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Running
It's almost the weekend and I'm just now updating from last. What a weekend it was! Amazing!
Saturday is on my mind. Have you ever had something taken away from you, something so small that if needed be, you could accomplish and succeed. But yet, you pay no mind. No attention. That one thing is ripped away from you, and you suddenly realize that you want to do it more than anything in the world. You want to be considered a part of the "norm". That one thing for me was running. Losing a leg to cancer; I overcame that battle. I learned how to walk all over again. Go up a flight of stairs. Simple tasks, as learning how to get up off the floor if you fall down. Catching yourself if you stumble. Stepping up onto a curb, and etc. I fought through all the battles laid in front of me to face. I battled them all, and WON! Yet, the one thing that I wanted to learn I had yet to accomplish.
Now, I'm sure we all take running for granted. I know that I did, when I was perfectly healthy. I was the one bitching about running. Hated it. Wanted no part of it. Why run, when you could just walk? Now my outlook has turned a 360. I feared that I would never be able to play sports again. Simple sports; Volleyball, basketball, anything that required fast shuffle of your feet I was out. I had to sit on the sidelines, because I was unable to play. I feared if I ever had children, not ever being able to run after them. Play catch in the yard. Simple things in life that every day families partake in.
On Saturday, I attended a clinic for Amputees. My prosthetist (doctor) flies in these two gentlemen that are world record holding paralympians. They are simply amazing! Todd is an above the knee amputee, and Dennis is a below the knee. They fly in every 3 months, and my doctor offers this clinic free of charge to all of his patients. Now that's a doctor that's in the right field, for ALL the right reasons! The clinics are amazing. They test your strength and push you completely out of your comfort zone. Excuses aren't had with them, as well as the word NO. They simply don't accept it. All the while, they are VERY encouraging and never put you down, just help you along the way. They are amazing coaches and individuals. I took J with me on Saturday, to help him get a better understanding of what I go through and to just see what is done at these clinics. He now, has a better understanding on it all, and wants to help anyway he can! Yes! :).
The clinic had us going over obstacle courses. Simple to the everyday human being. Stepping up on different sized blocks spaced not far apart from one another. Then climbing up onto a "spongy" incline and then down another. Then back through the same way you can, and we were timed. My fastest time was a 10.4 seconds! Sounds long, huh? It's amazing how wore out I was after about 4 trips through that, exhausted! Then came the ever nerve wracking word. RUNNING!
Dennis and Todd had myself, and two other guys who were advanced enough to begin learning how to run venture out into the hallway after practicing "Step 1 & Step 2" in the parallel bars a few times. I was scared shitless. I won't lie! Terrified! We ventured out into the hall, and I was called up first. Todd said, I want you to run for me out here. I haven't run in 12 years; which foot goes in front of the other? How will I know that I'm not going to fall? All these thoughts and more were rushing through my head! With Dennis running right by my side, I did it! I ran the length of a hallway, by myself!!!! I broke down crying! My mom had tears welling up in her eyes, and J had the BIGGEST Smile I've ever seen on his face! Do you know how absolutely AMAZING that felt!? WOW! I felt as if I could conquer the world. I ran the length of the hallway twice, and the third time I ran down without anyone running beside me. What an accomplishment!
I've been trying to practice a little each day. I am feeling muscles that I NEVER knew even existed. Pain, yes but completely worth it! I've never felt a pain that was such a GLORIOUS one! Tonight I was practicing at J's house and I had him video me. So I thought I'd share it with you guys. I have, still, a LONG way to go but it's definitely a start!
I live by the motto: "You can accomplish anything that you put your mind to. Never give up."
Posted by brlracincwgrl on 2009-10-29 23:43:30 | Rating: | Views: 135
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