Great news.

My various broken bones are mending and my attitude is improving. I was really frustrated for awhile that I couldn't move without pain, and being competitive, I don't like to get left behind.

Then I decided (or rather, friends drilled it into my head) that the schedule set by the health challenge is arbitrary. I can achieve my goals at my own pace. First things first, and that's healing.

The last week or two, I've been really looking forward to the workouts and have been focused on doing my best. The ankle has healed enough for me to run up stairs...going up is way easier than coming down.

I have no problem with leg presses. Last week, I pushed 125 lbs and this week it was more. How much more? I didn't ask. Lindsay just writes it all down and occasionally makes noises of surprise at what I do. She says I'm "killing it" at workouts. I believe that's a good thing.

Like last week, I was doing intervals on the treadmill. My goal was to do 400 metres as fast as I could. I can't really run yet, but I was walking/slow jogging at 6% incline and at 4 mph. I was staring at the electronic dot representing my progress and I circled the track. I was pushing really hard, my lungs maxing out, when Lindsay said brightly, "Bump up the speed."

Is...GASP...she...GASP....kidding? All I could do was shake my head.

"Well, that's something when you say no," she replied.

I put my hands on the grip so the electronics could measure my heart rate: It read 171 bpm.

"Oh, that's why you're feeling so bad," Lindsay said, peering over my shoulder. "So just bump it up to 4.1 mph."

I didn't have anything left inside to object, so I did the last few strides at OVER 4 mph. I expect in a couple weeks, this pace will be too easy and I'll have to crank it up even more.

I haven't lost any weight but I seem to be getting more compact. More dense. My pants are looser in the thigh. The muffin-top is less of an annoyance. I see the workouts getting tougher and I'm trying to reassure myself that this progress is good enough.

I'm focusing on staying healthy and giving my all in the workouts. I'm actually loving the hard work. I've always loved running hills, doing endurance stuff, getting into a zone. 

This hard work will result in rewards I'm looking for: Happiness, good health and strength.