Four days after surgery!
I wasn’t going to post anything until I got the results from my pathology report next Monday, July 16th, but Leland said that I should let people know how I’m doing, recovery-wise.
Four full days post-surgery and I am proud to say that I am feeling surprisingly good, dare I say, “great.” Not great enough to do a triathlon, but great enough to walk for about 40 minutes and feel very comfortable doing it. I’m still sore, mostly at one of the five incision points, but I’ve made it this far without any narcotic painkillers and only a few high-dose Motrin tablets.
My holiday week was focused on resting and reading. Despite how I got there, a little downtime never hurt anyone.
Today is Saturday, four days after surgery. I woke up this morning at 5:45 a.m. raring to get to our final group workout. For those of you who might not know, one of my businesses is a group triathlon training program. This year we have been training 35 men and women. The surgery took place right near the end of our program. I couldn’t imagine not being there for the people who started with us nearly 13 weeks ago.
When I got out of bed, I noticed that I wasn’t moving as gingerly as I had been the previous three days. I got dressed in my “workout gear” even though I wasn’t going to work out, I was still organizing the team’s workout. Both Leland and Eli accompanied me to our group session that was held at Camp Shalom in Windsor, CT. I’m happy they were there to help out as no one was letting me do anything, except use my voice and my whistle! I felt like I could drive at this point, but was overruled.
Arriving at the training location, my excitement began to build. I was thrilled to see the team that had grown from a group of strangers, wondering what they signed up for into a well-meshed community of friends and supporters not only for each other, but for me as well. I was happy to see them execute their final mini-triathlon with a precision that illustrated the skills and training they have mastered over these last few months. I realized that even though I couldn’t DO this workout with them, I could be there to support, guide, and applaud them as they crossed the finish line of the training. Most of them will be doing their first sprint distance triathlon next Sunday. I am proud to say that I will be there ringing the cowbells, clapping, and screaming as they cross that finish line!
Leland does take moments like this to remind me of the incredible impact I’ve had on these people’s lives over these past eight seasons. Seeing so many of these men and women transformed, brimming with confidence, trying something new, and knowing that I had a role in their metamorphosis is extremely rewarding. It’s a struggle at times when you are busy “doing” to look back and appreciate what you have done. I’m glad that my surgery didn’t deprive me of that experience today.
2012 Team Training New England
I look forward to another low-key week filled with longer walks, visits with friends, and a lot of resting (I promise).
Thanks to everyone for their emails, phone calls, texts, visits, and overwhelming support! It truly means the world to me. Keep up the good thoughts for a good, clean NEGATIVE pathology report!
p.s. You should click on the group photo to enlarge it. It’s an awesome picture of some amazing, proud athletes, coaches, and friends!