[+] The Liminality of Being Injured

Caught in the In-Between World of Running

Sadly, as a runner, injuries are an inevitable part of the journey. They come uninvited, bringing pain, frustration, and an unwelcome break from the rhythm of our beloved sport. But perhaps the most fascinating and challenging phase of an injury is not when it's at its peak, but rather when it's on the mend. This is the liminal space of healing – an in-between world – a phase in which we are simultaneously injured and healed, caught in the delicate balance between vulnerability and recovery.

(Photo by Chris Drüke)

The In-Between World

Liminality, a concept borrowed from anthropology, refers to the in-between word, the threshold where transformation happens. Right between “no longer” and “not yet”. It's the space where the old self is left behind, but the new self hasn't fully emerged. Liminality is a place of transition and passage.

Injured runners find themselves in liminality when their injury is already healing but they have not yet fully recovered. This liminal space can be profoundly disorienting. You’re no longer debilitated, yet not entirely free from pain or the risk of re-injury. Every step forward from here feels like a cautious negotiation with your own body.