After a serious injury, it can take a while to get moving again. But doing so can have demonstrable mental and fitness benefits, as these Walk1200km participants demonstrate.

Events during the last couple of years have changed Marie Mitchell’s life. She lost both her parents, her husband’s parents and then, following a skiing accident on Mt Ruapehu when she ‘ran out of talent’, she broke her back and came within a “hair’s breadth of being paralysed”.

The accident happened in August 2023 in the middle of Marie’s first Walk1200km challenge. She’d taken on the challenge because she felt it was time to focus on herself. 

“My life’s been so crazy … and now I say, okay, Marie, you’ve got no excuses. It’s about you, and you need to do something.”

Marie is back for her second go at the challenge this year and is finding that Walk1200km provides structure for her intentions. “I’m very aware of creating that habit, and that’s what I can see is key to this. I’ve always loved walking, it was something I loved to do with my dad. I feel closer to him, walking every day. I feel like he’s with me.”

Walking for therapeutic purposes is not new to Marie. “Ten years ago I suffered absolutely dreadful mental health – I had to pull myself back from the brink, really, and one thing I learned was how powerful a 40-minute walk was. That’s when the chemicals in my brain would change and I would start to lift out of the black hole.”

With her current challenges, after a morning walk she says, “Knowing I’ve done that, I’m finding that it’s sending a message to me that it’s okay to do other things that are good for my wellness and wellbeing the rest of the day. Having a broken back, the pain has been horrific, but I still think 10 years ago was way worse. And if I could survive 10 years ago, then I can survive this. I can get through this.”

As Marie posted in the Walk1200km Facebook group, “As soon as I was given the ok to do rehab, my number one priority was to get out for a walk. Starting at 10 minutes on the flat and adding tiny increments of time every day. I’m now happily completing 40–60-minute walks. What an absolute joy!”

Horizons widen with Walk1200km 

Duncan Craig is into his second year of Walk1200km. He says he’s delighted to have “just scraped in” by walking 1213km in his first year. 

“It’s been an immense triumph, which I credit to rehabilitation from an achilles tendon injury that has haunted me since March 2020 and has limited my goal to run my first marathon.

“As the year ended I completed the Walk1200km challenge and ran 660km, including my first half marathon.”

This March he plans to participate in the Motatapu Trail marathon. “All thanks to the inspiration of, and rehabilitation gained from, Walk1200km. 

“Bravo to a great initiative!”

Getting back to doing what I love

Ali Marsh came to the Walk1200km challenge while recovering from an existing injury. In September 2022 she had a skiing accident that damaged her right knee and ankle. She says part of the challenge of recovery is pacing yourself.

“Post-injury I did a lot of rehab, especially on the stationary bike, but I still got a bit over-enthusiastic in the early days and set myself back several times until I learned to rein it in. It was extremely frustrating, but you just have to regroup and keep pushing on.”

As well as moderating her desire to get back to full fitness, Ali says having good advice was crucial. “I am a few days off reaching 60, so whether I like it or not, my bones are losing density. I had a fantastic physiotherapist on my side and an incredible sports doctor who both were invaluable in getting me back on my feet.”

She managed to get back on her skis, too, and now says, “I thought I’d just like to give the Walk1200km challenge a go, not really knowing if I’d be able to do it, but here I am having done just under a 100km in three weeks!”

Ali’s tips for walking post-injury:

> Avoid walks that have a sustained downhill section.

> Where possible, avoid trails that have a lot of tree roots or uneven ground – anything that could put you off balance. 

> Listen to your body: if things get a bit tweaky, stop until it calms down again.

> Wear suitable footwear.

> Don’t tackle anything too challenging.