This is no fun, no fun, looking at the wa-all

Everyone remember the episode where Michelle Tanner got put in time out, and that's what she sang?? That is exactly how I feel in the pool and on the stationary cardio machines that don't go anywhere. No fun, no fun, looking at the wavy blue line/screen/wall/etc.

But I'm still hanging in there. I tried out the hand bike at the gym yesterday. Holy crap. Upper body strength has never been my forte, but with the pushups and weights we do in circuit class, I'm about as strong as I ever have been. Two minutes worth of hills on that machine and my arms were ready to fall the heck off. I still did 20 minutes (3.8 miles) and then the plan was to do some strength training. I did all the leg exercises I'm allowed to do. It's been forever since I've done any weight machines, but that's my only option for legs, and OMG it felt good to pay my lower body some attention. I did leg extensions and curls (no foot contact with the ground, doc approved) and the hip abduction/adduction machines. I used to do about 100 pounds on those. I did 170 on one (I forget which), and 190 on the other, 3 sets of 10 reps. That was a small victory. I have some powerful hips! Thunder thighs are good for something!!

I decided against any arm exercises I was going to do after the handbike craziness, and besides, I was having an "I feel fat" day so I worked my abs to death. Felt good.

I ordered a waterproof mp3 player today. Zoning out to my music has made the cardio more bearable, and hopefully it will do the same for the pool. I know that swimming is about the best cardio I could be doing at the moment, for so many reasons, but it's sooooooooooooooooooooo boring. I've been having a hard time making myself get in the pool to go back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. I wish it was at least warm enough to find myself somewhere outdoorsy to swim.

The latest bothersome thing: articles EVERYWHERE about how to prevent injury. Grr. Nobody's perfect, but I tried to prevent injury. It just brings up those unhelpful thoughts that I couldashouldawoulda done something to not be dealing with this now. So I'm avoiding anything about injury prevention. It's not gonna help right now anyway, unless I need to be preventing injury on the handbike.

Oh God. If I hurt my shoulder, I give up. Imma take up competitive eating and gain 300 lbs and be done with it.

I'm thinking that if the Pig is definitely out (and kinda proceeding like it is), I may forego my dreams of a marathon before my birthday. I don't want to force it just so I can meet that goal, and spend money I may or may not have on travel and hotel and etc. The USAF marathon is 9/17, a month and 6 days after my birthday. Maybe that can be close enough. Plus my running buddy says she'll do that with me, so I don't have to endure long training runs alone.

Half Pig is my new goal. I hope I hope I hope. I won't feel quite so bad if I can do the half pig. Killing my old half PR would still be a victory.

As far as the leg goes, it still hurts, but I'm walking better. I've added extra calcium and vitamin D to my multi, and started religiously taking 660 mg of naproxen every morning. Following doc's orders. Fingers crossed!