A friend recently asked me why I walk 10 miles a day. My instinctive surface-level answer was to…read moresay it's good for me cardiovascular-wise and in every way. But truthfully, as I dug much deeper, it's so much more than that. It's freedom, it's endurance, it's strength. Ultimately, I walk at this level simply because I can!
For me, walking at this level is empowering. It's action, fulfillment, and resolution. Physically, completing this mileage strengthens the heart muscle, expands lung capacity, keeps the baseline metabolism elevated to burn energy efficiently, builds total bone strength, and keeps the glutes, legs, knees, and feet feeling incredibly strong and powerfully supported. Immersing myself in Mother Nature on those long miles also completely releases and floods your system with dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, instantly giving you a natural chemical reset.
Unfortunately though, when I first set out to hit my stride, I unsuccessfully jumped in at a pre-pandemic pace while carrying some extra work-from-home weight. I assumed I could immediately walk at the level I was accustomed to, but I was very wrong - upon hitting the straight 4-mile mark, I severely strained my 3rd metatarsal on one foot and somewhat on the other.
After receiving a referral from my phenomenal sports medicine doctor, I completed 4 months of physical therapy at this Athletico Physical Therapy Norwood Park location to strengthen my metatarsals, while also strengthening my hips, knees, and everything associated with removing strain from the metatarsals. Thanks to that targeted program, I safely increased my distance from a strict 2-mile doctor-recommended daily maximum to my current routine of 8-10 miles daily, averaging 40-50 miles a week. In the process, over the course of a year, I have successfully lost 90+ lbs. I am now at my college year weight, on the threshold of my late teenage, with the abundant energy of my elementary school days.
I am so incredibly grateful to Joseph Godziszewski, PT, DPT, to Stephanie, and to the entire team here at Athletico for expertly evaluating my movement patterns, listening to my goals, understanding my routine, and giving me the physical foundation to reclaim my health and freedom.
I highly recommend them to anyone on a recovery journey!