injury making me depressed and wanting to quit college running

You just described every injured runner ever. Well, maybe not every one, but a lot of them!

Nothing sinks me into a depression faster than not being able to run. I suspect it does something to your brain chemistry when you're used to getting your daily dose of running, then you can't get it. Your parents don't understand, and how could they if they don't run?

Keep your chin up - few injuries/illnesses last forever - it just seems like they will. You have the added stress of being a college runner and your eligibility window closing on you, along with expectations of your coaches and teammates. This whole thing can be a hard, difficult lesson in patience, the one virtue none of us have enough of.

The thing that concerns me is that you say competition stresses you out, yet not being fit enough to do it also stresses you out. Competition should be FUN - that's the reward for all the training, sleep, nutrition, ect. If you really don't enjoy competing, then maybe you should take some time to reevaluate how you're spending your time.

I also know that sometimes I say things when I'm injured that I wouldn't say when I'm running - like I hate the sport and why would I ever want to do that again. So maybe it's just your physical pain talking and not your true feelings for the sport.

You will heal. Life will get better. Cling to that.

Hey, William!

I am thinking about breaking up with Brie Larson and quitting my job as CEO of Nike. Oh wait! I am not her boyfriend and I don't work at Nike...just like you are not a member of any collegiate track program. You can't quit something that you were never involved with.

injured43 wrote:

I've been injured for a month and should be healed soon, ...At this point, I feel like it will take me so long to gain back fitness and I'll just get discouraged.

I don't feel right if I can't run for a day, let alone a month, I think feeling the way you do, is normal. But if you're young, it's likely your injury (which you haven't identified) is surmountable.

Once you're back to running, you'll get your fitness and enthusiasm back, very quickly. Then, 1 month will seem like nothing but a blip on the radar. Make sure you're getting good sports medicine treatment and opinions. If you're unsure, get a second or third opinion, if needed.

Injury is a big part of this sport (for most people), and this is not to belittle your experience at all, but in the grand scheme of things, a month is nothing. Yes, you will lose fitness, but it will also come back quicker than you think and sometimes these setbacks can actually be helpful in the long term. If you want to be on the competitive side of this sport, you will have to spend a lot of time on injury prevention and/or learn to deal with the injuries. There are also many different types of cross-training, and I guarantee you can do at least one of them with your injury.

Some people love running and some people love competing. If you just love running and don't care about being a competitive athlete, then college running may just not be for you. Sounds like some tough love from your parents, but you are not a loser just because you cant run. As people, we must be multi-faceted and you need to find more purpose in your life than running in order to not feel like a loser when you can not.

Best of luck.