Injury update...

Day 144-153
7-29-2006 to 8-7-2006
Started:Herington, KS
Finished: Herington, KS
Today's Miles: 0
Total Miles: 2055.7

Injury Update.....

Pain, Frustration, Disappointment....Resting, Icing, Elevating.... Sore, Bored, Anxious.... Waiting, Hoping, Healing.....

The full range of emotions have cycled their way through both of us as we struggle with conquering an unexpected hurdle that came our way while here in the middle of the United States. We couldn't be happier with the experiences we are having while making our way across this great country. We thought we had reached a point in our physical journey where our bodies were prepared to take on the rigorous challenge of the day in and day out pounding that is the reality of attempting to walk from one ocean to another. It has become obvious to us that most everyone we meet thinks we are crazy for trying to endure such an incredible challenge, as evident by the all too common question of... Why?... "Why would you want to do something like that?" "Why would you even consider walking across Kansas in August?"...Why?..Why?...Why?.... Well, we went through all of the "Why" scenarios long before this journey began and we have not questioned ourselves yet, not even for a second! We realize that we can't put our guard down for even an instant, and that the day in and day out pounding that our bodies are taking is not something that we can ignore. When our bodies try to tell us something we need to listen. Listening to our bodies is why we find ourselves in the current holding pattern that we are in. Our last day of western progress started with the challenge of blistered feet and ended with a limp that wouldn't allow Randy to put any weight on his right leg. We unfortunately have been faced with a hurdle that is requiring us to take a step back so as to get two steps forward, well to get thousands of steps forward actually! The short explanation would say that Randy's lower right leg just gave up under pressure. The more extended medical explanation would describe the tough fascia surrounding the muscle in the lower leg. The fascia is like a compartment that is bound on three sides by bone and houses the muscle in your lower leg. The fascia is slightly flexible and allows the muscle to swell while under the pressure of exercise. The amount of swelling is limited and if the muscle continues to swell, due to trauma, beyond the fascia's ability to stretch the result can be fascial hernias, balloon like pouches that bulge from under the skin on the lower shin. The fascial hernias can become large enough holes in the "compartment" to allow the muscle to be pushed through causing pain and tenderness, numbness and tingling in the lower leg and foot. As Randy now knows first hand, the pain that a breakdown in this area of the leg causes is a pain that will stop you in your tracks. The question we refuse to dwell on is... Why? We prefer to deal with ...What? and When? What will it take for us to be able to overcome this hurdle and When will we get back on track? What does it take to properly heal and When will the muscle and the fascia housing it be strong enough to take on the day in and day out pounding? We've decided that the questions of What? And When? will be met with the answers of Whatever! And Whenever! What will it take? Whatever it takes! When will we get back on track? Whenever we can get back on track! We don't know Why this has happened, but we do know that we will overcome this challenging hurdler with Whatever we need to do, and that we will be making western progress Whenever we possible can! We obviously never planned on living in the small Kansas town of Herington for over a week, but as we have discovered on this journey the best plan is no plan! The people of the Herington area have been very kind and hospitable. Our daily life has been reduced from the grandeur of exploring new land, people and places each day to maintaining sanity while sitting as still as possible allowing Randy's body to heal. We are utilizing every second with rest, ice and elevation and keeping our minds active with books, logic problems and word puzzles. We are all by ourselves in the middle of America and we have never felt less "alone". We have been overwhelmed by the love and support we have received from our friends and family. We can't express how important it is to us to have the amazing support that we feel now more that ever! At a moment when we are being tested to our limits we know that we are by no means "alone", and with the love that has been sent our way in the form of long distance "trail magic" we realize how lucky we are to have all of you as "angels" in our life!

Our hope is to take things one step at a time, literally! We think Monday will be a test day, hoping to hike a few packless miles. Tuesday will be based on Monday's results and Wednesday's based on Tuesday's. We will keep everyone posted on our progress and look forward to sharing our "discoveries" of the new land, people and places we are anxiously excited to explore.

Your Friends on the ADT,
Randy and Sheri
Follow our Journey at www.treckusa.com