Slow Climb Up the Mountain

I know I've been MIA for some time. Well, after my last race (5K in August) - actually some time before but I was trying to ignore it - I was having knee pain, the nagging numb kind that didn't go away after a few days.  So I went to the orthopedic doctor - my knees weren't in good shape.  He didn't completely rule out running, but he wasn't very encouraging either.  He strongly recommended I consider other forms of cross-training - still not a go sign.  Having degenerative knee disease (a fancy name for arthritis) and being heavy is certainly not the ideal combination for running.  But I'm not giving up totally on 'running' - I'll just have to 'speed up' my walking - my 'rog' (run/ jog) will probably turn into a 'wog' (walk/jog).  But first I need to do everything I can to get my knees healthy.  So, it's physical therapy and concentration on strength training and other forms of cardio - biking, water aerobics, etc.)   Maybe I'll finally learn to swim (LOL).  I've been in therapy for the past few weeks and that has certainly helped.  I hope my doctor will prescribe a few more weeks.  This week I go back into the gym - hopefully 2-3 days.

I feel like I'm at the base of Mt. Everett and looking up toward the peak.  I can't see it because it's far above and obscured from view by the clouds.   But I know it's there because I've seen pictures of it and read stories about others reaching it.  I know I can climb it too - maybe not as fast as those before me, but I will reach the peak in my own time.  I have to keep climbing - one hand over the other, one foot in front of the other.