Unexpected Obstacles

Our first obstacle is weather! Spring 2014 was scheduled to arrive on March 20th. Apparently, someone forgot to send the memo to Mother Nature. On April 19th there is still no sign that winter is willing to release us just yet. We've completed all of our winter traditions including spring break, and snowboarding the mountain meltdown at Lutsen Mountain in northern Minnesota. It's usually time to think about marathon training and sailing season. Not this year; Duluth Minnesota received 12 inches of snow last week. This is not sailing weather!

Beth - Snowboarding at Lutsen Mountain

Dave - King of the Mountain, Lake Superior

Obstacle number two; Dave and I are often, if not always, nursing a chronic running injury or two. I've been suffering with an old stress fracture. This year I decided to get the darn thing "fixed" and scheduled surgery to shave down the bone fragment in order to stop the painful inflammation I get when I run long distances. Surgery was scheduled for after our Lutsen Mountain Meltdown weekend in April. My logic was this; I wanted to enjoy that last exciting weekend on the big mountain but I also wanted to be ready for our 2014 running season and for sailing. A mid April surgery would allow time for healing before our summer fun begins. Great idea; I thought!

Relaxing on the beach at Lutsen Lodge, Lake Superior

During surgery, my surgeon found out that my "stress" fracture was a little more than a rogue bone chip. I had a full fracture of the calcaneus bone. The break went right into my ankle joint. What should have been a routine surgery turned into a challenge. Dr. Bourne screwed the bone together and drilled a few tiny holes in my heel to encourage healing. Apparently, feet do not heel very well. It has to do with gravity and blood flow. I awoke from surgery thinking my recovery would be two weeks of non weight bearing and four weeks in a boot. My condition sentenced me to six weeks no weight bearing followed by four weeks in a boot and lots of physical therapy. Disappointed about the delay this would cause but determined to remain optimistic, I did everything I was told to do and focused on recovery.

My care givers, who I lovingly, refer to as Nurse Ratched and Dr. Killjoy, show great patience with my occasional tantrums, encouraging me to relax and rest. It's frustrating to be forced to sit still, day after day! I have moments of despair but my outbursts are short. The happy pills kick in really fast and, for a while, I forget that I'm hoping to run a 200 mile relay and a marathon in just a few months!

Wineglass Marathon, Oct 3-5, Bath, NY

Ragnar Great River Aug 15-16

It's no surprise that Dave spends more than a little time each day planning for our summer aboard Mystic. He has purchased bottom paint and a new halyard for the roller furling. He rebuilt beautiful mahogany doors for the head and anchor locker and he had the small tear in the main repaired at a sail shop. He is more than ready for our sailing season to begin. It suddenly struck him that I will not be able to board our boat. Although he could have waited a few weeks to bring this reality to my attention, we would have to figure this out. My first reaction was that he could build me a gangplank. I have a lot of varnishing to do this spring but I realized that the winter from hell would delay this work. It's possible I'll be in the boot by the time the weather allows spring projects. Instead of reacting with emotion, I'm trying to remain an optimist.

Beth aboard Mystic 2013

As we move through my recovery and plan for summer, I realize that life is full of obstacles. There are no guarantees. The trials we are facing this year are small when viewed from the larger lens of life. My mother would say, "Things can always be worse!"

In my heart I know that this too shall pass; I will run, I will sail and I will varnish in 2014. Of this I am certain!