived experiences of female distance running pioneers. She lives and runs in Chicago. Cindy Website Carrie Website - Rebound Amanda IG Nick -IG Email - Hello@runningexplained.com 🚨 1:1 COACHING SPOTS OPEN NOW 🚨 Ready to finally train with a plan that’s built around YOU? ✅ Personalized training ✅ Weekly support + adjustments ✅ Strategy, structure, and accountability ✅ Expert coaching to help you actually hit your goals Not ready for a 1:1 Coach 📝PDF Training Plan Templates available 🤝Group Coaching, Strength Training and Unlimited access to all Training Plans available in The Run Club App Not sure talk our Training Plan Quiz to find the right training plan for you! https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/688249e4b0197d00157fba4c Learn more about all of this at Running Explained