Swimming has always been a significant part of my sporting life. I can't remember learning to swim and rarely had more than a day out of the water - that was until retiring from modern pentathlon. Admittedly I've never been a morning person, so I knew the sessions at the crack of dawn wouldn't be missed, but I genuinely thought I was addicted to my regular chlorine fix. With no event to train for I've naturally swayed away from swimming and found more sociable and flexible sports to keep me fit. I recently had two very different excuses to make my return to the pool.
At an international sports conference, where I was representing the modern pentathlon governing body, there was an opportunity to attend a swim clinic by a current world record holder. I was sold a slightly dampened down agenda and convinced myself it was going to be a fun affair even if it did involve the obligatory early morning start. It turned into rather a hard session but despite the shock to the system I thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so I couldn't turn down my next invite for a dip, this time at the other end of the performance spectrum.
I've always been a strong advocate for children learning to swim - it is such a valuable skill even if just for safety. Having taught the primary school age group in the past I know how important confidence in the water is. So what better time to learn than
before you can even crawl? The session with my eleven month old niece was not as strenuous as the aforementioned but I was equally impressed with her swimming skills. She's already mastered opening her eyes underwater, something I still struggle with. It might not officially count as swimming but she's off to a good start.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Shock to the system
I've had a few shocks to the system in the last couple of weeks. Initially it was adjusting to British weather. This is to be expected after a holiday but beyond that the majority were self inflicted.
Only twelve hours after I arrived home I was on the start line for a charity cycle ride. This shouldn't have posed a problem as I like to think I'm still relatively fit; even if I'd just had five weeks of doing very little exercise. It was a two day event cycling a total of one hundred miles. With fresh legs, I set off cautiously to ensure I'd reach the destination with some energy to spare for my return the following day and am pleased to report I made it. It wasn't until the following morning that I realised, despite my level of fitness, I didn't have a bottom "conditioned" for cycling, even if I had a little more padding than before I went away. It's not often that I appreciate an incline but the killer hills on the second day actually came as a little respite for my derrière as I stood up to pedal.
The second change probably doesn't come as a shock to any of my friends although it still surprises my body. The arrival of Easter Sunday doesn't just mean Christ and chocolate eggs to me; it is time to eat all the food I've forbidden myself over lent. I know this isn't the point of Easter or the forty days prior, but it has become a tradition for me. This year I even added cake to the list as my birthday actually fell before Ash Wednesday. I keep hoping that as I grew older I'll no longer have the urge to nip into the sweet shop but until that happens those forty days help me to prove I can resist temptation when I really have to.
Only twelve hours after I arrived home I was on the start line for a charity cycle ride. This shouldn't have posed a problem as I like to think I'm still relatively fit; even if I'd just had five weeks of doing very little exercise. It was a two day event cycling a total of one hundred miles. With fresh legs, I set off cautiously to ensure I'd reach the destination with some energy to spare for my return the following day and am pleased to report I made it. It wasn't until the following morning that I realised, despite my level of fitness, I didn't have a bottom "conditioned" for cycling, even if I had a little more padding than before I went away. It's not often that I appreciate an incline but the killer hills on the second day actually came as a little respite for my derrière as I stood up to pedal.
The second change probably doesn't come as a shock to any of my friends although it still surprises my body. The arrival of Easter Sunday doesn't just mean Christ and chocolate eggs to me; it is time to eat all the food I've forbidden myself over lent. I know this isn't the point of Easter or the forty days prior, but it has become a tradition for me. This year I even added cake to the list as my birthday actually fell before Ash Wednesday. I keep hoping that as I grew older I'll no longer have the urge to nip into the sweet shop but until that happens those forty days help me to prove I can resist temptation when I really have to.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Being British
It is so good to be home at last; I mean actually back in Devon. One advantage of going away at this time of year is returning to see such a change. The days are so much longer, the hedgerows are starting to blossom and it's noticeably warmer than when I left. All of this, combined with my friends reiterating that summer must be on its way, got me a little excited. After five weeks in temperatures far higher than we will ever experience on our hottest summer day, I stepped off the plane into the sunshine I was instantly reminded - it is still only April.
Despite knowing it's Easter I'm British and will therefore make the most of any sunshine, pretending that it is actually warm enough to sit outside and eat an ice-cream. I attended a local point to point in the south hams where picnics are as important as the racing itself, I was pleased to see that even those dressed in shorts were stubbornly refusing to admit they regretted their choice of clothing. Thankfully I'd dressed appropriately so was happy to stay to the bitter end and catch the final race. It was probably the most exciting, certainly the shortest, and definitely the only 'ground shaker' of the day - the spectacle that is Clydesdale racing. These horses are designed for pulling carts not galloping; their feet are the size of dinner plates and the feather they carry around each leg does not aid aerodynamics but they certainly got everyone's interest as they thundered past.
