I've never really been a 'List' person. As much as I love the feeling of ticking things off them. So often that list is never ending and as a result I end up getting overwhelmed. Things constantly being added to it, no matter how big or small. Then you have different categories of lists; ranging from the menial 'empty the bins' to the potentially life changing 'Send THAT bold e-mail' or message that you've been chickening out on for ages. But what's lovely is I've come to the realisation that goals and lists are essentially the same thing: setting the intention, verbalising that dream, holding yourself accountable.
I'm a big goals person! Always have been, always will be, and they keep getting bigger and crazier as the years go by. Although they've been temporarily watered down since femur-gate. Thanks to the added “Successfully get from kitchen to living room” - “Learn to weight bear through left leg”- “Manage not to cry at physio”… They sound simple enough, but the dopamine hit is still just as big when you achieve them.
After smashing my cycle round Central Park goal, I was all fired up for my next one: jogging up the famous Rocky steps in Philadelphia. I was more pumped than Rocky himself after successfully boarding the correct subway train to Penn Station and then the correct Amtrak train to Philly, sitting in the correct carriage before the train splits off taking me to the wrong state entirely. All little mini goals achieved! Once arrived at the stunning William H. Gray III station, I located my dear friend from my ice skating years who now lives in Maryland. Can we take a moment to appreciate how flippin cool it is to hop on a train to meet someone for a coffee who you haven't seen in years in a brand new state, that neither of you have ever been to before?
We headed straight to Philadelphia Museum of Art where we were met with a huge queue to take a picture with the Rocky statue. I passed on that and opted to take pictures of the first ever groundhog I’d seen instead. I didn't want a picture with the Rocky statue... I want it to be Rocky and recreate that famous scene! I hadn't jogged up any stairs since my accident and there were A LOT of them, so I decided to start midway up so as not to cripple myself for the rest of my trip. There were lots of people casually doing their morning workouts which once again gave me another snapshot of how cool it would be to live in America, and sparked off my American dream. My friend Shelby had the patience of a saint as I requested multiple takes of me shadow boxing at the top. So yes- I made it up the stairs, doing the most tentative and girly looking little jog ever, in my floaty floral playsuit and sparkly strappy sandals. It was the weirdest sensation ever as my leg had forgotten what to do with itself! More so the speed at which your weight has to transition from one foot to the other. I had gotten so used to doing things at a steady femur-pace, so God help me if there was an emergency and I had to move quickly, or run for my life. But let's not go there! I'm trying to maintain a drama free life.
I'd highly recommend Philadelphia for a trip. Especially to eat your way around Reading Terminal Market and sample some of their weird and wonderful delights. It was much cheaper than New York too and I even got a Seamoss shot for $2.50! Not to mention the Amtrak train which puts Avanti West Coast to shame! It's everything train travel should be: reliable, on time, not too expensive, super clean and comfortable with enormous seats and tonnes of legroom to stretch my leg! I continued to rack up a phenomenal step count for the rest of my trip, just simply getting around Manhattan. On the Sunday I stepped out of my hotel to find they'd cordoned off basically all of Uptown to make way for the Israeli day parade. I was fenced in wherever I went and you had to walk several blocks to cross the road at designated points. All I wanted was a bagel, but I had to go all round the houses! Ultimately, I ended up being escorted by an exasperated NYPD officer who sensed my urgent need for poppy seeded boiled bread, and walked me to the famous Liberty Bagels as it was literally within eyeshot. He then regretted that decision immediately as I proceeded to hold up the entire queue while I hummed and hah’d over the hundreds of fillings and bread varieties.
As always with my USA trips, I never want to leave and I put off getting that taxi to JFK for as long as possible, even doing a final 30-minute bike ride in Central Park, avoiding the sneaky hills. It had been a hugely successful "first trip since Femur" and the only issue coming home at security was my decorative underwear setting the beepers off, not all the metal in my leg. I might just give up trying to be pretty and wear granny pants in future. They'll be less hassle and result in less frisking.
There's a saying in a certain spiritual tradition that talks about how your body returns from a trip, but your soul remains there a little longer. I forget the quote or specific religion exactly, but I can definitely relate. Mentally I’m still roaming around Manhattan, picking all the best bits out of Whole foods salad bar, gazing up at the empire state building or asking someone where the 'restroom' is. I'd normally stay in this mindset for a good few days at least, only on this occasion there was no time to afterglow, as I was straight off to Daventry and my return to the iconic Henry Ford Academy. I was there for two weeks presenting for the launch and training of the new Ford Explorer! Jetlag? What jetlag? Give me an auditorium full of around 200 people a day and strap a Britney mic to my face! I'm happy to report that despite the 13 hour days, my femur held up OK!
Yes, I was achy as HELL but maybe that's just something I'll have to live with? I was more gutted my Holiday Inn hotel room didn't have a view of Central Park! I was looking out onto the overflow car park and a neighbouring field, which wasn't all bad as I parked Pedro directly opposite my window which instantly improved it. Sadly not much could be done to improve the hotel mini gym, which consisted of two old treadmills and rowing machine, in a windowless box room resembling a depressing prison cell. But this actually did me a lot of favours as it forced me to attempt the rower! If you've never tried to row with one leg that bends more than the other, it makes for an interesting, lob sided, slidy-bum ride! I've added this into my rehab routine now I’m home. Partly for shits and giggles, adding a sense of jeopardy to my cardio without risking falling from a great height. And partly because it genuinely will encourage that leg to bend! Next up in the gigs will be presenting training videos with the Toca medical team at the Oulton Park BTCC round. (Because I'm now a poster girl for health and safety after throwing myself off a wall!) I'm beyond thrilled to have been asked and little did I know, I’d be ticking one big crazy cool goal off my imaginary list...
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