{"id":6199,"date":"2024-04-05T07:59:51","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T12:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/garyborders.com\/pages\/?p=6199"},"modified":"2024-04-05T07:59:51","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T12:59:51","slug":"back-in-the-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/garyborders.com\/pages\/back-in-the-box\/","title":{"rendered":"Back in the Box"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I started back in a CrossFit gym a few weeks ago. My recovery from shoulder surgery is essentially complete, though I can tell you if it is about to rain. That shoulder starts aching. And my surgeon absolutely forbids me from lifting any weight overhead. As a friend of similar vintage who has battled shoulder injuries finally concluded, \u201cWhy would I ever need to lift 100 pounds over my head?\u201d Agreed. There are plenty of other workouts still available that get my heart rate up, leave me short-winded and sweaty, and get those endorphins kicking in.<\/p>\n

My coach, Alex, just opened his stand-alone CrossFit gym, moving out of his garage where I took private lessons once a week until the shoulder surgery last May. I am proud of him for taking this path, going out on his own, and plan to support him by showing up at least twice weekly as his official most-senior citizen \u2013 at least for now. I have been doing CrossFit going on nine years now. During the pandemic, I bought a rower, some weights and kettlebells, a set of ring rows and a box for doing step ups. I was forcibly retired from jumping<\/em> on the box by my chiropractor after tearing a hamstring. But I can still step up 20 inches, albeit it slowly and carefully.<\/p>\n

The point to all this working out, which is accompanied by 3-mile walks several times a week, is to keep moving as age 69 approaches. If you can step up on a 20-inch box, you have no problem climbing a flight of stairs, or getting over a barbed-wire fence. Being able to deadlift close to 200 pounds translates into being able to handle a 50-pound sack of fish food. Jumping rope uninterrupted for 100 reps builds my wind so I can chase down Pancho the Donkey if, heaven forbid, he ever gets loose again.<\/p>\n

Speaking of loose livestock, I was sitting in the front-porch rocker Easter evening, finishing up a mystery novel while listening to NPR. It was close to dusk. I looked across the road and<\/p>\n

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spied a half-dozen cows grazing near the pond in the one-road subdivision across from Three Geese Farm. I went back to reading for a minute, then stopped. Those cows are not supposed to be there, I realized. There is no fence between where they are grazing and the county road in front of our place, which gets a lot of traffic, most folks easily exceeding a posted speed limit of 40 mph. One cow in the road could spell disaster.<\/p>\n

I called our county commissioner, who lives about a half mile down the road. He is always responsive and sent out someone to watch the cows until his \u201ccowboys,\u201d as he calls them, could show up with a trailer and corral the cattle. That is how he got Pancho back to us, when our donkey made his great escape last summer. Seeing those loose cattle reminded me that I do not need to get back in the cow business.<\/p>\n

Getting back to CrossFit, I am fortunate to have a coach who knows my limitations well. Alex always scales down the workout to something I can handle. At my age and in my condition, injuries and all, I do not have any foolish pride left. I am satisfied with being able to do what I can do. Heck, I could not jump rope as a kid, so being able to do so at 68 is enough for me.<\/p>\n

It is good to be back working out with other masochists. We encourage one another at each workout. CrossFit people come in all shapes and sizes, and ages as well. I plan to keep showing up at the gym as long as I am able.<\/p>\n

There is one fringe benefit of having blown out my shoulder and having been forbidden from any move that strains or jars it. I am not able to do Burpees, the most hated move in CrossFit. I even have a doctor\u2019s excuse.<\/p>\n

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