The Virtual Track

[RENARDWC at ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu]

One day Joe Duffy told us:

JD> My socket is constructed in such a way that when I flare the stump
    muscles, I lock into the socket so well that even my CP cannot pull
    the leg off, ...

Hmmm...interesting. Did your prosthetist construct your vice-grip socket
this way intentionally...by design...or did it just happen to work that
way?

JD>  ...like my friend curt collier,he too does the same thing and it
    really is the best possible means of suspension. I can even go into
    a light jog just using my muscles...It is not a difficult thing to
    learn and once one gets used to flaring the muscles through his or
    her gait, it not only makes you walk very normal but you also work
    all the muscles in the upper leg as well, which in turn prevents
    muscle atrophy....It is a scary thought at first but once you get
    used to it, it is great.

Hey Mike Dalton, you catching this bit? Okay Joe. Tonight I am going to
try this. There. Suspension off. When I fall on my face, or land on my
keister, you can expect to hear from my lawyer.

Wearing jogging pants but not comfortable with not being able to see the
stump-socket interface so, pant leg up. Blip. I do not know why that
would make any difference but hey, it's what's happening. I wanna see
that puppie.

OK....I walked some. Stays on fine. No need to flex muscle to prevent
slippage, but I also am not wearing a shoe. I also have a new Variflex
foot which is quite light. Matter of fact, while it is more rigid than
my old Flex, it is light enough so that when I wear heavy riding boots,
my leg does not tire nearly as quickly. But, the test will come with
longer distance and adding a shoe.

JD> as far as the triathlon goes, I am hoping for late october

Time enough to get it all together. How's the bike riding? Also, were
you on the list when we were invited to sponsor a rider in:

RS> I am Robert L. Sandlin, a board member of "The Amputee Support
    Association of Hampton Roads" and chairman-coordinator for "RIDE 900
    FOR AN AMPUTEE 99". The ASA is sponsoring a bike ride from Busch
    Gardens in Virginia to Sea World in Orlando, Fl. on September
    11,1999. We need your help to get the word out to all that would
    like to be part of this great ride.We have set as our #1 goal to
    RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF AMPUTEES ALL ACROSS AMERICA. For more
    information visit our web site at;

			    www.asahr.org

or e-mail

<janesan at livenet.net>, <UNOLEG at aol.com>

Thank you

Robert L. Sandlin
----------------------------------------------------------------- PS:
PS: You are welcome to sponsor a rider: we won't cry:
===================================================================
Ya. You know, it would be nice to sponsor a rider. Some nut who wants to
ride a bicycle that far and will represent us. Not as AMP-L but as a
person who said, "Hey, Wanna ride. Can ride. Will ride."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
JD> I have always loved running and sprinting. it has been great to me.
    the motivation comes from within and how running is so good for you
    and sprinting is even better but it is very easy to become focused
    on winning, and sometimes that hurts more than helps...bye

Agree. I only entered one race (5K-1996) with zero consideration of
'winning', if by that one means 'placing'. I had two modest goals. One
was to finish the race. The other was to come in any place except last.
The last 500 K or so a 10 year-old girl who was with her mother, and who
had been close to me during the entire event, passed me on the final
hill. As she did so gawked over at me and grinned big-time, since at
that moment she knew she was not going to come in last place. She knew
the old guy with the gimpy leg was going to be the last place finisher.
I did indeed finish so still won 50%.


Wayne Renardson