Team Nature’s Path Racing Blog

I held the four-pound weight straight out behind me and winced.
Reagan frowned. “Not like that. Try to keep your palm down. The motion should be like bowling.”
“I’m a horrible bowler. Most golfers would be thrilled have a score like my bowling score.”
She smiled, but stayed and watched to be sure I exhibited the correct form.

On October 31, 2009 I crashed while riding in the rain. When my shoulder hit the pavement I did some serious damage, aggravating the old flying trapeze injury. On January 6, Dr. Higgs repaired tears in my labrum and rotator cuff, and my humerus and scapula now sport permanent Titanium screws to match the Merlin. Now, more than ten weeks later, the focus of my regular physical therapy sessions is to regain flexibility and rebuild strength. I am progressing on both fronts, though not as quickly as I had hoped.

“Out to the side now, give me ten repetitions, three sets”
“Okay, but Jeez that hurts!”
Reagan pointed to the sign on the wall, bright red diagonal stripe slashing across the word WHINING. “That’s the house rule. Don’t make me mad.”
She really is very nice, and a cyclist / marathon runner to boot. She is doing all in her power to help me recover.

After working under her supervision for 30 minutes with free weights and a variety of machines, Reagan turned me over to Megan for some serious stretching.

Standing by the table, Megan pulled my arm up and back and in and out. She worked the ball and socket shoulder joint through every conceivable direction. My range of motion is still limited, but a little less so at each visit.
“Did you take the pain meds this morning?”
“I never come here without first doing so. Go ahead and take me to the edge of consciousness.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that.”
Megan is very precise and knows exactly how far to push.

I’m lucky to have escaped more serious injury in the accident, and so very fortunate to be working with a team of dedicated professionals during my recovery.

Last week I returned to the instructor bike at the YMCA. Soon, very soon I hope, I will be back on the roads, sweating on the hills, fighting the wind and trying not to drop off the Team Nature’s Path pace line.

I can’t wait.