...Dear Diary,
It's been a long time since my last entry. I had good reasons though -- I've been busy, not to mention, conflicted. You see, this whole blog was conceived on the notion that I can't run. But the truth is, I CAN RUN. The sports doctor even told me so. She recommended it. She insisted upon it. So now I'm doing it. And she was right! So now my story ends victorious! Only my journey has only just begun.
I can run, but I can't run more than 3 miles, ever. I can't really run more than twice a week. My dreams of running the Princess, Tinkerbell or Wine and Dine Disney half marathons are over. All my bucket list race dreams are dashed. So a runner I will never be. And when I DO run, or do the elliptical, or even spin sometimes, I feel tingling up and down my legs. Sometimes, later that day or even the next day, I will feel pain in my shins. Because no matter how much physical therapy or stretching or massage the doctor prescribes, my exercise induced bilateral compartment syndrome will never GO AWAY. But I still imagine that I'm running up those steps in the Rocky movie - theme song blazing and all - every time I complete a run on that damned, ridiculous treadmill. Honestly, running these days is a luxury I cannot afford to do every day like I used to - 4 plus miles at a time. As per the doc, I can run, but running must be limited. It's highly unlikely I will make my chronic condition an acute one, but if I push myself in that way, I can certainly make my condition much, much worse.
I've learned a lot since my last entry though, dear diary. I've learned that to be a good runner, you need to start with a really good pair of sneakers (and not those damned Nike Frees which are universally considered shite as far as running shoes are concerned by the running and fitness community at large.) I've also learned that physical fitness goes A LOT further than running or cardio alone and ANY good personal trainer will tell you as much -- just ask me! (wink, wink.) Now I spend a lot more time lifting heavy things. I'm in much better shape than ever before because of that very lesson. I learn new things every day as a trainer and I credit my much younger, multi-talented co-workers for forcing me to open my eyes and see what excellent personal training is all about.
I've become certified to teach Group Core, which is a 30 minute class in which you train like an athlete in a class setting. I've decided I want to obtain another Specialty Certification from American Council on Exercise (to be revealed in a later blog entry) and I've completed a first level specialty in kettlebells, which is extremely cool because a) I specialize in something and b) kettlebell training is insanely popular right now so for once I am in on an exciting trend and not a day late and a dollar short! But most of all, having a specialty in kettlebells enables me to change the name of my blog to...(drum roll please!) Kettlebells and Caffeine (both hugely fitting for my life, especially now since, as I mentioned earlier, I can, in fact run, making my original blog name obsolete.) Tomorrow, dear diary, I will see if I can also CrossFit. I will be venturing into my very first class and, if we're being candid here, I fear for my life!
Eye of the Tiger, baby. Eye of the Tiger.
