it's been two weeks since i had a prp injection in my right achilles. its been extremely painful, annoying and humbling.
i finally get to take off the walking/cast boot, and put on regular shoes.
i began physical rehab, which hurt a lot, and i have 2 more sets to complete today.
i'm not allowed to bike for another week or two, which is troubling. the 56 miles seems to get longer and longer.
i'm not going to run until may 12 (god willing), when team aluminum boy competes in the pa tough mudder. then, i wont be running until june 1.
i am swimming, which i am grateful for. being stagnant for a whole week was difficult. and actually, i am swimming much better than i was before. the swim (life) coach kept telling me to keep my knees locked before, and now, i am so afraid to hurt my foot, that i am doing as told. maybe thats why she's the coach, she knows.
this 'return to play' is not for weak of heart. it will take so much determination.
also, i wanted to express my gratitude to the people that have been involved and helping me these past couple weeks.
to my brother and sister (team aluminum boy personal docs)... thank you for listening to me complain, answering all of my questions, hooking me up with doc singh, telling me that the boot was stylish, and continuing to have that unwavering faith in everything that i do. i love you both (1&2)
to doc singh... at first i wanted to strangle you for causing me so much pain, but you explained everything so thoroughly and believe in what you did and continue to do. just like those autographed photo's on your walls from the pro athletes you helped, my photo and herbie hancock will be hanging on that office wall.
to my parents... you haven't stopped me yet and i am truly grateful for that. you have always been there to comfort me and provide that unwavering faith. i will do it all.
to rachel and the girls... i appreciated that you called me out on my slow moving, hobbled walk. you waited for me, said my cooking actually tasted good and laughed at my super funny jokes. you kept me positive. rachel, thank you for being there on day one. you listened, talked and joked with me when i needed it the most. sorry my jokes stunk until i popped the perc's, but you laughed anyways. STEPHEN!!
in response to all the comments and messages on fb... thank you all for your support. i am so proud to post my achievements online, and even prouder that my friends 'like' it so much. i don't think you realize how powerful your comments can be... thank you for all of them!
to that monkey on back... i thought that i had just about everything i would need in conquering my goals with docs on the team, but having a personal rn is amazing. a simple 'thank you' would never suffice for everything you have done. you have heard the brunt of my complaining, and rolled it off with positive thoughts. you helped this old man to put on his socks, pain patches, shoes and forced meds down my throat, probably because i was too much to bear without. (still waiting on that sponge bath though) we joke about how 'johnny's got it', but, really, it's always been you whose got it. ikaw lang
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
.388 and a brick wall
7 of 18 and the totals are...
28,350 yards swimming (16.11 miles)
224.6 miles pedaling
87 miles just a running
brick walls are there for a reason. the brick walls are not there to keep us out. the brick walls are there to show how badly we want something. because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want something badly enough. they are there to keep out the other people. - randy pausch
my brick wall appeared last october when i was training to run my first marathon. i saw it clear in front of me, but thought i was strong enough to run through it. guess what, i'm not superman. i developed a slight tear in my achilles. doctor's orders were to rest and not to run the marathon. i listened and rested, but wanted to no longer be a runner, i wanted to be a marathoner. so i found my opening through the wall, and snuck by. competed in tough mudder, finished the philly and disney marathon without properly training, and set my sights on the half ironman.
as training began for the half, the brick layers worked tirelessly to fix the opening i found. for seven weeks now i searched for the opening, but i've been stopped, can't find it. doctor gave me two options - rest for weeks and see if it heals or prp injection to increase recovery time. both options leave the possibility that the aluminum boy won't become an ironman on june 24.
my foot is throbbing from the tremendous pain the prp injection causes. no way around it, biting my lip to bear it. but how i see it, the prp injection is like a step ladder that was left by those same brick layers. it will help me to jump over, help me to cross that finish line.
everyday we come face to face with brick walls. whether at work, with friends, or in everyday life, we slam into them. the others will remain on their backs, bewildered. but those who want to get around or over it, will get up, maybe take some tylenol, and begin searching for that ladder or opening. maybe i'm foolish, but i want it badly enough. maybe i push too hard, but i have the courage to follow (my) your heart and intuition. they somehow already know what you truly want to become. - steve jobs
i will never be part of the others
28,350 yards swimming (16.11 miles)
224.6 miles pedaling
87 miles just a running
brick walls are there for a reason. the brick walls are not there to keep us out. the brick walls are there to show how badly we want something. because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want something badly enough. they are there to keep out the other people. - randy pausch
my brick wall appeared last october when i was training to run my first marathon. i saw it clear in front of me, but thought i was strong enough to run through it. guess what, i'm not superman. i developed a slight tear in my achilles. doctor's orders were to rest and not to run the marathon. i listened and rested, but wanted to no longer be a runner, i wanted to be a marathoner. so i found my opening through the wall, and snuck by. competed in tough mudder, finished the philly and disney marathon without properly training, and set my sights on the half ironman.
as training began for the half, the brick layers worked tirelessly to fix the opening i found. for seven weeks now i searched for the opening, but i've been stopped, can't find it. doctor gave me two options - rest for weeks and see if it heals or prp injection to increase recovery time. both options leave the possibility that the aluminum boy won't become an ironman on june 24.
my foot is throbbing from the tremendous pain the prp injection causes. no way around it, biting my lip to bear it. but how i see it, the prp injection is like a step ladder that was left by those same brick layers. it will help me to jump over, help me to cross that finish line.
everyday we come face to face with brick walls. whether at work, with friends, or in everyday life, we slam into them. the others will remain on their backs, bewildered. but those who want to get around or over it, will get up, maybe take some tylenol, and begin searching for that ladder or opening. maybe i'm foolish, but i want it badly enough. maybe i push too hard, but i have the courage to follow (my) your heart and intuition. they somehow already know what you truly want to become. - steve jobs
i will never be part of the others
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
why?
i coach our local jv baseball team. all the boys know that i run. that i run races and marathons. they have seen me run to practice and, now, watch me pedal on down to practice and games. they all seem stunned that i just run. they don't understand why. they ask how i can run such distances. they don't get it. and i don't expect them to... at 14 and 15 years old, i wasn't thinking about running, my mind was focused on cars, girls, school lunches (i loved them). today i decided to tell them why and this is what i said....
i run because i can. i am completely alone. i have time to reflect on the days plans or events. i love hearing my feet hit the ground. i love that feeling when your pandora radio finally plays that favorite song. i love pushing myself to new limits. setting goals and bursting past them. i have solved and resolved so many issues while running long distances. i enjoy racing, it brings my passion of running/training and competition together. i love seeing that finish line, that big clock ticking away, turning it on and sprinting through the finish to get my pr. then you get smiles, hugs and kisses, bling (medal) and food. why wouldn't i run?
i run because i can. i am completely alone. i have time to reflect on the days plans or events. i love hearing my feet hit the ground. i love that feeling when your pandora radio finally plays that favorite song. i love pushing myself to new limits. setting goals and bursting past them. i have solved and resolved so many issues while running long distances. i enjoy racing, it brings my passion of running/training and competition together. i love seeing that finish line, that big clock ticking away, turning it on and sprinting through the finish to get my pr. then you get smiles, hugs and kisses, bling (medal) and food. why wouldn't i run?
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