Page 192 - RAPTC Year of 2019

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In September 2017 I had a wake-up call telling me that I wasn’t doing enough to keep myself fit into my old age, which was fast approaching. I had my first DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and after
an emergency appointment with my GP I was sent to hospital where I spent 4 hours undergoing numerous tests, scans and x-rays. The hospital was fantastic and I received wonderful care, including coffee and sandwiches. Once the DVT was diagnosed I was prescribed Rivaroxaban, a blood thinner, which I was informed I would probably be on for the rest of my life.
My thoughts over the first few months of treatment and further hospital visits were that I was improving and no longer in pain; a good sign. Then in March 2018 I had a second DVT and decided that I needed to do something about my lifestyle to improve my fitness,
In April 2018 I started power walking, not only to improve my fitness levels and lose weight, but also to help blood flow and therefore circulation. I started my walks on 19/4/18, and continued to do so for 5 of the 7 days per week. (Only ‘resting’ on the 2 days I was at work).
It was during these walks that I thought about setting myself a target. My 70th birthday was approaching in 2019, so decided that I would celebrate the day by doing a triathlon to raise money for charity. A 700 metre swim, 7000 metre walk and a 70,000 metre cycle. My manager at Tesco Express was happy for me to advertise the event at the store, and to collect donations for my chosen charities, CANCER RESEARCH UK- THE BOBBY MOORE CANCER FUND and DIABETES UK. He also agreed that I could do the 70,000m cycle ride on a static cycle outside the front of the store. The covered entrance outside of the shop would give me protection from sun and/or rain on the day.
I started my training almost immediately. The nearest pool was just a short 2K walk from my work. I tried a few different routes, taking me past the store a couple of times, so that I would have completed the 700m swim and the 7,000m walk before completing the 70,000m cycle.
All was going well. I was averaging about 35k walking and 100k cycling most weeks, and swimming whenever I could. Then on 6th June 2019 Disaster! I was up a ladder at home cleaning the gutters and facia boards. The ladder slipped from under me, and after hearing a loud crash and bang, my wife came from the house to find me unconscious and covered in blood. Luckily a neighbour saw the accident and as a trained first aider came and took charge until the ambulance arrived. I was ‘blue lighted’ to the A & E department at the hospital. 3 hours of x-rays, scans and stitching later I was admitted overnight. I was discharged at 12.00 noon on the 7th June. My injuries were, broken wrist, broken nose, huge cut to my forehead (6 stitches and superglue) concussion, sprained ankle and damaged tendons in the knee, hip, elbow and shoulder all down my right side. Oops.
After a week of resting, I attended the fracture clinic. I was going to be in a cast for a minimum of 6 weeks. My plan of doing the triathlon on my 70th birthday, (19th July), was out of the question. I could do the walk and the cycle, but the swim was not possible. The new date is now set for August 28th. Onwards with the training.
My daughter had agreed to be at the pool with me, counting the 28 lengths. Having never been much of a front crawl man, I did breast stroke and completed the task in 29 minutes. After changing into walking gear, and stopping for a couple of photographs outside the pool, the 7k walk commenced. 20m along and my daughter tells me that I am walking too fast and that I was walking at her
jogging pace. My answer was of course “ then you will have to jog all the way”; she did. Well done girl. Walk completed we arrived at the store, and straight away got onto the bike and away we go for a couple of hours. The first hour was great, chatting to customers and collecting donations. At about the 50k mark I realised that my backside was not enjoying the experience as much as the rest of me and I was becoming the proverbial ‘pain in the arse’. During the entire cycle my colleagues from the store were very supportive. Egging me on the entire time, and on completion posed for photographs with me and helped me off of the bike. My back and buttocks had almost ceased.
I completed the triathlon in 3 hours 55 mins, and raised a total of £2,124.50 for my chosen charities.
Overall the experience has been most enjoyable. Knowing that at 70 years of age I still have enough left in me to not only help myself remain fit, but also to have the drive and determination to help others too.
In closing I must add that the support I have received from family, friends and colleagues has been outstanding. I might just have to think about another venture in the future.
70th BIRTHDAY TRIATHLON
Mr Ray Woodstock