123 Days and Counting

You don't know what you've got until it's gone.  I had to learn this the hard way on April 15th of last year.  Tax day 2008. Refund?  I think not! Married, living in California, no kids? That's going to cost you.  That day would be just like any other, barring the fact that there would be a big fat electronic transfer making its way from my bank account to Uncle Sam's. I headed out the door for work, closed the door behind me and quickly turned to walk down the flight of tile steps leading to the garage, and then IT happened.  My flip-flop slid across a minuscule puddle of water at the top of the stairs and I was airborne, my left leg folding beneath my body, breaking my fall as I tumbled down nine steps.  When I found myself at the bottom, still alive, still conscious, I gasped and managed to find the air that had briefly been knocked out of me, followed closely by screaming and tears by the bucketful.  I was terrified, I couldn't feel my legs, I couldn't stand up. Never in my life had I been incapacitated to such a degree.  Here's what followed: 911 call, ambulance ride, an emergency room visit worthy of what we've come to expect given the healthcare system in America, bruises and soreness, a cast, crutches, too much time on the couch and way too many Lifetime movies, missed work, numerous doctor visits, and last but not least physical therapy!  Fast forward almost 10 months later and here I am, training for a half marathon.

What does this story have to do with my current endeavor?  You don't know what you've got until it's gone.  When I couldn't walk, it's all I wanted to do. I missed being mobile, I missed being able to walk easily from room to room, from a parking spot into a store; I was angry at my injury, I was angry at my body for being so slow.  I remember that I started exercising for the first time again in August.  I started slowly, with swimming and walking. My walks would be short, my leg and ankle telling me when I'd gone far enough.  Now, it's almost as if I've been born again, exercise-wise; the pain is gone and I can move again, Hallelujah! There isn't a walk that goes by now when I don't smile and think to myself, "I can move, I can walk, look at how fast I'm going!"  My legs may not be shapely and toned but I'm infatuated with their strength, their inner beauty, their ability to heal and to teach me a valuable lesson in the process.  123 days until these beautifully strong legs of mine cross the finish line!

I plan to train for and complete my first half marathon while raising money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, please visit my fundraising page and show your support for a very worthy cause  http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/rnr09/jmarkhaafe