Today I completed a 5 km run, and it felt amazing to be back at it after such a long gap. It’s been weeks since I’ve done any proper cardio, and I’d honestly forgotten how satisfying a good run can be.
The reason for the break hasn’t been laziness or lack of motivation—it’s been my wrist. What started as a minor flare-up has turned into persistent inflammation that’s spread through my entire right hand. It’s made my usual workout routine, especially lifting weights, extremely difficult and often painful. There’s nothing quite as frustrating as wanting to train but being physically unable to grip a barbell or dumbbell properly.
Weight training has been such a consistent part of my fitness routine that being sidelined from it felt like losing a major outlet. The gym sessions weren’t just about building strength—they were about structure, stress relief, and that sense of accomplishment that comes from progressive overload. Having that taken away has been tough.
But today’s run reminded me that there are other ways to stay active and maintain fitness while dealing with limitations. Running doesn’t require gripping anything, doesn’t put stress on my wrist, and still provides that cardiovascular challenge and endorphin rush I’d been missing. The 5 km wasn’t a personal best or anything remarkable in terms of pace, but after such a long break, just completing it felt like a small victory.
What struck me most was how satisfying it was. The rhythm of running, the steady breathing, the gradual fatigue building in my legs—it all felt good in that particular way that physical exertion does when you’ve been forced to be sedentary. By the end, I was tired but in a productive, earned kind of way.
I’m hoping the wrist inflammation subsides soon so I can return to my full workout routine. But for now, I’m grateful that running is an option. It’s a good reminder that when one avenue closes, there are usually others available—you just have to be willing to adapt.