4 months ago, my physio sat me down and told me that I need to take 2 weeks off running in order to expedite my healing from plantar fasciitis. After much resistance, I finally agreed, but in my head, thought maybe I’d last a week max, then re-evaluate. Running has been my daily ritual for well over a decade, and the thought of taking any time off seemed unfathomable at the time. But I haven’t run since March now, and as the weeks continue to pass, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on what this whole experience has taught me.

While I’ve learned many things from being sidelined, there is one glaring lesson that’s stood out the most…

I will be okay without running.  

If this injury happened just 5 years ago, it would have taken a much more substantial toll on my mental health. Running was a huge part of my identity back then, in which I derived so much of my self-worth. Over the last few years, however, I began to disassociate—relying less on external validation and the need to prove myself, and instead, embracing the more intrinsic benefits of fitness. Maybe it’s just what happens when you get older…you care less…Less focus on comparison, and more on celebrating others. Less emphasis on performance and stats, and more on being present, and enjoying the adventure. 

I miss running dearly, of course but I’ve realized what I truly value is challenge, personal growth, getting outside in nature, and doing active things with my friends and partner—those are the underlying themes that matter most, and bring me true fulfillment, and which can be achieved sans running. If I could never run again, I’d be bummed, but I’d survive and adapt, just like I have over the last several months. 

Instead of siloing my activities, I’ve learned to diversify, trying a bunch of new things which made me stronger, more well-rounded, and better equipped to prevent injury in the future. 

It was a hard lesson, but a much needed one. Long breaks from something we love, can help us glean new insights, and the biggest one for me is that there’s so much more to life than running.