Half IronMan for Rocky!

203 days on July 01, 2012

My pal Lynne has wanted to do something to show her support for the journey I have been going through grieving and healing. She hatched a plan back in February that has given me something for which I could strive and look forward. Knowing that I often plan these infamous “24 hour adventure Days” She came up with a similar challenge that I have never attempted but will serve its purpose of suffering, pain and enduring. There are a handful of us that will be trying to complete a ½ Ironman this Sunday July 1^st. It is the first of what we hope will be a second fundraiser annually for my brother’s foundation. The Kirk ”Rocky” Derichsweiler Memorial Foundation https://www.facebook.com/dana.derichsweiler#!/pages/Kirk-Rocky-Derichsweiler-Memorial-Foundation/324518870906543

 Everyone entered is making a donation and I am asking for pledges per mile. We have been able to do some great work through the foundation focusing on educating kids about organ donation and getting kids on bikes through Community Cycles.

The next place we are looking is to find a way to help some of the wild fire victims. Rocky would have it no other way.   

Let’s break it down –

1.2 mile swim -- I got this, not super fast and like most cyclist I will just want to get through it.

56.0 mile Bike -- this is where I plan on getting in a groove… it is a long ride  and will be my longest with my new knee but I feel good about the ride.

13.1 mile run --  this going to hurt, there is no cheating when you run I am going to have to really push myself albeit slowly to finish this 13.1miles. It will be the furthest I have run in years since before having knee issues!

Here is the scoop on Knellie, my new knee –

I would say I am close to about 70% on my recovery. She still has some swelling and I am pushing it of course but in a calculated careful way. I have been working so hard at rehab and it is fun in that hurts so good kinda way. I am grateful to have the opportunity and determination to do it.

I was able to run the Bolder Boulder 10k the whole way without stopping. I am slow and take some time to warm up but I am hopeful I can run/walk my way through 13.1 miles.

I have been healing everything, my knee, my skin cancer that was removed and of course my heart.

Thank You to Lynne for putting this event together. Thank you to Xanthe for loving me well everyday through everything. And, Rocky I feel  you are with me through it all  -  always.

 If you would like to make a pledge say $1 per mile if I finish it all that is $70.30

At .50 cents a mile only $35.15

Now come on I know you can do .25 cents a mile that is only  $17.58

I will post my results! And let you know if I get all of that 70.3

And then you can get me your donation.

When that happens…

Please send a check or hand me cash I can give you a receipt for this tax deductible donation.

KRD Foundation

I/co Dana Derichsweiler

4894 Kings Ridge Blvd

Boulder, CO. 80301

Live Love!

Dana D

Numbers and Timeline

 

It has been 73 days. Today I did a 15-15-15 cardio workout. I decided to mix it up to make Knellie do lots of different things and get the muscles firing better. So, 15 minutes on the elliptical and that felt pretty good and then I am thinking hey this motion is a little bit like running. To the treadmill – I started walking about 18 min/mile pace. Now, I haven’t run jogged since before my first knee surgery back in probably the summer of 2010. One of my goals and reasons for getting this particular knee is that I would really like to run again -  not every day just enough to enjoy it -  maybe run with Xanthe or I don’t know, do a marathon. It occurred to me walking on the treadmill that I could balance myself with my arms and maybe take a little weight off and give a little jog a try. Ta Dah! I tried it and hey that didn’t feel so bad, I tried letting go of the bars and just running you don’t realize how much balance running takes until you haven’t been doing it and you have a new knee then all those little muscles start firing and it felt really pretty good. I started alternating 1 minute quick walking and one minute running I did this for only 15 minutes but I did increase my pace to a blazing 12 min/mile. I had the biggest smile in the gym and left it at that before I got crazy! I then headed over to my first love the bike and gave her 15 minutes – 5.1 miles. This was definitely a big damn deal day for me and I celebrate every little milestone in my recovery!

Here is a little timeline to date – before I forget

Nov. 8 2011

Surgery --  Iduo Conformis knee replacement

Spent this week Icing, on a Tens unit, taking pain meds, 3 days of crutches --  this week hurts and it sucks. You can’t sleep well you have to prop up your leg and change ice in the middle of the night for pain relief of course it gets better but right now it sucks!

Weeks 2-4

All about working on Flexion and extension which is slow going! After 2 weeks the wound has healed enough to take a bath and I take lots!  Constantly working on flexion and it is uncomfortable to sit it's easier to prop the leg up. At about 4 weeks I am at 90 degree flexion but not comfortable with it.  I still ice every day several times.

Weeks 4-6

I can do stairs but not pretty and it is difficult without much flexion. I am moving better but still in pain some and having difficulty sleeping this was also just a tough time for me with everything going on with my brother! I am walking better and doing PT as much as I can. This is when I got the torture chamber the JAS device and did that 3x a day for 30 minutes. I don’t have to ice every day.

Jan 2, 2012

Finally turned over the bike pedal! Rode my bike to work the very next day! This made a huge progression in my flexion and my muscles working and firing. I will NEVER take for granted being able to turn over a bike pedal. Within 2 weeks I am about 110 degrees flexion comfortable and the goal is about 140-145. I continue to ride a little outside and about 30 minutes on the spinner. I can sleep again without drugs and I can sleep on my side.

Jan. 22, 2012

Well, if you read this you know this is the day I first jogged a little! I am no longer using the torture device from JAS but I think it may have helped… I am using my new Normatec Compression Boots which seem to make everything better! I still massage Knellie everyday with Vitamin E oil just to show her some love.

So, still in the thick of recovering – things on my short list a 25 mile ride outside on my road bike and of course….Snowboarding!

Shout out to Rocky – I am getting there bro,

Live Love!