Treat Exercise Like A Term Paper....Guilt and Cram

My New Year's challenge to myself was to sign up for a group called CWW or Colorado Wild Women. I am not a joiner, especially of an all women group, (In college, my friends and I saw frats and sororities as something for the deeply uncool and insecure ,well.....that and I couldn't exactly smoke bong hits all day in one of those places now could I) but guilt is a big motivator and if I have to answer to someone for my exercise habits, I am more likely to do the actual exercise.
I have a strange but not uncommon, lingering result of my cancer and that is lymphedema in my arm. Primarily my hand. I had all my lymph nodes removed in my right arm which means that if I get an infection, bug bit, scratch, burn, carry grocery bags, etc, I am apt to have a reaction. The lymph system is not there to drain anything. I am trying to nip it in the bud before I become the person I freaked out on in the medical journals,,,,hellooooo elephantitus? I went to the hospital for my lymphatic massage which is MUCH more pleasant than it sounds. The PT wrapped my arm and I go back twice a week for 3 weeks to see how it works. I am currently attempting to type using my left thumb for the space bar instead of the right one. Doctor's orders.
I am terrified that I am going to go to the first day of training and realize that I am completely out of shape and I am going to get my ass kicked.
So I went to the park, cranked up The Clash on my Ipod and hoofed it for an hour hard in the balmy 7 degrees. Listening to "London's Burning" makes me realize that my youth was most certainly not misspent, but it was completely fantastic and I wouldn't change a thing. I then signed up at the gym and start panic swimming tomorrow.