Running In Place

Boy Howdy what a week! My very first week back at Hospice was a slam banger with some complicated and frustrating patient situations that took lots of time to sort out, but in the end we got the services coordinated for the folks that so needed them, despite the various obstacles. It felt so good to be back on familiar ground, with a supportive team whose attitude is ‘let’s problem solve this’ instead of ‘that’s just the way the system works‘ (which is part of the reason why I fled the hospital). In any case, it all felt damn great!

In other news: there is no other news, for the most part. Let’s break it down, shall we?

Swim: Yes, it’s weirdly true that I am getting totally into (the idea of) swimming. I have even negociated my work schedule so that I would have an hour for Open Swim 3 mornings a week before heading to the office. I didn’t start that practice this week but I’m signing my name to it right now - before gods and RBFers alike - beginning next week. Because, ultimately, I think I might really love being in the water - and I still find that hilariously ironic since I have labored nearly my entire life thus far under the exact opposite conception. Oh, and my instructor said that, despite my young advisor’s input, I had a very natural and appropriate stroke. I don’t know if that translates into efficient, fast, or competitive - but she was ok with my chicken wings and told me to continue to do what I’m doing. So I’m going to go with that for now and work on my endurance.

Bike: Yeah…no. I’ll admit, right now I’m all balled up about the bike. I’ve worked myself into a fit about taking it off the trainer and just doing it. I’ve imagined all the fully illustrated tragedies involving me, upside down in a ditch - shoes secure to pedals, multiple laughing spectators *could one of you snickering bastards call 911 please!* But, in the end, this is me. I psyche myself out till I bust through - and when I bust through is when nobody’s looking (you remember First 5K, right?) . So it’s gonna be some morning (sans frost, please) at 5:30 or so that I sneak out of the house and just say Devil Be Damned and ride down the road. Once that’s passed, I’m golden. Oh, and I got a supercool e-mail of encouragement from a local rider so that was a most awesome boost for me! Thanks Local-K.

Run: Not. At. All. And this sucks in a hard and real way because it’s getting about time to start Boilermaker training. Fact of the matter - The Knee. Something’s still so wrong. I can go 2 weeks with not a twinge, then - on some random day - gimping pain. Some other time - hmmm, feels a little sore. Stairs - always a twinge there. Even, the other day, soreness after swimming!

>>>To my KNEE: dude, that’s not weight bearing! I am so trying to accomodate your prima donna bullshit with this triathlon training type stuff so leave me the freak alone when all I’m doing is splashing around and being weightless!!!< <<

So. I saw my doc again and he couldn’t feel fluid so next up is an MRI. Hopefully not to be followed by a ginormous needle that makes me cry - though, if that’s what it takes, I’m down with it. You guys will hold my hand, right?

One last thing. Once they start offering them in XL (that’s right!!), I will totally be checking out a Running Skirt. Probably anyone who reads about what I’m doing or not doing already knows about what our good friend Mark is doing. Firstly, he motivated me to get off my checkbook and commit to give some actual support to a charitable organization that means something to me, rather than thinking about it but not following through. I love him for being secure enough to take himself in good humor and turn it into something meaningful. Secondly, the idea of a running skirt totally intrigues me - not because I attach any notion regarding sexual or feminist or misogynist or other perspectives to it - but because it would be damn nice to not have to pick my shorts out of my crotch for a change. If being a “Girly Girl” is a byproduct of that - well, worse things could happen. I’d pretty much dress in a Coolmax chicken suit for that.

****And big big thanks to Susan (see Running Skirt Review) for a very helpful review and perspective.****