It couldn't have been any further from my last racing experience just a month ago in Hong Kong but you really can't beat a point to point on a bank holiday weekend.
Despite knowing it's Easter I'm British and will therefore make the most of any sunshine, pretending that it is actually warm enough to sit outside and eat an ice-cream. I attended a local point to point in the south hams where picnics are as important as the racing itself, I was pleased to see that even those dressed in shorts were stubbornly refusing to admit they regretted their choice of clothing. Thankfully I'd dressed appropriately so was happy to stay to the bitter end and catch the final race. It was probably the most exciting, certainly the shortest, and definitely the only 'ground shaker' of the day - the spectacle that is Clydesdale racing. These horses are designed for pulling carts not galloping; their feet are the size of dinner plates and the feather they carry around each leg does not aid aerodynamics but they certainly got everyone's interest as they thundered past.
It couldn't have been any further from my last racing experience just a month ago in Hong Kong but you really can't beat a point to point on a bank holiday weekend.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Welcome home
I have small feet and therefore leave a small footprint but last week I left a very large one of a different kind. In just seven days I managed to clock up a total of seven flights which equals a significant carbon footprint and I dread to think how many miles I'll need to cycle to compensate for this.
Many of my friends think I live a 'rock and roll' lifestyle with all my travel. I won't deny that I love discovering new countries but the reality is often far from glamourous. One particular moment, or should I say several hours, was on the third and final flight of one journey where I was sat amongst a large family including three toddlers. I sympathise with parents travelling with young children. I find it challenging enough just organising myself but after a nine hour relay of continuous screaming from all three I began to loose this sympathy. I am not a parent and probably shouldn't comment however, not one attempt was made to comfort or reprimand these unruly children. With no apologies forthcoming, the situation became increasingly awkward as the rest of the cabin started to show their frustrations when unable to sleep through the racket.
After these past few weeks abroad I actually began to miss my own culture. I'm not saying that we, the British, are always polite but we do have a certain way of doing things. Whether it is our habit of frequently apologising to each other, forming queues or inclination towards modesty I'm not sure - but I know I've missed home. Sometimes I admire the audacity of foreigners as they walk to the front of the queue or ask for exactly what they want; I just hope for the sake of my friends and family that I haven't brought too many of these traits home with me.
Many of my friends think I live a 'rock and roll' lifestyle with all my travel. I won't deny that I love discovering new countries but the reality is often far from glamourous. One particular moment, or should I say several hours, was on the third and final flight of one journey where I was sat amongst a large family including three toddlers. I sympathise with parents travelling with young children. I find it challenging enough just organising myself but after a nine hour relay of continuous screaming from all three I began to loose this sympathy. I am not a parent and probably shouldn't comment however, not one attempt was made to comfort or reprimand these unruly children. With no apologies forthcoming, the situation became increasingly awkward as the rest of the cabin started to show their frustrations when unable to sleep through the racket.
After these past few weeks abroad I actually began to miss my own culture. I'm not saying that we, the British, are always polite but we do have a certain way of doing things. Whether it is our habit of frequently apologising to each other, forming queues or inclination towards modesty I'm not sure - but I know I've missed home. Sometimes I admire the audacity of foreigners as they walk to the front of the queue or ask for exactly what they want; I just hope for the sake of my friends and family that I haven't brought too many of these traits home with me.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Exploring the culture
I always embrace the chance to try something new and love to sample other cultures. During my last month of travelling I grabbed many of these opportunities. It might be difficult to describe anything on board a cruise ship as cultural but that didn't stop me from getting stuck into the activities on offer, even if many of them were aimed at an older generation. Being the youngest passenger - with the exception of the crew - there were some presumptions made as to my role on the ship. Once fellow passengers discovered I was on board for work many thought I'd be performing in some capacity. I suppose speaking is a type of entertainment but it soon became obvious to most what I wouldn't be doing when they witnessed me on the dance floor.
On a sea day, when the ship doesn't dock, there are many activities on offer including ballroom dancing lessons, and I was in at the deep end with the square tango first on the menu. The polite instructors soon broke it to me that four lessons would not be sufficient to teach the skills required for such a technical dance. The next day it was the waltz, and I had no idea such a simple looking elegant dance could be so challenging. After that, I lowered my expectations and joined the line dancing. If all of that seemed a little too physical there were still the 'sports' of deck shuffleboard and deck quoits which even though aimed at the more sedentary suited me far better.
Once I left the cruise I needed something a little more physically taxing and certainly found that in Thailand. Their national sport of Muay Thai is probably one of the most full-body exerting activities I've ever done, although yet again I am a long way off being professional after just two lessons.
