Ever watch a great show, only to be smacked by a To Be Continued... credit at the end?
Well, here's another one.
I thought my appointment was at 9, turns out it was at 8:30! And of course, the surgeon was leaving early today, so no possibility to wait for an opening later on. Now I'm scheduled to see him next Friday at 10:30...
AAAUGH!
Well, here's my deal. I'm already OK to work on my own with moderate tempo Karate per my PT. I will return to the mat tonight, with a self-imposed limitation of moderate tempo, non-contact kicking until I see Dr. K next Friday.
At this point I've just got to be out there with my peers, and I find no risk in doing what I'm already approved to do.
I'll just be doing it in uniform.
***UPDATE***
I spoke with my PT this afternoon, and she agrees with my limitations until I see Dr. K. That is, moderate tempo, non-contact activity on the operative leg. It's the same training I've been doing, just in a different venue and with friends. Yay!!!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The final countdown.
Wow, less than 24 hours to go. I can't believe how this is impacting my life!
Speaking to my school's manager, tomorrow night will be plenty quiet for my test drive.
Unfortunately he's fighting in an out-of-town tournament and won't be there for my first class back, but he wished me lots of luck.
In an eerie coincidence, my knee hasn't bothered me one bit this week. Usually first thing in the morning there's some soreness at the top of my shin, but this week there's been nothing.
Nothing.
I spent 6 hours Sunday squatting and kneeling while replacing a strut on Mrs. Shaft's car.
Nothing.
I spent 7 hours Monday up and down ladders, renovating the band's rehearsal studio.
Still nothing.
It's about time.
Speaking to my school's manager, tomorrow night will be plenty quiet for my test drive.
Unfortunately he's fighting in an out-of-town tournament and won't be there for my first class back, but he wished me lots of luck.
In an eerie coincidence, my knee hasn't bothered me one bit this week. Usually first thing in the morning there's some soreness at the top of my shin, but this week there's been nothing.
Nothing.
I spent 6 hours Sunday squatting and kneeling while replacing a strut on Mrs. Shaft's car.
Nothing.
I spent 7 hours Monday up and down ladders, renovating the band's rehearsal studio.
Still nothing.
It's about time.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Final week, and it's killing me!
One more week.
I'm dying here, folks, I really am. This week is going to feel as long as the prior 5 or so months unless I keep myself busy!
I'll admit, I have totally slacked off lately. However, I think I have the reason pinned down.
As I mentioned in my last post, I used to train for Triathlons, but the solitary nature of the training just wasn't my bag anymore.
Helloooo???
I'm training in solitude again!!! Geez, no wonder I'm going ape-shit.
I'm grateful for the long weekend and shortened work week. I'm finally getting a handle on some new responsibilities at work, and not stressing out nearly as much.
I plan to attend the evening class Friday, normally for beginning adults. At this time of year, however, it's sparsely attended if at all. I thought it'd be good to go for a gentle test drive during a quieter class. One of the younger students has been keeping tabs on me and is pledged to be at that class when I return.
I ran into one of our black belts at the store late Monday night (adult sparring night), and he shared how 'intense' sparring has gotten. They're even trying tag-team matches! Depending on my surgeon's opinion, I think I'll take the same tack that Bobspar did, and work sparring strictly on an upper-body basis until I've worked the knee a while in core classes.
My ultimate goal? To finish a sparring class injury-free. See, I've only ever made it to two classes; The first one, I rolled my ankle, aggravating an existing sprain that wasn't properly braced. The second one, I popped my ACL.
Besides running up to 4 miles, jumping rope, and doing some nutso hopping exercises, I have been doing moderate karate, primarily forms and my favorite slow-count kicks. There's a summer goals program that I look forward to, since it involves committing to and documenting additional aerobic exercise outside of class, push-ups and sit-ups. This much I can handle in solitude, given regular core classes to work out 'socially.'
I'm not going to go crazy when I'm back to karate, really I'm not.
But I am willing to learn how...
I'm dying here, folks, I really am. This week is going to feel as long as the prior 5 or so months unless I keep myself busy!
I'll admit, I have totally slacked off lately. However, I think I have the reason pinned down.
As I mentioned in my last post, I used to train for Triathlons, but the solitary nature of the training just wasn't my bag anymore.
Helloooo???
I'm training in solitude again!!! Geez, no wonder I'm going ape-shit.
I'm grateful for the long weekend and shortened work week. I'm finally getting a handle on some new responsibilities at work, and not stressing out nearly as much.
I plan to attend the evening class Friday, normally for beginning adults. At this time of year, however, it's sparsely attended if at all. I thought it'd be good to go for a gentle test drive during a quieter class. One of the younger students has been keeping tabs on me and is pledged to be at that class when I return.
I ran into one of our black belts at the store late Monday night (adult sparring night), and he shared how 'intense' sparring has gotten. They're even trying tag-team matches! Depending on my surgeon's opinion, I think I'll take the same tack that Bobspar did, and work sparring strictly on an upper-body basis until I've worked the knee a while in core classes.
My ultimate goal? To finish a sparring class injury-free. See, I've only ever made it to two classes; The first one, I rolled my ankle, aggravating an existing sprain that wasn't properly braced. The second one, I popped my ACL.
