Not like that.
Not like I was.
None of us are, not really.
I know this post is about Kathy, but it feels odd to write about someone else,
so I usually put a "from Ted perspective" on it.
Two years ago I stopped coaching wrestling. Not because I didn't love to coach (I did, and still do), but because I started my own business, got married, moved into a new home, and melted my family into one. I didn't have the time.
I also stopped running.
Even when I was busy before, in addition to all the running we would do in practices (yes, I run when the kids run - what kind of a coach do you think I am?), I would run late at night.
Believe it or not, I liked it enough to enter local races (Crater Lake, Pear Blossom, etc).
If you run, or have run regularly, you know how great you feel during and after a good run.
Soon after starting it, I found that having a business takes up ALL your daylight hours and a lot of your nighttime ones as well. The conditioning I worked so hard to keep, but also took for granted because I always had it, is gone.
Fast forward to now.
We are coming up on four months since the accident.
Obviously, Kathy has not run since then.
For the first time since her accident, I went for a run by myself.
I've been on a few little ones with my son to help him lose weight for his wrestling weigh ins the next day. This one wasn't much longer than those, but felt different.
It's not the rubbery legs or difficulty getting into a rhythm, so I could catch my second wind, that was so shocking, it was how guilt crept in during the run.
I had no one to talk to, so I thought my thoughts.
I have never felt guilty for working out in my life!
I left Kathy sleeping and went for a run. No big deal, right?
As I ran, I'm thinking of ways she can go with me.
If Kathy's legs allow for her to ride a bike (she wouldn't laugh if I wrote "with training wheels" here).
She is way too competitive to let herself get sloppy.
She is way too proud to let me push her in a chair like she is incapable.
We have a pool. Swimming is a great way to work out!
There are lots of ways to get and stay in shape!
Kathy says she will never climb Mt. McLaughlin again (a semi- annual event for me and my boys).
I think she will.
The most recent setback is; the tendons below her toes have no counter force tendons on top to prevent Kathy's toes from curling under into claws. She will have to have the tendons cut to relieve her toe strain before permanent damage to the joints occurs (if it hasn't already). This will also make it so she can never push down with her toes again.
Running is definitely out of the question.
Still, she has made amazing recovery so far.
I can't imagine Kathy being left out of anything fun that we do.
As long as we can keep her on board to live life big (like she has always done!), she can still do it all with us.
I wouldn't count her out for anything she sets her mind to.
I know Kathy may never run again,
but every time I look at her she can still run away with my heart.
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