Tell Your Story

The Future

The future of this hip replacement is bright. I'm at South by Southwest (SXSW), which has been described as Spring Break for geeks. For the past three days, I've worn a pedometer as I walked around town and around the conference center, just so I can see how I am doing for exercise. Yesterday I walked 15,755 steps, all on concrete. That's the equivalent of 6-7 miles. Although my back is stiff (that's a whole other matter), my hip is fine. So exciting that I can do all this now.

Four Miles

IMG_0588
Originally uploaded by hardaway.

So here I am, walking four miles (this was the half-way mark) on the Sawyer Canyon Trail with my daughter. The day after, I'm fine, if a little sore because I usually don't walk more than 2 miles a day. Now I think I can train for a marathon.

One Year Later...

Francine Hardaway at Poplar Beach with Kodie
Originally uploaded by hardaway.

Here I am on Poplar Beach in Half Moon Bay with a golden retriever of my daughter's. The most important thing about this photo is that I am not in pain, not limping, and capable of walking three or more miles and doing a Power yoga class.

I went back for my follow-up with Dr. Whirlow, and she said I could do just about anything I wanted to, because I understood my body. She also said that the muscles in both my legs looked symmetrical from the rear, and that I had a done a good job of rehab.

She said most people don't get back to where I am because they are not willing to do the work to get all the way back. There's no denying it: it was work. If you read back through these pages, you will see that.

But I set an intention to return to yoga, and I wanted to be able to walk the goldens, and this morning I took everybody to the dog park and it was wonderful.

Ten Months Out

Three Twitterers
Originally uploaded by Robert Scoble.

That's me on the left, walking with friends in Half Moon Bay. Walked a mile with them. Notice no leaning and no limping.

Summer's Gone, But I'm Back

The long tail of the Internet forces me to keep adding to this blog in response to the people who are asking me online if I am "back yet." Indeed I am. In the photo on the left, I am with my two goldens (I am the photographess) on a hill far, far above my home. I walked up two large hills to get here, and then hiked on the POST trail. A year ago I couldn't have done this AT ALL. Two years ago, I could have done it with ease.

This year I did it, a little out of shape in the wind department, but with no pain in the hip, back, et. So yes, I am back.

On Balance

This is a bad pun.  I have, on balance, recovered from my hip replacement.  That means I can hike, walk the dogs, do yoga, take Pilates, and sleep without pain. I have not dislocated. I dance.

However, my balance has been seriously impacted by the surgery and the lack of a piriformis muscle, the weakening of glutes, the reliance on my right side, etc.  As a result, I am even worse at balancing on the left than I used to be, and I was never very good at it (probably because of the scoliosis).

So I think that's the next step in my recovery. I've gotten very "into" functional strength, with the help of Chip Weber, who was the final step in my physical therapy and the only one who gave me any real insight into strengthening and conditioning.  The roller exercises he made me do are still the ones that I depend on, although I now do them through a Fletcher-based Pilates studio.

This is probably TMI for most of you, but I want full functionality, and I will keep working to attain it :-)

Pete Wilson

Yesterday I read in the SF Chronicle that Pete Wilson, a famous local anchor personality, died after undergoing surgery for a hip replacement at Stanford. This reminded me that hip replacement surgery isn't something to take lightly. He had a heart attack during the surgery.

And he wasn't old. And he was at a major teaching facility. Stuff happens. But I wonder if he was thoroughly screened before the surgery as I was. I had to take so many tests, and I was in so much pain at the time, that I resented each one of them. Now I see how necessary they all were, and I once again give props to Janet Whirlow, MD, who made me go through all the correct preparation so that nothing bad happened to me (that I didn't cause through my own desire to do too much too quickly :-)).

As for me, I can hike a couple of miles on a trail, be pulled along by two large golden retrievers, do yoga, do Pilates, and go to the gym. I still don't rotate inward or take my left leg across my body. I don't cross my left leg over my right. I move more mindfully. But that's about it...

Camp Fluppy Puppy

IMG_0854.JPG
Originally uploaded by chelsea hardaway.

The dogs at Chelsea's house in Montara.
L.to r. Kodie and Bodie, who belong to Chelsea, and Chauncey and Luckily belong to me

Second Annual Arizona Entrepreneurship Conference

Agenda and Registration

PHOENIX AIRPORT MARRIOTT HOTEL

November 8, 2007 from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Reception and meet-up starts at 4:30 PM

Looking for funding? Need a new go-to-market strategy or a partner all? Feeling the scarcity of tech talent? You can find them all at the Second Annual Arizona Entrepreneurship Conference – a must-attend for anyone in or contemplating an entrepreneurial venture.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Success” – yours and that of such Arizona superstars as Limelight Networks, Jigsaw Health, and Zenter. Don’t know them? You SHOULD…

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

Opening Keynote

Pat Sullivan, Founder of ACT and SalesLogix, currently Chairman of Jigsaw Health,

on why he started another company, and why Jigsaw Health.

Lunch Keynote

Surprise Guest

Workshops, Panels, and Case Studies

Being Green in Arizona

Real Estate 2.0 – Technology Changes Ahead for Arizona’s Major Industry

Exit Strategies by IPO or Acquisition, featuring the CEOs of Limelight Networks and Zenter (acquired this year by Google)

Women as Entrepreneurs: Some Surprises About How Successful They Are, and in Which Industries

Access to Capital in Arizona

The Process of Innovation: How You and Your Company Can Innovate

Recruiting and Keeping Talent in an Era of Free Agents

Social Entrepreneurship: Making Money and Making a Difference

Social Media Connection: An open invitation to Arizona Social Media Mavens to Come and Meet-up

Evening Reception

With Michael Gerber author of “The E-Myth” and world-renowned entrepreneurship advocate, host of “In the Dreaming Room

No-host Bar

Full conference, $99 before 10/15/07, $125 (regular registration), $150 at the door

Lunch only - $75

Reception only - $50

Social Media Pass - $50

Student - $50

Remainder of copy is exactly the same as last year, except omit TIE and NAWBO as partners