Less than a month into running 100 meters a day, my ankle started hurting.

At first I thought, “Just a bit of tightness, probably” — but the next day the pain was still there. It hurt with every step. Back to the orthopedist I went.

My Heavy Body Had Been Punishing My Ankle

The diagnosis: ankle inflammation.

The cause was clear. A body weighing over 80 kilograms had been placing excessive strain on my ankle. Running with jogging shoes, yes — but without proper form or preparation, that contributed too.

“Please rest for a while,” the doctor said, and I had to stop jogging.

Only a month in, and stopped again. Honestly, the thought of just giving up crossed my mind.

3 to 4 Months Later, I Started Running Again

While going through treatment, I made sure not to skip my stretching.

For the 3 to 4 months it took for my ankle to heal, I focused on keeping my body flexible in place of running. I did the stretching the doctor had taught me every single day. The stretching the doctor during my hospitalization had told me to do, and that I hadn’t done then — this time I did it seriously.

When my ankle had recovered, I restarted from 100 meters.

Going back to square one, but oddly I wasn’t anxious about it. I’d found that I could think, “Just start again.”

You can fall down and get back up. That’s something I learned in my body.

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Next time: The day 100 meters became 1 kilometer.

※ This article is based on personal experience and publicly available information. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease. If you have health concerns, please consult a doctor or registered dietitian. See our Disclaimer.