On a sea day, when the ship doesn't dock, there are many activities on offer including ballroom dancing lessons, and I was in at the deep end with the square tango first on the menu. The polite instructors soon broke it to me that four lessons would not be sufficient to teach the skills required for such a technical dance. The next day it was the waltz, and I had no idea such a simple looking elegant dance could be so challenging. After that, I lowered my expectations and joined the line dancing. If all of that seemed a little too physical there were still the 'sports' of deck shuffleboard and deck quoits which even though aimed at the more sedentary suited me far better.
Once I left the cruise I needed something a little more physically taxing and certainly found that in Thailand. Their national sport of Muay Thai is probably one of the most full-body exerting activities I've ever done, although yet again I am a long way off being professional after just two lessons.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Needed a bigger engine
Complaining is one of our great national pastimes with both the weather and public transport featuring high on our list of favourite topics. As a nation we always compliment other countries for running such efficient transport networks and Hong Kong was a fine example; its buses and trains consistently punctual, immaculately clean, spacious and air conditioned.
As I journey west through Asia, the attitude to travel seems to become more relaxed but this hadn't posed any problems having successfully travelled around Thailand by plane, bus, long boat and ferry. It wasn't until visiting one of the quieter, outlying islands that a different mode of transport was required - the tuk tuk. My friend and I had planned to hire a moped but it was soon apparent that the luggage wouldn't fit.
The tuk tuk in question was a moped and glorified side car with the capacity to carry two passengers and luggage - the only problem being this far exceeded the capability of the tiny engine. I know this feeling myself when cycling up some of the hills at home but somehow I always make it. Unfortunately no amount of will power was going to propel our make shift taxi up the third and final slope we encountered on our way across the island. Halfway up we came to a holt. My friend and I hopped out to push, but it was a little too late.
We eventually 'summited' the incline but the engine had overheated and would not restart. Thankfully Thailand is a safe and friendly country so it wasn't long before we were picked up by a passing truck and had to leave our tuk tuk, and it's driver, to cool down.
As I journey west through Asia, the attitude to travel seems to become more relaxed but this hadn't posed any problems having successfully travelled around Thailand by plane, bus, long boat and ferry. It wasn't until visiting one of the quieter, outlying islands that a different mode of transport was required - the tuk tuk. My friend and I had planned to hire a moped but it was soon apparent that the luggage wouldn't fit.
The tuk tuk in question was a moped and glorified side car with the capacity to carry two passengers and luggage - the only problem being this far exceeded the capability of the tiny engine. I know this feeling myself when cycling up some of the hills at home but somehow I always make it. Unfortunately no amount of will power was going to propel our make shift taxi up the third and final slope we encountered on our way across the island. Halfway up we came to a holt. My friend and I hopped out to push, but it was a little too late.
We eventually 'summited' the incline but the engine had overheated and would not restart. Thankfully Thailand is a safe and friendly country so it wasn't long before we were picked up by a passing truck and had to leave our tuk tuk, and it's driver, to cool down.
Missing home?
I'm aware I should never complain about being abroad as any opportunity to explore more of the world should never be passed but there is always a fear of missing something at home. I left the UK when the sun was shining and worried I was about to miss an early glimpse of summer that would be over once I returned. Other than the imagined perfect weather I also get a little frustrated at missing significant sporting events of which, in my opinion, there have been two so far. The first event I didn't even manage to find the results of until days afterwards - congratulations to the Exeter Chiefs for winning the LV Cup in front of a sell out home crowd. The second event was the Cheltenham Festival although I managed to substitute this with an evening of racing at Happy Valley Stadium, Hong Kong. The humid flood lit track set amongst a backdrop of high rise buildings and a colourful crowd made for an altogether unique experience.
My reason for visiting Hong Kong was not to find Westcountry cider (see 20.03.14) or to watch horse racing but to catch a boat. This might seem something of an understatement as I was in town to board The Adonia, P&O's seven hundred capacity cruise ship. Now I know I'm retired from sport but I would still class myself as too young to be going cruising and as it turned out the majority of the other passengers felt the same. I had to explain on several occasions that the purpose of my trip was work, not pleasure, although I wasn't completely convinced myself. Aside from a bit of after dinner speaking, I was lucky enough to enjoy some lovely weather and a once in a lifetime cruising experience.
My reason for visiting Hong Kong was not to find Westcountry cider (see 20.03.14) or to watch horse racing but to catch a boat. This might seem something of an understatement as I was in town to board The Adonia, P&O's seven hundred capacity cruise ship. Now I know I'm retired from sport but I would still class myself as too young to be going cruising and as it turned out the majority of the other passengers felt the same. I had to explain on several occasions that the purpose of my trip was work, not pleasure, although I wasn't completely convinced myself. Aside from a bit of after dinner speaking, I was lucky enough to enjoy some lovely weather and a once in a lifetime cruising experience.
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