Tell us about a time when you took extended break from running and came back to set PRs...

Julia Webb missed out on running for a lot of her pregnancy, and she's running better than ever now.

It's not a break worth mentioning until it stretches for a few years.

Early 1990 age 28 I got a bad achilles issue. Starting running in April after 3 months off. PR 1500m and 800m that July.

Raptured wrote:

Julia Webb missed out on running for a lot of her pregnancy, and she's running better than ever now.

Thank you! I should have also requested stories about elites, friends, etc. Any details (interviews, blog posts) on her time off and return?

I once took an extended break from running and came back to set PRs.

After a broken foot, I crosstrained like a fiend for 12 weeks (jones fracture). 3 weeks completely off then after a light week, I went at it like a bat out of hell for 11 weeks. I'd do 90 mins on the elliptical in the morning and 60 mins on an arc trainer and/or elliptical in the afternoon. One day a week I'd only do 60/30 and one day I'd do 2.5 hours on the elliptical. On the elliptical, I'd try to average at least 200 strides/min. Over the course of this time, I got to where I could do 14500 strides/hour (for an hour) at 10 resistance 10 incline and hold at least 13000 for 2.5 hours. I pr'd big after 4 weeks of running following this, but unless I were in college again, I'd never have the time to train like that.

took over a year off after college, then screwed around for a year. trained hard for another year and PR'd in 5,000m, 10k road, and half marathon (ran mile/8 in college). They weren't elite times, but good enough to be competitive on a college team

SMJO wrote:

It's not a break worth mentioning until it stretches for a few years.

That's what I keep telling myself- that my 12+ weeks off really isn't a big deal. I'd love to hear details on those comebacks after years off, though.

Femme wrote:

That's what I keep telling myself- that my 12+ weeks off really isn't a big deal. I'd love to hear details on those comebacks after years off, though.

12 weeks really isn't that big a deal - though psychologically it can be tough.

I stopped completely for 4 weeks and then ran 50mins-1h for three weeks and set a new Half-Marathon PR (by 17 seconds but still...).

The important issue is dealing with self-doubt.

Your body will be full of energy, invigorated, healed, and you will probably be mentally hungry for training - just take it easy when you start.

I got injured in college and didn't run until after I had my first kid almost a decade later. Took a year or so to really get back into shape, but I smashed all of my old PRs 5km and up. Although I couldn't even jog 100m until 3 months postpartum, my midwife was astonished at how fast I was able to run again. Don't underestimate how much your body needs to recover after child birth. If you head out too early, you will do damage (ala Paula), also backing off abit for the final trimester is wise. In general, most of my club mates who are moms ran distance PRs post-baby (not right away, but still), it is generally a question of fitness and time management. Good Luck!

I took 8 years off, put on about 50 pounds (alot muscle), and did a ton of partying. Got back into running and eventually got my 5k close to what it was in high school. It took a few years though.

Really enjoying these stories, keep 'em coming.

hausfrau wrote:

I got injured in college and didn't run until after I had my first kid almost a decade later. Took a year or so to really get back into shape, but I smashed all of my old PRs 5km and up. Although I couldn't even jog 100m until 3 months postpartum, my midwife was astonished at how fast I was able to run again. Don't underestimate how much your body needs to recover after child birth. If you head out too early, you will do damage (ala Paula), also backing off abit for the final trimester is wise. In general, most of my club mates who are moms ran distance PRs post-baby (not right away, but still), it is generally a question of fitness and time management. Good Luck!

Thank you -- I definitely need to hear the "take it easy" advice often since it's not something I usually do. I'm trying not to get attached to a timeline for postpartum recovery (Paula is a good reminder!).

My wife didn't run a step from about 6wks into pregnancy until about 2wks post partum. She did EASY running for about 8wks afterwards. Then amped up her training. It took several months but she PRd in 5k on our son's first birthday, PRd in the half two months later, then three months after that ran a 3hr flat for marathon which was a ten minute PR on only 55MPW.

What helped her:

She longed to run during that time and 'stayed hungry' but I had to remind her to be patient.

She swam during pregnancy.

She didn't go back to work after the post partum period so fitting in training was easy logistically and mentally.

Overall, the best thing for her running 'career' was that break.

Good luck!

In my mid 20s I injured my leg and went 6 months without running, 10 without racing. I sort of reinvented my training and approach becoming less of a 10K - marathon runner to a mile to 10K. Over the next several year I set numerous PRs, and ran much better than in college. 800, 1500/mile, 3000, 5K (at least on a certified course), 8K, 15K and 10 mile.

And in my early 40s I really got injured and hardly ran a step for a year and then did another year of rehab and false starts averaging

Started running at 13 and ran straight through until 19. Began running very sporadically through my 20s with breaks of between a year or four years.

I know I raced the summer when I was 23(PBs at 800 and 1500) 25(PB at 800) and then not again until I was 29(PB at 800 and 1500). I then started running continuously from 29 until present and ran faster every year up until 33 at shorter distances.

I raced multiple distances from 30 on and ran my fastest half and 10k at 37. I suffered a significant ankle fracture at 39 and came back the next year to equal my fastest ever 15km.

Your few weeks or months off are insignificant. My only advantage is that I have no tendency to put on weight and am not a total sloth if not running.

Nothing in younger years. But was injured in my 40's, required surgery on my foot, and rehab etc. I was not able to run for over 4 months. I slowly came back, and was able to run an "over 40" pr for myself, and even went on to run under 17:00 5k up until age 51 with new outlook on training.

I gave up on being convinced I had to do two a days, and focused more on quality than quantity, and did not feel as guilty when taking needed time off. The results were simple: I was more rested at the start line of a race.

GF jumped mid 18s in LJ. Took 4 years off, started training again, jumped 19-10 last year at 28yo after about a year of training.

SMJO wrote:

Started running at 13 and ran straight through until 19. Began running very sporadically through my 20s with breaks of between a year or four years.

I know I raced the summer when I was 23(PBs at 800 and 1500) 25(PB at 800) and then not again until I was 29(PB at 800 and 1500). I then started running continuously from 29 until present and ran faster every year up until 33 at shorter distances.

I raced multiple distances from 30 on and ran my fastest half and 10k at 37. I suffered a significant ankle fracture at 39 and came back the next year to equal my fastest ever 15km.

Your few weeks or months off are insignificant. My only advantage is that I have no tendency to put on weight and am not a total sloth if not running.

you talkin to me?

Two years is a pretty significant layoff.

You must be a very gifted athlete. What's your best 10K?

Thank you! Very helpful to think about. I haven't taken more than a couple days off for an injury and have only taken scheduled 2-4 wk breaks for the past 10 years so it's hard to imagine fighting my way back into shape.

Nice to hear you PR'ed will into your 30s!! And great -- I have those same advantages! I've had a few days when it's been painful just walking and it's a struggle laying on the couch and feeling like a sloth. :)