Appalachian Trail NY

 Happy (almost) Hip-aversary to me!

Five days after my right hip replacement, I bounded into a spin class. Well, not bounded. I winced, hobbled, and struggled into that class. I couldn’t figure out how to bend over to get my spin shoes on or how to lift my leg over the body of the bike. Standing wasn’t an option, and I set the gear resistance very, very low.

The 50 minute class started and by the time it ended, I had covered three miles.

THREE miles!

I am a seasoned ultra-marathoner, long distance hiker, century+ cyclist, Ironman and lifetime performance athlete, and I had covered only three miles.

I also sang loudly. I bike-danced. I did what I do, I embraced the suck. I celebrated being on that bike!

As I left, I grabbed my cane and the instructor smiled at me and said, “I see your energy”. I smiled back and said, “I just learned my jumping off point.”

Fast forward seven months.

I was again on the operating table. This time for the left hip.

Five days after that, I had a full-on panic attack in my bathroom. I was frozen in place. I was terrified, sweating and in an unknown headspace. When I had somewhat rallied, I texted my BFF, “I’m done being a whiney-assed bitch. I’m hiking Connecticut in 8 weeks”.

I chose to reach out to this superhero, because he is the baddest, hardest competitor I’ve ever been lucky enough to cross paths with, and who maintains a perpetual spot in my corner. I know iron sharpens iron and my knife edge was in serious need of a tune-up. His response, “Go get it, Super Girl!”

I got off the floor and again went to spin class. I again hobbled in with a cane and had similar results as the first go around. This time with less dancing.

I hiked Connecticut.

I set my sights on hiking New York, which would nearly double the distance, and includes my old friend, Bear Mountain. My goal was to complete it 8 weeks after Connectutuct, but a funny thing happened on the way to the goal. My wheels fell off.

I have two chronic illnesses, that when they sneak out of remission, kick my butt. This round they activated sequentially, and I was a physical train wreck. I watched gains I had made slip away like they were never there. It was as if there was a bright light shining on my physical body, lighting up all the “can’ts”, “nopes” and c’mons” I had been working so hard to work around.

I had entered the operating room with a resting heart rate in the high 30’s/low 40’s, but I found myself winded and sleeping 18 hours at a pitch. I was worried about myself.

So, I again leaned into the suck. I made a pest of myself with my doctors, I had many rounds of blood work, weakness, a ten pound weight gain over 48 hours, pain and fatigue that I can’t even describe. “Ok body, do what you gotta do. This will pass and I’m going to be ready when it does.”. I literally told my body that I forgive it.

And, my body and I (and my doctors) found a way through. I had felt a lessening of symptoms for a few days, and I woke up in Montreal hearing Mark say, “Hey, you don’t look dead today”. I didn’t feel it either. “Let’s go hiking” was my retort.

The day before I left for this NY hike, I had something to prove to me. Again, I took a spin class, this time before work. I focused on HIIT and if there was a challenge, I made dang sure my name was on the podium. After work, I took another class. This time focusing on endurance. I grinded out 21.93 miles. It would’ve been over 22, but the instructor played Beyonce’s Run the World, and you know I gotta dance to that. No regrets.

I followed that with not one, but two 1.25 hour hot yoga classes, and followed that with 2 hours on the elliptical. To end my day, I did the core and soar routine that I complete six days a week. LFG!

So, here I am. On the Appalachian Trail, about 30 miles north of New Jersey. It sucks. There are bugs. I smell. There is bear scat all around me. I feel incredible!

I’m in a changed body. My chronic illnesses seemed to have gone to sleep….for now. I’m still down four nerves in my feet and no longer have either natural hip. In yoga, my balance is shot, and I’m working on not setting my mat up near a wall. I’ve not figured out how to do a forward fold without discomfort. And, neither Hippie or Serendipity likes the idea of me moving from one balance pose to another with fluidity, so they bring on the pain, lock up and cause images of dislocation….every…..single…time. But, I believe in me, and I will find a way.

Almost one year out from my first hip replacement, four months from my second, and I keep finding my new jumping off point.