I agree with Sarah (and she’s the reason I found you on Substack in the first place)! I meant to comment on your last post about grief and all that you were/are sitting with…on how much I appreciated your sharing your path through such difficult moments of your life in such a vulnerable way. I’m so glad to read today that you’re at 16 weeks, feeling strong on the bike, and progressing with hiking (I have fully embraced hiking as my go-to activity along with a renewed confidence in biking, too). I’m sending all my best wishes to you in the weeks ahead, and look forward to reading about what’s next.
I've appreciated reading your thoughts on this injury. You were always two or so months ahead of me, so I went back to your old posts multiple times to compare and contrast. Thank you, and wishing you the best in the ongoing journey.
I’m glad my old posts are helpful. I have a friend who is two months ahead of me, and her Strava posts keep me focused (though I have to remind myself that we all have different recovery timelines). For example if everything keeps going smoothly (and that’s the big elephant in the room with this injury and recovery), I can reasonably expect to be running 10 miles on trail around Labor Day, and that’s a fun thing to look forward to. I hope your path continues to be straightforward!
Thank you! It's always helpful to have milestones to look forward to. I'm recognizing how important that is now as I set out into the wilderness of this particular injury recovery.
I sent you a Strava follow request if that's okay. As I mentioned in this post, I'm still deciding whether to launch the return-to-run training. (My PT conducted all the tests yesterday, and I'm still at least a few weeks out from being strong enough to do so. My summer plans mean either way I won't try until fall.) But as you've done with your friend, it's always helpful for ideas and inspiration.
Oh, and I'm watching the Babylon fire with great interest (it's bearing up on Canyonlands while decimating the Bears Ears area)...that it's over 100,000 acres n still zero % contained is disheartening for sure...I guess there's just not much reason to spend a ton of $$ to fight it to stop it, rather than just sort of steer it (its fast heading up towards the Needles district...Wondering what the Druid Arch area will be like when it's finally out).
We don't get fires super close to where I live very often, but we do get smoke plume now n then, but with seemingly the entire state of CO on fire, and Southern Utah struggling, I feel ur pain. U are definetly being crushed by smoke, more than I've ever experienced for sure (I'm looking at getting and modifying a personal Hepa filter and mask like Beat made for u) for when we do get the smoke (our time is coming soon, our fires are usually summer n fall). Man, global warming is so freaking obvious, and it's just getting worse by the day.
Fire activity on the northern half of the Babylon Fire has slowed down quite a bit. This is probably a fire that will burn all summer, but I am more confident that they'll keep it out of Canyonlands proper. It's chewing its way east through the Abajo Mountains, which are lovely themselves, and may threaten the town of Monticello. But so much can happen, as is the case with all of the fires in Colorado. But yes, fire seasons are so much worse than they were even ten years ago and it's going to continue to keep getting worse. I will have to permanently leave the Western US eventually. Not that anywhere is safe from the effects of climate change.
Wow Jill....just wow. You are SUCH an excellent writer! You can very thoroughly and eloquently describe what's going on in your life, whether it's your amazing Tour Divide ride, (that became your book Be Brave, Be Strong...which has become part of my mantra to this day), your earlyraces up in Alaska (which became your Ghost Trails book), or your even more amazing ITI full length race (Iditarod Tour Invitational) which became your book "Into the North Wind" (I sadly only have that one on my Kindle, the other 2 I have in treasured autographed paper copies).
As always, you bring us along on your journey, whether it's a crazy ,(to us) adventure, or surviving a terrible injury and all that entails.
I've been SO very fortunate in my life to have nearly zero experience of what you've just gone thru (not that I'm injury free by any means, I've done a lot, and have my own scars to remind me of those stories...as the saying goes "we all have our crosses to bear"). Anyway, I'm so thankful for my life, and that I can still 'get out there,' whether that's alone, with a few friends, and most importantly with my brothers.
