Walk for exercise six weeks post-surgery. Nurses had been emphatic. Exercise for recovery from surgery, they’d declared. Exercise throughout radiotherapy treatment, another nurse reiterated. I’d rested and that hadn’t always been an easy thing to do. My body had been healing. Post-op fatigue had eased. I’d discovered that cancer-related fatigue is actually a medical term. Certainly, not a term of endearment. Now it was time to return to Woodlands Historic Park, my local. First treatment done, it’s a cool autumn afternoon as I set off alone. My pace is less energetic than previous walks, BC, before cancer. Walking for recovery is different from training walks when preparing for a multi-day pack hike like I’d done in this park previously. Yet the similar concept is to be aware of your personal physical fitness. That’s not simple right now. Go only as far and fast as your body finds a little uncomfortable? A friend’s tai chi teacher emphasises the “importance of staying within 70% of your potential effort and capacity so that you do things in a relaxed state, avoid harm, and keep energy in reserve”. I rest at every available seat. The next day, and the day after that, I’m more exhausted than I want to believe. My body tells me that I hadn’t stay within that 70%. I hadn’t kept energy in reserve. I’ll try again next time.
