Always Slide.....

 

It's been six months since my total left hip replacement.  It is amazing how pain free that side feels.  The implant has remained in place and not faltered.  At my doctor's appointment, we discussed having the right hip replaced and if it was time.  According to the orthopedic, it is time to have the right side worked on.  I never thought I would be excited about another surgery.  

The ebb and flows of my motivation have been somewhat constant.  I feel great when I lace up, get strapped in with my NoxGear vest and turn on the Garmin to run instead of run indoors.  I lock my knee in the hinge brace (fooling myself that THAT'LL alleviate any pain) and forge ahead.  I walk the waterway because I know where the benches are placed.  Nowadays I walk about a quarter mile then stop to rest.  I fool myself in thinking it is the Texas humidity and the fact I haven't worked on my endurance.  

I was able to finish a mile thanks to the encouraging words of friends.  And I have slowly built on that mile but haven't reached 2 miles yet.  I remind myself this time last year or the year before this wasn't possible.  Yes, there is still pain, but I deal with it.  

My mind paints a deceptive picture of the motivation I seem to have.  It goes up then comes down.  And my mind seems to trick me.  The last few days it is my thinking why try so hard when the walking RIGHT NOW is not getting easier or better.  I can forget about speed.  But because she is the best friend that she is, she sends me a text: "You do it for the same reason we train like we do in the summer.  So that when it is better, it's easier."

My coach then sends me a reel via Instagram.  And another facebook friend posted one of her famous PSAs.  (Where I got the post title from) I got it, they were all sending the same message.  One could argue I do not shy away from hard things.  While I may have proven I am capable of doing hard things, right now this seems to be the hardest.  But when the whistle blows early in the morning, it is easier to stay under the covers.  I am out of habit and all it takes is a few grunts and crawls out of bed to get back in.  

All this said, I do celebrate the small victories.  My right is not as severe as the left.  I am able to do squats without holding on to something for dear life.  And for the first time is almost 2 years - because of the plan for the right hip - I can actually think about races I want (and will) to do.  I can actually plan.  

I need to heed the message in front of me.  Work on it now so when the time comes, it'll be easier.  Figure out how to win now.  Give that 110% and always slide.  

You can bet I'll do it with Glitter all the Weigh!!  Remember - always slide. 

Anything Is possible

 "No matter what life dishes out to you, you can always put one foot in front of another and keep going.  You keep going and you cross the finish line." - Ironman finisher 

This week marked 3 months since I had a total hip replacement.  I have two  PT sessions left then I am on my own.  I've been told I am doing great it is all up to the mindset now.  My mind telling my body this is the way things will be done.  I am slowly returning to normal activities.  I continue to increase my walking and complete a mile.  It is still humbling to start again and retrain the mind and body, especially after the feats I have accomplished.   I suppose at one time I felt invincible.  I keep the faith and know God is watching and guiding me - correctly this time.  Not that he guided me down the wrong way before.  

So if you've read some of my other entries, you know that this time every year our somewhat small urban neighborhood hosts the GOAT of all triathlons.  Ironman Texas - the North American championship.  I knew I would be able to volunteer - to what extent I didn't know.  Because I enjoyed it so much last year I signed up for two shifts at the athlete check-in.  And to help our our local run club at their aid station on the run course.  One of those gave me a smidge of anxiety.  

The athletes did not disappoint at check-in.  I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with them while helping them register and give them their bibs.  There was a table with cow bells that celebrated every first timer.  I talked with an athlete who was of course nervous - and it was his first full (I think).  While chatting with him I joked and asked if he lost a bet.  He replied no, it was really him and a few friends drinking whiskey one night.  After a few glasses, they said "Let's do an an Ironman."  And here he was - a year later.   To some I am sure it sounded like a whirlwind decision at the time and now that they were getting their bibs, checking in their bikes, they probably weren't sure what they signed up for.  I had the pleasure of speaking to a man who was one of the friendliest athletes to stop at my table.  I asked if his wife would be watching and he said sure.  He also had 3 small people as well - ended up being his young daughters.  Before he walked away, I handed him 3 pink swim caps.  His parting words were some of the nicest I've heard.  When I told him about the beach-like aid station he said he'd look for me.  

