Being forced to stop running was not what I wanted, but it turned out to be exactly what I needed. I put my body through hell this year. With fall and spring marathons on my schedule, I was basically never not training for a race, and it really took its toll. Don’t be like me.

My injury was a wake-up call to cherish the ability to run.

Like a lot of runners, I followed a training plan for my races. I even hired a coach last year to help me come up with a plan that best suited my goals. But a broken leg while training for the Chicago Marathon brought my running to an immediate halt.

This is the most shocking sentence I will ever write: I needed this injury. To be abundantly clear, suffering an injury sucks. There are moments of sheer panic when I worry that running will be painful for the rest of my life. The plans I had laid out now look different because, at least for the next few months, I have to worry about whether places I go have ramps or if I can navigate stairs without falling. It is incredibly humbling, but I needed it to happen to help me realise how integral running is to my life.

I think back to last fall, when I stood at the start line of the New York City Marathon and kept thinking, “I don’t want to be here.” Part of it was nerves. It was my third NYC Marathon, and my sixth marathon to date, but I was anxious about getting to the finish line, despite putting in the training. But a bigger part of me knew I was taking running for granted. I’m sure thousands of people would have loved to race through NYC that day, but there I was, feeling totally ungrateful. I caught myself, and after a firm scolding, I ran the race to enjoy every step, and I did.

Now, several weeks into this broken leg, I miss running more than ever. I recently sat in the car while my husband ran a local 5km, and as the runners ran by, I rolled down the window to listen to the sounds of their feet on the pavement. It reminded me of my favourite part of the New York City Marathon: the 59th Street Bridge. It is one of the few places on the course where there are no spectators. It is incredibly quiet, except for the sounds of feet on the pavement, which, if you focus on them, start to sound like a heartbeat. Imagine taking that for granted!

I was registered to run the NYC Marathon again this year, but that is off the table this year. However, next year, when I hit the 59th Street Bridge, I know I will run with gratitude for this new titanium-reinforced leg, and with a huge smile on my face (plus a healthy amount of tears that will require me to reload on electrolytes as soon as I hit First Avenue).

My injury was a wake-up call to cherish the ability to run. We joke that it’s just putting one foot in front of the other, but my foot is in a boot and I can’t put weight on it. However, I am still finding the good in my current situation.

I have learned a few important lessons while recovering. First, a good physical therapist is the best investment. My physical therapist has helped me set realistic expectations for my recovery, while also making me feel confident that I will return to running.

But I’ve also quickly learned that I need to focus more on strength training. Runners usually ignore this crucial part of training, in favour of more runs, and I have learned that it is crucial to being an injury-free runner. Once I can, I can’t wait to start taking some classes. I know it will make me a stronger, faster runner.

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