Woman determined not to let back fracture slow down New Zealand run dreams
A WOMAN is determined to complete a gruelling running challenge after a back injury forced her to cut her first attempt short.
Kirsty Gledhill set herself the challenge to run the length of New Zealand, however, made it just outside the capital city, Wellington, before finding out she had sustained two back fractures and could not continue.
The 27-year-old said she felt two 'glitches' in her back during her run, but assumed they were just muscular injuries that she could power through.
Ms Gledhill said: 'I was surprised that the pain was not more intense when it first happened.'
Ms Gledhill ran an average of 40km per day (Image: Kirsty Gledhill) She added, 'The recovery is a slow process, and I am finding the immobility challenging.
'Very little things set it back, but it's getting easier.'
Ms Gledhill admitted she hated running growing up but 'caught the bug' after being inspired by a friend to complete her first marathon in 2022.
Wanting to combine her newfound love for running with her desire to visit New Zealand, after a lot of organisation, she embarked on the run in November 2024, equipped with a tent, running shoes and a dream.
Miss Gledhill said she took on the challenge to 'show herself she could do it', running an impressive average distance of 40km per day.
However, the pain in her back eventually became so intense that she 'couldn't sleep', leading her to go to a physio to get it checked out.
An MRI revealed that she had sustained a stress fracture in her lower back and a compression fracture in her upper back, with doctors telling her she could not run with the injury.
She was forced to cut her trip short, returning to the UK on March 8, however, she is already planning to head back down under to finish what she started.
The 27-year-old said running was a "unique" way to see the country (Image: Kirsty Gledhill) Ms Gledhill said planning her return to New Zealand is helping her mentally cope with her recovery, hoping to fly out for round two in Winter 2026.
She said she is 'proud' of getting as far as she did, thanking the 'amazing' Kiwi people she met, who offered her meals and places to stay along the way.
Ms Gledhill said: 'I can't wait to get back to it, and want to go to other places as well.
'It was such a unique way to see the country – I got to see so much more than I would have from a car.'
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South Florida Sun Sentinel health writer Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@ or at 954-304-5908.