I had a day in between race day when I'd spend several hours on the run course.  I was anxious the night before.  Although I'm getting around better, I’m not 100% and I wasn’t sure how I would hold up.  But it all melted away when I showed up to the best Hawaiian aid station.   Wind was terrible whipping everything around.   I knew I needed to be there for the athlete I saw at check-in just a few days earlier.   He came running through our aid station right before 6:30. I took a picture of him. 

When I told a volunteer at check-in I was a “double shifter” as she called it, with a look of confusion she asked “Why?”  I told her why.  She found that I wanted to spend all day helping admirable.  I do this for motivation and inspiration.  

Similar to almost ten years ago, I feel this is a fresh start.  God sees what I want to do.  The goals I have.   I can start from where I am - not the spot I was in ten years ago.  I can train correctly, get stronger, and crush my goals.  Motivation and inspiration is at its finest at Ironman.   Congratulations to the athletes who took on this feat and finished!  I want to be like you one day.  

I’ll do it of course while running with glitter all the weigh! 

Christina 💗

"One day you will understand why things had to happen the way that they did."

 Sometimes the journey is not straightforward. 

My weight loss journey certainly had its share of roadside stops and detours. But I eventually reached the destination.  I then continued to add running and challenging myself.  Although for the most of it I was blind to an issue that would eventually sideline me. 

Two months have passed since my hip surgery.  I don’t remember anything that day past being rolled out of preop.  I think I saw the OR but that was it. Next thing I know I woke up in recovery.  The real work was about to begin.   My coach came and was allowed to see me in recovery.  She's been one of my constants through the challenges the least two years.  

For the last year (maybe two), walking was uncomfortable.  My gait was not right.  It became uncomfortable to walk or run.  The last race I did was a 5k in January of 2023 and the last time I was able to do miles was sometime in February, maybe March.  And even then it was uncomfortable. I also became self-conscious about how I looked walking.  

After consulting an orthopedic, I decided to get a total hip replacement.  It would be my first ever major surgery.  Was I apprehensive?  Yes.  The information I read about preparing for surgery and recovery seemed overwhelming.  

But I was told a hip replacement was the only option if I wanted to return to pain free daily activity - and maybe one day running.  The conservative exercises and stretches would not remedy the situation.  

During the six week "precautions," I was frustrated that I couldn't bend over.  There is still some uncomfortableness feeling from time to time, however the pain vanished around week 2.  The pain from the knee and IT band (and any other muscle) on the left side is almost non-existent.  

So, here we are.  Physical therapy has been a constant for the last two months. After the initial six weeks, it was suggested to extend therapy to work on endurance, stretching and neuromuscular.  I did squats for the first time in no telling how long.  The workouts consisted of strength work and mobility.  The leg presses seemed easy compared to what I had worked on prior to surgery.  I worked on a "hip deck" machine and increased the weight to sixty pounds on my last workout.  These last few weeks, I've worked on the neuromuscular part to train my brain to walk the right way again.  

My last post op visit to the doctor was several weeks ago.  Everything looked good I was told.  I do have a scar but I can't really see it, although I feel it.  On the six month mark, I'll get x-rays.  I saw the x-rays taken during surgery.  They're cool! 

I am excited about returning to what I enjoy doing and what I was doing before.  And feeling like the person I was before this all began. Although I was told this is the new me. The last time I enjoyed it without pain was probably 2021.  I have missed our trails, getting miles done, and just being able to move.  My coach once told me I have more want to than anyone she knows.  Earlier this month I decided it was time I started walking again.  Slowly of course.  Although part of me is still self conscious.  But I get out and walk nonetheless.  I dealt with this pain and awkwardness for more than a year.  It takes time to get back to normal.  I hoped to be walking fast or slow running by end of the year, but it may be next year before I am fully ready to go for speed.  

