The bike has been my pathway back to some modicum of fitness since surgery. Swimming hurt too much and running was banned until recently. So the trainer it was.
But sitting and spinning while staring at a wall (or Jason Varitek's thighs if I'm in my studio) is hardly the same as biking. Lost in all my angst over when and if I could ever run again was how much I missed the open road. Some of that was trepidation (what would happen to my ankle when I had to climb that first hill big hill?) and some was the fact that I never felt a return to the saddle was in doubt.
When the surgeon gave me clearance to return to training last Tuesday, the first thing I did was run. But the next day, I took a quick and easy 45 minute bike. The run kind of sucked even though I was thrilled to do it. The bike was brilliant.
The third day, I ran again. It sucked again. Friday I got a new pair of shoes, ran the fun-run at Happy as a Clam* with my kids, and felt marginally better (never mind that I was beaten by half the school's five year olds...). But not great.
Saturday morning, I rode with two clients early in the morning in the rain. And I couldn't have been happier. Freedom. It all of a sudden clicked and I remembered why I love the bike (at least sometimes).
This morning, I got to ride with my friend Melissa for a couple of hours as we toured 40 miles of beautiful country roads. Aside from one hill that I almost cried on (I only whimpered - Melissa is my witness), it was ridiculously enjoyable. My legs (and other bits) are tired, but I feel like myself again. It's been so damn long.
On Thursday, two days post-clearance, I rode with a client who has been diagnosed with Freidrich's Ataxia. He's incredibly strong and fit, but the disease is slowly robbing him of his neurological control, so he can no longer risk two-wheeling it. So we took his trike out for a 10 mile jaunt of a bike path adjacent to his house. He was amazing and fast, but what struck me the most was how often he used the word "freedom" to describe his attachment to his new ride.
I get it. I totally get it. Those wheels will help him complete several long charity rides this season, including one to raise money to combat his disease, which has no current cure. Some day it will, partly because of him and his trike.
Meanwhile, a huge resource in helping me and him figure out his new ride and training approach has been the New England Disabled Sports, run by my cousin's husband, Geoff Krill. Kudos to you guys for all that you do to bring freedom to everyone, no matter what their limitations might be. If you're an able-bodied athlete, take a minute to think about your life if disease or accident robbed you of sport. Once you've done that, you can donate here: New England Disabled Sports
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*If you have never run happy as a clam you are CRAZY!!! It is a fantastic, local 5k in Essex, and benefits the Essex PTO. They have a 1 mile fun run, the 5k, and a catered dinner from The Farm Restaurant. You make back your race fee in food, schwag, and street cred (there are hill...yes, a few hills).
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