Tuesday 13 May 2014

Endurance sports

For the last 6 years I have been building up to taking on endurance sports and challenges. It started in Set 2008 with a sprint triathlon in Nairn. It was a big deal at the time because I hadn't a clue. I borrowed a bike with clip ons which came as a bit of a shock especially at junctions, but it did make me go faster. I also discovered that if you don't get your pre race nutrition right you may face some discomfort leading to me wondering what end it was going to come out! Fortunately it didn't and you learn and move on.
Since then the challenges have got harder and after my latest, 53 mile ultra marathon the highland fling, I'm recovering from a hamstring injury - it went with 20 metres to go.
I'm taking it easy on the physio's instructions but that doesn't mean doing nothing.  Now 2 weeks in I can walk properly but have to be careful if I forget and go to run across a road - I very quickly stop as my hammy says so. No much good if you're in the centre of Renfield Street and the lights have changed to green! 'Cause when you start limping the drivers think you're having a laugh.
So my latest endurance challenge was a 4 day golf trip. The 30 degree heat in Portugal made me think of the MdS in the Sahara which was 45-52 degrees. I was able to cope with that without any problem. So to try and replicate what it felt like in the Sahara I joined in with my team mates drinking to silly o'clock in the morning to get the feeling of severe dehydration - it worked. So 3 nights of that certainly made lasting 5.5 hours on the golf course more challenging. To add to the challenge, while my team mates were having a long lie I got up early and went swimming which is part of my rehab for my hammy. I probably was over the drink driving limit for swimming but for some strange reason nobody else was there to see me wander across the imaginary lanes.
So now I have added golf to my list of endurance sports. My triathlete friends won't agree with this but they need to realise that the après golf and the daily temperatures need to be taken into account. I'm sure my Physio will be pleased with my profession rehab approach! Cheers. 😜