Twelve things I am grateful for on the 12th

canstockphoto13966532Today I am grateful for….

  1. Lap 1
  2. Lap 2
  3. Lap 3
  4. Lap 5
  5. Lap 8
  6. Lap 11
  7. Lap 18
  8. Lap 22
  9. Lap 25
  10. Lap 33
  11. Lap 38
  12. Lap 45

About a year ago I injured my shoulder.

Three years prior to that, I had gotten off the couch and started working out. I went from overweight couch potato to overweight, slow triathlete.

I had cared for my wonderful mother-in-law during the last weeks of her life as she battled pancreatic cancer. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  And it was one of the most wonderful things I have ever done. After the funeral and helping clean-out & sell her home within three weeks of her death, I was exhausted in every way. I was concerned that I would fall into depression, so I started working out for my mental health. About seven weeks after Rita went to be with Jesus, I finished my first triathlon wearing number 44, her Post Office Box number.

Over the next two years, I completed a dozen or so triathlons. I loved that I could complete an event that involved swim, bike and run! I worked out a couple of days per week. Workouts included weight training, yoga, swimming, biking, and walk/jogging.

After The Accident, I did only two more tri’s. I continued to work out a few times per month, but not like I had been.

Then last March I injured my shoulder; it involved a small tear in the muscle. Before my shoulder injury, I could easily swim a mile (35 laps) in about 40 minutes. Swimming has always been my strongest portion of a triathlon. But per doctor’s orders I could not swim at all after the injury.  From May through December the only activities I could do were walk and lots of Physical Therapy. I had surgery in September followed by more PT.

I cannot express how frustrating my down time was.  Not working out regularly resulted in me getting as weak as when I first started. 

With my doctor’s okay, I tried swimming in January but could only go two laps before the pain was too much to go on. My should simply had not healed enough for me to swim.

Since early January I have been working a couple of days each week with a trainer (when not traveling with Ron) – just simple weight lifting and a bit of cardio. Yesterday morning I worked out for an hour and then I decided to try swimming again.

I went slow and steady. It took me a full hour.  My plan when I got in the water was to swim only five laps. Just five laps to see if I could go that far without pain.  But I felt good so continued swimming.  Going for 10 laps. Then I thought, “I can do 15.”  Then “maybe half of a mile.”  Then on to 22.  And so on.  I decided to stop when I did because I was afraid I would be too sore tomorrow.

 I swam 45 laps!!! That is 2250 yards. 6750 feet! That’s almost 1.3 miles! 

I have never swam that far in my life!

Yet another lesson on recovery: Recovery takes time, hard work, encouragement, and help. Sometimes from a professional. 

Now I need to find a bike riding buddy who is willing to go slow and start with short distances. Maybe I will do a triathlon in May.

The Accident was on August 12, 2013. For months the 12th brought me to tears. Then, last summer, I decided to choose gratitude and healing rather than sorrow. Thus “Twelve Things I am Thankful for on the 12th”.

 

Gratitude, Recovery, swimming, workouts


KathleenBDuncan

I write about my life, my journey, my family, and my faith. I am wife to one, mom to seven with one in heaven, and grandmother to many. I am also full-time caregiver to my stepmom E who suffers from dementia due to Alzheimer’s. In my spare time I like to read, travel, crochet, bike, and play with our black pug Molly.

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