The return of the workout

I am happy to report I am no longer forced to wear the walking cast any longer. I was "released" by the doctor on Tuesday. Of course, he said he wanted me to wear a horrible hard soled shoe thing that is completely grotesque. When he asked if I would wear it, I said no way. He then commended my honesty and told me to take it easy for two weeks or so and only wear work boots or sneakers. Of course, doctor, whatever you say! (Realistically all I heard was no more boot, do what you want!) I still havent taken the foot out for a good run, I am a little bit nervous about it. I did some warm up laps around the gym Thursday before my awful "Cindy" crossfit workout and a few times it felt kind of bad on the foot, so I am actually *for once* taking the doctors advice and starting slow. I have to go back next month for a final x-ray and check up to make sure everything is still healing and good, but for now I am happy to wear shoes instead of shoe.

The "Cindy" workout, by the way, although horrible and painful was gratifying. Of course, still today I feel the pain in my quads and lats. Aaah, its so good to be working out again. I was beginning to get used to the whole not having soreness....it was freaking me out!

I dont know when the next time a SWAT posting will be, I have heard it will be over a year. At least that gives me time to train. I want to be totally buffed out and strong like the crossfit girls I see on the crossfit.com website, so I better start working hard now. Slow painful progression to massive awesomeness, here I come!

Working out

Oh wow, I cant wait to get released to do lower body/cardio/running again. My arms are so very sore, my lats are rebelling, and my shoulders are huge whiners! When all you can work on is your upper body, though, you sure get creative. The first two days I had no vision, boring old one legged push ups and pull ups with some super fun scissor kicks thrown in. Then I got wise and went to my crossfit friend and demanded a crossfit cripple workout. No problem he says! My only condition was no pull ups or push ups. (Again, with the no problem!!!) So I did push presses with weights and dips...21-15-9....no rest. Well, I say no rest, but in all actuality, there was probably some gasping and resting going on in between sets. The key is that you arent supposed to rest. I did my best. He said, oh, you got done way too fast next time higher weight!

I have visions of giant muscles in my upper body making me look like Magda the Eastern European weightlifting champion with the questionable estrogen and mustache....

Back to the working out....sort of

I decided enough self pity and whining, today was the day I would try to get back into a working out routine. Oddly enough, my schedule is so wacked out that nothing in it is routine, but I will be doing a daily workout of some kind anyway. Or at least whatever my schedule will allow. Since I am still wearing the stupid (yeah I hate it) walking cast, it obviously included no running or jumping or good cardio, but I have to make due. I did four sets of push ups, then pull ups, then scissor kicks. It started out with 25-4-25, and made its way sadly down to the last set of 10-1-10. Of course I did them with no rests in between and made my own mini crossfit workout. I have been so depressed and pouty that none of my friends want to hang around with me, so something had to be done. I really miss running. A lot. But then one of my friends sent me a link from crossfit: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fi8.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa6%2Fwaveman1978%2FXfitWoundedWarriors2.jpg&h=8398e57a7f1e03625757eeb7fa88521a

I feel humbled and in awe and will definitely not be whining any longer. I will just adjust and find a way to be healthy and strong until my foot is better!!! Gotta love the friends for keeping things in perspective.

Braggy Bragger-pants

Here it goes... I won an award yesterday. An honest to goodness award! I am the 2009 IMPD Administrative Officer of the Year! When I heard I had been nominated, actually, I was embarassed because I am really just self absorbed enough to not think anyone is paying attention except me! Ha! I got my picture taken with the Cheif of Police and the Mayor and got to be on TV on my crutches accepting the plaque. (Which had to be carried off stage by my BFF) I was also surprised to see a check attached....who knew a monetary prize! They read some paper that had been written up about me, and honest I dont know what it really said, but part of it was the fact I was the first female ever to pass the SWAT physical agility and go to SWAT school. It would have been way way cooler if I hadnt broken my foot and was the first female ever to be on the SWAT team, but this was okay too. Its still some kind of history right? And I totally still plan on being the first female member of Metro SWAT....

What a tragedy

Allright, to all who were watching and reading anxiously awaiting news about SWAT school....
I went. I saw. I kicked some butt. I broke my foot.

The first five days are to see who has the guts and stamina to hang on. Lots of running, painful exercise, obstacles to climb, sand to belly crawl through, guns to shoot, and all of it in cold Indiana weather. The wind never seemed to stop blowing directly in my face. I was cold, wet, dirty, and segregated from the 12 other guys going through with me. After the first day I was so sore and could barely eat anything, and when I ate, I threw it up. Its a wonder I didnt get dehydraded, but thankful for the camelback my boss gave me I always had water to drink. I checked my phone when I came in around 9 pm to my empty barracks and I had a message from my son telling me good luck, he missed me, and wondered what I was doing. I got scattered cell phone service and only intermittently got text messages. I layed in my bunk and wondered if I really could do it physically since I was already in so much pain. We got a surprise wake up call around one a.m. to hustle over to the classroom and put our guns together blindfolded after they were piled in front of us on the table. We had 45 seconds. Of course all the yelling and comments didnt help much but we fumbled through. Then we went back to bed and had class at 0700 on coffee making and trash taking out. Tuesday was more of the same with high obstacles to climb and confidence courses to master. I had the most spectacular fall from some apparatus appropriately named "the dirty name" which managed to knock the wind out of me and crack a few ribs. Nothing can be done for broken ribs anyway, so I went on. After Wednesday I was certain I had entered a new level of Hell accidentally and was being tortured. Thursday we were up at 4 a.m. and dropped in the middle of the woods in the dark with a map and compass and told to find several markers. After slogging around in the woods and realizing everyone was hurting and tired and hungry and cold just like me, I accepted my hell and even grew to love the horrible challenge and accept the pain. Then when we reached our objective and went to the road it happened. I slipped. My foot slipped on some wet leaves and I heard a distinct pop. I tried to ignore it and got into the van. Then as soon as we got back to the classroom, it was time to get our guns and run to the range. I couldnt even walk it hurt so bad and I could feel a popping with every step. I went to the SWAT medics to ask if they could just wrap it up, but they refused saying it would just cause more damage. I told them I refused to give my DOR and I wasnt quitting. They then packed my crap and drove me to the emergency room in Indianapolis where I was diagnosed with Turf toe, cracked ribs, and a fractured foot. I only had one day left. Friday was the last day of hell week and the next week is mostly learning and classroom. I couldnt even talk about it yesterday I was so bitterly disappointed. I suffered through the hardest torture my body has ever been through and bonded with a group of guys I would give my life for, and it was all taken away because of one small mistep. It looks like I have to start this whole SWAT process over.

After shedding some tears about it, and wondering why me, I have concluded they havent seen the last of me. I will make it on the SWAT team. Next year when they have another process, I will be stronger, faster, and smarter than they can even believe.

Another thing that has come out of this is that the Medic and Lt. told me on the way to the ER that I had definitely opened some eyes and gained respect for how far I had gone. (We started out with 13 going to camp, 4 guys quit before they made me leave.)

Its tragic, but I will carry on and keep trying. I guess if you look at it like this, I will still have something to blog about. Ha ha. I will try to post some pictures of me at SWAT school on my blog in the next week or so. Thanks to all for the luck and support.