Not too many years after that nightmare, I was perfectly capable of enjoying thru-hiking, carrrying exactly same weight anyone else would have been, moving at same speed on rough terrain, etc. Still couldn't run a mile - or much shorter distances - in my wildest dreams. Didn't matter, I was in exactly the shape I wanted to be in, for the things I cared about.
Can't do it anymore, my body widely conspired against me in various ways, but glad I was capable of it and have the memories. If I had been able to run a mile, but not hike any distance with weight, I'd be alot less happy about what I had achieved at that point.