This past weekend I was determined to do something. Today marks the sixth septiversary of my crash, and though I still maintain a daily diet of ibuprofen, I needed to get out and about. So, after a preliminary test on Wednesday where I went out for 1.5 miles during Mikaela's soccer practice, I thought things were acceptable for a longer journey. I originally thought I would head for Dardanelles Lake starting from the Big Meadows trailhead, but - "upon further review" - that seemed a bit adventurous for a first journey. Instead, I simply headed to the Dog Water on Hobart Road. From the house, that is about a 2.5 mile round trip, with a decent climb thrown in.
It was hot, dusty, and my lungs and ribs and shoulder creaky. I hiked up to the Dog Water and a little beyond, turning back at the 2 mile point. On the way down, I got all wild and stuff, and wogged. What's wogging, you ask? It's that slow pace between a walk and a jog. I clocked myself at 13:30 min/mile. Downhill. That, my friends, is wogging. I was tired when I got home, but felt pretty OK overall.
Saturday was supposed to be a swim meet for Spencer (and by, default for me too, as the charioteer), but he'd been unsuccessfully fighting a cold for the latter part of the week, and swimming didn't seem to be a Good Idea. Instead, I was able to take in Mikaela's soccer game. I'm glad I did. It was by far the team's best game in years, and was Mikaela's best game ever. The team shut out the visiting Elko girls, and Mikaela scored three times! Nice power kicks from the left side. Proud Dad-O!
After the game, I was feeling the high and decided to wog again. I did the V&T out and back: a 3+ mile round trip. I did it all with a running motion, but I did have to stop. I am not sure whether or not my inability to take in enough O2 is a function of simply being out of shape or residual effects of my pulmonary contusion. I've heard bruised lungs can take a long time to heal. The rib and shoulder pains were still there from the crash, but relegated to the category of "Usual Pain" that always accompanies me on a run - or a wog in this case.
Sunday, I dragged Spencer and Brando on a hike up the Stairway to Hell and over to Hobart Road and back - 4 miles. The weather was perfect, the whining less so. Actually, Spencer was pretty stout about it, despite the breathing issues and throat burn from his cold. I'm glad he came. Brando too. Brando? He's an exchange student from Sicily staying with us until December. Good kid, eats everything. I'll post more about him another time.
Speaking of weather, after analysis, the world record high temperature of 136F in Libya has been overturned. The record is now 134F set in Death Valley on July 10, 1913. Read the story here.