It happened last Sunday ! I’d been aware of the event from last year, if not before that. I had played with the idea of giving it a crack. Yeah that’s something I should do ! I’m pumped ! Then again, maybe next year. Yes definitely next year !

I’m one who at times could be called GUNNA ! Im GUNNA do this and Im GUNNA do that. Perhaps I should give you a bit of background which may probably help?

I had been doing box fit classes on a weekly basis for several years in the hope of improving my fitness and over this time I’d grown older and my tolerance was also waning at a rapid rate. I loved hitting the bags and doing the combinations but I had started to get more and more frustrated with the participants never really completing the set and the instructor ignoring this poor form. Give me 20 pushups, give me 20 squats, give me this, give me that !!!! What the F— I’m slow but these other participants are only giving you half a pushup, half a squat, half of what ever – and you accept this level of BS as being acceptable !!!! This level of hypocrisy from the instructor is driving me nuts, I’m losing respect at a rapid rate. Sort of like I’m saying “Don’t you even try and tell me what to do – you have no idea and how about you keep these clowns honest for F— sake”‘ Possibly I was developing “Cranky Old Man syndrome” My time had come, time to go back to my roots.

I had done a bit of swimming and jogging over the years. For no other reason than to try and maintain a reasonable level of fitness. But never a real ongoing commitment and certainly not at any high standard. But here at 50 years of age I had seen the photos condemning me – My tummy was not what I thought it was ! It was actually more like a beer keg strapped to me !! Photos don’t lie I’m afraid – our brains do !! I actually thought I was in reasonable condition, how sadly wrong I was. Something had too change!

So some two years later I have gone from the frustrations of the boxercise class to a weekly regime of running five kilometres two mornings per week and swimming five kilometres in two sessions a week. Plus playing Golf once a week with my son MD ( Golf’s another challenge in itself, a Blog for another time). I’m far from being a star athlete or having any such intention but rather maintaining a level of a fitness that not only gives me improved energy but assists with having a positive mental approach. Of course there is still a few beers thrown in for the hell of it. I’m keeping it real, there’s too much to enjoy in all facets of life to be a Monk of sorts – no disrespect to Monks.

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Then I overheard another guy comment ” Somebody remind me what was I thinking, what am I doing here ?”. I liked that, it comforted me in knowing I wasn’t the only one having these thoughts going through my head. Bang !!!! The gun sounds and we are off – old guys trying to hurdle our way over the ripples with our under carriages and stiff knees.  Then to the first dive under the first wave, then again, then again and again. This is tough, am I making any ground ?? My lungs are in overdrive, my heart’s pounding, bloody hell what was I thinking !!

There’s the first buoy, keep going. I’m making the turn, now to head parallel with the beach. Ok settle down, remember your swim stroke, get your breath back and once again settle down. I’m swimming past the second buoy, take a look for the third buoy, make sure Im tracking OK – bloody hell I can’t see over the swell, no there it is ! Keep going. I’m past the third buoy, then the fourth, I can see the last buoy to make my turn to start the swim to the beach !

I’m making the final turn – I’m going to make it ! Smash ! I’m rolling under the surf, where the hell did that wave come from???I’m talking to myself, jeez mate keep an eye out, stay with it, catch the next one if you can. Is that sand I can see through the water, can I stand, no not quite, hang in there??

Now I’m on my feet, run, hurdle or walk what ever it takes, there’s the finish line – I’m on the beach running , the heart and lungs are in overdrive ! I hear my daughter yelling go Dad !! – Hey, how cool is this ! I’ve made it.  I’ve achieved what I set out to do. You bloody beauty ! –  RD