INJURIES AND HEROES

After consultation with my two team members, Pads and Neil, it looks like the re-attempt of the Coast to Coast bike ride will take place in mid to late April next year.

The team could also grow by a third, as it looks like I’ll have both my ‘brother-in-laws’ joining in the fun. Let’s hope none of us need our wetsuits!

Recently a hip, that I had major operations on when I was a young child, has started to give me plenty of pain. I suspect it’s just a combination of old age and the hip wearing out, which has always been on the cards from when I was diagnosed with Perthes disease as a 4/5-year-old.

Whatever the problem, or cause, the long term results aren’t good so I hope we complete this ride before it gets any worse.

The problem isn’t helped by the fact the disease and subsequent operations meant my left leg is slightly shorter and at a different angle than the other one. You would never notice it, but it’s starting to cause my right knee to buckle and thus be painful.

If you’re wondering why I’m saying all this, it’s probably a way of expressing my frustrations at not being able to completely take part in all sports, particularly cycling and getting out on my bike often.

I attended the first round of the Revolution UK Series at the Manchester Velodrome this weekend and it was an amazing spectacle of sporting prowess.

From the professional riders pushing each other during every race, to the young girls and boys, our future stars, everyone provided superb entertainment for a crowd that continually got involved with proceedings.

One thing stood out and that was when a major crash involving the young lads in the Madison event, resulting in the race being stopped, didn’t deter several battered, bruised and grazed youngsters quickly checked their bikes before rejoining the restart. One lad even had long thick splinter through his upper arm, while another managed to actually win a sprint within the Madison event.

It was also a privilege to meet one of our Olympics heroes, or heroines in this case. Road Race silver medallis Lizzie Armitstead, was working for ITV4 covering the race and was prepared to take time out chatting to fans and having photos taken.

 
Having worked with celebrities and sports stars I rarely ask for a picture, and never an autograph, as I just see it as they’re doing their job, while I’m doing mine, but I felt with Lizzie it was different.

Here is a lady that trains all year round, in all weathers, sometimes alone to then race for glory in a gruelling event. It puts many other sports people, particularly footballers, to shame.

To me sport is about dedication, psychology and determination, so the Olympics showed how the UK has plenty of those, including Lizzie.

Heroes and inspirational people come in many forms to different people, for me it’s those that show those three qualities.

I’m hoping by following those examples it will help me succeed in the Coast to Coast.