I continue to improve from my MCL tear 6 weeks ago today.  Finally, I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and while I’m still on “injured reserve” for many of my fav activities I’ve also been able to do normal things like walk, paddle on flatwater and shop with this incredible human, Kelley Shanan, who I absolutely plan on teaching with as originally sceduled this next Thursday for our Yoga SUP Sundowner event at Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe.  I’ve had to give up a lot of my activities which is fine…really… this summer.  But I’m kind of stubborn about this.  First of all, it’s rare that Shanan’s schedule is open and since she made the commitment I’d be really bummed to miss the opportunity to co-present this fun night with her.  Second, it’s the best way I can think of to kick off the eclipse weekend (that’s eclipsing all other normal activity…haha…mmmm I’m just not that funny…sorry!).  Finally, I think this event will be awesome for those who attend.  It’s yoga SUP which is awesome, on the upper Deschutes on a summer evening.  However, I’ve also had two of my favorite brands step in and ask to be a part of the project by donating raffle prizes.  Product from lululemon and a pair of shoes from Astral.  If you’ve read my blog before you know I love Astral’s shoes AND their company’s values.

Recently, I’ve gotten better acquainted with our local lululemon and it’s new manager Emily Kyle.  She’s a sweetheart, and clearly knows her stuff which Shanan and I recognized on a recent shopping spree. Shanan and I went to the Old Mill location to try on some product recognizing we were both greatly in need of new stuff for this event.  I personally still wear exercise clothes circa 1999-early 2000’s to teach my classes.  I think 50 First Dates was the new release movie and Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were the hot Hollywood couple last time I bought a pair of yoga pants. Probably time to upgrade? Ummmm yeah. Emily hooked us up with product that I’m confident saying will shock (in a positive way) all my regular students.  They might not recognize me.  These clothes are seriously way too cool for me even to wear.  I’ll do my best to do the brand justice.  Shanan, on the other hand, always looks adorable and rocks the lululemon.  You don’t believe me? Come check her out on Thursday night at the event.

Aside from Thursday, I look forward to getting back out to teach SUP and maybe into a yoga studio, in the next few weeks.  Things should get exponentially better from there.  Patience.  It’s been an interesting “ride”.

Thanks for listening and happy paddlin’….

 

Well it’s been an interesting month. What started out an amazing summer full of hiking, biking and lots of paddleboarding then took a drastic 180 when I tore my MCL on July 2. It’s been a soul-searching event for sure with many compromises. My lifestyle has been turned upside down (I might not be badass, but I do many hours of activity a day, frisky ripple-style). I’ve traded in my typical gear…boards, paddles, 1 mm O’Neill capris/paddle jacket, bikinis and my Astral Brewess paddle shoes for laptop, books, knee brace and dresses! It’s a transition for sure…temporary…but different. For the first week I was pretty much laid up in bed or a chair (leg elevated and iced). However, as recovery began I was altogether ready to get out of my studio and back to work, even if greatly modified.

Now a month in, I’ve begun walking—slowly–and have the great pleasure of doing so in comfort and style thanks to some new skids from Astral. We carry their brand at the shop and I needed something that gave me good traction (please, please don’t fall and re-injure myself!), Something comfortable (I need that more than ever right now!) and style (common…even in the direst conditions a gal wants to appear at least marginally cute). I got the TR1-Trek for (eventual) hiking/canyoning, Mary Jay’s for fashion and the Rosa for summer casual. So let the fun begin, trying these shoes out!

I wore first, the TR-1 Trek. I’m sooooo ready to get moving again and hiking is my jam. I simply love getting out into nature. Doesn’t have to be a thigh-burner or intense hike, although I enjoy that plenty. I can also thrive on easy, approachable terrain. These shoes seem great for that…although I haven’t tested them with any true hiking since I currently shuffle along like a slug. In fact, it’s almost imperceptible that I’m moving! What I CAN say for the Trek is that they’re ridiculously comfortable, light weight and highly supportive. That feels great when just about everything hurts from the actual injury in my knee, to the rest of my body that is cranky due to the lying around so much and compensating with the bum knee. When I put these shoes on, it was kind of like a big body sigh. Ahhhhhh.

