2/21/2026: Getting Back on The Horse (Figuratively)

Getting Back on The Horse (Figuratively)

Two months post-op — and finally — I went for my first run.

Beforehand, I had dreams I couldn’t remember the pattern.

“Right arm, right leg… no wait.”

Turns out, the brain doesn’t forget.

Motor plans run deep.

Soft Goals

I was taught goals should be specific. Measurable. Time-bound.

That was never really me.

My goals have sounded more like:

 • “Have fun.”

 • “Maybe I’ll run a marathon.”

 • “I’d love to hike that someday.”

Soft goals.

Direction without desperation.

They remove the rigidity. The fear of failure.

That doesn’t mean I don’t try.

It means I don’t self-destruct in the process.

Function First

Recovery goals have been simple:

Lift my arm.

Reach a cabinet.

Shake a hand.

Throw a ball.

Basic. Foundational. Necessary.

But function isn’t the same as living.

Forward Again

Today I ran.

It felt good.

Now it’s time for something beyond “can I?”

There’s a kettlebell certification this fall.

There’s the Richmond Half.

So maybe the goal is simple:

Run a race this year.

Get certified.

No pressure. Just forward.

Because sometimes getting back on the horse isn’t dramatic.

It’s just the next step.