I was recently sidelined with a bad injury for almost seven months. I did some cross training (biking and aqua jogging) but pretty much no running. I have been training for 5 months now and done some low key races, but I am no where near where I was before time wise. How long will it take me to regain my former fitness levels?
A little more information: I have resumed my pre-injury volume and intensity, albeit my workouts are a little slower than they previously were.
bump
3 months to a year
Why the huge margin of variation in this prediction?
I'll add my $.02. Long time ago I broke my ankle and tore all the ligaments and tendons - severely ... playing baskeball. I was in a caste for about 4-5 months then had a profound limp. Your story sounds similar - I started back in working out even ran a few track races (summer time)- 11:00+ two miles. Not only was I embarrassed with the time(s) but I ran a very pronounced peg-leg, which added insult to injury - literally.
I continued on and on and on and on. I finally returned in about 4 months to fairly good race shape although I still limped noticeably. I actually increased my pre-injury miles during the xc season I was training for. I was fortunate enough to have a training partner who pushed me. It was no fun, but it produced. We were what might be called high mileage trainers.
Bottom line for me was to get back at it and then some and find someone who knows how to push you. I still have probs with my ankle - and I'm pretty old in this LR crowd.
The older you are the longer it takes. The more weight you gained the longer it takes. The less motivated you are the longer it takes. Ie, need the info
I'm in my twenties and the IT Band injury does not seem to have produced any lasting effects apart from forcing me to the sidelines for a long time. Also, I did't gain significant weight with time off.
Let's imagine that there was no injury and I simply took 7 months off. How long until I could be in top shape again?