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Last Wednesday started like any other, with a busy morning followed by a lunch hour trip to the park with my dog Matilda. This was no leisurely trip to the park – we ran full sprints up (followed by slow trips down) a steep grassy hill eight times. You may think Bulldogs are slow, but she is fast! It was fantastic.
Fast forward several hours to Matilda’s before-bed walk. My fiancée Janet, Matilda and I were just turning a corner and heading for home when I felt my knee buckle and give way, resulting in a full-on wipeout.
After a painful hobble home, my knee had swelled to more than twice its size. Panic set in when I thought of the impact this injury could have on my running – as many of you know, I have recently taken up distance running with the goal of completing a half marathon in the near future – and even more importantly, my less-than-a-month-away wedding and Italian honeymoon. I was not a happy camper that night.
Two days later and still limping and in pain, I was able to get in to see a specialist, but unfortunately he was stumped and unable to figure out the problem. He prescribed me some anti-inflammatory meds and set me up with an MRI, which will likely be in a couple of months.
Today marks a week since my accident, and the good news is that after lots of icing and anti-inflammatories, my knee is feeling somewhat better. I’m still hobbling and limited in what I can do, but I am mobile. I also have some idea of what might have happened – I went to another doctor who thinks I may have re-aggravated an old injury I sustained at a part-time job as a teenager.
The tough thing for me at this point is to the thought of changing the direction of my fitness goals – I was really happy with my running progress and had just completed my longest run – 16 kilometres through rough terrain the weekend before.
But it got me thinking – there’s a lesson in this. I could sit here and do nothing or I could make the best of it and focus my energy on getting better. So I’ve stopped wishing that I could be running, and am focusing me efforts on physio – so I can at least dance at my wedding! – plus some upper body work in the gym.
Next time you come up against a hurdle in your own life, remember that although you can’t always control what happens, you can always control how you react.
Are watching the Olympic Games getting you interested in trying a new sport? Maybe you’re feeling inspired to pull that dusty bicycle out of storage and go for a ride, or heading to the local pool to swim a few laps. Whether your sport of choice is fencing, soccer, the triathalon, or rowing, why not stop watching and start doing?
Just because you may not be able to run 100m in 9.72 seconds doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go out and give it a try. Call up a friend or two and try something new, or do something that you ‘use to do.’ See how much fun you can have by trying something different and getting out of your regular routine you’ve got at the gym. The Olympic Games have the most outstanding and fit athletes in the world, and are a great reminder of what the human body is capable of. So be inspired and try something different! You may just surprise yourself.
Take care, and stay fit.
Lars
Written by Lars:
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A lot of people come back from vacation worn out, sick, and feeling worse off then when they left, so here are a few things to keep in mind while on the road.
Drink plenty of water and make sure it and the ice is safe
Get enough sleep
Eat your fruits and vegetables
Try eating from a grocery store, you’ll eat better and save money
Avoid excess alcohol
Give yourself time to adjust to the new time zone
Dress appropriately
Bring appropriate footwear
Walk
Bodyweight exercises can be done anywhere
Be careful if you’re out in the sun
Take time to warm up and stretch before doing anything new
Take your vitamins
Make sure you’re not coming home to a mess
Leave the office at the office
Relax and enjoy the time off
I’m sure if you follow these few tips, and use common sense you’ll enjoy your holidays much more and not come back feeling like you need a vacation.