First Hike Today Since May

Since August, I’ve been slowly trying to build up my leg strength, specifically in the knees and ankles that were so badly injured repeatedly in May & June. Its a delicate process, because if I screwed up at any point, I could re-injure myself. Yet, if I did not find a way to get things working again, the very weakness in my joints could contribute to further injury down the road.

Dilemma!

I started off riding a bike around and around the parking lot a couple of times a day on nice days because that worked out my legs without my putting my entire weight on them. That got my knees working again by mid-September. And then I started walking around the parking lot and yard every day I could to get everything working again.

Today was my big test: an actual miles-long hike!

Reese came by today to run some errands with me, do a nice back-country drive, and go hiking. We ended up checking out all these beautifully bucolic roads on rolling forested mountains in the Cascade foothills. Eventually, we meandered our way to Milo McIver state park. Its huge! We got out, after a picnic lunch in the car, and began wandering all over the miles and miles of trails.

I was nervous. When you get injured and the healing takes too long, a weakness comes to those areas that couldn’t be worked. But worse is the loss of confidence that your body will work for you. I’ve had so many problems with my legs for so long now that I’m almost afraid to run anymore. But I was happily surprised by our excursion as everything was going wonderfully. We took our time, stopped to rest periodically, and ended up walking for at least 4 miles! Not bad! At the very end, my right ankle (which is the worst one) was a little sore and slightly swollen, but was fine again a few hours later. It helped that we chose mainly level trails to traverse, keeping the joint stress to a minimum for now.

The outing also proved delightfully healing to my spirit, as I had a chance to get out into nature again. As we drove or walked by the trees turning into bright, warm colors and smelled the heavenly fresh air, I felt the tension I’ve been carrying just melt away. I need this. I’ve missed it so much! We witnessed a small hind or doe munching her way through the woods late in the afternoon. Then at the viewpoint, we admired the cloud formations as we took in the miles upon miles within our mountaintop view– and a bald eagle dropped down from a tree next to us to soar majestically over the valley below. DAMN those birds are HUGE!

We made it back to my place just as dusk was falling, and then watched some stand-up comedy before Reese left for home. To my surprise, I’m not fatigued nor sore! If I feel pretty good tomorrow then that means my recovery program is working!