Running... Tengo Ganas de Correr!!

I love it when the kids come in to visit before school.
We are all a bunch of monkeys.

Three and a half months after being hit by Jesus, I got angry at God for the first time.  My faith brought me peace and strength throughout all of my ordeals and a multitude of close calls.  I was never stressed or upset.  That all changed when I started running again.

I love to run, and when I was finally given the go-ahead, I laced up my new Brooks, and I went.  I ran on the beach, short stretches at a time, and over the course of a two weeks, I built up to my old routine of six miles – at a much slower pace.  My joy lasted a day or two before my left knee started hurting more and more until I could run no longer.  

I prayed for a miracle.  “Lord, please heal my knee!!  I want to run happy again!”  It didn’t happen.

I was angry because I wasn’t prepared to deal with another injury.  My knees have ugly scars from the accident, but I was unaware of any internal damage.  I know and accept the brain trauma and future brain surgery I will endure along with the risks.  My arm is a wreck, but it gets better every day, and I understand the pain. The left side of my body is a mess of scars.  Isn’t that enough?  Do I have to have running taken away too?  

Claudio - Getting all of our colas in shape!

I vowed to accept my life with all of its changes, but that doesn’t mean I won’t go down without a fight.  Once again I am so thankful for Claudio and Sonia.  On a Friday morning I rolled into CIK with a grimace.  Claudio listened kindly as I explained my knee pain when jogging, and he investigated.  He pushed, probed, and dug his fingers into my knee and thigh, then asked me, “How long has it been since you ran? Three and a half months.  Your knee is not the problem.  You are weak, and you don’t have the muscle strength to run like you did. No more running for a while until we build up your muscles. Eres debil.  You are weak. Me entiendes? Understand me?”

With every ounce of my being I hoped he was right.  I never wanted to be weak so badly in my life, and I was so ready to get strong again.  I joined the strength building daily work out groups in therapy, busted it out on the elliptical, got sweaty and started my Brooke Burke-Charvet 30 minute cardio workout video again.

Yup!  Adam and Jamie K. joining the
daily workout!  Love it!!

Prior to the accident I used the video as a back up for days that were way too rainy to run or when I just needed to bust some energy out.  I could easily do the video two times in a row, skipping the breaks and with extra reps in each set.  It is a solid workout, and it energized me with a healthy heart rate, sweat, and deep breathes.  

The first time I tried the workout again, I almost collapsed.  I couldn’t believe how hard it was. Another slap in the face on how completely weak my body had become.  I knew the exercises that involved my shoulder would be difficult, burpees and planks with leg taps, etc… but I could blame that on my shoulder.  Obviously it would hurt.  But that is not all that hurt.  My stomach muscles had dissolved into a pot of jello.  I could not repeat the reps and had to take unprescribed breaks. 

Over the last few weeks, with Claudio working my legs, abdomen, and arms in strength building, and doing my Brook Burke-Charvet video every day, I can feel my strength coming back.  I am still not where I was, but I can bust out the video again – almost. The parts where I falter can be blamed on my shoulder.  It feels so good to build my strength back.  So so good.

And... a little vino tinto with the friends... Amor.

Now, I need to get my knees back in shape.  I started running again… 10 minutes, then 15, then 20, then 25.  Today was 30 minutes for the first time.  The knees don’t hurt, but they are swollen.  Claudio stretches, torques, ices, pushes, and I absolutely love his dedication to getting my body back to my normal.  It is evident obvious why CIK gym is filled with gifts of love and appreciation. The photo wall above the freezer tells the story of healing and happiness.  I want to be on the wall.  I want to be healed.  If you have an extra prayer, please send it to my knees!!  I KNEED it!  Oh my gosh, I am such a dork.