Shubeez some Motivation

Six weeks post operation checkup.  I laid down on the examination table waiting for my surgeon to flex my leg in multiple directions.  The movement was painful, but I expected as much since my physical therapist checks my range of motion every Thursday morning.  When he moved my knee upwards and away from my hip I cringed.  "Wow, Jen.  Seriously.  You look amazing!  How is it possible that your range of motion is this good?  You are six weeks into a six month recovery, but I would swear you were a month further at least."  I starred at him struggling with the idea that my range of motion was that good.  When people twist the joint, it feels like they are tearing my joint away from the flesh.  Next he pushed against my knee at different angles and told me to resist the pressure.  "You have been working hard.  There is no doubt about that.  I don't need to ask you if you are following your physical therapy plan.  You are strong; unbelievably strong."

Then he pointed at my shoes and laughed.  My friend Monica gave me "Shubeez" for my laces almost a year ago.  I have one for each foot, 26.2 and Boston.  Running Boston has always been a goal and wearing these simple reminders on my laces have provided just enough motivation over the past year.  Insecure, I commented on his gesture, "Is that dumb?  I clearly haven't learned my lesson."

"Learned your lesson?  I hope you have learned your lesson.  You are working incredibly hard and I hope that you have found new motivation.  Don't count yourself short.  You have a long athletic road ahead of you.  There have been no setbacks.  The surgery went better than we could have expected, and you are healing like a champ.  There is absolutely no reason to think you can't run marathons again, and this time, you are going to Boston!"  My surgeon smiled.

"So it isn't overzealous that I have a race scheduled for this May?  I just haven't found the heart to ask for a refund yet."

"Nope.  You will be ready.  And this time you will be stronger than ever before.  I know that for a fact because it is only my elite athletes who heal this well."

I walked out of his office with a new sense of confidence.  My smile radiated throughout the building.  He was right.  I've earned a new level of motivation from this experience.  Each day is a new accomplishment based on the perseverance and patience of the day before.

Day 1, Smile.  Keep my sense of humor.  Learn to go potty without help.  Stay on passive motion machine and calf squeezing machine 24/7.

Week 1, Rest, stretch, and stay calm.  Continue using machines.

Week 2, Ride a stationary bike with no resistance everyday, slowly.

Week 3, Learn to stand up without help while spreading 50% of my weight on each leg.

Week 4, Loose the crutches, brace, and machines.  Get back in the pool twice a week for 20 minutes.  Start lifting free weights.

Week 5, Walk my kids to school at least one way everyday.  Start adding a little resistance to the stationary bike increasing the time from 15 minutes to 30. 

Week 6, Pump up the resistance on the bike, increase the time to 45 minutes, and add more strength exercises to my right leg.

Slowly, I am getting stronger.  I tire quickly but I embrace the work like never before.  As lactic acid builds in my quads and glutes, I don't pull back.  I breathe in deeply and I envision how desperately I miss running, how devastated I felt after being told I had the hip of an 80 year old woman and I may never be able to run again.  I listen to my body much closer, resting, icing, massaging when necessary.  I alter my exercise routine constantly to create more balanced muscles.  My scars aren't pretty but they are a wonderful reminder of who I am.  I went from being told I may never run again, especially distance events, to being told the best is yet to come.  Yes doctor, that new motivation is profound.  


~Roadburner