Global Running Day: How Running Changed My Life

chloe suarez
Jun 3
3 min read

June 3rd is Global Running Day, and if you had told me a few years ago that I would become a runner, I probably would have laughed. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would fall in love with running.

Then again, I never thought I would wake up paralyzed and have to relearn how to walk. Yet here we are. Running has done so much more for me than I ever imagined possible. In a strange way, it brought me back to life.

For a long time, I struggled with chronic back pain, overwhelming anxiety, and the emotional weight of everything I had been through. Running became an outlet. It gave me peace when my mind felt chaotic. It gave me confidence when I doubted myself. Mile by mile, it helped me heal in ways I never expected.

Now, not every run is sunshine and rainbows. Some runs don't go according to plan. Some feel incredibly hard. Some days it feels like my legs have forgotten what they're supposed to do. But oddly enough, those difficult runs have become my favorite. Those are the runs that center me. They remind me to appreciate the body I have and everything it has carried me through. During those tough miles, I think about the girl in the hospital who was desperately trying to put one foot in front of the other. I remember the days when walking across a room felt impossible. And suddenly, I'm grateful.

Grateful that I get to complain about a hard run. Grateful that I get to worry about how many miles I'm running. Grateful that my body allows me to do something I once thought I might never do again.

When I was a little girl, I was incredibly shy. I was afraid of my own shadow. But over time, I grew, evolved, and found confidence I never knew I had. Running feels a lot like that journey. When I look back at the different versions of myself, the girl using a walker, the girl stuck at a plateau in physical therapy, the girl wondering if she would ever feel strong again, I can finally see just how far I've come. And so much of that growth came from running.

Of course, I didn't do it alone. I owe so much to my family, who never stopped believing in me, and to the incredible physical therapists who helped me rebuild my life one step at a time. But running gave me a place to discover what I was capable of. It showed me that progress isn't always linear and that strength is built in the moments when you want to quit but choose to keep going.

For me, running is more than a sport. It's a symbol of resilience. It's proof that healing is possible. It's a reminder that I can do hard things. So on this Global Running Day, I simply want to say thank you.

Thank you to the sport that gave me confidence when I needed it most. Thank you for the miles, the lessons, the challenges, and the joy. Most importantly, thank you for reminding me every day just how lucky I am to be here.