Non-Zero Log Entry

Dear Diary,

Today I have something to tell you that I think I can tell you only. Well, some of my hard-core running buddies might get it. Todd the Ultra Man, Nick the Natural and Trevin the Undertaker would understand probably. But my Orthopedic Surgeon, my Physical Therapist and definitely my Wife would not get it at all and might call me an April Fool.

A few weeks ago Brian (PT) told me that I could probably start doing some jogging at 8 weeks post op (i.e., TODAY), and I latched onto that statement like a starved Rottweiler latches onto a Kansas City Strip. Well, as the date was approaching last week I conferred with Dan (Surgeon) who told me that I should wait until about week 12 but conceded that running does not put too much stress on the ACL. I sorta hinted that maybe if I went real slow and not very long on a very stable soft surface maybe it would be OK. He said that he "shouldn't probably give me too much rope," but did sorta wink and nod... Brian told me yesterday to please wait until week 10 and not to start until I could do it the first time with him helping me.

Well, tonight instead of only swimming I did a little triathlon: 900 yards swim, 20 minutes on the stationary bike, and then after some walking about 1/2 mile "run." I guess it was more of a jog, and it wasn't pretty, but... it felt good to "run" again. Very good. And for the first time in over 2 months I can put an entry in the running log. Thank God.

Beginning a Comeback?

Today the ACL rehab really began for me, finally. I have been in PT for 5 weeks now, religiously doing my stretches and my exercises to try to regain flexibility and strength in the joint, but all the time since that fateful basketball game on January 26 the cardiovascular engine that I have been building and tuning up for several years has been wasting away from disuse. But tonight Kay and I and the younger boys went to the gym and spent an hour in the pool. I spent probably 30 minutes of that doing real cardio activity, swimming laps, something I generally hate to do, but it got my heart beating and my lungs blowing, and that felt like a million bucks. The epithet that Luke and Tim gave me about my swimming, “leg dragger,” reflects how poorly I do it, but at least tonight it was good to feel that wholesome out-of-breath feeling. My knee did pretty well! I intentionally tried to keep it fairly straight and kick from my hips, which is better form anyway as I understand it, and it worked pretty well. I think the plan now will be to try to get a swim in at least three or four times a week at least until I can start “jogging” again. Of course, probably even when I can start “jogging” I won’t be able to put enough stress on my cardio system to do any good. I may have to keep swimming for a while and overlap that with the beginning phase of my running recovery. But at least it feels like the beginning of a comeback.