During a period where my husband was working very hard, getting a late rush of antiques container packing collected in, wrapped and then packed into a container bound for the other side of the world, he decided that it would be a good time to take a rest from our triathlon training and save some energy for the hard physical work that was the top priority at this time.
Stephen and I have trained very hard all through the worst of the lockdown time and all the way through from the beginning of March until mid-August when we have finally accepted that this year has been a total washout as far as all the wonderful times that we usually have, going to triathlon and swimming events all summer long, as we have down for thirty years. Yes, it has caused a flat feeling obviously, since it has taken in effect, a whole year from our sporting lives.
Business wise there were whole months with no work what so ever, so now we have what may possibly be, the last big rush on to clear work that has been on hold, we have to just get on with it. Dropping our early morning training sessions to the side lines is not that big a deal when there are no events to go to anyway, and nearly everything we were looking forward to has been postponed until next year since triathlon is pretty seasonal anyway and this year summer sports event were wiped out entirely.
The last few weeks I have been able to join my husband on a few long drives in the UK picking up goods bought on line by the few of our clients still in some trimmed down kind of action. On those trips I have not been much more than company at my man’s side while he drove the truck. I didn’t do much more that take phone calls, make notes or send emails. Apart from that, I was a treat for me to be out of the house for a while and see something of our countryside for those days.
Last week I was a bit more , when I went up to our warehouse with Steve a few times where I was able to wrap some of the furniture and decorative items in preparation, so Steve could get on with doing the actual container packing, which is like doing a giant three dimensional puzzle, though rather more skilled, to make sure that nothing moves during the weeks of ocean and road movements until it reaches the destination. The packing process is, as a small comfort at least, also vaguely useful for our strength and endurance programme in that it involves endless walking out to the container carrying an item that is to be packed and then walking back into the warehouse which with a bit of imagination and good humour we could call repetition and recovery. Steve sometimes keeps the Garmin Forerunner (that is such a boon to our training) on and working while we plod back and forth fetching and carrying for hours on end, it is hilarious to look at the recorded route plan afterwards. Still it is hard work and it does make your legs, arms, hands, neck and back, know that you have been doing something heavier that going for a delightful run through the woods or enjoying a nice bike ride.
It is very important for both heavy lifting work and training to be able to unwind and relax afterwards otherwise aches and pains will develop and make both harder and less enjoyable. This morning, early enough not to interfere with the work day We did an hour workout with the New York City Ballet on You Tube before Stephen left home. I get some funny looks from sports friends when I mention this session. The very word ‘Ballet’ seems to strike fear or ridicule through normally friendly minds. When in actual fact the work out is most useful for a number of reasons.
It sensibly starts with a gentle warm up, a little movement to music, pliés that stretch the calves and the Achilles as well as hamstrings. Then there is about twenty minutes of floor exercises mainly for core strength, stretching and abdominal work. Then there is a little gentle ballet and balance work and some little jumps before the final longer loosening stretches. My husband enjoys this set as much as I do, though we both wish that we were anywhere near as supple as our little cat Birdy.
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