Progress Edition

After my right foot surgery of last December, I wrote down nothing, which means I remember very little. Not to detail every gory moment here, but I want to let folks who may be contemplating the same surgery--bunionectomy--to stop thinking about it, stop being scared about it, and get it done! A few months of no activity traded for years of no pain while running--it's a bargain I have been willing to make, twice.
It's been exactly two weeks. By day 10 I was off the Percocet. I was a bit shocked that the doctor prescribed 50--in fact, that scared me a little because last year I think (remember, I didn't write it down), he gave me a mere 30, and I used them all. Anyway, the intense pain subsided after 30 hours, just like last time, but occasional twinges made it difficult to sleep.
I returned to work Monday, Oct. 31, and came home exhausted but it was so much better than sitting around the house.
Everyone knows I'm an active person, at least when I'm not on crutches. It's been tough, though I will admit to doing upper body work every other day the last few weeks. I don't want that core going soft!
On Tuesday, day 12, the doc removed the stitches, and I was able to wash my foot--such a mundane pleasure! It's tough bathing and not getting an entire limb wet. He put me in a Herman Munster boot--heavy metal base, six strips of Velcro--and though he called it walking boot he doesn't want me walking for two more weeks. At least it comes off so I can sleep relatively comfortably. And he wants me wiggling my toes--especially the big toe which bore the brunt of the surgery. It's quite stiff and looks to me like an overcooked knockwurst.
I see him again in three weeks for X-rays and an assessment of how well the bones have healed. Maybe I can swim the Friday after Thanksgiving??? We'll see.
I have already signed up for a 70.3 half ironman in August and am hopeful I can race the Bluegrass Ramble, a half marathon in Madrid, NY, in late June.

Just Move Already!

I am not a big gadget person, nor am I too familiar with all the options available with our Verizon FIOS service. However, in looking for a movie to watch last night with the On Demand feature, I discovered a whole bunch of free workouts on Exercise TV. And that leads me to the point of this blog.
With so much fitness information and so many resources available, there is really no excuse for those healthy enough for exercise to do just that, at very little cost. You don't need the gym (though some snowy mornings I do miss the elliptical trainers). And this is in no way a criticism of the gym--if it's what gets you motivated to get some exercise, then great. Frankly, it just got too costly for us to maintain a membership. I was using the gym for twice a week strength training, core using a stability ball and balance work on the Bosu. In winter it was nice to have that cardio equipment a short drive away. But once we canceled the membership, there was no looking back.
My husband found a stability ball at Target for $10, and we bought a Bosu online for $50. I have accumulated all manner of strength-training equipment--plate weights, dumbbells, a barbell, two kettlebells, ankle weights--over my 25 years of working out. So there really was no reason to keep paying the gym.
And when it comes to swimming for triathlon training, I urge everyone to seek out free or low-cost options: they are out there! My pool of choice, which I will not name for fear it'll no longer be a best-kept secret, costs nothing and offers plenty of adult and open swim times Monday through Saturday.
So, what's my point? It's that you can find low- or no-cost exercise options just about anywhere. Add library DVDs, magazines and books for all sorts of workouts, and you really have no excuse.