I'm retired now (so I'm not exactly a 'Spring Chicken') but still riding, hiking, and enjoying what life brings my way. Right now at this very moment, I'm enjoying the live Peacock broadcast of Stage 5 of the Tour de France, with a cup (or 4) of tasty coffee and snacks, INTERNET (it's a sprinters day so the race is kind of boring just now), and my girls Sophie and Abbey (bulldog and mini bull terrier) keeping me company and begging for bites of whatever I'm eating.
Life is good! Hang in there, and thanks again for bring us along on your journey, wherever and whatever that is! (also, I apologize for any obvious mistakes in this rambling comment, I'm typing it on my phone during the race rather than on my full size desktop keyboard, and as an Old Guy, typing on a smartphone is quite challenging). Game ON!
As always, you bring us along on your journey, whether it's crazy adventures or 'surviving' a bad injury and all that entails.
Thanks Matt. I've missed your blog comments. I'm glad to hear you're still tearing it up out there. I've had so many people try to talk to me about the World Cup and now the Tour de France. I should tune in so I don't sputter like an idiot every time.
Congratulations for coming out the other side, and thank you for the reflections. This gives me hope as I'm recovering from elbow surgery and about to go in to do the other arm. It's not nearly as serious as your knee injury, but it has derailed my summer. I look forward to the day I am proclaimed injury–free!
So much! The air cleared up today — just a matter of wind flow; it's likely to be back and forth all summer here. But it's rather incredible how much better it feels to breathe clear air after nearly 10 days of haze. I haven't even done anything different today; I just feel more alive.
Some of your best writing came out of this injury! Take care and keep healing.
Thank you, Sarah.
Celebrating this win with you, Jill!
It has been an endurance journey.
I agree with Sarah (and she’s the reason I found you on Substack in the first place)! I meant to comment on your last post about grief and all that you were/are sitting with…on how much I appreciated your sharing your path through such difficult moments of your life in such a vulnerable way. I’m so glad to read today that you’re at 16 weeks, feeling strong on the bike, and progressing with hiking (I have fully embraced hiking as my go-to activity along with a renewed confidence in biking, too). I’m sending all my best wishes to you in the weeks ahead, and look forward to reading about what’s next.
I've appreciated reading your thoughts on this injury. You were always two or so months ahead of me, so I went back to your old posts multiple times to compare and contrast. Thank you, and wishing you the best in the ongoing journey.
I’m glad my old posts are helpful. I have a friend who is two months ahead of me, and her Strava posts keep me focused (though I have to remind myself that we all have different recovery timelines). For example if everything keeps going smoothly (and that’s the big elephant in the room with this injury and recovery), I can reasonably expect to be running 10 miles on trail around Labor Day, and that’s a fun thing to look forward to. I hope your path continues to be straightforward!
Thank you! It's always helpful to have milestones to look forward to. I'm recognizing how important that is now as I set out into the wilderness of this particular injury recovery.
I sent you a Strava follow request if that's okay. As I mentioned in this post, I'm still deciding whether to launch the return-to-run training. (My PT conducted all the tests yesterday, and I'm still at least a few weeks out from being strong enough to do so. My summer plans mean either way I won't try until fall.) But as you've done with your friend, it's always helpful for ideas and inspiration.
Congratulations. Tremendous insights and lessons learned. Thank you for sharing them.
Your writing has been fabulous and so well appreciated, I hope you really know that. 😁
I also hope the move to Switzerland is still on… biking in Europe could be just the ticket for you! Clean air, beautiful scenery… 😉
We are heading out to Europe soon to spend the rest of the summer. I can't wait!
That sounds awesome!! Safe travels!!
Oh, and I'm watching the Babylon fire with great interest (it's bearing up on Canyonlands while decimating the Bears Ears area)...that it's over 100,000 acres n still zero % contained is disheartening for sure...I guess there's just not much reason to spend a ton of $$ to fight it to stop it, rather than just sort of steer it (its fast heading up towards the Needles district...Wondering what the Druid Arch area will be like when it's finally out).