The second shoe (flip flop) I wore was the Rosa. First, I gotta say that I love red, although this flip flop is also offered in black, gray and turquoise. All the colors are cute and have fun stitching on the top bands to make them “sexier” rather than boring. They’ve got arch support and a back strap so you don’t feel the typical shin/calve tension when walking for long periods of time. This is crucial for me injured, however as a woman who lives in flip flops in the summer it’s nice to save my legs and back in general. I chose to wear these with a dress (as indicated above) but could easily pack them along with shorts or jeans to warmer climes this winter. Their material makes them more durable for, say, international travel this winter to Mexico where I already have dreamy visions of escaping, and have started flight shopping just to appease my anxiety about missing all the great paddling in the PacNW this summer! Props to the Rosa!!

Finally, I wore the Mary Jay’s. Spoiler alert… I jokingly posted on Facebook stating my indecision to wear them in public, just in case someone tried to steal them from me in my compromised condition because they are so super cute. Haha….they’e ADORABLE. All caps. They’re available in several colors but I chose the navy/turquoise. Don’t think that the Mary Janes cuteness negates comfort. They have cushion throughout the footbed with little grooves which I’m guessing are to massage and relax the foot. And p.s…I got so many compliments on them, while wearing them and on the FB post.

You might ask why I am so gung-ho on Astral.  Here’s the thing… I paddled with the RVR2RVR gals the last two years and they rep for Astral.  I ended up hearing more about the company and not only are their products–PFDs and shoes–awesome, but so is the company culture.  How they approach their employees, vendors, and customers.  The whole shabang.  I like to give props where credit is due and when a company excels I think that deserves a shout out.

So that’s the thumbnail on this gal lately… on injured reserve I spend a lot of time getting office work done, rehabbing in the pool and being stoked on my Astrals. Can’t wait until I have more to share!! Hahaha…thanks for listening and happy paddlin’ (get out there and get some for me too!!)

 

 

Sooo the day I’ve been waiting for came yesterday. Ok to be truthful the day I’m waiting for is actually the day when I can run the same section I was running when I tore my MCL to begin with. Or even better, some equivalent stretch on a gorgeous river I’ve never paddled.  But now I’m just sounding ungrateful. I’m entirely thankful to have been advised by Denny, my awesome PT, that I should get on a really stable board, on flatwater and give it a whirl. With the gracious help of one of our rental staff I was able to SUP about 8-10ish minutes on the Old Mill stretch. I never thought I’d find that so gratifying! Let’s face it… I’ve taught hundreds of people on that section of river and I’ll just say it’s lost its luster. Or so it had. Yesterday I was joyous….thrilled! I didn’t break any speed records or even paddle well but I was ecstatic. So much so that I went again today for about fifteen minutes.

There is nothing like water therapy. I’ll go again tomorrow and with any luck I’ll be able to take some “bigger” water soon (bigger than flat, ha!) In the meantime you’ll see me in the pool, on the flats and hobbling around the shop (but gaining speed!)

Thanks for listening and see ya on the Frisky Ripples!

 

Well it’s been about two weeks since my last post which, all in all, is a good thing (at least it means that I’ve been occupied with work, social life and some modified exercise).  It’s been a soul searching few weeks…life lessons that most, I hope I’ll make permanent and other experiences I hope I’ll quickly forget.  Either way, I’m grateful to be getting better sleep, have less pain and now slowly begin to move again.  Right now, I’d like to recognize some people that have helped me–physically or emotionally along this path. There are too many to name so if you’re reading this and are saying “hey I totally helped you Sue, you totally did!!”

The first is a gentleman that lives down the road from my boyfriend’s mom’s house in Gates, Oregon.  He was injured falling off a roof and shattering his heal.  A far worse injury and much lengthier recovery,  Dave is unfaltering in his positivity.  He is kind and compassionate, and perhaps it helps that this man and his significant other are longtime friends of my dad and have known me since I was a little tyke running around the coffee shop.  Encouraging words from Dave seem just a bit more reassuring.  It’s soothing to my anxious heart these days.

Christina from work.  It makes sense to a large degree.  She’s a nurse and has taken the summer off to “take it easy” with us at TCKC.  Her support has been, without a doubt, the only way I was able to make it through work the first week.  I’ve felt like a lazy bum hanging in my office trying to stay off my feet, knee elevated.  Even though it’s a very real injury with very real pain, it’s challenging for me to take the rest. To allow others to do the work for me.  Without her I can’t imagine how I’d have gotten through my workdays.

