Happy Birthday!

Ow! Woke up Monday morning, got out of bed and nearly fell straight on my face. After the walk on Sunday my legs had stiffened up and spent most of Monday walking around like I’d wet myself (and I haven’t done that in weeks). Have also been out at clients auditing for the past couple of weeks and had to scale 3 sets of stairs straight legged! Ever the professional accountant! I thought spinning was going to be an absolute nightmare but weirdly I found it a massive relief! Getting my legs spinning on the exercise bike loosened them up and it was a good session, followed by the gym.

As it was my flatmate Dan’s birthday on Tuesday, this was my day off for the week and I went down the pub to watch the football with a few beers, which made a nice change from training! Had a good footy session and squash games on Wednesday, after the last couple of weeks of my co-ordination being all over the place didn’t play too badly for once although I did manage to blow an 8-1 lead in my final squash match to Mark C! Thursday again was hockey training on a freezing pitch, not too many people turned out and we finished with a full pitch game with not many players! Was a good excuse for a decent run about!

After a really busy week at work was glad to get the working week out of the way and bring on the weekend! Did a quick gym session on Friday night and then went to the steam room, hydro pool & freezing cold plunge pool at Mount Murray. Is a great way to finish the week and chill out and try to rest the weary muscles!

Saturday arrived and was keen to play hockey, we had a winnable game at home and I was desperate to open my account in front of goal as it was my birthday weekend! After switching from the right wing in men’s hockey to defensive midfielder in mixed I miss (literally) getting in the D and swinging blindly trying to bag a goal! I started defensively but as the game wore on moved further and further forward trying to score, eventually hitting a shot which was kicked off the line, penalty flick to us! I stepped up, flicked the ball past the keeper and trotted back to the centre delighted….only problem is my foot had been in the wrong place (I’m a bit sketchy on the rules…..) and the goal was disallowed! Taxi for Dave! Still, after that I decided I was going to stay up front and get a goal by hell or high water and despite also missing a few gilt edged chances I did manage to grab a couple of goals in a 4-0 win....result!

As it was mine and Dan’s birthdays in the week, we decided to have a flatwarming/birthday party on Saturday night, play a bit of beer pong and head into town! Was a really good night, cheers for everyone for coming, hats off to Chunk and Graeme Brown for passing out soon after each other….and hats definitely on for Dale for bringing the port! Also congratulations to Sam R & Keggy, taught beer pong by Americans and left undefeated champs! Was a hilarious night and definitely need to sort out a rematch soon!

Being my birthday yesterday and nursing a wee bit of a hangover I knew the walk was going to be epic! Unfortunately (?!) Marky B picked up an injury at hockey the day before and was limping about, in no fit state for walking! To keep up the training, I therefore went to play football in Nobles park at 2, something I used to attend religiously but has had to take a back seat since Sunday is the only day we can put in a big walk. Was a good kick about on a pretty sunny day (for March!) and I really enjoyed the run about, there just aren’t enough days in the week! Was amazed how much the fitness has helped at football and was a good indication of the difference it’s made. I’m usually knackered but I felt I could do much more running even after 2 and a half hours. Spent the rest of yesterday back down south with the family on my birthday and had my 3 year old niece Poppy “help” open all my presents for me! Although she seemed completely disinterested when it wasn’t a Barbie doll/pink hairdryer! (I got them both last year).

Pretty successful week all in all and feeling confident I’m not burning out, bring on the mountain!

Dave.