I still have plans and can't wait to see them through.  The year 2026 will be a special one to me, but more on that later.  

God never gives us more than we can handle - although I know we sometimes question.  He wants us to achieve our goals and dreams.  He knows what I want to do.  So if that one day is not immediate, I know it’s only temporary.  Will it be when I step on the pavement for a walk without pain?  Maybe it'll be when I cross my first finish line in over a year.  

Whenever it might be, it'll be covered in Glitter all the Weigh! 

Feel free to follow me on the Insta! 

Christina 

God is figuring it out….

 

Trying to figure it out alone doesn't help.  God has already figured it out and He's asking you to trust him.  In 2023, things didn't go according to my plan.  It was supposed to be the year I finally caught up to the person who had awesome paces.  Who overcame challenges and obstacles that hindered her path.   Except I stopped chasing her.  Instead she was found only in pictures of the proud accomplishments.  

The year became one of twists and turns - and not in a good way.  The fall I took in 2022 hung around.  My last chance to get miles in was early in 2023 and after that it became uncomfortable.  Trusting what the sports therapists and trainers thought I continued to strengthen my muscles - thinking they were weak.  But after a visit to the doctor, it was determined I had arthritis in my low back.  However, trusting the therapists again, I was encouraged that it would be manageable.  

My walking /running slowed and eventually stopped.  It didn't mean I wasn't moving.  One of the twists involved lending the movement of my legs to someone who was immobile.  He didn't like it but that was the card he had been dealt.  Pushing the wheelchair was a workout of its own.  There were days my back revolted.  I was thankful for my upper body strength.  Crossing finish lines took a back seat.  But it didn't stop me from showing up and cheering other runners on.  And if truth be known, I was a little envious I was not able to be running along side them.  I somehow had been called elsewhere where I was needed.  

The wheelchair was no longer being pushed.  And although he tried his hardest at trying to walk again, it was not going to happen.  In the last few months of 2023,  I relied on my strengthening workouts with my ever positive trainer.  Instead of pushing the wheelchair I sat by his bedside and watched him lose all movement.  At the same time, being grateful of the movement I still have.  My legs were not getting in miles as before, but they still carried me.  And although my body felt tired at times, I kept moving.  His tired body eventually surrendered and let go.  Even if I wanted to get miles in, the mourning and grief I experienced took over.

It wasn't until October that I stumbled upon another bump.  Arthritic hips.  The doctor was surprised I accomplished what I had with the arthritis in my hips.  I started to wonder if this is what I left it.  If it was, then I was proud of what I accomplished. The numerous finish lines I crossed. Finishing a 3rd half marathon.  My first triathlon.  Maybe the bucket list in my mind was not approved by my body.  I would have to learn to be okay with that.  But....I decided (only so I could walk normally and get back to pain free normal living) to get hip surgery. 

So enter the new year.  I scheduled the hip surgery for later January.  I started Googling articles on returning to power walking/running after a hip replacement and have been encouraged with the results.  Does that mean I can maybe pick up where I left off on my list of goals?  Possibly.  I am not opposed to amending my goal list, for that matter, my bucket list.  So maybe a full marathon is not in the cards.  I am content with finishing a half for the 4th, 5th, and 6th time.  Would I like to finish another triathlon?  Absolutely.  Does it mean crossing off running down the red carpet finish line after tackling 140 miles of sweat? Maybe.  

I am hoping 2024 will be somewhat flat like The Woodlands Marathon course, with maybe a hill or two.  I plan on making myself a priority.  Ten years ago I had an a-ha moment.  God walked through that storm with me.  I know He is with me for this one - because he knows I am STILL not done.  There's a big celebration coming in 2025 - or 2026.  I can't remember.  That's for another blog.  

Because today is not that day!  It helps that it's covered in glitter all the weigh.   Happy New Year!