Day One

I’m exhilarated!

I tried hard to not build my first day expectations too high. I needn’t have bothered! The photos and videos on the Project Walk website are very impressive, but this place has blown me away. The facility is even bigger than I had in mind and there’s more equipment here than in most commercial gyms. But the best things are the atmosphere, which comes from the people, and their passion and expertise. They lift you, instantly – and then hold you there to support your hopes and belief. And that’s fuel for my own motivation, which is a big part of what I came here for. I’m now very confident that my goals for the next six weeks are achievable – and then some, maybe!

I had a really good journey over from Singapore, so now I know that my body is fine with even a 15 hour flight (in Singapore Airlines business class, at least!!). I had assistance through LA airport, which seems to be a really good way of jumping the queues. And I was met by Edna and Derek Steel – to whom a really big thank you for your hospitality and kindness. I hope your trip back home from Carlsbad was smooth. Enjoy the Panama Canal and see you again in six weeks, I hope, when I can show you my new tricks!

A number of people who have spent time with me say that they know I will be fine (they’re right, by the way). You can see it in my eyes, they say. Derek said exactly that on Sunday. Today, I think I saw it in my trainers’ eyes and in the looks they exchanged as we went through my assessment and the first few hours of training.

My lead specialist is David. After some dynamic floorwork he got me onto the treadmill and helped really activate my right leg for the first time, and drive it with some speed. He's excited about what we can achieve over the next 6 weeks, and is hoping he can find a way to get me out of the gym and onto the football field (he's an ex football strength and conditioning coach and extremely well built, so I'll approach that one with caution!). I also spent an hour with Travis, and he got me firing my glutes and engaging my abs for the first time. I'm trying to upload a video of how I walked today - but its taking forever, so I'll post it separately, hopefully today.

Before I left Singapore I asked the kids to set me targets. Amy said she would like me to be able to walk a puppy. We don’t have a puppy, so you can see where she’s going with that one! At the gym today one guy had a really nice black Labrador. I think I might be asking to borrow it soon! Max's targets included playing pool tag - I'll be asking David for special training routines for that one.

I’m staying at the Carlsbad Inn Resort til Friday, when I move to a house. The hotel is in Carlsbad Village, and just across the road from the ocean, so a great location for the times when I’m not at PW. I spent this afternoon in the hotel gym, stretching and doing my hand/arm exercises, and then doing more stretching in the sauna, which I think will really help.

Picture this. Its dusk, and the last light of the day is fading as the sun sets over the Pacific. I’m alone in an outdoor Jacuzzi, close to the ocean, with steam rising off the bubbling surface. The water slowly turns red then blue from the lights below. That’s where I found myself around 6pm today! No rest though - so another good place for hand and arm stretches. Rajan, you should try this at home. Or I'll save a place here for you!!

So, this must be Southern California, where the sun always shines and its warm all year round. Except I think I must be in the wrong Southern California. Today was cloudy with a high of 14C – and the rest of the week is pretty much the same. Everyone tells me it was really nice last week – doesn’t help me,  I tell them!

Its time to eat and then read for a while, and calm down a bit so that I can get some sleep ahead of tomorrow.