Besides running up to 4 miles, jumping rope, and doing some nutso hopping exercises, I have been doing moderate karate, primarily forms and my favorite slow-count kicks. There's a summer goals program that I look forward to, since it involves committing to and documenting additional aerobic exercise outside of class, push-ups and sit-ups. This much I can handle in solitude, given regular core classes to work out 'socially.'
I'm not going to go crazy when I'm back to karate, really I'm not.
But I am willing to learn how...
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Three weeks: A Genesis Story
In the beginning, there was Tri.
The Tri was with me
I was in the Tri
It was, you know, good.
It began with one Sister.
Then two.
Then three and four joined in, and numbers swelled to 9 of us doing Triathlons.
Crazy, good-natured, trash-talking, family relationship-building fun. That's 6 siblings, a brother-in-law, mid 70's mother, and a blind friend who is still inspiring to watch in competition.
While I no longer compete, training did establish comfort and familiarity with the core Triathlon elements of swimming, biking, and running.
While biking, I would watch my odometer and note mileposts to use for gaging distances when I was running. This morning I reached one of those well-used mileposts, the one marking a turn-around point 1.5 miles from my house.
I made 3 miles today...And it was good.
The Tri was with me
I was in the Tri
It was, you know, good.
It began with one Sister.
Then two.
Then three and four joined in, and numbers swelled to 9 of us doing Triathlons.
Crazy, good-natured, trash-talking, family relationship-building fun. That's 6 siblings, a brother-in-law, mid 70's mother, and a blind friend who is still inspiring to watch in competition.
While I no longer compete, training did establish comfort and familiarity with the core Triathlon elements of swimming, biking, and running.
While biking, I would watch my odometer and note mileposts to use for gaging distances when I was running. This morning I reached one of those well-used mileposts, the one marking a turn-around point 1.5 miles from my house.
I made 3 miles today...And it was good.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Four weeks to go:Time for some numbers.
I had it in my head that a 6 month rehab program = 26 weeks. From my surgery on January 2nd, this works out to July 2nd.
However...the rehab program is actually 24 weeks, or June 18th!
I'm going with my PT's opinion and my gut at this time (and it's still pretty sizable), that my visit with Dr. K on the 30th will result in my returning to Karate. Updated my countdown to reflect this.
I am exhausted this week. I'm trying to wrap up mixing my band's CD so we can publish it this month (www.oceansmusic.net), and only get time late at night at the rehearsal studio. Combine that with the early morning regimen to prepare for returning to Karate at the end of the month, and I'm burning the candle at both ends!
To fit everything in, I created two alternating day schedules, with a lighter "rest" day on Sunday.
M-W-F: Running and Karate
- Run 20 minutes, increasing to 30 by month end.
- 15 minutes of figure-8 running, starting long and wide, shrinking to sharp turns by month end
- 5 minutes of backwards running uphill, increasing as I'm able
- 15-20 minutes of slow tempo Karate form, stance marches, slow-count kicks, increasing to moderate tempo by month end
T-Th-Sa: Jump, Hop, Strength and Balance
- 5 minutes of jump rope, working up to 10 minutes by month end (great for sparring footwork endurance)
- 20 minutes of hop exercises: box, diagonal, straight line, zig-zag line, working up to one-leg by month end
- Strength exercises working up to 10 lbs. of ankle weight, various squats, hamstring curls, planks, core, pushups and situps
- Closed eye balance and stances with G-Shaft gently pushing or pulling to challenge proprioception
Sunday: Light 20 minute jog with extensive stretching
It's aggressive, but I truly want to stage a decent comeback. So far I've got no unusual pain or aches from all this stuff. I also have it written out so I don't have to think so hard in the morning!
Time to shop for cross-trainers...
However...the rehab program is actually 24 weeks, or June 18th!
I'm going with my PT's opinion and my gut at this time (and it's still pretty sizable), that my visit with Dr. K on the 30th will result in my returning to Karate. Updated my countdown to reflect this.
I am exhausted this week. I'm trying to wrap up mixing my band's CD so we can publish it this month (www.oceansmusic.net), and only get time late at night at the rehearsal studio. Combine that with the early morning regimen to prepare for returning to Karate at the end of the month, and I'm burning the candle at both ends!
To fit everything in, I created two alternating day schedules, with a lighter "rest" day on Sunday.
M-W-F: Running and Karate
- Run 20 minutes, increasing to 30 by month end.
- 15 minutes of figure-8 running, starting long and wide, shrinking to sharp turns by month end
- 5 minutes of backwards running uphill, increasing as I'm able
- 15-20 minutes of slow tempo Karate form, stance marches, slow-count kicks, increasing to moderate tempo by month end
T-Th-Sa: Jump, Hop, Strength and Balance
- 5 minutes of jump rope, working up to 10 minutes by month end (great for sparring footwork endurance)
- 20 minutes of hop exercises: box, diagonal, straight line, zig-zag line, working up to one-leg by month end
- Strength exercises working up to 10 lbs. of ankle weight, various squats, hamstring curls, planks, core, pushups and situps
- Closed eye balance and stances with G-Shaft gently pushing or pulling to challenge proprioception
Sunday: Light 20 minute jog with extensive stretching
It's aggressive, but I truly want to stage a decent comeback. So far I've got no unusual pain or aches from all this stuff. I also have it written out so I don't have to think so hard in the morning!
Time to shop for cross-trainers...
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