Joni Mitchell once famously wrote, "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone." I have learned that lesson all too well the past nine months dealing with an ankle injury that has kept me from running.
Only my two bouts with chronic compartment syndrome have sidelined me longer than this latest spell, which involved hours of PT that did not seem to make much of a difference, a few weeks in a brace, and lots of time doing non-running activities in the gym. For all those reasons, it has felt so wonderful to be back to running, including on my beloved 5K loop through Gallup Park.
There are many reasons I find running so valuable. It is a chance to get out into nature. It is a chance to clear one's head and to just focus on putting one foot in front of the other, and it sure is a nice way to knock out lots of podcasts! More than that, running centers me and provides balance, perspective, and a sense of wonder as I move through space - no matter the pace.
I will enjoy this latest respite from injury and try not to lose sight of how lucky I am to be healthy enough again to run. Who knew such a simple thing could make such a difference to my life? Now, I do.