Angela.  A friend  I’ve actually spent very little time with in the last month, however her sharing with me her experience with again, a much worse knee injury helped at such a crucial time. Angela gave me permission to be angry.  To acknowledge that even though there are so many people with much worse situations, it was okay to take a few moments to be bummed and feel hopeless.  Not forever, of course, but for a little while.

Denny, my physical therapist.  Honestly, my first appointment I was unsure he’d be as good as everyone raved (and just about everyone I know locally knows and raves about him).  Now I see why.  He’s helped my knee physically and been an incredible source of emotional encouragement.  He knows his stuff and it’s helped me keep my faith that this will be a distant memory sooner, than later.

Finally Sam’s mom, Perry who just went through knee surgery…twice!  The first time this last December so she that she would be rehabbed and ready to hit the summer full on, only to have worse pain and eventually go through knee replacement surgery in June.  It’s been a long road for her but has been progressing well.  We text almost daily, sharing and encouraging each other through the experience.  It helps.  Also it helps that she’s just plain awesome and an inspiration to me, in general.

Now, I’ve been given the go ahead by Denny to get on a very stable paddleboard on flat water.  He wants me to work my stability and balance…and probably just knows how therapeutic being on the water is for me.  I’ll start with the moving flat water right outside the shop.  My goal is to be back on “frisky ripples” by end of August (maybe Mehama to Stayton?).  I think it’s a good goal.  A reasonable one.  And after this experience, if not by end of August, maybe by September. I’m okay with that. Look how I’ve “grown”…hahaha.

Thanks for listening…see you on the frisky ripples.

 

Well I’m two weeks “in” today. What I mean is I tore my MCL two weeks ago today leaving me on total bed rest for a week and limited everything the second week. Now, I’m hanging at the same shop/river as that day, watching a bunch of kayakers, rafters and actually some SUP’ers load for a fun paddle. If I weren’t injured, we’d definitely be joining these guys….Andrew and friends, for his birthday celebration. Instead, I sit here, relax, engage in conversation, hang with Mojo (the coolest dog in the world) and I’m strangely okay with it. Monday, two weeks ago I’d have been sad, furious, envious….a kaleidoscope of crazy emotions which manifested as if my life were over. As I’ve previously written, I’m not an “easy going gal” happy watching the day go by, lazily from the couch. Clearly I’d never wish this to have happened, but I’ll also easily admit that there have been wonderful learning lessons…not the least of which appreciating the moment and not being overly anxious to get on to the next thing. I’ve had a ton of support and this injury has allowed me to stop multi-tasking. As a society we revere this “skill” and I’ve always prided myself in being really good at it.  But I’m beginning to think that multi-tasking is shit. It draws you out of the moment, encourages thinner interactions and reinforces an existence of less. I equate it to eating “light” yogurt or ice cream. Over time you get used to it….it even seems to taste good but when you eat the full sugar, full fat, REAL thing, it’s so much better.

Another part of this experience has been remembering the many people that have been through (or are currently experiencing) their own injuries and many, so much worse than mine. I’ll admit, the day or two after I hurt myself I definitely didn’t want to be reminded of that. I was processing how my life would be changing drastically during the most inconvenient part of the year to be on the “injured reserve” list. Personally and professionally. I was in a lot of pain. Exhausting pain. It’s an interesting phenomenon to find yourself in, because we all believe we’re indispensable. We can’t possibly take time off or be away from our jobs because….well, because what? The truth of it is life goes on. People get by. People come forward and help you, help out. Trips go, stores open and close. Boats get sold. Students get taught. It’s okay to slow down and take time to heal.

What have I been doing to heal? Well the standard RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)…yup all of that. Additionally physical therapy and best of all, water therapy. I’m spoiled, in that I’ve been teaching water fitness for two decades giving me access to a pool and know-how, which has been invaluable. It’s by far been the most beneficial for my injury. Physically and emotionally. It’s improving my knee, but also allowing me to move my body and take control of my progress. For me, it keeps coming back to the notion of “Frisky Ripples” …moderation. Doing enough to benefit but not overdoing to my detriment. This is, by the way, not a typical skill set of mine…patience.

