Week 1-2 (of 16)

Focus:
Simplify 2012 continues to serve me well.
I drove 80 miles over 3 days instead of 100 miles per day; I ride my bike to the stable instead of driving back and forth. Yeah!

My life revolved around moving into our new house and being on the “am I injured?” emotional roller coaster. I kept the “Autumn and Michael” (family) and “Wise Companion Care” (work) plates spinning, but emotionally, I was putting all my visualization and thoughts to my knee.

Challenge:
Despite my best efforts at visualization and any therapy I can get my hands on, my knee still hurts. To be specific, when running joyfully on the Greenbelt with the dogs, my toe caught a rock, and I went flying forward (but not my knee). It’s been 3 weeks.

I cried at swim practice (why that happens I don’t know) at the end of week 2 – which was rock bottom. I’m going to the orthopedic at the beginning of week 3. I need more info.

Interesting side note: When doing my visualization, I focused on my left knee. I saw it burning. I imagined water coming through my body to cool it and put out the fire. Whenever my concentration waned, even a little, the fire was back immediately.
Yes, I help “Keep Austin Weird”.

Perspective:
I detest aqua jogging or any fancy name given to the term meaning running in a pool. It’s up there with the bike trainer – the opportunity for either to be pleasurable left in 2009, when I rehabbed the Bionic Ankle. However, armed with my cute new swimsuit, I have made a go of it.

Additionally, I reached out to my good friend, Ally. This, by the way, is the other emotional pull in my life. Ally is moving to New Mexico. I am very happy for her opportunity (really, not just a line), but I’m sad, because basically I want her for myself. Ally is a recovered bike-racer and hoop-jumper turned yoga-woman and healer (she is going to the Ayurvedic Institute this fall). Her words: “Juli, I thought aqua-jogging was &*#@ too. I ended up giving it a try, and I found that it worked well. Just don’t count on it like running or cycling feels – like a full-sweating aerobic workout. Focus on your cadence and run form.”

Finally, even if I can’t run on October 13, I will swim and bike and vacation-and the Earth will keep rotating.

Inspiring:
After a mediocre start to the season, Autumn and Bopper are in fine form (Bopper is a pony). Although I sound braggy, I’m telling anyways – and no, I don’t think I’m a better parent because of any of this. However, I find it inspiring that Autumn went through the first 3 horse shows on “substitute ponies” (Bopper had cramps, then had too much of his heel cut off and couldn’t show) with a positive outlook. In the next 2 shows, Bopper returned, and they were dynamite. She showed patience and resilience.

Great workout:
I figured out that if I aqua-jog in my shoes in a pool that is 4’2’ to 4’8”, I can focus on my run cadence by concentrating on the up-stroke. Coach Wendy gives me interval workouts to keep it fun and focused. For example, 60 seconds fast legs, 30 seconds rest over and over.

Coach Wendy comment:
Take care of that knee. Get the bike and swim on, even a little strength training.
(She is very straight forward and level-headed.)

Random pics that may correlate to my post: