A truly inspiring, beautiful video. Thanks to Rajan for sharing it.
http://www.andrewcohen.com/2012/05/16/video-never-give-up/
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
17 May - my PW testimonial video
Here's a link to the video of my last day interview at PW, back in March
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3r4ltUlb4E&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3r4ltUlb4E&feature=plcp
Sunday, 29 April 2012
29 April - first bike ride!
I've been riding my stationary bike for several weeks now, but today, I rode a bike outside for the first time. Here's a clip of the first moment - a practice run near the bike hire shop, and then me off with Max & Amy through East Coast Park. A wonderful afternoon - and one more family activity regained. It feels fantastic, for all of us I think!
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
24 April - two months on
It's two months since I came home from Carlsbad - already!! So, as some of you have told me, I'm overdue an update!
I started back at work a couple of weeks ago. I'm easing back in slowly, working just two half days in the first two weeks, and aiming to increase to three full days by week 5. When I get to full days, I will start late morning to allow time for my therapy or training. As I've said many times before, the support from Diageo has been phenomenal. I had a really warm welcome back and now there are many people wanting to help ensure that my transition is successful, and that I return to full capacity over time. My boss has told me to structure work around my rehab, not the other way around, which is a fantastic way to help me keep on with my physical recovery, whilst at the same time re-building things on the work front. I'm very fortunate! Its early days, but so far so good - I've been able to get done what I planned to do, in the way I wanted to do it. I've been tired at the end of each day, but that's to be expected whilst I re-adjust. This is a really big step for me, but the timing feels right and I know I can make a success of this.
I'm driving again!! One of the local hospitals runs a driving rehabilitation assessment. There is no legal requirement to do the test (as far as I know), but it was clearly the right thing for me to do, for everyone's sake. The assessment was pretty straightforward. First, I met with an OT (if you're reading this, hi Florence), to talk through my rehab and my physical and mental condition; and to perform some tests on basic functionality. A week later I had an on road test with a driving instructor. That went really well - except that I completely stuffed up an attempt at reverse parking!! The instructor didn't seem to mind, and I passed and got a certificate that I'm fit to drive. I'm loving the liberation and I've thought to myself that behind the wheel of a car I feel just like everyone else. I do tend to think a lot about the placement of my right foot on the pedals, but last week I drove through a massive storm (big, even for Singapore, which is saying something) - and all of a sudden I found that if my mind is distracted my legs and feet still work perfectly well!! Interesting! More of that later. I thought that I might have some issues with the tightness in my hands, but they are fine - and in fact I think my left hand benefits from having to clench and unclench as I move it from the steering wheel to the gear stick. So, another big box ticked!
In my last post I said that after returning to Singapore I needed to think about which therapists to work with and how to structure my training. I wanted as far as possible to replicate what I had in Carlsbad - a trainer (not necessarily a physio) who might be a kinesiologist or strength and conditioning coach, who could help me with gait training, strength and stability and who understands something about the neurological challenges. It was important for me to find someone with the right attitude - who can share my belief in my ability to beat the odds and make a full recovery, and who can keep me motivated and making good progress. And I needed access to a good facility with the right equipment. I expected to have to piece together a team of several people in different places. Actually, I think I've found it in one person in one place. I've been working with Dr Tan Swee Kheng, whose business is called Fifth Ray Integrated Activities. Swee Kheng ticks pretty much all the boxes. She's not worked with an SCI client before, but I didn't expect to find that outside of the main hospitals. She has a really cool facility in a warehouse down by the river. She does a lot of work with kids, but also gait, running and conditioning work with adults. Five weeks in, I seem to be making really good progress, especially within the last week when a lot of the gait training and strength work really seems to be bedding in, to the point that my movement has become more automatic and fluid and less effortful. Swee Kheng took a few videos of today's session, which I will post soon.
Its a strange thing - I can now count at least 5 times during this rehab when exactly the right person has popped up at exactly the right time to help me on my journey. A couple of people have said that its about putting it out there and allowing the universe to arrange it. I'm beginning to believe it!!!
One of those people was Andrew Liaw. Andrew popped up as a cranio sacral therapist last October. He's also a physio and over time we started work at the gym and the track. Andrew had a quite uncanny knack of reading exactly what was happening in my body and his exercise program was a really good pre-cursor to the stuff I did at Project Walk. He's had total faith in my ability to recover, and has been hugely motivational. I'm now moving off on a different path (for a while, at least) but want to say a really big thank you to Andrew. He keeps a fairly low profile, but if anyone in Singapore wants his number, give me a shout.
I'm still working very hard on the rehab - twice a week with Swee Kheng, twice a week at the gym near the office, once a week on a long walk, Saturday mornings in the pool, and every day a "get me moving routine" first thing in the morning and stretches at night. I've hooked my bike on to a stationary bike stand, and do a half hour ride on that once or twice a week. I also have one OT session a week, and try to fit in a weekly massage. A lot!
In the first few weeks back from Carlsbad I struggled with increased tone, especially extensor tone in my right side, which causes my leg to straighten and forces my foot into plantar flexion. That seemed to worsen for a few weeks. Having spoken to a consultant and physio at the hospital, and to Swee Kheng, I decided that I needed to adjust my exercise regime, reducing the intensity in some areas for a while to allow me focus on form and quality of movement. That has meant that for the last few weeks I have pulled back from jogging, reduced the amount of jumping and shifted away from a focus on speed. Other than that, the home program that David, Genny and Steve built for me is still the core of my gym routine. The results seem good. Over the last few days there has been a noticeable improvement in my gait. I've felt much more fluid and smooth pretty much every time I have moved. Today I noticed that I am putting less mental and physical effort into walking. And that is making the whole thing more efficient - and faster! Other people are noticing too - especially Ali!
One strategy to address the tone is to try to divert my mind from it. That's really hard to do, because the tone can dominate my movement and I've developed a habit of thinking hard about every step. But over the last week or so I have had a bit of a breakthrough and found a technique that seems to help. I'm learning that if I can distract my mind to something else (eg to think about putting force through my left leg), my right leg is able to move automatically (almost) and more smoothly.
The last few weeks have been tough going sometimes. I've felt low some days and sometimes felt that my progress had slowed, or even slipped backwards. That's the first time I've experienced that, other than for the odd day or so - and I know how fortunate I am to be able to say that. But I never expected my progress to be straight line the whole time, and in some ways its good to have been through this - I've learned how to come out of it. And I expect I'll need to use that knowledge again some time.
Ali is battling hard with her own recovery. A few weeks ago she went on an intensive therapy course in Australia. The course is known for being pretty tough, and Ali was anxious about going, but she did so, very bravely. She had a good experience, made some breakthroughs and came home in a much better place than before she left, and with some tools and techniques that will help her as she fights on. Its still really hard going for her, but she keeps on fighting.
The kids are doing fine. Max has got me playing football on the drive (my right leg moves much slower than my left, but the fear of falling over when I kick the ball has gone away!) and Amy has me playing tennis. Amy is storming ahead with her reading (not far off chapter books!) and Max is in a school play this week!
That's it for now. I'll post some videos soon.
I started back at work a couple of weeks ago. I'm easing back in slowly, working just two half days in the first two weeks, and aiming to increase to three full days by week 5. When I get to full days, I will start late morning to allow time for my therapy or training. As I've said many times before, the support from Diageo has been phenomenal. I had a really warm welcome back and now there are many people wanting to help ensure that my transition is successful, and that I return to full capacity over time. My boss has told me to structure work around my rehab, not the other way around, which is a fantastic way to help me keep on with my physical recovery, whilst at the same time re-building things on the work front. I'm very fortunate! Its early days, but so far so good - I've been able to get done what I planned to do, in the way I wanted to do it. I've been tired at the end of each day, but that's to be expected whilst I re-adjust. This is a really big step for me, but the timing feels right and I know I can make a success of this.
I'm driving again!! One of the local hospitals runs a driving rehabilitation assessment. There is no legal requirement to do the test (as far as I know), but it was clearly the right thing for me to do, for everyone's sake. The assessment was pretty straightforward. First, I met with an OT (if you're reading this, hi Florence), to talk through my rehab and my physical and mental condition; and to perform some tests on basic functionality. A week later I had an on road test with a driving instructor. That went really well - except that I completely stuffed up an attempt at reverse parking!! The instructor didn't seem to mind, and I passed and got a certificate that I'm fit to drive. I'm loving the liberation and I've thought to myself that behind the wheel of a car I feel just like everyone else. I do tend to think a lot about the placement of my right foot on the pedals, but last week I drove through a massive storm (big, even for Singapore, which is saying something) - and all of a sudden I found that if my mind is distracted my legs and feet still work perfectly well!! Interesting! More of that later. I thought that I might have some issues with the tightness in my hands, but they are fine - and in fact I think my left hand benefits from having to clench and unclench as I move it from the steering wheel to the gear stick. So, another big box ticked!
In my last post I said that after returning to Singapore I needed to think about which therapists to work with and how to structure my training. I wanted as far as possible to replicate what I had in Carlsbad - a trainer (not necessarily a physio) who might be a kinesiologist or strength and conditioning coach, who could help me with gait training, strength and stability and who understands something about the neurological challenges. It was important for me to find someone with the right attitude - who can share my belief in my ability to beat the odds and make a full recovery, and who can keep me motivated and making good progress. And I needed access to a good facility with the right equipment. I expected to have to piece together a team of several people in different places. Actually, I think I've found it in one person in one place. I've been working with Dr Tan Swee Kheng, whose business is called Fifth Ray Integrated Activities. Swee Kheng ticks pretty much all the boxes. She's not worked with an SCI client before, but I didn't expect to find that outside of the main hospitals. She has a really cool facility in a warehouse down by the river. She does a lot of work with kids, but also gait, running and conditioning work with adults. Five weeks in, I seem to be making really good progress, especially within the last week when a lot of the gait training and strength work really seems to be bedding in, to the point that my movement has become more automatic and fluid and less effortful. Swee Kheng took a few videos of today's session, which I will post soon.
Its a strange thing - I can now count at least 5 times during this rehab when exactly the right person has popped up at exactly the right time to help me on my journey. A couple of people have said that its about putting it out there and allowing the universe to arrange it. I'm beginning to believe it!!!
One of those people was Andrew Liaw. Andrew popped up as a cranio sacral therapist last October. He's also a physio and over time we started work at the gym and the track. Andrew had a quite uncanny knack of reading exactly what was happening in my body and his exercise program was a really good pre-cursor to the stuff I did at Project Walk. He's had total faith in my ability to recover, and has been hugely motivational. I'm now moving off on a different path (for a while, at least) but want to say a really big thank you to Andrew. He keeps a fairly low profile, but if anyone in Singapore wants his number, give me a shout.
I'm still working very hard on the rehab - twice a week with Swee Kheng, twice a week at the gym near the office, once a week on a long walk, Saturday mornings in the pool, and every day a "get me moving routine" first thing in the morning and stretches at night. I've hooked my bike on to a stationary bike stand, and do a half hour ride on that once or twice a week. I also have one OT session a week, and try to fit in a weekly massage. A lot!
In the first few weeks back from Carlsbad I struggled with increased tone, especially extensor tone in my right side, which causes my leg to straighten and forces my foot into plantar flexion. That seemed to worsen for a few weeks. Having spoken to a consultant and physio at the hospital, and to Swee Kheng, I decided that I needed to adjust my exercise regime, reducing the intensity in some areas for a while to allow me focus on form and quality of movement. That has meant that for the last few weeks I have pulled back from jogging, reduced the amount of jumping and shifted away from a focus on speed. Other than that, the home program that David, Genny and Steve built for me is still the core of my gym routine. The results seem good. Over the last few days there has been a noticeable improvement in my gait. I've felt much more fluid and smooth pretty much every time I have moved. Today I noticed that I am putting less mental and physical effort into walking. And that is making the whole thing more efficient - and faster! Other people are noticing too - especially Ali!
One strategy to address the tone is to try to divert my mind from it. That's really hard to do, because the tone can dominate my movement and I've developed a habit of thinking hard about every step. But over the last week or so I have had a bit of a breakthrough and found a technique that seems to help. I'm learning that if I can distract my mind to something else (eg to think about putting force through my left leg), my right leg is able to move automatically (almost) and more smoothly.
The last few weeks have been tough going sometimes. I've felt low some days and sometimes felt that my progress had slowed, or even slipped backwards. That's the first time I've experienced that, other than for the odd day or so - and I know how fortunate I am to be able to say that. But I never expected my progress to be straight line the whole time, and in some ways its good to have been through this - I've learned how to come out of it. And I expect I'll need to use that knowledge again some time.
Ali is battling hard with her own recovery. A few weeks ago she went on an intensive therapy course in Australia. The course is known for being pretty tough, and Ali was anxious about going, but she did so, very bravely. She had a good experience, made some breakthroughs and came home in a much better place than before she left, and with some tools and techniques that will help her as she fights on. Its still really hard going for her, but she keeps on fighting.
The kids are doing fine. Max has got me playing football on the drive (my right leg moves much slower than my left, but the fear of falling over when I kick the ball has gone away!) and Amy has me playing tennis. Amy is storming ahead with her reading (not far off chapter books!) and Max is in a school play this week!
That's it for now. I'll post some videos soon.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
29 February - home coming
Its taken me a few days longer than expected to type this - and I'm glad it did.
I ended last week feeling a bit low. My tone had increased and my body was very tight. It was difficult to really get going during the last couple of days in the gym. I know it sounds crazy to say this about a week that began with me driving a car, going to yoga for the first time, running on the treadmill at 7mph and running the length of the gym, but the last couple of days felt like a bit of an anti climax. I think there were several factors at play. Physical tiredness was one - no surprise after 6 weeks of intensive hard work, several nights of mixed up sleep and so not enough stretching. Emotional fatigue was another - missing my family, friends and home, the uncertainty of moving on to the next stage etc.
So I'm glad that I waited to type this, because now I can tell you that after a few days back home I'm really beginning to see the benefits of my time at PW. Yesterday I went back to my regular gym for the first time and rolled out the training routine David, Genny and Steve built for me, which includes many exercises (lunges, squats, line jumps, dead lifts etc, etc) that I simply could not do six weeks ago. I then I got back on the treadmill. There's no harness here, so I can't do the over speeding work and can't expect to reach the speeds I reached at PW, but I was very pleased with how I walked compared to before I left. Today I did one of the outdoor walks I did regularly before PW - it felt significantly faster (the timer on my phone played up, so I'm not sure by how much), but more importantly my gait felt more stable, relaxed and confident. And something has changed this evening at home - hard to describe except to say I feel much more aligned, balanced and stronger.
And, of course, I've had the joy of getting back home to the family. Ali and the kids met me at 6am at the airport. I'd called home before leaving LAX. Max told me he wasn't going to come to Changi - no way he was getting up at that time in the morning, and he'd rather stay in bed, he said!! But I'd had a tip off that he said that so that he could surprise me when I arrived!! He did come, of course, though he still had his pyjamas on under his clothes!! Amy told me she definitely was coming, but she was worried about having enough time to brush her hair before leaving the house. Boys and girls, eh!! They were waiting with a big, bright "welcome home daddy" sign, which Amy made (with a bit of help from Ali).
So today I'm feeling good again - about a great 6 weeks at PW, about where my recovery stands now, and about where it will go next. My goals 6 weeks ago were to strengthen areas of muscular weakness, reduce my tightness and make my gait more efficient, smoother and faster. I'm now significantly stronger in most areas. There are some areas that need more work, but they are relatively few and I'm clear on what needs to be done and have a training program to help me do it. Tone remains a big challenge. I'm probably tighter now than 6 weeks ago, but I think that's starting to ease a bit as I settle back into home and a regular stretching routine. My gait has improved - I still have some challenges on my right side, but the improvement is significant and I'll continue to gain as I strengthen my hamstrings, anterior tibs and glutes. The goals I set six weeks ago did not include jumping and running - but I got started with that, which feels fantastic, and will build on that. And whilst PW does not specifically treat hands, and though mine still have tone and tightened during my gym work outs, the stretching I've done over the last 6 weeks does seem to have helped my left hand in particular.
I don't yet know how to best structure my training now I'm home - which therapists, which facilities, how to supplement my PW program etc? That will start fall into place over the next few days, I'm sure, but will also re-shape when I return to work (hopefully in the next couple of weeks or so).
I had a long good bye at PW last Friday morning, taking time to say farewell to new friends. Here are some of clients who were around on Friday morning. These peoplere-define determination, courage and belief , as do all the PW clients, . Best of luck to you guys and all the other clients and carers I met - keep in touch and see you soon, I hope.
I ended last week feeling a bit low. My tone had increased and my body was very tight. It was difficult to really get going during the last couple of days in the gym. I know it sounds crazy to say this about a week that began with me driving a car, going to yoga for the first time, running on the treadmill at 7mph and running the length of the gym, but the last couple of days felt like a bit of an anti climax. I think there were several factors at play. Physical tiredness was one - no surprise after 6 weeks of intensive hard work, several nights of mixed up sleep and so not enough stretching. Emotional fatigue was another - missing my family, friends and home, the uncertainty of moving on to the next stage etc.
So I'm glad that I waited to type this, because now I can tell you that after a few days back home I'm really beginning to see the benefits of my time at PW. Yesterday I went back to my regular gym for the first time and rolled out the training routine David, Genny and Steve built for me, which includes many exercises (lunges, squats, line jumps, dead lifts etc, etc) that I simply could not do six weeks ago. I then I got back on the treadmill. There's no harness here, so I can't do the over speeding work and can't expect to reach the speeds I reached at PW, but I was very pleased with how I walked compared to before I left. Today I did one of the outdoor walks I did regularly before PW - it felt significantly faster (the timer on my phone played up, so I'm not sure by how much), but more importantly my gait felt more stable, relaxed and confident. And something has changed this evening at home - hard to describe except to say I feel much more aligned, balanced and stronger.
And, of course, I've had the joy of getting back home to the family. Ali and the kids met me at 6am at the airport. I'd called home before leaving LAX. Max told me he wasn't going to come to Changi - no way he was getting up at that time in the morning, and he'd rather stay in bed, he said!! But I'd had a tip off that he said that so that he could surprise me when I arrived!! He did come, of course, though he still had his pyjamas on under his clothes!! Amy told me she definitely was coming, but she was worried about having enough time to brush her hair before leaving the house. Boys and girls, eh!! They were waiting with a big, bright "welcome home daddy" sign, which Amy made (with a bit of help from Ali).
So today I'm feeling good again - about a great 6 weeks at PW, about where my recovery stands now, and about where it will go next. My goals 6 weeks ago were to strengthen areas of muscular weakness, reduce my tightness and make my gait more efficient, smoother and faster. I'm now significantly stronger in most areas. There are some areas that need more work, but they are relatively few and I'm clear on what needs to be done and have a training program to help me do it. Tone remains a big challenge. I'm probably tighter now than 6 weeks ago, but I think that's starting to ease a bit as I settle back into home and a regular stretching routine. My gait has improved - I still have some challenges on my right side, but the improvement is significant and I'll continue to gain as I strengthen my hamstrings, anterior tibs and glutes. The goals I set six weeks ago did not include jumping and running - but I got started with that, which feels fantastic, and will build on that. And whilst PW does not specifically treat hands, and though mine still have tone and tightened during my gym work outs, the stretching I've done over the last 6 weeks does seem to have helped my left hand in particular.
I don't yet know how to best structure my training now I'm home - which therapists, which facilities, how to supplement my PW program etc? That will start fall into place over the next few days, I'm sure, but will also re-shape when I return to work (hopefully in the next couple of weeks or so).
I had a long good bye at PW last Friday morning, taking time to say farewell to new friends. Here are some of clients who were around on Friday morning. These peoplere-define determination, courage and belief , as do all the PW clients, . Best of luck to you guys and all the other clients and carers I met - keep in touch and see you soon, I hope.
 |
| Janece with Yoshi |
 |
| Russ and Trevor |
 |
| Brenda getting walking, with Mike, Andy and Laurent |
 |
| Tonje and her mum, Britney |
I said this to the PW staff last week, but I'll say it again publicly - you've helped change my life, and I can't think of a better way to say thank you than that (save perhaps, David, for a few bottles of Jose Cuervo and Johnnie Walker Blue!!)
 |
| Genny |
 |
| Steve |
 |
| David |
 |
| Mica |
 |
| Michael |
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| Jes, Joy and Alicia |
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| Kassie |
Derek and Edna came to Carlsbad on Friday to drive me back to LAX. Here's our good bye at the airport, plus a photo of Derek near home in Palos Verde on my first day in California 6 weeks ago. This is were they settled many years ago - you can see why they took a shine to it!
 |
| Leaving LAX, with Edna and Derek |
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| Derek, at home in Palos Verde, on my first day in CA |
Here are a few videos from my last session with David on Thursday. He didn't send me the one where I landed on my butt!
I've always said since the day of my accident that I believe I will make a full recovery. The progress I've made over the last 8 months, including the big gains in the last 6 weeks, have strengthened that belief. This will still be bloody hard work for a long time to come, but I know I can do it and I know that, at some point in the future, it will start to get easier. I need inspiration, from time to time. This amazing clip was sent to me this week by my friend Rajan.
I'm not 33 and I'm no former gymnast and can't hope to reach that level, but that will keep me inspired for a long time to come!! Its also what Ali has searched for ever since my accident - proof that a full recovery is possible.
Rajan also sent this video, to add to the incredible stories of bravery and determination I've seen these last few months.
Some of you know that Rajan is also recovering from a C-level SCI from an accident last May. His recovery has been very strong, stronger than mine in many respects. He told me today that he's now back on a bike, running up to 800m and hoping to run a 5k in May! He has given me huge support through his comments my blog and Skype messages whilst I was away. Rajan, I hope you don't mind me sharing this, as a way to say a public thank you for your support - and for continuing to inspire and motivate me.
I'll keep my blog going, as a few people have asked me to - and will post updates every month or so.
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Week 6 - Thursday 23 Feb - last day
So that's it, done. My six weeks at PW came to an end today, with the last of my training sessions. I'm going to save my thoughts and reflections for a post I'll write on tomorrow's long flight home. For now, I'll say that in truth today was a bit anti climactic. I'd hope to end on a high with some new achievement or other, but that didn't happen. Instead, today was one of those days where I hadn't slept well and my body was tight and didn't really get going, probably due to physical and emotional fatigue. But, no worries, they happen, to all of us. Just one slow day out of so many good ones, and I have so much good stuff to look back on and be really pleased about.
Before I left today I filmed my last day interview. I didn't watch the recording, so fingers crossed I said what I hoped I would say about this great place and it's people. The video should be on the PW website next week, I think.
Actually, I'm not quite done. I'll go to PW tomorrow morning for a last work out (but no trainer session) and to say my farewells before heading off to the airport.
I'm ready to come home now. Can't wait to see Ali and the kids and catch up with friends back in Singapore.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Week 5 - Wednesday 22 Feb
Not a lot of new news today, so this is a short one. David had me work through my warm up routine to help bed that down; and in my session with Steve I jumped off boxes (which was fun as well as a great way to give me more confidence in my right ankle); before getting back to some over speeding, low hurdles (better today than before) and jogging. The highlight of the day came when I was heading out for dinner this evening - the 100 feet or so walk from my room to the lift was, I reckon, my best gait since my injury.
Tomorrow's my last day of training, so off to bed to re-charge for one last push!!
Tomorrow's my last day of training, so off to bed to re-charge for one last push!!
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Week 6 - Tuesday 21 Feb - still in orbit!!
I'm not back down to earth after yesterday! My high has been fuelled by lots of people asking me how yoga and the car ride went, which I answered with a big smile!! I've learnt that some people here do not know what an emergency stop is - I've said sorry to Genny for springing one on her without explaining it first !!! The yoga seems to have doe good stuff for my glutes and the muscles down the outsides of my legs, giving me a much more stable feeling standing and walking today. At least I think it was the yoga, though in truth I don't really care where the gains come from, so long as they keep coming!
Today, Genny walked me through the warm up routine she and the team have built for me to take home, and David is planning to give me my full home program tomorrow. The treadmill was having a temperamental day, and didn't want to work for my slot, so David got me harnessed up and running on the Curv instead - very different to the treadmill, including because your feet move the belt rather than the belt being powered, which makes it great cardio. That went well, but today's breakthrough came in my last session. After a short run down the gym, Genny asked me to lengthen out my stride - as you've seen on the videos, my steps had been very short, which is inefficient (and makes me look like a pony, or so Amy says). So I tried - and now I have a new jogging stride, and the beginnings of something that feels and looks a lot more normal!
Monday, 20 February 2012
Week 6 - Monday 20 February - Just three things...
Today I:
- reached 7.0 mph on the treadmill
- drove a car for the first time post injury (Genny's car, which is a Murano, so pretty much the same car as my Qasqai, spookily; on a car park, all very smooth, no issues!)
- went to a yoga class (with Genny, I managed at least 75% of the poses, no tumbles!)
How about that!
A huge thank you to David, for helping me get me to this stage (and there's more to come), and to Genny for her amazingly kind and motivational acts.
I've had a few waves of happiness already tonight! Time to rest and enjoy some more!
- reached 7.0 mph on the treadmill
- drove a car for the first time post injury (Genny's car, which is a Murano, so pretty much the same car as my Qasqai, spookily; on a car park, all very smooth, no issues!)
- went to a yoga class (with Genny, I managed at least 75% of the poses, no tumbles!)
How about that!
A huge thank you to David, for helping me get me to this stage (and there's more to come), and to Genny for her amazingly kind and motivational acts.
I've had a few waves of happiness already tonight! Time to rest and enjoy some more!
Friday, 17 February 2012
Week 5 - Friday 17th February
Yesterday was tough going, but today I bounced back in style.
Bri gave me a set of wake up exercises to do first thing in the morning, which helped get me in gear for a strong start with David, who took me through a warm up program he's built for me. Today's forward and lateral lunges felt much more stable and controlled than any time in the last 5 weeks, and the warm ups left me feeling ready to have a go at over speeding.
Result? In my last run, I reached 6.5 mph for 20 seconds, a big increase from Wednesday. As you'll see from the video, I still catch my toes on both feet at top speed because I can't dorsi flex fast enough. Its not painful, but clearly I could not reach this speed without the harness. However, I can now clear my toes at up to around 5 mph; I seem to have fixed a "circumvention" problem (my left foot used to come round in a circle and catch the back of my right leg); and my knees are coming through well helped by an much stronger arm pump. And so the baseline has risen again. I was really pleased with that.
Genny helped maintain the momentum, beginning with some great exercises to get right into the remaining weak muscles in my right shin and then a return to some hip exercises I found impossible five weeks ago, but managed well today. And then, to top it all, I ran the length of the gym, which I reckon is over 75 metres!! That completes one more of my goals!! Its captured on PW's camera - you might get to see it next week.
Genny says that its typical to see most gains in the last week. That's really got me looking forward to next week!
I leave the house on Sunday and will stay in a hotel for the last few nights. So its farewell to the stroll to the beach and the rooftop view of the ocean. I'll make the most of it tomorrow!
Bri gave me a set of wake up exercises to do first thing in the morning, which helped get me in gear for a strong start with David, who took me through a warm up program he's built for me. Today's forward and lateral lunges felt much more stable and controlled than any time in the last 5 weeks, and the warm ups left me feeling ready to have a go at over speeding.
Result? In my last run, I reached 6.5 mph for 20 seconds, a big increase from Wednesday. As you'll see from the video, I still catch my toes on both feet at top speed because I can't dorsi flex fast enough. Its not painful, but clearly I could not reach this speed without the harness. However, I can now clear my toes at up to around 5 mph; I seem to have fixed a "circumvention" problem (my left foot used to come round in a circle and catch the back of my right leg); and my knees are coming through well helped by an much stronger arm pump. And so the baseline has risen again. I was really pleased with that.
Genny helped maintain the momentum, beginning with some great exercises to get right into the remaining weak muscles in my right shin and then a return to some hip exercises I found impossible five weeks ago, but managed well today. And then, to top it all, I ran the length of the gym, which I reckon is over 75 metres!! That completes one more of my goals!! Its captured on PW's camera - you might get to see it next week.
Genny says that its typical to see most gains in the last week. That's really got me looking forward to next week!
I leave the house on Sunday and will stay in a hotel for the last few nights. So its farewell to the stroll to the beach and the rooftop view of the ocean. I'll make the most of it tomorrow!
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