it's global running day. here's what a year off running taught me about not taking a single mile for granted.
it's global running day.
but maybe that's a silly thing to point out — because you're a runner, so of course you know. in fact, every day for you is a celebration of running. as it should be.
still, today's a good day to say the thing out loud.
a year off
just over a year ago i injured my foot — for the second time — and i've basically been off running since. the most i could do was a test run here and there. a mile, sometimes two. and then i'd be sidelined again. more physical therapy. more rest.
it was hard to not be able to do the thing i love so dearly.
i had to postpone my 2025 marathon entry to this year because my foot wasn't healed enough to run. one of the hardest calls i've had to make in my running life — because i loved running the marathon in '24, and i couldn't wait to start a streak i'd carry for the next 15+ years.
it's only been these past few weeks that i've been able to start logging miles again. 2.5 miles twice a week. a 5k today. my foot is holding up.
the reminder
i say all this as a reminder: running is a gift.
to move our bodies is a gift. to take in the fresh air — or treadmill air, no judgement, you get your miles in where you can — and feel the sweat build on your skin is incredible. it's freeing. it's a reminder that you're here, that you can do hard things, and that you can still surprise yourself any day of the week.
when you go a while without it, you stop taking it for granted. you remember that none of it is guaranteed. the body that shows up for you today is doing you a favor.
the people who show up
here's the other thing a year on the sidelines teaches you: running might be a solo sport, but you don't do it alone.
what i missed wasn't just the miles. it was the crew. the saturday morning meetup. the people who texted to check how the foot was healing. the run club that kept a spot open like i'd never left. that's the part that pulls you back — not the data, not the splits, but the people who make the miles feel like they mean something.
run clubs are quietly the reason so many of us keep going. they turn a workout into a standing appointment with people who'll notice if you don't show. they're the ones who make running feel less like exercise and more like home. and when you're hurt, or slow, or just starting back at 2.5 miles twice a week — they're the ones who remind you that you still belong out there.
so, today
i hope you get out there. if you're in nyc, the weather is a verified 10/10 — a perfect day to run.
and if you can't run today, i hope you find your way back out there soon. when you do, take a second to thank your body for showing up for you. and to thank the people who show up for you too — your friends, your family, your run club, everyone in this community-based sport.
see you out there 🦌