April 17th, 2011

Progress can be measured in many different ways.
Years ago, when I wasn't fluent in English yet, I measured my improvements testing my skills with more challenging books, more complex movies and of course the best (and most honest) way was through conversations with native speakers.
Later, after ten years spent raising young children, I returned to daily exercise and worked at building my resistance, strength and flexibility again.
When I started serious hiking, my body was an immediate response to my training. Muscle pain was quite excruciating when I hiked Half Dome the first time. For a few days I walked like a horseback rider who would have spent days on her horse.
My first Half Dome marked the beginning of a regimen of daily walks in my very hilly neighborhood. I covered an average of 5 daily miles not counting the miles on a stationary bike.
And that's how I quit having muscular pain after hiking Half Dome three more times, Upper Yosemite Falls, every hike in the Valley of Yosemite and then a couple in the high country including the magnificent Clouds Rest.
Now that I am recovering from ACL reconstruction, partial MCL reconstruction, and minimal repair of the menisci, I am back to my training starting part.
I have lost my usual long gait, I have lost muscle mass and I have to re-conquier both. I have also lost the mobility of my left knee and I am working at regaining flexion and extension.
It feels discouraging and almost impossible to do it again.
Yet, it seems like I have a couple of advantages compared to someone facing the same post surgery therapy.
I know that pushing my body will be necessary and painful. In the exact same way training for a big hike is necessary and painful.
Knowing that, I decided to spend most of the weekend focusing on my decision.
Yesterday, I drove with my family to San Juan Bautista, a lovely small town less than an hour away from Santa Cruz where my oldest daughter lives. There was a craft fair in San Juan and I walked through town with my kids, exploring the many booths and even climbing some stairs. It was hard work but I wasn't really in pain. It was more an effort that I had forgotten all about. My calves were cramping but it was bearable.
Then I walked again in Santa Cruz for a small hour and I felt again the push in my legs but my knee was fine.
I brought my ice cuff and iced my knee on the way home but actually it was't warm or swollen. I felt more calf tension that anything.
This morning, I woke up a little stiff but I biked for 20 minutes and did my leg exercises.
As I said: Necessary and Painful.
Goals for the week: smoother gait and better extension.
Both necessary and no doubt painful.
I will be keeping in mind that I am back to the starting point. Except that I know what to expect.
And I find the knowledge helpful.