Turning Your Setback into a Comeback

Dr. Gregory Lowe PT, DPT, cert. MDT, CSCS
Aug 8
3 min read

Everyone loves a good comeback story!

If you’re fans of track and field (like us) and kept up with coverage of the USATF (United States Track and Field) Championships last weekend, you probably noticed many of the results included major upsets and thrilling comeback stories. You just never know what might occur when a World Championships berth is on the line!

It tends to get complicated with world qualifying standards, rankings, and wildcard entries, but essentially, the top 3 finishers per event will typically earn a spot on the biggest stage at the track and field World Championships. This year, Worlds will be held in Tokyo, Japan during mid-late September.

One of our favorite performances from the National meet this past weekend included the women’s 10,000m, when 35-year-old Emily Infeld pulled off a major upset by kicking down the favorites to win the race in a time of 31:43.56!

Infeld is 13 years into her professional running career and this was her FIRST National title! This is also the first time since 2022 that Infeld has earned a spot on a U.S. team. This performance is the result of YEARS of never giving up!

Infeld epitomizes resiliency in this sport. She's a testament to playing the long game and persevering despite numerous setbacks.

She has endured so much during her pro career, to the point that most people counted her out. She has gone through major injuries, surgeries, several coaching changes, and even had an extremely stressful few-year period of dealing with a stalker.

Her last big breakthrough transpired 10 years ago when she earned a surprise bronze medal in the 10,000m at the World Championships in 2015. Now, a decade later, she continues to surprise people with her inspiring and resilient performances.

Emily Infeld’s story is an inspiration and hope to anyone navigating the struggles and joys of chasing their dreams. We love to root for an underdog!

Her journey reminds me of one of my favorite running quotes from the book “Once a Runner,” by John L. Parker:

“People conceptualize conditioning in different ways…Some think it's a ladder straight up. Others see plateaus, blockages, ceilings. I see it as a geometric spiraling upward, with each spin of the circle taking you a different distance upward. Some spins may even take you downward, just gathering momentum for the next upswing. Sometimes you will work your fanny off and see very little gain; other times you will amaze yourself and not really know why.”

You just never know– a setback (or several setbacks) could be setting you up for your next comeback…

At AWAKEN, we are absolutely here for a great comeback story, and we would love to help you on your journey to make a comeback!

AWAKEN’s 3-step process includes determining the ROOT CAUSE of your pain/injury, PREVENTING RECURRENCE of that pain, and going that step further to AWAKEN YOUR POTENTIAL in whatever activity you're passionate about!

We don’t stop at just eliminating pain, we are also determined to help you on your comeback journey of becoming the best you can be!

In addition to one-on-one physical therapy sessions, exclusive 3-Dimensional Running Analysis, and strength and conditioning/health and wellness services, we also offer individualized monthly Run Coaching.

So if you’ve been struggling in your running journey with injuries, plateaus, or trouble with consistency, look no further than AWAKEN!

We offer personalized services for runners, by runners! We understand what you’re going through and we want to help!

Dr. Greg has experience treating/working with runners of all levels including those who have competed in the US National Championships, World Championships, and Olympics! He’s passionate about helping others experience the AWAKEN difference!

Reach out through the link below to request a FREE phone consultation and learn more about how we can help you AWAKEN YOUR POTENTIAL!