Shoulder Update: It seems to be usable again... a few weeks ago, I designed a bike jersey using the logo from the Accessible Icon Project and I had promised them a picture when I got the jersey. Of course that meant I should go for run! I went out for 30 minutes; my shoulder was tired and the uphills weren't so good, but no severe pain as before (the last 30 minute run put me in the ER).
Now... onto the main event! I signed up for the BORP Adaptive Sports Fest at their adaptive cycling center, where all participants could sign up for cycling, kayaking, or climbing. I signed up for all three. Of course. I signed up for climbing first... then kayaking, then cycling.
Climbing: I was most excited for this since I hadn't done it yet, so as soon as they signed me in and I said hi to the few people I knew, I headed around back to the wall. The wall and adaptive gear were designed and brought in by Mark Wellman (1st paraplegic to climb Half Dome and lots of fun to talk to). When my turn came up, I was helped by Wes... after I told him one leg works, one leg doesn't, I can stand, and my upper body is pretty strong, he put me in a harness; he said it was basically a rescue harness so it was a seat, but not entirely supportive. They had a more supportive seat for those that needed it. My climb with the harness was with a bar and I did pull-ups until I could hit the bell. He had put me on a 3:1 (next time I see him, he's putting me on a 2:1), so I was pulling a third of my weight and I did it pretty well.
Then we headed around the side and he sent me up the flatter side of the wall. I was quick with this one as well, so Wes proclaimed we were "going around the world with this one!" and Mark said I looked great!
And so I headed up the side that had some bumps to go over. I got stuck about halfway up... with Wes's help, I made it a little further then took a rest. He tried to help me again, but the problem was I couldn't get my left leg to where I needed it and told him I needed to come down. With an hour left before my kayaking time, I wandered around, talked to some new people, got a BORP hat from Greg (head of the cycling center), and offered my help at registration.
Kayaking: Since I have some experience, they put me in kayak and pushed me into the water. BORP has an adaptive dock; the kayak is brought up on some rollers so we can board whichever way is comfortable (I prefer throwing myself over, but there's also a seat to move from, which also can be pulled out over the kayak), then the kayak is pushed into the water, where there's some bars to get your balance before you're on your own. My first kayak was a wide sit-on-top... I found it a bit too easy too steer, but very stable. I was told to use less strength, but even though I got better at it by the time I was headed back in, I much prefer the kayaks I usually use. I got to the dock and floated around until it was my turn to come up.. this was when I learned I was only supposed to go about halfway out on the lake (I had gone almost to the end). I learned this when I heard Greg say "Kerry's a rebel, she probably went to the end!"
If you look really close, I'm on the dock in front of the yellow kayak telling the volunteer I don't want the tippier kayak
When I was first talking to the volunteers, they wanted to put me in a closed kayak, but had scared me off when they said it was tippier than I'm used to. While I was waiting to be pulled in, I decided I wanted to try it so they happily switched boats for me and threw me back in the water. This time I only went halfway out, but mostly because the extra balancing hurt my hip. As soon as I told them that, they got me out pretty quick. I then headed to lunch! The sponsors for the event, Apple West Home Medical Supply, provided burritos for all participants.... and I found more people to talk to for a while.
Cycling: This is where I usually go hand cycling, so this was just a bonus.. especially since I haven't been able to go much since I moved farther away. They put me in a racing cycle and I zipped around the lake, but didn't want to push my luck with my shoulder. Yet.
Climbing Rematch: After getting out of the hand cycle and talking to some more people, I went back to the climbing wall. I had intended to just watch, but then I asked the volunteer if I could be put on the list if there was time. Later, Mark and Wes announced they would stay until they were done, so when they had gotten through everyone else, Wes came over and asked if I wanted another workout. I told him I wanted a rematch with the wall. He hooked me up, we talked strategy, then I headed up... I got stuck about the same place again, but Wes helped me get a bit farther before I needed to rest. When I got back on the wall, I saw how close the bell was. I believe I yelled at it... then made it up the last two feet and rang the damn bell to many cheers from the ground. After coming down, I stayed by the wall for a bit, got a poster signed by Mark, then headed out.
There weren't many people left, so I ended up talking to a small group for a bit before heading to my car. I had gotten there at 10am and left at about 6pm... I got home about 7pm, so after eating a quick dinner and taking a shower, I went to bed. This morning, I woke up with a new pain; soreness! Yeah, the usual creakiness was still there and my leg (mostly my hip) hurts from using it more than I should have on the wall, but I am sore in places I forgot I had... and that made me smile this morning. And my shoulder still seems to be good! The only pill I have taken today is the vitamin D.
I call that quite the victory. Where's my bell? ;)
On a side note: I made a new friend, the founder of LYDO (Live Your Day Overcoming), committed to helping everyone see the positive in each day. Still working on getting myself back to the eternal optimist I had been, it was really good to talk to someone else that has that same mindset; each day we wake up is already a good day. Check out the organization... I think it's gonna be big =)
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