Trail Marker #13 Honor Recovery Time
When I was 26, and my kids were ages 4 and 2, we decided to take them on a two week camping trip, packing up the big old canvas tent and all the camping equipment my parents used when I was young. I even borrowed the rowboat and station wagon for the trip. Theresa and I set off on this adventure, meeting up with our best friends Steve and Laura.
Taking the kids into the woods for two weeks required the constant need to round them up, clean them off, and find ways to entertain them. During this trip Steve nicknamed my two year old daughter Patience. It is a trip that is etched into all our memories.
It is the word Patience that is echoing in my being today.
I am twelve weeks post surgery on my left knee, and five and a half months post surgery on my right one. I am ready to get life moving again. My knees are still healing.
Today I am taking a recovery day. I have been building up my biking hours and walking distance over the past week, and my knees have responded pretty well. Some swelling and the normal pain. But today I need to let go and relax.
My mind is having a hard time with this. I want the energy of a two year old in the woods and I want instant gratification.
Frontloading my Appalachian adventure, I know I will need to take zero days weekly. Days when I get off the trail and let my knees and body recover. Building this skill now will matter later.
My challenge is that spring is arriving. I want to work outside. I want to go hiking. I want to get things accomplished. With a limit of about 3000 steps on a recovery day, there is not much I can do that will not push me out of the recovery day I am trying to honor.
To help me slow down, I decided to write. I am looking at the things that will keep my mind active and my dreams moving forward as I recover. I am tapping into the patience that is needed during winter while simultaneously living through this transition to spring. I have to remember that summer is not here yet, even though my knees have had some good days recently.
Patience. I can hear my best friend repeating the word to me.
Time for me to listen and honor the importance of recovery time.
So let me ask you this.
What does a recovery day look like for you?
What do you do when you are taking time off from the trail?
🥾 Trail Notes
Rest is not a pause; it is part of the plan.
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