While I’ve tried to keep a positive spin on the whole thing and keep trying to only look forward towards getting the cast off and getting mobile again, hit a definite snag on Wednesday night, the evening after surgery.
The low point that night was when the leg suddenly just felt so heavy and my body was just so tired from all it had been through. Wasn’t hungry and didn’t want to move but knew I had to eat to keep my strength up so the crutches wouldn’t take me down. Made it to the kitchen but couldn’t manage to stay standing long so actually crawled from the kitchen to the living room dragging my plate & glass of juice along while trying to keep my two dogs away from my dinner. Crawling on all fours through your house is overrated but it definitely kicks you in the gut in teaching you a lesson: never take anything for granted.
As I sat reading through some of the recovery blogs here, I happened upon this from jls84 and I couldn’t agree more:
“These last 5 weeks have been quite the eye opening experience and I cannot tell you how humbled I am by this injury. I hate to say that I am someone who takes things for granted, but something as simple as walking, well I had been taking it for granted everyday up until the injury, subconsciously. Your Achilles Tendon allows you to walk, and walking seems like such a GIVEN in the lives we all lead. This tendon is something that you depend on without knowing you are actually depending on it. My experience has already taught me that much, and I intend on sharing that with a host of others. Be thankful for your ACHILLES TENDON PEOPLE! Stretch it, ice it, soak it, massage it, and for goodness sake if it begins to hurt do not be stubborn and go get it looked by a doctor! Ok, I’m done preaching, well about that anyway!”
I never thought twice about just walking over to the kitchen to grab some water , take a bowl of hot soup out of the microwave, adjust the room temperature, turn on a light or let the dogs out but I definitely have a new perspective on things now. I’m a lot more mindful of every single action I have to or am in the process of taking. The other thing keeping me in check is all week my friend Charlie P has been calling to check-in on me. He’s a blind runner who continues to keep pushing forward and defying all boundaries by completing marathons, Boston, triathlons, iromans, and even a Tough Mudder. If there’s one thing he keeps instilling in me it’s you can’t be defined by what you CAN’T do.. You can and will be defined by what you DO do. He’s definely been the the kick in my butt to help keep me up and motivated.
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Tags: achilles rupture, ATR, humility, low point, recovery
Congrats on 2 shoes, too. Seeing you bought Asics brightened my day.. My running days aren’t over.