August 17: Day Two of Physical Therapy
I found myself back at PTS during a late lunch hour, ready for my next session. Today we did some endurance work, strength work, stretching, and the ever-appreciated ultrasound therapy.
Though I was told to wear my gym clothes, I wasn't expecting to work up a sweat. I started with the ultrasound, and enjoyed my conversation with Candis the assistant. I was happy knowing she was now contemplating a Team in Training event after talking with me, and told her I'd bring her more information on that later.
After the ultrasound, I found myself in the fitness room. My first exercise was to simply ride 10 minutes on a stationary bike. I had pushed, and it seemed to fight back at me. I kept thinking of my bike coach, yelling at me to keep my cadence up. So I did.
My rotations per minute hovered between 78 and 82. The older man next to me said, after two minutes of me biking, that if I were to keep that pace up I'll never make it to the 10 minute mark. To me, that comment sparked an internal challenge to myself that I refused to lose. My 10 minute assignment finally ended, and the glossy sheen I had on my face was proof that I had accomplished my mission.
I then did a series of strength exercises as Al, my friend from long ago, guided me through each one. I really enjoy working with Al. He is very descriptive in explaining how to do a proper exercise. I imagine that it's one of two reasons why. He either has the natural ability in the way he words things, or because he simply cannot demonstrate how to do the exercises himself. You see, Al is wheelchair-bound, paralized from the neck down. He was in a diving accident in the early 90s, and his world changed from that moment on. I didn't know Al before that accident. I met him about two years afterwards, and though we never talked about the accident, I always admired his attitude and perseverance despite the hard blow he had been dealt. He really is one helluva guy, and I'm glad to have reconnected with him.
With Al by my side, I completed the exercises. I felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that I was taking the right step towards preventing further injury. My problem areas feel pretty good, and would say that I'm 90% better than when I first walked in there.
I still feel the issues at hand, but am optimistic. These injuries are what I hope are the final hurdle in my training as I work toward completing the race on September 29th.
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Join me on August 19th at Dragonmead and help me raise money towards my goal!
For details, go to http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/DunCAN
Though I was told to wear my gym clothes, I wasn't expecting to work up a sweat. I started with the ultrasound, and enjoyed my conversation with Candis the assistant. I was happy knowing she was now contemplating a Team in Training event after talking with me, and told her I'd bring her more information on that later.
After the ultrasound, I found myself in the fitness room. My first exercise was to simply ride 10 minutes on a stationary bike. I had pushed, and it seemed to fight back at me. I kept thinking of my bike coach, yelling at me to keep my cadence up. So I did.
My rotations per minute hovered between 78 and 82. The older man next to me said, after two minutes of me biking, that if I were to keep that pace up I'll never make it to the 10 minute mark. To me, that comment sparked an internal challenge to myself that I refused to lose. My 10 minute assignment finally ended, and the glossy sheen I had on my face was proof that I had accomplished my mission.
I then did a series of strength exercises as Al, my friend from long ago, guided me through each one. I really enjoy working with Al. He is very descriptive in explaining how to do a proper exercise. I imagine that it's one of two reasons why. He either has the natural ability in the way he words things, or because he simply cannot demonstrate how to do the exercises himself. You see, Al is wheelchair-bound, paralized from the neck down. He was in a diving accident in the early 90s, and his world changed from that moment on. I didn't know Al before that accident. I met him about two years afterwards, and though we never talked about the accident, I always admired his attitude and perseverance despite the hard blow he had been dealt. He really is one helluva guy, and I'm glad to have reconnected with him.
With Al by my side, I completed the exercises. I felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that I was taking the right step towards preventing further injury. My problem areas feel pretty good, and would say that I'm 90% better than when I first walked in there.
I still feel the issues at hand, but am optimistic. These injuries are what I hope are the final hurdle in my training as I work toward completing the race on September 29th.
-------
Join me on August 19th at Dragonmead and help me raise money towards my goal!
For details, go to http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/DunCAN
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