Former College Runner Warns Against "No Days Off" Culture After Career-Threatening Injury

​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.