What was going on with your pain?

I developed a hip injury from overtraining. For many years I’ve been very active and running was a big part of my routine—I used to run around 25 km per week. At some point the load simply became too much and I started experiencing persistent pain in my hip. The injury lasted much longer than I expected and it began affecting how much I could train and how confidently I could move.

How did it limit you?
Running had always been my main way to stay active and clear my mind. With the injury I had to stop running completely and switch to swimming instead. Swimming is great exercise, but it wasn’t the same feeling of freedom I get when running outdoors. I also had to be more cautious with training because I didn’t want to make the injury worse.

What did you try before collagen?
Like most people dealing with a sports injury, I tried several things: reducing the training load, focusing on recovery, and strengthening exercises. I gave my body time to heal, but after almost a year the improvement was still quite limited.

How did you first hear about marine collagen?
Someone mentioned to me that after 40 it becomes increasingly important to support connective tissue, especially if you’ve had an injury. That made me curious. Since my hip injury had not really improved after such a long time, I decided it might be worth trying marine collagen as an additional support.

Were you sceptical? What convinced you to try it?
I was definitely a bit sceptical in the beginning because supplements often promise a lot. But the explanation that collagen supports tendons and connective tissue made sense to me. I was also told that consistency is important—that you need to take it regularly over time rather than expecting quick results.

Why did you continue taking it?
I committed to taking it consistently and seeing what would happen. I also like that it’s very easy to include in my daily routine—I usually mix it into a protein milkshake or sometimes even tea, and I honestly don’t notice any taste. Interestingly, during one week of travel I didn’t take it, and my hip started feeling slightly worse again. That experience convinced me that consistency really matters.

How long before you noticed changes?
It wasn’t an overnight effect. After several weeks I began noticing small improvements—less irritation and better recovery after activity.

What improved over time?
Gradually my hip started feeling stronger and less sensitive. I’ve now been taking marine collagen consistently for more than six months, and the injury is healing well and is now almost gone. The progress was gradual rather than dramatic, but very noticeable over time.

What hasn’t changed?
I still need to be mindful of my training load and recovery. Collagen isn’t a miracle cure—it works best as part of a broader routine of staying active, strengthening the body, and allowing enough recovery.

How does less pain affect your life now?
When your body works well, everything becomes easier. Being able to move freely and stay active again makes a big difference not only physically but mentally as well.

Why is body function more important than just looking good?
For me the most important thing is how my body functions. Being able to move, train, and stay active matters much more than purely cosmetic benefits.

Why is it worth the investment for you?
If something helps support your body and allows you to stay active long-term, it’s worth it. For me it’s an investment in health and an active lifestyle.

“When your body finally moves without pain again, you realize how valuable that feeling really is.”

Barbara Salopek, author of bestselling book Future-Fit Innovation, Founder & CEO of Vinco Innovation, and lecturer at BI Norwegian Business School.