We don't get fires super close to where I live very often, but we do get smoke plume now n then, but with seemingly the entire state of CO on fire, and Southern Utah struggling, I feel ur pain. U are definetly being crushed by smoke, more than I've ever experienced for sure (I'm looking at getting and modifying a personal Hepa filter and mask like Beat made for u) for when we do get the smoke (our time is coming soon, our fires are usually summer n fall). Man, global warming is so freaking obvious, and it's just getting worse by the day.
Fire activity on the northern half of the Babylon Fire has slowed down quite a bit. This is probably a fire that will burn all summer, but I am more confident that they'll keep it out of Canyonlands proper. It's chewing its way east through the Abajo Mountains, which are lovely themselves, and may threaten the town of Monticello. But so much can happen, as is the case with all of the fires in Colorado. But yes, fire seasons are so much worse than they were even ten years ago and it's going to continue to keep getting worse. I will have to permanently leave the Western US eventually. Not that anywhere is safe from the effects of climate change.
Grr...stupid phone, that last bit somehow morphed from above, somehow the phone does things I'm not aware of till I hit Send...n then can't fix it.
Wow Jill....just wow. You are SUCH an excellent writer! You can very thoroughly and eloquently describe what's going on in your life, whether it's your amazing Tour Divide ride, (that became your book Be Brave, Be Strong...which has become part of my mantra to this day), your earlyraces up in Alaska (which became your Ghost Trails book), or your even more amazing ITI full length race (Iditarod Tour Invitational) which became your book "Into the North Wind" (I sadly only have that one on my Kindle, the other 2 I have in treasured autographed paper copies).
As always, you bring us along on your journey, whether it's a crazy ,(to us) adventure, or surviving a terrible injury and all that entails.
I've been SO very fortunate in my life to have nearly zero experience of what you've just gone thru (not that I'm injury free by any means, I've done a lot, and have my own scars to remind me of those stories...as the saying goes "we all have our crosses to bear"). Anyway, I'm so thankful for my life, and that I can still 'get out there,' whether that's alone, with a few friends, and most importantly with my brothers.
I'm retired now (so I'm not exactly a 'Spring Chicken') but still riding, hiking, and enjoying what life brings my way. Right now at this very moment, I'm enjoying the live Peacock broadcast of Stage 5 of the Tour de France, with a cup (or 4) of tasty coffee and snacks, INTERNET (it's a sprinters day so the race is kind of boring just now), and my girls Sophie and Abbey (bulldog and mini bull terrier) keeping me company and begging for bites of whatever I'm eating.
Life is good! Hang in there, and thanks again for bring us along on your journey, wherever and whatever that is! (also, I apologize for any obvious mistakes in this rambling comment, I'm typing it on my phone during the race rather than on my full size desktop keyboard, and as an Old Guy, typing on a smartphone is quite challenging). Game ON!
As always, you bring us along on your journey, whether it's crazy adventures or 'surviving' a bad injury and all that entails.
Thanks Matt. I've missed your blog comments. I'm glad to hear you're still tearing it up out there. I've had so many people try to talk to me about the World Cup and now the Tour de France. I should tune in so I don't sputter like an idiot every time.
Congratulations for coming out the other side, and thank you for the reflections. This gives me hope as I'm recovering from elbow surgery and about to go in to do the other arm. It's not nearly as serious as your knee injury, but it has derailed my summer. I look forward to the day I am proclaimed injury–free!
Wishing you a speedy recovery! Two surgeries in the same year would be a challenge.
Bet you cannot wait to get to the clean, clear air of Switzerland!
So much! The air cleared up today — just a matter of wind flow; it's likely to be back and forth all summer here. But it's rather incredible how much better it feels to breathe clear air after nearly 10 days of haze. I haven't even done anything different today; I just feel more alive.
Thank you for being open and sharing about this journey. It's great to hear that you are getting good news!