I feel it’s important to point something out and the reason I’ve written this post. I haven’t been all zen and wonderfully stoic through this process. It’s been a challenge, and I have been, for lack of any better word, a bitch. A lot. I’ve leaned on friends to help with food or basic needs. I’ve texted and talked with my boyfriend and friends to the point of irritation because I’ve gotten ridiculously bored and/or needy. In paddlers’ terms I’ve run this class 5 rapid and swam. But I feel like I’ve jumped back on my board (or in my boat for you kayakers out there) and kept paddling, trying to stick the next rapid. My simple hope is that I can remember some of these lessons moving forward.

I’d written a bit about my trip on the Tumalo Creek Media Stream (on my Frisky Ripples column). It was more of a “how to” for those people unfamiliar with the Service Creek to Clarno section.  It was my first time on that stretch of river and I shared my thoughts, tips and observations for other first timers.  What I left out is the experience itself.  With more time and space to write, here it goes…

We left first thing from my place in Bend. Geared up with raft, SUP, camping equipment, too much food, and the best dog on the planet we headed east.  I’d spent a little time in the John Day area a few summers ago, but for Sam a whole new experience. A side-note here…I’ve shared very little about Sam on the professional site, but he’s a well-traveled guy.  He’s been to every state in the US and as a world champion kayaker and expedition leader he’s been to (if memory serves) 79 countries around the world.  Still, he’s easily impressed with the natural world and what it has to offer aesthetically which is nice.  Anyone with his experiences could be a total snob about travels–not him.  Just the opposite.  He’s like a kid in a candy store seeing new places, which is a joy to share.  But I digress…

We ended up taking a side-trip to visit the Painted Hills.  For those who haven’t been there it’s pretty damn cool.  If you have the day, do yourself a big favor and also visit the Thomas Condon Paleontology center, hike Blue Basin and stop by for a tour of the Cant Ranch. It’s a perfect mix of activity and nerdiness…my favorite combo (as I’m an adventurous nerd for SURE).  The visit was relatively short but got to see beautiful wildflowers with the hills in the background.

Onward, toward Service Creek, we got ourselves to the put-in where we learned very few people had launched (yay!) on this 50 mile stretch of friskies.  The stretch is rated at class I/II and with the water running particularly high this year we had a lot of fun rapids for this moderate whitewater SUP’er.  Sam was at the sticks for most of the day on the raft with Mojo (“best dog on the planet”) and I paddleboarded, however we switched for awhile, to give him a break, to fish and to SUP.  A lovely day, we cranked out about 22 miles before calling it a day at a campsite we had to ourselves.  Stunning views of rock columns and gorgeous sunset.  Since this was a birthday celebration for Sam we had amazing chocolate cake which was so good we might have had seconds…Rrrrr thirds?

A very relaxing morning complete with coffee (most important) eggs, sausage (what?!…  I’d forgotten the bacon at home…bummer) and there could have been some more cake eaten too…mmmm yum. We eventually hiked to the top of a lookout, and finally set off for 13 miles of river, for the second day.  More fun SUP rapids and more of me trying my hand at rowing which I found really fun.  Furthermore, the rapids are so gentle that I really couldn’t get us into too much trouble on the raft which is perfect for learning.

Our second campsite was also great and unshared with any other campers–going midweek is really the trick to avoid crowds. Sam caught a fish, another great dinner, and the rest is private…haha.

Our last day was an easy 8ish miles.  We’d left the shortest day until the end, however with it being the Friday of Memorial Day weekend there were many people hurriedly rushing the campsites at 11:30am! Glad we missed that.

A bit about the stretch if you’re new to paddling whitewater.  Whether kayaking or paddlingboarding it’s a fabulous stretch to try.  The consequences are minimal if you fall in.  The rapids are approachable for those who have begun their learning curve. (I wouldn’t say a first-time run for a SUP, but then again, I’m a wimp and it’s taken me awhile to get to where I am…which isn’t badass levels). However, do it right.  Take all the normal steps for a multi-day camping trip regarding gear, provisions and safety equipment.  Also, be sure to wear a helmet and quick release leash if you’re paddleboarding.

I lovely experience and a great prep for next year…Clarno to Cottonwood.  A longer and more challenging stretch which hopefully, I’ll be ready for by then.  Anyone been on either stretch please give me your thoughts!  Thanks for listening…