Nick tried to do lunges for the first time today, propped between two wood thingies. It didn’t work, and we realized lunging is not a good idea. Lesson learned. And part of that lesson is that you can’t find your limits unless you test them. Or something like that.
See: lunges.
Ignore: mesh Madonna gloves.
Have you guys seen this yet? Have you seen this shit? Oh my god! Nick Fener just surprised the hell out of me today. He surprised himself.
Check out this video of Nick running for the first time since his accident. On the eve of the 17 month accident-versary, he pushes himself harder than he ever thought possible and runs at 6 MPH. He is strapped into a hanging harness and holding on with a vulcan death grip to the handrail, but he’s FREAKING RUNNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Believe it or not, THIS is therapy. Strong man Nick Fener lifted his wheelchair over his head.
I think this was Bri’s idea, although it screams of Fener’s ferocity. The chair is around 25 pounds. It’s not terribly heavy, but it’s cumbersome. The balance required for Nick to pull this off is impressive to me.
Knees up!
Nicks balance is getting so much better.
I love it when Nick is up to going out without me. It’s so freeing and liberating. This afternoon, after an ass kicking time at the gym, he visited with some friends at Skydive Elsinore. He saw a lot of friends for the first time since his accident, and got to catch up with so many cool peeps. And he loves to watch people skydive, so it was a double bonus.
After only two sessions at Project Walk, I’m already noticing a difference in myself. I’m deeply inspired. Yesterday there were so many girls there. Many were my age, working their butts off! Some had upper body limitations, and all had lower body limitations. A few were re-learning how to walk with their paralysis, and many were doing mat work to simply allow their body the range of motion outside of their chair.
Project Walk is like any other gym, but specifically tailored to the needs of people with spinal cord injuries. These people are here to work! I’ve been going to the gym for many years and have never found much motivation from the other fit women working out around me. But there’s something about seeing these beautiful women with life altering injuries, pushing through their pain to work out at their gym. It inspires the hell out of me.
These brave women are paying the same amount of money for a single two-hour private training session at Project Walk as I pay for six months of dues at my gym. No insurance covers this specialized training, and there are no price breaks. But it’s worth it, especially for people who cannot physically utilize a typical gym. When I think about the dedication these ladies have, and the obstacles they are overcoming, I am deeply moved to better my own life.
How dare I take my own body and mobility for granted! How pathetic it is to make excuses for neglecting my fitness because I’ve “had a rough year.” What a shame it is that I haven’t been taking the utmost pride in my body and my life while I still have both. Why not fight to keep what I have, instead of letting it slowly slip away? I am the most out of shape I have been in several years, and it makes me so angry that I’ve allowed this to happen. If these incredible girls can get to the gym, despite the extreme costs for their specialized training, and despite their disabilities, obstacles and pain, then I sure can too! I have NO excuses anymore NOT to be healthy and fit. Thank you strong ladies of Project Walk for motivating me to push myself harder physically, and “use it before I lose it.”
Working hard at the gym with his new trainer Jamon. Here he was throwing the rope up and down for thirty seconds and then he had to pull it all the way into him with a weight on the end, and repeat.
Where are they now? NIck and Lindsay Fener can be found at FenerAdventures.com
Nick Fener 