‪Nine years ago today a two-story stumble off a ladder changed me physically forever. The day started as a normal February morning, although the forty-degree temperature and sun made it feel much warmer coming out of a cold January. I had been to the hospital to make rounds and had done a couple of procedures. Gena and I had eaten lunch and decided that it was so nice (relatively) outside that we would replace the window screens. The screens had been taken down in early December to allow for the placement of large Christmas wreaths by suction cup onto the glass. After taking down the wreaths early in January, we had waited for better weather to replace the screens. Even though it was only in the low forties, we had an inkling that someday soon we might want to open the windows and let some fresh air into the house.

I carefully positioned the extension ladder against the brick of the house for the last screen placement. I went up and tried to work the screen into place in its guide so it coud be locked down and we could finish our outside chores. But this screen was stubborn. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get it to lock into place. I told Gena (who had been holding the ladder) to go inside and up the stairs to pull from the inside while I held the screen in position from the outside. She was only gone a minute or so. But while she was walking up the stairs, I decided to try to re-position the screen one more time on my own. As I was looking up at the track through the lower part of my bifocals, I felt myself losing balance. As I slowly tilted backwards, I felt myself reach a point when I realized I was going down and doing so without the help of the ladder. Gravity was the only assistant I had at this point.

As I began to fall, I was able to kick away from the ladder and spin around, much like a swimmer does when they make a turn off of a wall. I pushed with my legs, twisted, and tucked my arms under my chest hoping not to break my wrists. Well…I didn’t break my wrists. My twist (or spin, or whatever) overshot by a little and I did an almost perfect two point landing using my left leg and my head. There are many who think the crack in the sidewalk came from my hard head, but the only cracks there are by design. My head was okay. My leg…another story. I had an open fracture of both bones in my leg. I was not able to stand and the only way to get to the hospital was by ambulance. So Gena dialed 911.

The first-responder who arrived was a paramedic I had worked with for years. His first question was, “Dr. Lyell, are you going to to tell me what to do, or are you going to let me do my job.” I let him do his job. I was initially taken to the emergency room, had xrays, was given some IV pain meds and transferred to what is now Baptist Health Floyd hospital for surgery later that night. Because of the open wound, I had to have five days of IV antibiotics afterwards before being sent home with a second surgery scheduled ten days later.

Having been somewhat of a runner before the fall, I didn’t realize how much being immobile would affect me. Due to the second surgery and some complications, I did not walk for six months and was not cleared to be on uneven surfaces for another year. That is eighteen months with little exercise other than walking around the house, the office, and the occasional trip to the store. One night, eighteen months after the fall, Gena and I were eating dinner at a local restaurant and somehow began discussing exercise and activity. We left the restaurant and went to a bicycle shop where I bought my first bike. I began riding in the neighborhood, but got bored with that quickly. I joined the Louisville Bicycle Club and went on a few group rides out of Jeffersonville, Indiana, and got some good advice on riding on roads. The journey had resumed.

My appetite for riding was insatiable. I read every article I could find about riding. Soon, my neighbor developed an interest and we started riding together. We would do long rides on weekends and one or two days during the week we would leave after work and ride the back roads of southern Harrison County. We would travel to ride and developed a great love of simply seeing the countryside from a bicycle seat. From 2013 until 2017 we road every chance we could find. One year, I logged over 3,000 miles on the bike. I love riding and am glad I found that as an option for fitness. But I am truly a fair weather rider. I do not like to ride when it gets much below sixty degrees. So what do I do during the months when it is cool? What do I do when it is raining? What do I do when I travel and can’t take my bike?

And along came Crossfit. I started going to CrossFit Enapay in September of 2016 with the express purpose of bettering my posture and becoming a better cyclist. Two and a half years later, it is hard to tell if I am a better cyclist or not. I haven’t ridden much because I don’t want to miss CrossFit. I have been bitten by the bug and LOVE it. I have noticed such a change in my overall fitness that I have not yet gone back to cycling. I plan to ride more this spring and summer but want to incorporate the total body fitness I get from CrossFit with cycling.

As I approach 60 (years of age, not miles per hour) I have finally learned not to try to keep up with the younger people in the gym. I am happy to compete only with myself. But I want to get back on the road. I want to hear the clank of the chain and derailleur as I change the gears. I want to hear the hum of the road slicks on the pavement. I want to hear the whistle of the wind through the side of my helmet. I want to feel the leg burn going up a steep hill and the exhilaration caused by the wind on my face going down the other side.

Had I not fallen and broken my leg, I do not think I would have found cycling. And as a result of the desire to be better at cycling, would not have found CrossFit. As I look back, I was upset, and even depressed, during the months that followed my accident. Now I am thankful for opportunities that have arisen out of that.‬ I am grateful for the new friends I have and also for the chances I have had to cheer and motivate others to expand their interests.

I am passionate about fitness and encourage everyone to be active. The best thing you can do for your mind and your body is to get off the carbs…and get off the couch. Get out there.