You know, I try not to whine. ("What, you? Ha!") No, I really do. But this shoulder thing is driving me nuts. My dryland range of motion is a lot better, but as of last night, swimming hurts just as much as it did on race day, on both sides. Based on online descriptions, I actually don't think it's my rotator cuffs, but that's about the only good piece of news. Shoulders are tricky beasts to heal. And a week of Aleve, ice, and heating pads has so far done diddly squat. And I have an 8-mile race in 5 weeks which I don't want to miss. Not to mention the team in the Netherlands that I'll be swimming for, full of kids who have 16-year-old shoulders instead of 21-year-old ones. This better not be a sign of aging. I'm supposed to be young and strong and invincible, and my body's supposed to do whatever I want it to, because I say so. (So there.) ...For another 9 years, at least. When I'm 30, maybe I can start admitting to having to slow it down a little, but not YET. Grrr.

Okay, I'm done being in denial now. The point is, I don't want to go to a doctor, because if I don't go, I don't have to be told, "No swimming for three months," or something equally devastating. Plus, after that 'do-I-or-don't-I-have-a-blood-clot' thing 3 weeks ago, I've had enough of doctors. Not only that - I can't think of anything they'd tell me to do that I'm not already doing. Ice, heat, anti-inflammatories, the occasional gentle stretch, and no vigorous exercise with my arms. (I kicked 2000 meters last night at practice, because I couldn't do anything else. Sigh.)

Okay. That's all for now. Send some healing energy my way, okay? I'm off to get a much-needed haircut; I am dangerously close to a mullet.

[/whining]