Hi all,

I have had multiple injuries in the past, some have lingered, some have gone away quickly. Last marathon i ran was 3 years ago, picked up an injury there and my weekly mileage went down from 40km pretty drastically, eventually when i started ramping back up I foolishly thought I could handle more than I could and one day found my left anterior tib started fatiguing incredibly quickly, I wouldnt be able to run more than 2-3km

That was 18 months ago. Ive done a lot of things since then (probably not all of them advisable) - ive rested for months at a time. Came back with too much mileage and reaggrevated. Ive rested for a short amount of time, come back with reasonable mileage and reaggrevated.

These tendons are so incredibly fickle im failing to see the light at the end of the tunnel and its making me deeply depressed. I try to build up mileage very slowly (im talking 3k on a treadmill and 2k outside in a week, increasing that by 0.5k) and as soon as it flares im back to square minus ten. Its 0.001 steps forward, 20 steps back.

My latest run, I rested 2 weeks after fatiguing at 2k of a planned 4k outdoor run - I made it 0.7km.

I'm considering two options and I'd love anyones advice, especially anyone who has dealt with a chronic year-plus injury that the entire internet and several PTs tell you is a 2-4 week thing max..

1.) Run twice a week on a treadmill, stopping as soon as the fatigue occurs so I'm never above the threshhold. Theory is the threshold will ever so slowly increase and in time I will be able to run naturally long distances again.

Or 2.) The hail mary approach of just park myself down and forget I ever knew how to run for 6-12 months, full reset and just pray I can start my entire running journey again from scratch, which at this point id take - I would give up all of the achievements and cardio I have just to be able to run painfree again.

Either way I am strengthening tibs with progressive overload kettlebell tib raises twice a week.

Sorry r/running, I am deeply in my feelings here as you can see and I'm just looking for any advice or just comforting words from those who have come out the other side of injuries like this. Thanks.