I would strongly recommend reading an earlier post about My very first steps post stroke

Those first steps were June 2023. It’s now 17 months later (December 2024) and life is busy, I “walk” unaided, by which I mean I get up and wander about with no real thoughts or concerns, I walk my dog through the woods, I’ll walk shopping centres, shops, high streets, pubs, roads, fields, hills. You name it I’ll tackle it. I did briefly have a hiking pole as a support in summer 23 but was always keen to get rid and while I can’t give a set date it when, disappeared a long time ago.

I went back to work in March 24, just under a year post stroke. The return took a while to settle but the back half of 2024 has changed the role somewhat and allowed me to do a lot more, much of which has required me to walk distance, speedily and on demand. Where as initially i had happily parked myself in a corner for a day the past few weeks in particular I’ve hit a stride of doing lots of steps and taking opportunities to get extra in when I could, such as joining a work mate walking to the shop.

In September my PT friend was looking at my daily step amounts and challenged me to hit 4000 steps a day so I would easily get over a mile a day. It was a good suggestion and I’ve not missed a day since.

Today, 10th December I was chatting with a colleague about making sure I get my 4000 steps, they noted I’d been busy and likely there already, on checking I was over 3000 steps by lunch.

I got home with circa 7000 and a gym visit ahead of me. I always do a 10-15 minute treadmill walk at the gym, after which I checked and was over 8000. Initially pleased I’d doubled my goal I then realised I was tantalisingly close to 10,000 and while doing upper limb work decided I was having the 10k goal .

With some virtual encouragement from friends I committed to the goal and got myself back on the treadmill, I would periodically stop the treadmill and check my step counter the 9000 seemed to come easily but then slowed down, or maybe I did.

During the frustrating last couple of hundred 9800 on ward steps I started to think about those difficult early steps. The times I thought I’d never walk again, the days of having 200 steps as a daily goal and here I was marching on, on a treadmill, unaided about to hit my goal. I watched the 10000 steps hit my watch. I Desperately looked around the gym for a familiar face to tell and celebrate with but with no one around who I knew I ended up staring intensely at the water bottle filling station to prevent myself having an emotional moment, I couldn’t cry in a gym on a treadmill! Shortly afterwards O jumped off the treadmill and left the gym for home. Excited to tell Rich and lots of other people. Once I’d come down a little and had a protein shake and shower, I settled down with a beer and fired up the blog app to write this post and clear my mind so I’ll be able to sleep tonight.

You made me hurt times ten, the pain was at eleven
Crossed my heart, hoped to die a million times
Thought I wouldn’t come back, remembered who I am
Look at me, I’m still standing

There, there was a time
When I thought I had you, but you weren’t even mine
Cried so much I forgot how to cry
But I gave it time, I gave it some time

And now I’m better than ever, better than ever
Better than ever, better than ever
Better than ever, better than ever
Better than ever

🎶 better than ever ~ Nelly Furtado 2024