Forget the Experts - I'm Goin' Solo

One month ago, my surgeon told me to run.  However, my defiant body doesn't give a crap what a doctor says.  I tried it three times, each a week apart, and only for one mile of running/walking.  My hips were so sore the day afterwards, I decided it wasn't worth trying again for at least a month.  This last month challenged my mind more than my body.  What's gotten sincerely old is everyone telling me, "Be patient, you're healing.  It will happen."  Never seeing dividends after the investment especially at the promised points along the calendar infuriated me.  Each week, my surgeon and physical therapist became more and more surprised as to how my range of motion keeps decreasing and the entire area remains inflamed. 

No, I am not doing too much.  I followed the instructions of the experts very closely.  I've taken this healing very personally and I've listened to my body more in the last 4 months than I have in my entire life.  I find it funny that nobody comments on someone's training regimen until they get hurt.  And once that person is injured, it's time to throw it their face, reminding them often they did this to themselves.  Suddenly, everyone and their mother is an expert on your healing and knows what's best, because you've clearly lost the ability to think for yourself.  (You're injured, remember?) 

I've learned that exercise is a large part of my identity and onlookers reminding me to be patient, or hang in there, is as condescending as telling a child not to play.  Exercise is how I relax and stay stable.  Not being able to sweat for a extended length of time is frustrating and excruciating.  I love running, but I've learned to adapt and take on new activities.  To me, that is the absolute definition of perseverance... patience.

Two weeks ago, I decided to say, "Forget the experts.  It's my body."  Clearly what they tell me, doesn't work.  For four months I've focused my attention to spinning on a stationary bike.  Some days it feels really good.  Others, I can't walk my kids to school after the workout.  I lay awake at night in pain.  It's a dull ache that slowly builds throughout the night like that annoying princess and her damn pea.  Now I'm that complaining brat, who survives off a few moments rest each night.  Damn.

Last June, I decided to learn to swim freestyle.  The first time in the pool I looked like a drowning chicken, so I enrolled in a private swim lesson to teach me the basics and hopefully a starting point. 

I survived the humiliation and came out with hoards of advice.  Seven months later, I still drop my arm a bit when I breathe from the opposite side.  I am slower than most taking 20 minutes to cover a half mile, but I've been persistent and I've improved.  I'm comfortable in the water and can breathe from either side.  My pool workouts are becoming less cardio efforts, and more of a sustained fat burn. 
 

After my private lesson everyone looked around to see if there was someone ready to drive me home.  I couldn't understand why until I realized they saw the entire lesson on the waiting room television.

Swimming doesn't hurt.  So for two weeks I've dedicated myself to swimming 4 days each week for only 30 minutes.  I wanted to get out of the pool feeling refreshed, not exhausted, and leave on a good note.  The days where I stay in the water for 60+ minutes, I usually fumble out of the side of the pool almost smacking my chin against the concrete lip.  Part of listening to my body is not exhausting it, but building strength.  It's a balance I've needed for a while.

Instead of doing my strength exercises 3-4 times a week, I complete the routine only twice.  I continue to roll out my IT Bands, hip flexors, and glutes nightly.  For the first time in 4 months, I haven't hurt at all for 48 hours!  I feel good.  I walked my son home from school today and that familiar pull and instability in my groin wasn't there.  Hopefully I'm swimming in the right direction.


~Roadburner

     

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