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Health
Former College Runner Warns Against "No Days Off" Culture After Career-Threatening Injury
May 19, 2026
Former college runner Liv Paxton, 28, is challenging a “pain equals pride” mindset in distance running after training through what was misdiagnosed as tendinitis and later revealed in April 2021 as a partial Achilles tear.
A former college track athlete is speaking out about what she calls a dangerous culture in running: the idea that pain is a badge of honor and rest is weakness.
Liv Paxton, now 28, says training through injury nearly ended her ability to run.
In April 2021, after more than two years of ongoing ankle and calf pain, she learned that what had been treated as Achilles tendinitis was actually a partial tear.
Doctors told her she would need surgery if she wanted to run again.
At the time, Paxton was 23 and had built her life around long distance running. Minor injuries had been common during her college career, but this one did not heal.
After surgery, she spent six months without running and struggled through several failed return attempts before slowly rebuilding in 2022.
She says the experience changed how she views the sport. Instead of chasing high mileage and constant progress, she began prioritizing recovery and long term health.
Paxton believes social media has helped normalize extreme training habits. She says posts about running through pain and documenting injuries can send the wrong message, especially to younger athletes.
While injuries are part of sport, she argues that pushing to the point of serious damage is often preventable.
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